Feb 5 1964

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Space News for this day. (2MB PDF)

Preliminary evaluation of Saturn I SA-5 flight Jan. 29 indicated there was "no significant deviation or malfunction," according to MSFC Saturn Flight Evaluation Group. Because insertion velocity was slightly greater than predicted, the 37,700-lb. orbiting body was in an earth orbit slightly higher than expected: 470-mi. apogee, 70-mi. higher than expected; 167-mi. perigee, 7 mi. higher than expected. Timing of all significant actions in the launch sequence varied no more than half a second from prediction. First stage cutoff occurred after slightly more than 146 sec., S-IV stage ignited at 148 sec, and insertion into orbit occurred at 639 sec. (KSC Release 8-64)

NASA Associate Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr, testifying before House Committee on Science and Astronautics, discussed NASA organization, management, procurement, and programming. "The management and programming processes . . . require continuing program support, assuming reasonable accomplishment by NASA compared with our stated goals. Little that we start in one year is completed in that year. On the average, flight projects require three or more years prior to launch, while total programs have a life of ten to fifteen years. The governmental process for allocating resources can lead to a funding pattern at odds with this inherently long-duration need. We plan to accomplish major objectives over the period of a decade, but we must tailor our actual accomplishment to those resources that we receive annually. "A budget of $5.445 billion, in our estimation, provides the necessary increment of resources to support the technical program . . . . This is divided into $141 million, requested as our FY 1964 supplemental, and a $5.304 billion budget for FY 1965. During the preparation of this budget, we Were asked by the President to make major cost reductions, in part by introducing improved management practices. This was done prior to submission of the President's budget, and the estimated cost savings are therefore reflected in our budgetary request. . . . Within these estimates, we propose to carry out this year's increment of NASA'S program of aeronautical research, advanced technological development, space hardware development, and space exploration. (Testimony)

In House Science and Astronautics Committee hearings, Rep. James D. Weaver (D.-Pa.) challenged the 84% figure given by NASA Associate Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., as NASA's 1963 space record-11 successes out of 13 launches. In response to Rep. Weaver's questioning, Dr. Seamans said NASA had planned 42 launches for 1963, 8 of which were backups. Rep. Weaver replied that, on this basis, NASA's 1963 space record could be interpreted as 31% successful. (Wash. Eve. Star, 2/6/64, 15 )

Testifying before House Committee on Science and Astronautics, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell discussed objectives, progress, and future plans of NASA's programs in the area of space science (space environment, sun-earth relationships, geodesy, investigation of moon and planets, investigation into nature of the universe, exobiology) and applications (meteorological satellites, communications program, and advanced technological satellites). Some of the space environment results obtained during the past year:

  • "1. The existence of an appreciable number of protons in the outer Van Allen Belts was established.
  • "2. The lifetime in the belt of artificially injected electrons was determined. . . .
  • "3. Trapping lifetimes and rates of enhancement of electrons of varying energies in the outer radiation zone have been correlated with magnetic storms.
  • "4. Large low energy electron fluxes have been found on lines of magnetic force which appear to trail off to immense distances out into deep space.
  • "5. Contours of constant counting rate near the magnetic equator were found to draw closer to the Earth on the night side of the Earth than on the day side.
  • "6. Repeated observations were made of simultaneous VLF electromagnetic emission, auroral optical emission, and particle precipitation into the atmosphere.
  • "7. It was discovered that the Earth's magnetic tail in the antisolar direction extends at least half way to the Moon's orbit.
  • "8. Direct observations were made of the Way in which solar plasma on the sunward side of the Earth piles up outside the boundary of the Earth's magnetic field, and in so doing appreciably compresses the geomagnetic field.
  • "9. Direct extended observations were made of the particle density and velocity of solar interplanetary plasma. These densities and velocities were found to have direct correlations with magnetic activity on the Earth and calcium plage activity regions on the Sun.
  • "10. Extended measurements were made of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar and galactic cosmic ray intensities.
  • "11. The true energy spectrum possessed by solar cosmic rays at their source on the Sun was deduced from the observational data. . .
  • "12. First simultaneous measurements were made of electron temperature, positive ion density, and neutral atmospheric constituents in the Earth's high atmosphere.
  • "13. A new theory was developed to account for the types of ions found in the ionosphere, specifically the ratio of helium to hydrogen.
  • "14. Sounding rockets furnished important information on the ionospheric D region from 35 miles to 55 miles and the origin of the sporadic effects in the E region of the ionosphere at about 75 miles.
  • "15. Diurnal and seasonal variations in the ionosphere were established.
  • "16. Sounding rockets launched simultaneously with an overhead pass of the satellite Alouette reached within a few miles of the satellite, thereby connecting up ionospheric measurements in the lower atmosphere with those being made by the satellite." (Testimony)

