Jan 7 1966
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (2MB PDF)
U.S.S.R. launched COSMOS CIV with scientific instruments aboard for investigation of outer space, Tass announced. Orbital data: apogee, 401 km. (248.4 mi.); perigee, 204 km. (126.1 mi.); period, 90.2 min.; inclination, 65°. All systems were reported to be functioning normally. ‘‘(Krasnaya Zvezda, 1/9/66, USS-T Trans.)’’
I t was one minute after Command Pilot Walter M. Schirra, Jr., decided not to eject in the Dec. 12, 1965, Gemini VI launch failure at ETR, that his pulse rate increased, reported Gemini medical director Dr. Charles A. Berry in the American Medical Assn. News. Delayed reaction was viewed as supporting theory that fear follows action in an emergency particularly in the case of a highly trained subject. ‘‘(MSC Morning News Flyer, 1/7/66)’’
NASA and USN completed an agreement calling for studies by U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office to define a series of experiments aimed at enhancing oceanographic and marine-technology research from manned orbiting spacecraft. Experiments would be considered for use in NASA Apollo Applications earth-orbiting missions and would employ existing or modified Apollo hardware. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-6)’’
Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) -backup target vehicle for the GATV-was in final stages of assembly at McDonnell Aircraft Co., and would be shipped to KSC in early February for possible use in Gemini VIII rendezvous mission scheduled for March, the New York Times reported. ATDA would cost less than $1 million and could duplicate GATV’s performance except for maneuvers in space. (Wilford, NYT, 1/8/66, 5)’’
Weather modification is a reality, concluded the National Academy of Sciences’ Panel on Weather and Climate Modification after two-year review of scientific aspects of weather control. In a report submitted to NAS President Dr. Frederick Seitz, recommendations included : (1) immediate study by one agency of research and development in weather modification; (2) raising agency support from 1965 level of $5 million to at least $30 million in 1970; (3) early establishment of several carefully designed, randomized seeding experiments to assess seedability of different storm types; (4) careful monitoring and regulation of operational programs; and (5) full US. support and leadership in establishing advanced global observation system. Recognizing that research in the atmospheric sciences would contribute to the goals of weather modification, the committee urged that highest priority be given to studies of: atmospheric water budgets, initially on vapor transport over US. areas where potential of cloud seeding is important; boundary layer energy-exchange processes; theoretical models of condensation and precipitation machines; and meteorological effects of atmospheric pollution, including carbon dioxide. Report strongly urged that appropriate recognition be given to international implications of weather control. ‘‘(Text, NAS Release)’’
High-altitude test chamber at USAF Arnold Engineering Development Center was being expanded for test of “battleship” model S-IVB stage of NASA’s Saturn I-B and Saturn V launch vehicles to verify stage’s reignition capability under simulated high-altitude conditions. Stage would arrive at Arnold from Sacramento in late January; series of 15 tests expected to last six to nine months would begin in mid-1966. ‘‘(MSFC Release 66-4)’’
NASA awarded RCA two-year $7,837,000 contract for logistic support of computers used to check automatically Saturn I-B and V booster stages during manufacture and at launch site. Major equipment for the Saturn checkout systems would be the RCA 110A computer produced under separate contract with NASA MSFC. ‘‘(MSFC Release 66-8; Marshall Star, 1/12/66, 1)’’
Unidentified USAF satellite launched by Thor-Altair booster from Vandenberg AFB did not achieve orbit. ‘‘(UN. Public Registry, 5/31/66)’’
Thorough knowledge of cosmic dust, particularly interplanetary dust particles near the asteroid belt, was necessary for space engineers to successfully design manned and unmanned probes, wrote M. J. S. Relton of Kitt Peak National Observatory in Science. He stressed the importance of cosmic dust in theoretical and observational astrophysics : “It is apparently an important factor in the process of star formation. The polarization of starlight which is induced by aligned particles of interstellar dust gives information about the magnetic field in galactic systems, including our own. . . . In the solar system, the presence of dust in planetary atmosphere may lead to misinterpretations of photometric and polarimetric data that would otherwise give important information about the total mass of the atmosphere. . . . And finally, dust is responsible for such interplanetary phenomena as the F corona, zodiacal light, gegenschein, and type-II comet tails. . . .” ‘‘(Belton, Science, 1/7/66, 35-43)’’
Murray Klein, Head of Drafting Section, GSFC, died of cancer. Klein had supervised the design and construction of buildings and facilities at NASA installations throughout the Nation. ‘‘(Wash. Post, 1/8/66)’’
USAF/Lockheed SR-71B]] trainer version aircraft was delivered to SAC’s 4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB. ‘‘(O’Lone, Av. Wk., 1/17/66, 33)’’
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