Feb 21 1964
From The Space Library
DOD announced Army Corps of Engineers' SECOR (Sequential Collation of Range) geodetic satellite was performing "exceptionally well," confirming Dr. Albert Hall's disclosure of Feb. 18. The 40-lb. satellite was orbiting at about 600-mi. altitude in periods of about 100 min. SECOR system tests were being conducted by Army's Geodesy, Intelligence and Mapping Research and Development Agency (GIMRADA), which had contracted for the satellite from ITT Federal Laboratories. GIMRADA ground stations were measuring distances by sending and receiving signals through satellite's onboard transponder, then acquiring ranging data for use in automatic data reduction process by Army Map Service to determine station positions. AFSC/SSD had lofted the satellite into orbit for GIMRADA; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center was providing orbital data and telemetry support. (DOD Release 156-64)
Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., said in informal press gathering in Washington that when NASA had decided on 30 trainees for its astronaut pool, it had anticipated losing 4 of the 30 men, for various reasons, before completion of Project Apollo. Commander Shepard said, "we figured on two casualties as a result of space flight," explaining that the figure was "just pulled out of the air" but was considered a reasonable guess. NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Hugh L. Dryden emphasized "We have no idea what the casualty rate will be. We're hoping it will be zero." (Troan, Knoxville News-Sentinel, 2/21/64)
200-ft.-diameter balloon was launched by AF Cambridge Research Laboratories personnel from Holloman AFB, N. Mex., with special telescope to make spectroscopic records of the planet Venus. The telescope was carried to altitude of 87,500 ft, above all but an insignificant amount of terrestrial water vapor. (USAF OAR Release 4-64-2)
Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, said in speech at Engineers' Week dinner, Los Angeles: "At present, we estimate that more than 35,000 engineers and scientists are at work in the Gemini and Apollo programs and the studies of possible advanced manned missions.' This number will reach a level of 45,000, about 2.8 percent of the national employment of scientists and engineers, When our currently approved programs reach their peak of effort next year.. . "In recent months, we have reviewed thoroughly the status of program technology . . . the pace of the program for its impact on total cost . ., and the possible effects on the program of the hazards of interplanetary space. . . . "First, with respect to technology . . . we have found all of the knotty questions involved in advancing the state of the art are yielding to hard work. We know of no technological problems that would prevent our accomplishing the Apollo program in this decade. . . . "[Second], . . . starting with the level of funding planned for the current fiscal year there is sound economic justification for maintaining the program on its present schedule. To stretch out the program at this time Would add to the cost and unnecessarily delay this first major step in space exploration. "The final area of examination of the program has been with respect to the hazards of interplanetary space. . . . Estimates based on present information indicate that meteoroids will not constitute a major problem in the planning of the first manned lunar exploration. . "Altogether, the present evidence indicates that radiation does not present a hazard that would prevent accomplishment of manned lunar exploration in this decade. Indeed, \there is no serious evidence that the radiation factor would inhibit us in selecting the time of a lunar mission.. . ." (Text)
"Astrometric" telescope of the U.S. Naval Observatory went into operation at Flagstaff, Ariz. The telescope featured world's largest known telescopic mirror, 61 inches in diameter, ground from huge block of synthetic quartz. New telescope would be used chiefly to measure distances to nearby stars that are too faint for such study by other existing telescopes, thus exploring previously unknown regions of the universe. (Sullivan, NYT, 2/25/64, 14)
Sen. George McGovern (D.-S. Dak.) referred on Senate floor to article in recent Business Week which reported sharp drop in engineering and scientific jobs due to defense cutbacks. Employment cutbacks "tend to be concentrated in certain industries-aerospace, defense installations, and atomic energy-and in certain parts of the country-the Boston area, New York, Pennsylvania, parts of the Midwest, the Pacific North-west, and California." (CR, 2/21/64, 3205)
Public sale of stock in Communications Satellite Corp. would be offered in April, New York sources revealed. (NYTNS, Denver Post, 2/21/64)
Board of Directors of U.S. Chamber of Commerce recommended that Congress cut $119 million from NASA's requested FY 1965 budget and that the $141 million FY 1964 supplemental request be denied. (Houston Post, 2/22/64)
Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr., former astronaut, was presented the George Washington Award for 1.963 by the Freedom Foundation, in Valley Forge, Pa., ceremony. (Wash. Eve. Star, 2/22/64)
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