Jan 21 1965
From The Space Library
MARINER IV completed nearly one-quarter of its 7½-mo. journey to Mars and was more than 10 million mi. from earth. The craft was traveling 10,680 mph relative to the earth; velocity relative to the sun was 68,255 mph; total distance traveled was over 93 million mi. After 54 days in space, all systems were functioning normally except the solar plasma probe which ceased returning intelligible data one week after launch. (NASA Release 65-17)
Laser beam was bounced off NASA's EXPLORER XXII ionosphere satellite and photographed by Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories scientists Robert Iliff and Theodore Wittanen. This was first such photo and was important verification of feasibility of use of laser for both satellite tracking and geodetic purposes. When such laser reflections off satellites were photographed against a star background from two ground stations of known locations and other ground stations in the field, triangulation of the simultaneous photos would locate the position of field stations with an accuracy hitherto not possible by other means. This success with Largos (Laser Activated Reflecting Geodetic Optical Satellite) also set a distance record for photo or photoelectric detection of reflected laser signals; slant range to satellite was 950 mi. (AFCRL Release 2-65-2)
USAF launched a 100-lb. ARV (Aerospace Research Vehicle) satellite pickaback aboard an Atlas ICBM from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. The satellite, carrying instrumentation to sample radiation and micrometeoroids, was the first to be sent toward westward orbit around the earth. Satellite Situation Report for January 31, 1965, did not indicate that the satellite had achieved orbit. (AP, Wash. Post, 1/22/65; M&R, 2/1/65, 9; SSR, 1/31/65, 13)
Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-Me.), ranking member of the Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, told NANA in an interview that the United States was giving more to the Soviets than it got in a lopsided exchange of space data. She said that for several months weather information derived from "conventional" sources in the Soviet Union had been sent through a communications link between Moscow and Suitland, Md. "The weather information is not that derived from a satellite as provided for by the agreement," she asserted. "Up to the present time, based on the information I have available, the Soviets are realizing more from the 1962 Geneva Agreement than we are." Senator Smith added that measuring the results of the Geneva Agreement strictly on scientific knowledge gained "is not a broad enough yardstick. Any real plusses, it seems to me, must be measured in the light of what we seek to accomplish, namely, the mastering of space for the benefit of all mankind. The fact that the Geneva Agreement ever came into existence shows an awareness of the magnitude of the task confronting man if he expects to operate successfully in space." (Glaser, NANA, Indianapolis Star, 1/21/65)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb received an honorary doctorate from Wayne State Univ., Detroit, Mich. During a speech there he said: "Our goal is 100 per cent assurance of [space booster] success. This is difficult to achieve, but until we are certain in our own minds that we can count on success we do not go [on] with a manned shot. My directive on this is very clear. It came first from President Kennedy and has been restated by President Johnson. It is ‘Go when ready and don't go until ready.’ " (Text)
As part of the ceremonies dedicating the Capt. Theodore C. Freeman Memorial Library of Astronautics at the Houston Baptist College, Faith L. Freeman, 10-yr.-old daughter of the late astronaut, was awarded a scholarship to the college. (Houston Post, 1/22/65; MSC Roundup, 2/3/65, 8)
Federal Aviation Agency announced that Alitalia had reserved three additional delivery positions for the U.S. supersonic transport plane, bringing the Italian carrier's total to six. The new total of reserved positions for the SST was 96; the number of airlines holding positions was 21. (FAA Release 65-12)
The newspaper La Mariana said "flying saucers" had appeared in Uruguay. Several readers had reported saucers zigging and zagging at great speed, and said they "could only be manned space ships." (UPI, Wash. Daily News, 1/22/65)
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