Jul 17 1963
From The Space Library
President Kennedy, asked in press conference whether reports that U.S.S.R. was not striving for manned lunar landing would affect Project Apollo, said "Well, in the first place, we don't know whether the Russians are what their plans may be. What we are interested in is what their capabilities are. While I have seen the statement of Mr. Lovell [July 16] about what he thinks the Russians are doing, his information is not final. Their capacity is substantial; there is every evidence that they are carrying on a major campaign and diverting greatly needed resources to their space effort. With that in mind, I think that we should continue. It may be that our assumption or the prediction . . . that they are not going to the moon might be wrong a year from now, and are we going to divert ourselves from our effort in an area where the Soviet Union has a lead, is making every effort to maintain that lead, in an area which could affect our National security as well as great peaceful development? I think we ought to go right ahead with our own program and go to the moon before the end of this decade. "The point of the matter always has been not only of our excitement or interest in being on the moon, but the capacity to dominate space, which would be demonstrated by a moon flight. [This] I believe, is essential to the United States as a leading free world power. That is why I am interested in it and that is why I think we should continue, and I would be not diverted by a newspaper story." Asked about the possibility of cooperating with U.S.S.R. in joint lunar mission, he replied "We have said before to the Soviet Union that we would be very interested in cooperation. As a matter of fact, finally, after a good many weeks of discussion, an agreement was worked out on an exchange of information with regard to weather, but we have never been able to go into more detail. The kind of cooperative effort which would be required for the Soviet Union and the United States together to go to the moon would require a breaking down of a good many barriers of suspicion and distrust and hostility which exist between the communist world and ourselves. "There is no evidence as yet that those barriers will come down, though quite obviously we would like to see them come down. Obviously, if the Soviet Union were an open society as we are that kind of cooperation could exist, and I would welcome it. I don't see it as yet, unfortunately." (Text. Wash. Post, 7/18/63)
National Aeronautics and Space Council considered NASA-DOD coordination in Project Gemini and space stations. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, NASC Chairman, said after the meeting: "Coordination is a natural and effective enemy of duplication .... I am encouraged by the coordination already being exhibited between these two agencies in these important fields, but continuing attention is required if this country is to fulfill its destiny as the leading space-faring nation." (NASC Release) )
In letter to Chairman Miller of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, NASA Administrator Webb expressed NASA views on H.R. 5171, bill to "authorize the Administrator of the General Services Administration to coordinate and otherwise provide for the economic and efficient purchase, lease, maintenance, operation, and utilization of electronic data processing equipment by Federal departments and agencies." Mr. Webb wrote that the "scientific and technical use and management. of computers cannot be separated from the responsibility for conducting the national space program. The bill would necessarily have the effect of fragmenting and watering down that responsibility. Accordingly, I see no alternative but to recommend that NASA be exempted from the terms of the bill . . . 21 (Letter, CR, 7/18/63,12273)
NASA announced six-month contract with Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., for study of and recommendations for NASA management of manned space flight program. Study was associated with NASA organizational changes necessitated by completion of Project Mercury and focusing on Projects Gemini and Apollo. Included in study would be ways of improving relationship of NASA centers and industrial contractors involved in manned space flight program. (NASA Release 63-156)
In roll call vote (245-144), House of Representatives approved $511 000 in Interior Dept budget for FY 1964 to "Ion National Air Museum. (Wash. Eve. Star, 7/17/63, Bl)
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