Dec 1 1965
From The Space Library
Full-duration test firing of the second flight S-IVB stage of the Saturn IB launch vehicle was conducted at Sacramento by Douglas Aircraft Co. The 7½-min. acceptance test was run to check engine performance, propellant tank pressurization systems, data acquisition systems, power and control systems, and structural reliability of the rocket stage. Following detailed post-test evaluation, the S-IVB would be shipped to Kennedy Space Center for launch as part of a complete Saturn IB vehicle in 1966. (Marshall Star, 12/8/65, 4)
Gemini VII Astronauts Frank Borman (L/Col. USAF) and James A. Lovell, Jr. (Cdr, USN), passed their 5-hr. preflight physical examination at KSC, Dr. Charles A. Berry, Gemini medical director, said he could find no medical problem that might interfere with the scheduled launch of Gemini VII Dec. 4. (Wash, Eve. Star, 12/1/65, A3; Wilford, NYT, 12/2/65, 22)
Dr. Thomas L. K. Smull, Director of NASA Office of Grants and Research Contracts, was temporarily assigned as Special Assistant to Administrator James E. Webb, He would be concerned with examining, in depth, the progress made in the development and conduct of university activities. Dr. John T, Holloway would serve as the Acting Director of the Office of Grants and Research Contracts. (NASA Ann.)
Dr. Donald P. Burcham, Voyager project manager at JPL, told the Christian Science Monitor in an interview that NASA had decided to launch the Voyager spacecraft with the Saturn V booster instead of the Saturn IB. "This," Dr. Burcham said, "means we can put a heavier retrorocket pack on the spacecraft. It will enable us to release the lander after the spacecraft has gone into orbit around Mars instead of 10 days before reaching the planet, as planned earlier, and that will give us a better chance of putting a lander on the surface." (Cowen, CSM, 12/1/65)
Col. John H. Glenn (C, Ret.) was guest of honor and elected to membership at the 148th annual dinner of the New York Academy of Sciences. He said that 100 yrs. from now "space travel will not be a form of international competition, nor will it have political implications; it will be the beginning of the greatest exploration period in world history." (NYT, 12/3/65,42)
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center had awarded a $358,808 contract to Bryson Construction Co., Inc., Ala, for building a non-destructive facility for testing rocket materials in simulated space environments, Four shielded "radiographic laboratories" would provide areas where rocket materials would be exposed to radiation and would have equipment for search ray, motion radiography, radioisotope, and radiography testing. (FC Release 65-290)
ComSatCorp announced selection of J. P. Finan General Contractor, Inc., for site preparation and construction of buildings and other facilities for ComSatCorp's earth station at Paumalu, Oahu, Hawaii, under a contract totaling $948,362. The Paumalu station, when completed, would serve as part of a worldwide commercial satellite communications system. (ComSatCorp Release)
Unpublished study of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)-international, intergovernmental agency-to determine importance of military and space research for civilian technological advance was reported by the Washington Post to contain three key conclusions: (1) military and space research is a costly and inefficient way of spurring technological advance for the civilian economy; (2) although there is some direct civilian application of new products and techniques developed for the military, the amount is limited and is shrinking; (3) while a massive military-space program like that of the U.S. may indirectly stimulate innovation by civilians, some of the same results could probably be obtained more cheaply by direct government aid to nondefense research and development. The study implied there were better ways for Europe's industry to catch up. The report also stated the U.S. and the Soviet Union were putting about the same effort into research, and Western Europe was not far behind. In terms of manpower involved, U.S. total was over 1 million; European, about 500,000; Soviet, 1.5 million. In international earnings of patents and licenses, the U.S. Was ahead. (Nossiter, Wash. Post, 12/2/65, A24; NYT, 12/19/65, 20)
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