Jan 10 1966
From The Space Library
Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Station carried 51-lb. payload to 115-mi. (185-km.) altitude and impact 88 mi. downrange in the Atlantic. Payload instrumentation failed to function properly, however, and desired results were not obtained. Flight was last in a series of seven similar experiments conducted by NASA for Univ. of Illinois to measure seasonal changes and other effects in the D-and E-regions of the ionosphere. Previous six launches had been conducted successfully from Wallops Station in April, July, and November 1964; and June, September, and December 1965. ‘‘(Wallops Release 66-1; NASA Rpt. SRL).
An explanation of white dwarf stars-based on study of spectra of four stars in constellation Orion gathered during October 1965 NASA Aerobee sounding rocket flight-appeared in report released by Dr. Donald C. Morton, head of Princeton Univ. rocket program. Results indicated that the four stars are hurling matter toward the earth at about 4 million mph. This loss of mass, extended over a long period of time, would eventually remove up to 95 per cent of the stars’ mass, according to Dr. Morton. They would then be white dwarfs. ‘‘(NYT, 1/11/66, 6)’’
Reported that the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) , which met in Paris Nov. 24-26, had agreed that the TD-2 satellite, scheduled for launch in 1969 by Douglas Thor-Delta booster purchased from NASA, would carry nine solar-ionospheric experiments: (1) topside counter to measure radio waves; (2) solar Lyman-alpha radiation experiment; (3) a far ultraviolet spectroheliograph experiment; (4) x-ray crystal spectrometer; (5) solar particle flux experiments; measurements of (6) low energy electron fluxes; (7) energy and particle distribution of charged ionospheric particles; (8) oxygen and nitrogen light emissions; and (9) neutral ionospheric constituents. The 880-lb. satellite would be launched into near-polar orbit with 620-mi. apogee and 218-mi. perigee. ESRO planned to launch TD-1 stellar astronomy satellite in 1968. ‘‘(Av. Wk., 1/10/66, 33)’’
US. domestic and international scheduled airlines would carry nearly 160 million passengers and fly nearly 113 billion revenue passenger miles by FY 1971, according to FAA’s five-year aviation forecasts. Predicted airline activity would be almost twice that of FY 1965 when US. airlines flew 95-million passengers and 63 billion revenue passenger miles. ‘‘(FAA Release 66-3)’’
NASA was considering landing unmanned Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) equipped with an Apollo-type lunar television camera on the moon before the first manned mission, Aviation Week reported. Photographs from the camera, which would be mounted externally and coupled with a scanning device to permit broad coverage, would provide mission planners with information on lunar surface characteristics. ‘‘(Av. Wk., 1/10/66, 36)’’
Negotiations by US. Army Corps of Engineers to acquire the 14,981-acre Sudden Ranch properties adjacent to Vandenberg AFB marked beginning of massive expansion operation for Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program, Missiles and Rockets reported. B/G Joseph S. Bleymaier, Deputy Commander for Manned Systems, AFSC Space Systems Div., predicted that within five years, Vandenberg would have “continuous manned operations” involving 40 or more launches annually. ‘‘(M&R, 1/10/66, 35)’’
Soviet life-support systems used in Vostok and Voskhod spacecraft appeared to use a sodium superoxide compound as a source of oxygen, Dr. A. W. Petrocelli, General Dynamics Corp., Electric Boat Div., told Missiles and Rockets. Petrocelli estimated the Russians had published three times more basic research papers than US. scientists on these materials and were continuing efforts to improve life-support systems by studying compounds such as new superoxides, peroxides, and ozonides. He said they were also searching for new and better carbon dioxide absorbers. ‘‘(M&R, 1/10/66, 33).
Reported that the Westinghouse Apollo TV camera, designed to provide standard earth receivers near-continuous, live, black-and-white coverage of manned lunar missions, was also adaptable for: (1) use in Eva to aid in rendezvous and docking or close inspection of satellites; (2) full-color transmission to show true colors of lunar surface and space objects; and (3) instant transmission showing effects of continuing spaceflight in a biosatelIite on monkeys and other subjects. ‘‘(Av. Wk., 1/10/66, 35)’’
Synchronous-orbit television relay satellite capable of providing direct service to home receivers for an area equivalent to one sixth of continental US. could be launched before 1970, according to preliminary company-funded design studies conducted by RCA and GE and presented to NASA Hq. officials, Aviation Week reported. Both companies conceded the existence of technical problem areas, including the design of solar cell arrays 15 to 30 times larger than any previously attempted and the lack of a suitable launch vehicle for orbiting 6,000-lb. to 8,000-lb. satellite, but believed solutions could be devised within the existing state-of-the-art. ‘‘(Av. Wk., 1/10/66, 115)’’
Sen. Harry F. Byrd, Jr. (D-Va.), replaced Sen. Joseph D. Tydings (D-Md.) on the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. House Science and Astronautics Committee membership remained the same. ‘‘(NASA LAR V/1)’’
Rep. Donald Rumsfeld (R-Ill.) inserted into the Congressional Record a tribute to the late Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, NASA Deputy Administrator: “Dr. Dryden was highly respected by his colleagues both as an administrator and as a scientist-engineer. He will hold an eminent place when the history of man’s accomplishments in space is written. Although the country mourns his passing he will be long remembered for his many contributions to the good of his country.” ‘‘(CR, 1/10/66, 29)’’
NASA appointed George J. Howick Director of Technology Utilization Div. He would succeed Dr. Richard L. Lesher, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Technology Utilization who, in addition to his other duties, had been serving as Acting Director of the Technology Utilization Div. Howick was formerly manager of industrial technology services for Midwest Research Institute. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-5)’’
GEMINI VII Astronaut Frank Borman and his family were welcomed by a parade in their hometown of Tucson, Ariz. Borman, who was given the keys to the city and told that a $300,000 planetarium would be built in his honor, was also praised in a special resolution passed unanimously by the Arizona legislature. He told a press conference he had joined the space program to go to the moon and “that’s what I want to do.” ‘‘(AP, Chic. Trib., 1/9/66; AP, Balt. Sun, 1/11/66)’’
No new communication-intelligibility problems were created in a reduced pressure environment when helium was added to same oxygen partial pressure, reported USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, according to Missiles and Rockets. After conducting a series of 13 simulated flights involving 25 subjects and four chamber operators using 8,300 numbers and words and 2,200 words in sentences, researchers discovered that problems were no greater in 50-50 oxygen-helium atmosphere at 7 psi than in pure oxygen at 3.5 or 5 psi, and were often less. ‘‘(M&R, 1/10/66,33)’’
Prof. Victor Bazykin, member of U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, said that Soviet VOSKHOD II Cosmonaut Pavel Belyayev had received slightly more radiation (75 millirads) than had his copilot Alexei Leonov, who had received about 65 millirads, during the 26-hr. spaceflight Mar. 18, 1965. Bazykin said the walls of the spacecraft did not absorb radiation evenly and Belyayev was in a more exposed area. ‘‘(M&R, 1/10/66)’’
USN “Southern Cross” program, attempt to convert fleet communications to secure, long-range over-the-horizon communications using techniques such as satellite relay or troposcatter, was undergoing reevaluation because of competitive pressure for funds for Vietnam war, Aviation Week reported. Southern Cross” was sponsored by USN Bureau of Ships and administered by Naval Electronics Laboratory. ‘‘(Av. Wk., 1/10/66, 36)’’
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