Jan 23 1968
From The Space Library
NASA. Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket launched from Churchill Research Range carried Univ. of Alaska payload to examine spatial distribution of ionospheric currents near visual auroral forms with flashing light on rocket used to locate position of rocket on TV film of aurora. Rocket and instrument performance was satisfactory. Radar did not track vehicle to sufficient altitude to obtain peak altitude data. (NASA Rpt SRL)
At AIAA's 6th Aerospace Sciences Meeting in New York City, NASA Associate Administrator, Dr. Homer E. Newell, compared current space activities with those of past: "Today, as we note the anniversaries of Sputnik, Explorer, and Vanguard, we do well to take stock of where we are and where we are going in Space, for after a decade of unparalleled success we find ourselves having to resell our fellow citizens this greatest adventure of mankind." Ten years ago "we could only assert from intuition and prophecy the value of space techniques to science. Today, we can point to a profound influence that space has had on the geosciences, is having on astronomy, and is beginning to have in life sciences." Ten years ago, planning for future required organizational and management, as well as disciplinary and technical, capability to achieve objectives. Now it could be based on established capability in science, engineering, and administration; proved reliability of wide variety of launch vehicles; demonstrated ability to use automatic techniques in space and to construct and fly new large systems successfully; and demonstrated capability of man to operate in space. Major problem of mastering space technology was solved, failures were few, and success, once "rare and precious commodity," became routine. Budget reductions and postponement of new space missions would continue until resolution of Vietnam war, but long-term outlook for space explorations, research, and applications was good: (1) "the intrinsic worth of the program merits the interest and support of the .. ' people"- (2) post World War II babies raised in midst of space age "will in the 70's become a powerful force of intelligent, highly educated people . . . [who will] want to continue" space exploration; (3) USSR would continue vigorous, expanding program, presenting challenge U.S. would have to meet; (4) as U.S. economic growth continued and military expenditures decreased, resources would be available and need for vigorous U.S. space program recognized; and (5) gap between professionals and laymen would be bridged by space-oriented younger generation. NASA's key policies were directed toward preserving U.S. space capability and laying groundwork for vigorous program in 1970s. NASA would seek approval from Congress and Executive Branch to initiate programs, increase emphasis on aeronautics and space applications and practical applications on earth, and continue to support development of key advanced technologies. (Text)
AIAA's highest award, Goddard Award, was presented jointly to General Electric Co. project managers Donald C Berkey and James E. Warsham and Ernest C. Simpson, Chief of Turbine Engine Div. at USAF's Aero Propulsion Laboratory, for "an outstanding contribution to aircraft propulsion in relation to development of the high bypass ratio turbofan engine" [TF39 engine which would power USAF's C-5A jet transport aircraft]. Other awards: Sylvanus Albert Reed Award to William-H. Cook, Boeing Co., for his influence on development of Boeing 727 and SST; Space Science Award to Prof. Kinsey A. Anderson, Univ. of California at Berkeley, for "a consistent series of major contributions to the development of space science and the improvement of our understanding of solar cosmic radiation, the aurora and the magnetosphere"; and 1968 Dryden Research Lecture Award to Hans W. Liepmann for research on laminar instability and transition. Lam Director Dr. Floyd L. Thompson was elected AIAA President, succeeding Harold T. Luskin. (AIAA News, 1/5/68, 1/15/68, 1/23/68; AIAA Facts)
Honored at Chicago's National Conference on Industrial Research as Man of the Year in research by Industrial Research magazine, JPL Director, Dr. William H. Pickering, told press at Illinois Institute of Technology, "The United States has superiority in space exploration but the Congressional cutbacks may enable the Russians to get well ahead of us." (Kotulak, C Trib, 1/24/68)
Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.), Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, said on floor of the House, ". . . these are times of stringent budgetary considerations [and] times when fiscal allocations for our space program must be evaluated." He referred to Jan. 2 Oakland Tribune editorial which stated: "After the frustrations and fears brought on by the Soviet Union's early space successes, this nation resolved to bear the burdens and financial strain of winning the space race. We were not going to continue to be second in space. That commitment is as worthy today as it was in the early years of this decade. At stake is not only national prestige but critical scientific knowledge and military advantages. Fickle second thoughts at this late date are inexcusable." (CR, 1/23/68, E139)
January 23-24: House Committee on Science and Astronautics opened Ninth Annual Seminar with Panel discussion of applied science and its relationship to world economy. President of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development George D. Woods said that "technologies do . . . provide the developing countries of the world with the basis for a satisfactory rate of economic growth." We should concentrate efforts on education, agriculture, population control, development efforts on VTOL and STOL aircraft, communications and geodetic satellites, and sea water desalination. douse Speaker John W. McCormack said, "If scientific knowledge is applied indiscriminately without regard to social and world costs, the results over a period of time can be disastrous [and] Congress must have a means for judging the consequences of science." Dr. Anthonie T. Knoppers, Senior Vice President of Merck & Company, Inc., speaking of transfer of marketable technology, said that "everybody recognizes . . . problems of the future the large corporation cannot solve" and called for "new firms in which the corporation, the university, and the government have to work to better solve some of our sociological problems." (Transcript)
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