Aug 8 1964
From The Space Library
President Lyndon B. Johnson said in press conference at LBJ ranch, Stonewall, Tex.: ". .. it seems to me that these last seven days deserve very special consideration and contemplation of every thinking citizen. All week long the Americans have been doing what Americans do best-working together. "The results have been highly gratifying. The week has been deeply reassuring. Wherever we have faced them, we have been meeting our challenges-at the Gulf of Tonkin, the halls of Congress, in distant space of our universe and all sections of our Nation. "Only a week ago, we saw a steady, stable, straight-forward national course yield an important national success in the mission of Ranger The President announced: "The Air Force will proceed immediately with the program to orbit 24 satellites for an interim, independent defense satellite communications system. This system will provide reliable, worldwide circuits, highly resistant to jamming and physical attack, for carrying essential military communications in times of crisis." (Transcript, AP, Wash. Post, 8/9/64, A12)
DOD statement on military communications satellite system, announced earlier in the day by President Johnson, described the satellites as an "interim system" designed to provide "extremely reliable duplex high-quality voice circuits." The 24-satellite network would be placed into near-equatorial orbits, eight at a time, by three Titan III-C launch vehicles, beginning with the first launching of eight satellites in early 1966. This interim system would be replaced after about three years by an "advanced" military comsat system. (NYT, 8/9/64; UPI, Wash. Post, 8/9/64)
Addressing Aerospace Industries Association Council in Seattle, Dr. Edward C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, summarized future aerospace trends. He foresaw no immediate substantial decrease in dollar amount of defense spending, but said industry should be able to shift emphasis from production of weapon systems to "other useful types and forms of economic activity"- which he said should be toward an expanding space program and an increase in R&D of advanced weapons technology. Of space program values he said: "The space program has been a catalyst, a stimulus to education at all levels, with particular attention to science and engineering. How much is it worth to have raised the educational sights of our young people and at the same time to have increased significantly the wealth of knowledge with which to condition them? I cannot put a price on it, but I believe its value will exceed the total cost of the space program. "The contribution of our space program to our national security is also considerable. How much more secure are we, due to improved communications, more accurate navigation, more complete weather information, and better world-wide mapping? How much is it worth to be better informed about potential sources of danger? How can we assess the advantage of developing competence to detect and offset possible aggression from space? I cannot put a price on these contributions to national security, but I am confident that their value also exceeds the total cost of the space program. "The space program stimulates the development of new products, new productive processes, and new managerial techniques. I cannot place a precise value upon such innovations, but I would estimate that such investment will repay itself many times over. "A substantial difference in influence in world affairs evolves from whether a country is in a first position or a second position in power. To a significant degree, a nation's relative position depends on how it stands in advanced technology. . . "Combining, as the space program does, the best talents in management, in engineering, and in science, with the most modern facilities available, the net result is the production of progress. A program which stimulates education, expands research and development, augments total productivity, increases employment, and improves our international relations, is a program of the greatest economic significance. .. ." (Text)
Brazilian sources reported that Brazil was negotiating with British firm for purchase of unspecified number of Seacat ship-based guided missiles. (Miller, Balt. Sun, 8/9/64)
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