Jan 11 1966
From The Space Library
Prime goal of space exploration was the development of scientific capabilities, but it was important to recognize the many other benefits accrued from the space program, NASA Administrator James E. Webb told YMCA meeting in Oklahoma City: “We are developing, in government, in industry, in our universities, the sinews and nerves our Nation needs for healthy growth. Scientific discovery is no longer the sole province of the lone inventor. It requires an all-systems endeavor that calls on all the resources of a nation.. . . “NASA reaches across all industry. About 90 per cent of NASA’s budget goes out under contract to American industry-to pay for work by almost 400,000 men and women in the factories and laboratories of 20,000 prime and subcontractors. . . . ‘‘(Text)’’
AEC deliberately destroyed a Snap-10A reactor at National Reactor Testing Station, Ida. Safety test, designated SNAPTRAN-2, was conducted to verify ability to “predict the consequences of an accidental nuclear excursion of a Snap reactor.” ‘‘(Atomic Energy Programs, 1966, 200)’’
Potential of manned space flight in Apollo Applications program was examined by Peter Chew in National Observer. He suggested “. . . earth-orbiting astronauts . . . may be able to locate and track icebergs . . . spot fish-feeding grounds . . . support oceanography . . . produce agricultural, mineral, and fresh water surveys.” Manned satellites could provide “worldwide television coverage” and serve as “relay points for deep-space communications. ‘‘(Nat’l. Obs., 1/11/66; CR, 2/8/66, A609-10)’’
FAA announced that Washington (D.C.) National Airport would be open to short-haul jet traffic April 24. ‘‘(FAA Release 66-5)’’
January 11-12: USN was formulating plans for a Sealab III mission in an effort to expand and intensify its manned undersea activities, Under Secretary of the Navy Robert H. B. Baldwin reported at the “Symposium of Man’s Extension into the Sea” in Washington, D.C. James W. Miller, Office of Naval Research, reported that results of the Sealab II experiment had indicated that at ocean depths 600 ft. and below man could perform useful tasks such as salvaging ships and aircraft if he were equipped with electrically heated diving suits, diver-to-diver communications, and underwater swimming aids. Outside of Sealab II, the aquanauts had been cold, frustrated, unable to talk to one another, limited in their visibility, and constantly in danger. Inside the capsule, they had experienced difficulty in sleeping and had had speech problems because of the helium atmosphere. There were no serious medical problems, and “an unprecedented amount of useful work was accomplished.” ‘‘(Text)’’
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
