Jan 21 1963
From The Space Library
Saturn SA4 vehicle left Huntsville, Ala., by barge on 10-day trip to Cape Canaveral, where it would be launched. (UPI, Birmingham Post-Herald l/22/63)
In memorandum to FAA, DOD and Commerce, NASA, CAB, and Director of Office of Science and Technology, White House requested a report evaluating the $1 million already spent or allocated to research for supersonic transport program and “firm recommendations for possible further action.” Requested report on supersonic airliner program was to be submitted before the end of this year. (UPI, Wash. Post, l/22/63)
First flight-test, of X-20A’s inertial guidance system was announced by AFSC. First in series of 24, test was conducted in NF-101B “Voodoo” aircraft over Eglin Gulf Test Range, Fla. (AFSC Release 31-R-5)
Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, Director of NASA Office of Advanced Research and Technology (OART) , said in speech before IAS in New York : “Within the NASA, our philosophy of advanced research and technology is an extension and an expansion of its predecessor, the NACA. There may be said to exist two principal responsibilities in these activities. The first is a simple extension of the NACA in which applied research, with a substantial component of basic research, is emphasized. Here, the principal effort takes place within our field research centers. . . . “[The second] . . . could be described as the innovation of selected advanced subsystems to permit rapid development and engineering of future systems in the shortest possible time and at minimum cost. “Again, the mode of operation places the principal burden of responsibilities within the field centers, but now we find them closely coupled with American industry . . . .” (Text)
Study on possibility of polluting outer space with rocket exhaust gases, made by Geophysics Corp. of America for ARPA, was reported by John W. Finney of New York Times. Principal conclusion of study was that there is “strong probability that the accelerated rocket program with enormously large missiles in prospect in the near future may cause modifications over large local areas or on a worldwide basis in the upper atmosphere.” Modifications could include marked changes in composition, structure, and temperature of upper atmosphere and changes in electron density of the ionosphere. For example, large amounts of hydrogen could absorb ultraviolet radiation from sun and thus decrease electron density in D region of the ionosphere. (NYT Co., Atlanta Constitution, l/21/63)
Reported that Russia's Aeroflot had increased its student fare discount from 25% to 50%., discount applicable to all college students, including those taking evening and correspondence courses, high school students, and persons enrolled at military or naval institutes. (Av. Wk. l/21/63,52)
Soviet, scientist Anatoli A. Blagonravov said in Izvestia article that dual flights of Cosmonauts Nikolayev and Popovich in August 1962 proved that, from a medical point of view, manned flight to the moon is now possible. Neither cosmonaut has shown physiological disturbances since the prolonged space flights, he said ; flights proved man could avoid dangerous radiation and could work in outer space over long periods. Reviewing Cosmos series of 12 scientific satellites, to date, begun by Soviets in March 1962, Blagonravov said they could be considered a preliminary stage in creating “inhabited” satellites." (Av. Wk., l/21/63,59)
Atomic Energy Commission awarded full-power license to operate the 60 mega-watt Plum Brook research reactor to the Plum Brook Station of NASA Lewis Research Center. (LRC Release 63-3. Lewis Chronology, 1)
$331 million, or almost two thirds, of AEC'S FY 1964 budget request of $527 million for reactor development would be directed toward space and military applications. (Av. Wk., l/21/63, 31) National Aeronautics and Space Council’s budget request for FY 1964 amounted to $525,000 - decrease of $5,090 from FY 1963. (Av. Wk.. l/21/63,25)
Eastern Air Lines survey revealed that 17.3% of its air-shuttle passengers had been converted from surface transportation on Boston-New York-Washington route because of no-reservation commuter flights. (Av. Wk., l/21/63,52)
A statement from the American Meteorological Society expressed the hope that the U.S. would continue to provide leadership in the challenging new field of meteorological rockets and urged support on an expanded and more enduring basis. The AMS recommended that the national program should pursue three objectives :
- (1) A U.S. Meteorological Rocket Network based on the existing network should be established and cooperative programs with other countries should be arranged.
- (2) A first-generation meteorological rocket network capable
of reliably probing the atmosphere between 30 and at least 60 km. to measure winds and either pressure or temperature or density as a function of height should be produced.
- (3) A second-generation meteorological rocket network capable of reliably probing the atmosphere between 30 and 100 km. or higher, to measure winds and either pressure or temperature or density as a function of height, and electron density above 60km. should be established. (Bulletin of the AMS, May 1963)
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