Apr 27 1965
From The Space Library
The House Committee on Science and Astronautics unanimously approved a $5.2 billion NASA authorization for FY 1966, cutting only $75 million from the President's request. An unrequested $27.2 million was included for the 260-in, solid propellant program, the M-1 liquid hydrogen engine, and the Snap 8, Biggest single reduction was $42 million cut in $3.6 billion request for Apollo. Other programs affected by the cut included OAO, OGO, Surveyor, Rover, Lunar Orbiter, and Centaur. (WSJ, 4/28/65)
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center announced $40 million modification to contract held by General Electric Co. for the design of electrical equipment for Saturn Vehicle launch support. Modification would cover the design portion of the work involved in providing electrical support equipment for Saturn IB and Saturn V launches. (MSFC Release 65-100)
W. L. Everett, chief test pilot for the Ryan Aeronautics Co, was catapulted to his death from an XV-5A experimental plane after the vertical take-off aircraft developed mechanical difficulties. A witness said the XV-5A was at only 800 ft, and upside down when Mr. Everett ejected: "When he ejected, he ejected straight into the ground," The parachute did not have time to open. (N,Y. Her. Trib., 4/28/65; Miles, Wash, Post, 4/28/65)
Gen. William F. McKee (USAF, Ret.), NASA Assistant Administrator for Management Development, was named to succeed Najeeb E. Halaby as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency. (Wash, Post, 4/28/65)
Frederick G. Donner, chief executive of General Motors, appeared before a Senate Commerce Committee on his renomination by President Johnson as a director of the Communications Satellite Corporation. Asked about rivalry from the Soviet Union in view of their recently-launched comsat, Donner said he regarded this about the same way he did Soviet automobiles as far as competition was concerned. (AP, Wash, Post, 4/28/65)
"Self-organizing flight controller," featuring device that could cope with unexpected flight conditions of satellites and aircraft, was being developed by AFSC Research and Technology Div. Applying "probability state variable devices," bionics researchers had recreated function of a living nerve cell in a device called "Artron" (artificial neuron). Networks of Artrons in electronic cluster functioned like living neurons: they became self-organizing, achieving problem-solving, and learning new ways to capitalize on their mistakes and find new ways of performing a given task. AFSC stressed that flyable self-organizing flight controller was 5-10 yrs away. (AFSC Release 50.65)
Dr. Geoffrey Bennett, chief medical officer of the British Ministry of Aviation, gave a progress report on the Anglo-French supersonic transport, the Concorde, at the annual meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association in New York, He said problems of designing a supersonic aircraft safe enough for commercial use were proving less difficult than had been expected: "It is quite heartening to find that the further one goes along, the less difficult things seem to be," After his talk, Dr. Bennett said in an interview that such potential hazards as loss of air pressure in the cabin, accumulation of ozone, radiation, and problems of acceleration aroused much worry and discussion a few years ago, Overcoming these problems by proper designs had proved less difficult than many expected, he said. (Schmeck, NYT, 4/28/65, 89)
President Charles de Gaulle said in address delivered over French radio and television: "In the economic, scientific and technical domain... . we must see that our activities, for the essential part, remain under French management and control. We must also meet, at whatever cost, the competition in advanced sectors... Finally, when it is opportune, in order to combine our inventions, our capabilities and our resources in a given branch with those of another country, we must often choose one of those which is closest to us and whose weight we do not think will overwhelm us, "That is why we are imposing a financial, economic, and monetary stability upon ourselves which frees us from resorting to outside aid; we are converting into gold the dollar surpluses imported into our country as a result of the American balance of payments; we have over the past six years multiplied by six the funds devoted to research; ... we are joining with England to build the world's first supersonic passenger aircraft; we are ready to extend this French-British collaboration to other types of civil and military aircraft; we have just concluded an agreement with Soviet Russia concerning the perfection and use of our color television process, In sum, however large may be the glass offered to us, we prefer to drink from our own, while touching glasses round about. ..." (Text, Atlantic Comm, Qtrly, 6/22/65)
Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D-Conn,) disclosed in speech before Washington Section, National Association of Science Writers, that the House Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development (of which he was chairman) was planning an investigation of the National Science Foundation, He said: "For some years, there has been the need to review its work and to determine if it were, in fact, thoroughly successful in promoting the progress of science, the national health, prosperity and welfare and for other purposes." (Wash. Post, 4/28/65, C9)
In a speech before the Aero Club of Washington, Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, ventured predictions for the next 20 years in aeronautics and astronautics, He noted the steady increase in civil aircraft output and the expansion in air travel "at a rate better than 12 percent per year for more than 15 years." He predicted "a 20-fold rise in air traffic volume over the next 25 years," but said that in order to reach its full potential the aircraft must be improved "in at least three important respects": reduction of minimum speeds for safe controlled flight; increase of maximum flight speed; and greater simplicity and economy of operation, He cited NASA research in these vital areas. (Text)
Dr. Erhard Loewe, vice president of the German company Telefunken, outlined Eurospace's long-range goals at Eurospace Conference in Philadelphia: "We want to avoid errors as far as possible and derive the greatest possible profit from experience gained in the U.S " Loewe said that Eurospace would urge support of the Aerospace Transporter, conceived as a two-stage vehicle-both piloted-able to carry a 5,000-lb. payload into a 180-mi. (300-km.) altitude orbit and capable of rendezvous with an orbiting satellite. Loewe said that the Aerospace Transporter "signified as much to Europe as the trip to the moon does to the U.S. and the U.S.S.R." Other specific projects in the Eurospace recommendations: space stations, because long-term platforms were believed necessary to exploit space scientifically and economically ; communications satellites in a system that would be integrated with the worldwide system of the U.S. ComSatCorp; applications and scientific satellites, for high-capacity commercial television, weather forecasting, and data collecting; ground facilities for basic R&D. (Av. Wk, 5/10/65, 74-81)
Dr. George B. Kistiakowsky, professor of chemistry at Harvard Univ. and former special assistant to President Eisenhower for science and technology, was selected Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences for four-year term beginning July 1, 1965. NAS also elected 35 new members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, National Academy of Engineering, holding its first annual meeting in coordination with NAS, elected 19 new members including Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology. (NAS Releases; NAS-NRC News Report, 4/65)
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