Senator Wayne L. Morse (D.-Ore.) said on Senate floor that "the most recent developments in the strike of the Florida East Coast Railway by the 11 nonoperating railroad unions, which is now in its second year, point to the strong likelihood that we will have a major shut-down of the vital construction work at Cape Kennedy by tomorrow night. . . . "The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has just announced that, contrary to the recommendations of the President's Board of Inquiry last October, it will permit the Florida East Coast, operating its trains with strikebreakers, to use the 18-mile spur newly constructed by the Federal Government to move freight into Cape Kennedy. . . . "This NASA decision, announced just yesterday, will, I fear, lead to new labor trouble in the Cape Kennedy area, for the FEC strike still continues. . . (CR, 2/5/64, 2035-36)

Ernest Brackett, Director of NASA Office of Procurement, was appointed Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator for Procurement Policy. In this position, Mr. Brackett would assist NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Industry Affairs on procurement policy, "particularly with respect to relationships with the Congress, the Department of Defense, and industry and industrial associations." George J. Vecchietti, Deputy Director of NASA Office of Procurement, was designated Acting Director. (NASA Announcement 64-30)

DOD announced it had undertaken comprehensive review of procurement policies and practices affecting labor-management relations at missile and space sites.. NASA was cooperating in the study, which in 1964 was expected to involve the following sites: Vandenberg AFB, Warren AFB, Minot AFB, Whiteman AFB, and NASA's Mississippi Test Facility. The first on-site review Was made at Cape Kennedy late last month. (DOD Release 110-64)

Dr. Albert C. Hall, DOD Deputy Director for Space, Directorate of Defense Research & Engineering, discussed the objectives of the military space program at Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers' Winter Convention on Military Electronics, Los Angeles: "Our problems . . . are twofold: First: the United States military space program must be one of action, not reaction. We must concern ourselves with military space developments-not necessarily to match or offset any Soviet development, but to sustain and augment our own versatility and strength. The successes we have already obtained should encourage us in this drive. Second, mindful that in the past we often have been optimistic in the short run and pessimistic in the long run, we must expect that some of the new discoveries and developments that appear may suggest applications and capabilities in wholly unplanned ways. Accordingly, while we pursue efforts where applications are clear we must also lay a foundation of technology, knowledge, and experience which is sufficiently broad in scope to provide for future contingencies as they materialize or are identified. "From these considerations, then, are derived the two fundamental goals of the Defense space program: "First, to continue with the development and exploitation of space systems and capabilities which measure up on a cost-effectiveness basis to meet clearly defined high priority national defense requirements. "Second, to develop through a program integrated With other government agencies, such as NASA and the Am, a broad base of technology and experience to permit the timely development and exploitation of space systems and capabilities which may be needed in the future, recognizing that lead times in certain areas, such as manned military space operations, may be 10 years or longer. . ." (Text, DOD Release 106-64)

West German government issued denial that any West German firm was producing missiles suitable for military application. Denial was in response to Soviet diplomatic complaint that missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads were being produced in West Germany, recalling rocket test-firings last December by Weapons and Air Equipment Co. of Hamburg. German government said investigation of the Hamburg company established that it possessed no manufacturing facilities. Two days later, according to Missiles and Rockets, the company halted production of rockets that it "apparently planned to export to Middle Eastern Arab nations." Company officials told M&R the decision was made voluntarily to prevent further embarrassment to West German government. (NYT, 2/6/64, 5; M&R, 2/17/64, 9)

Lt. Col. Robert S. Buchanan (USAF)of Aerospace Research Pilots School, Edwards AFB, told space medicine conference at Brooks AFB that the greatest potential dangers to large scientific space station with crew of 15 or more men would be fire and collision with a meteoroid or space debris. Studies were considering possibility of separating space stations into individual compartments that could be sealed off in case of catastrophes such as fire. (AP, Houston Post, 2/6/64)

NASA Langley Research Center awarded two contracts for construction on Vehicle Antenna Test Facility to aid in solving spacecraft communications problems: $1,265,505 contract to Nat Harrison Associates for construction of the building, and $280,630 contract to B. F. Goodrich Sponge Products Div. for design and installation of anechoic chambers for the facility. (LaRC Release)

British sources revealed Britain had contracted to sell 600 guided missiles to Saudi Arabia for estimated $1.4 million. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 2/6/64, 1 )

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