Dec 7 1964
From The Space Library
MARINER IV lost its lock on Canopus. "Current analysis supports the theory that a dust particle reflecting the light of the sun passed through the field of view of the Canopus tracker," NASA said. Loss of lock on the star would not alter the spacecraft's course, would merely affect its attitude, which would be of importance only when the space-craft neared Mars and attempted to photograph the planet. NASA planned to command the spacecraft to reacquire Canopus soon. JPL, manager of the Mariner program for NASA, reported that a solar plasma probe experiment, which had functioned perfectly for eight days, had ceased to transmit useful information. (AP, Houston Post, 12/8/64)
NASA Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched from Wallops Island, Va., with Univ. of N.H. instrumented payload reached 90-mi. altitude, but experiment results were not obtained because of telemetry failure at 4.05 sec. Primary purpose of flight was to check out instrumentation for Nike-Apache sounding rocket experiments to be conducted on the IQSY Mobile Launch Expedition in early 1965. A second checkout launch was scheduled for mid-January. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
Scientists at Johns Hopkins 'Univ. announced observations from an unmanned balloon on Oct. 27 that might indicate life on Venus. Experiments showed that the clouds covering Venus were composed of water in the form of ice particles and that the surface temperature was close to -40° F, with only a few degrees difference between the light and dark sides of the planet. An earlier balloon flight in February had revealed that the air above the clouds was rich in water vapor. The scientists theorized that if there were water vapor, some of its molecules would be broken up by ultraviolet sunlight into oxygen and hydrogen; an atmosphere with oxygen and water vapor would be a propitious environment for life. Radiotelescopes on earth and on the MARINER II space probe, which had passed within 21,000 mi. of Venus in December 1962, indicated the surface temperature was 800° F. However, since interpretation of radio-telescope waves as an indication of temperature had neither been proven nor universally accepted, the Johns Hopkins scientists suggested that previous findings might only indicate a large amount of lightning-like electrical activity in the turbulent atmosphere of Venus. (Sullivan, NYT, 12/8/64; Fenton, Balt. Sun, 12/7/64; Wash. Post, 12/8/64)
Aviation Week and Space Technology reported on a letter (dated Nov. 9, 1964) from Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D.-N. Mex.) , Chairman of Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, to President Johnson in which he recommended a merger of the Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program and NASA's Apollo X program. He argued that $1 billion could be saved over a five-year period if MOL were to be cancelled and the Air Force funds applied to the Apollo-based space station. A jointly operated national space station program would, according to Anderson, best utilize U.S. space resources. Sen. Anderson felt that MOL lacked growth potential because it could not progress beyond its two-man, 30-day mission without development of a resupply system. (Av. Wk., 12/7/64, 16; NASA Archives)
Plans for adding a transmitter to the Pan American Boeing 707 for two-way communication tests using SYNCOM III as a relay point were discussed at an Air Transport Association meeting attended by representatives of FAA, NASA, Bendix, Pan Am, and Hughes Aircraft. Teletypewriter messages had been successfully transmitted in November from a ground station at Camp Roberts, Calif., to a Pan Am 707 enroute to Honolulu. (Av. Wk., 12/7/64, 34)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientists would evaluate two H-10 atomic hydrogen maser clocks for possible use in high-precision satellite tracking as well as experiments testing Einstein's prediction of the effect of gravity on time. The clocks were developed by the Quantum Electronic Devices activity of Varian Associates and would use the natural oscillation resulting from the interaction of the proton and the electron in the hydrogen atom. (M&R, 12/7/64,17)
USAF announced completion of the highly successful Demonstration and Shakedown Operations (DASO) series of test firings of the Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile. Five Titan IIs had been successfully launched from Vandenberg AFB by Strategic Air Command (SAC) crews and had landed on target down the WTR. The series was conducted to test launch techniques and lasted from July 30 to Nov. 4, 1964. Said Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Gerrity, Deputy Chief of Staff for Systems and Logistics, the 100 per cent successful "record . . . is unequaled in ICBM history and will provide a goal for future missile systems in the years ahead." (Sehlstedt, Balt. Sun, 12/8/64; AP, Balt. Sun, 12/9/64)
Missiles and Rockets reported that a combination vacuum cleaner and fire extinguisher was being developed by Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. for use in the ram- Dubbed VacGuard, the device would operate on the pressure difference between the cabin and outer space. It would control cabin fires, remove unwanted solids, liquids, and gases, and control sudden leaks in the space cabin wall. The device would consist of an adapter, a flexible hose, and a selector valve. (M&R, 12/7/64, 17)
AF Cambridge Research Laboratories, had successfully demonstrated that communications could be made through brain waves. According to Dr. Edmond M. Dewan, trained subjects could alter the pattern of their brains' alpha rhythm, the low-frequency wave related to visual perception. The alpha rhythm could be turned on and off, allowing use of a binary digit system or Morse code for communication. (M&R, 12/7/64, 17)
Radar and Doppler velocity sensor system destined to assist the Surveyor spacecraft in its soft landing on the moon was in advanced test phases at Ryan Electronics, Missiles and Rockets reported. Flight tests of the system using helicopters at Holloman AFB and at the Hughes Aircraft Co. airport had been successfully completed and had run from 6,000 to 20 ft. above the ground. (M&R, 12/7/64, 17)
In an editorial, Robert Hotz, editor of Aviation Week and Space Technology, said: "There is a ... good possibility that the national space pro-gram may get its most severe shellacking to date if some plans currently finding favor within Administration executive circles are, in fact, implemented. One of these proposals would slice the scientific programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to the bone and concentrate the NASA budget on the Apollo manned lunar landing program. Some portions of the scientific community have been making this charge without much justification for several years. If NASA does virtually abandon its highly successful scientific exploration program now, the howl from scientists will rise in a swift crescendo. It would be a major mistake to make such a drastic switch in what is now a pretty well-balanced NASA effort." (Av. Wk., 12/7/64, 11)
Houston "Colt .45s" National League baseball team changed its name to the Houston "Astros" to exploit the city's claim to be the U.S. space capital. (Av. Wk., 12/7/64, 15)
Carl Brown Harper, expert in aeronautical engineering who had been a consultant to the Dept of Justice since 1930, died after a heart attack. Mr. Harper had held a number of patents on the retractable gun turret and on aircraft wing designs now used on the Boeing 707, the Douglas DC-8, and other high speed aircraft. (Wash. Post, 12/9/64)
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