Jun 25 1968
From The Space Library
NAS Committee on SST-Sonic Boom's Subcommittee on Human Response reported that although studies indicated little cause for physiological concern, psychological impact of sonic boom would be discouraging for supersonic flight over land by present SST configurations. Report stressed, however, that although no damage to hearing or other direct physical damage was expected, indirect physiological responses could be caused by startle produced by even moderate booms. Committee's recommendations to develop "commercial SST which will be able to fly supersonically over populated areas at frequent intervals without undue annoyance to the residents" included: further development of concept of "utility" in comparing monetary and nonmonetary costs and benefits of flights; continuation of laboratory studies of booms; construction of additional boom-simulation facilities and improvement of existing ones; continuation of studies of human reaction to varied boom levels; and studies of human response during sleep and effects of repeated awakenings. (NAS Release; Schmeck, NYT, 6/26/68, 41; NAS-NRC-NAE News Report, 6-7/68, 1)
NASA awarded $36,271,376 three-year cost-plus-award-fee contract to RCA Service Co. for maintenance and operation of Satellite Tracking and Data Acquisition Network (STADAN) facilities at GSFC; Rosman, N.C.; and Fairbanks, Alaska. Contract carried two one-year extension options. (NASA Release 68-110)
MSFC had brought 22 Super Loki Dart rockets from Space Data Corp. to replace larger, costlier Cajun-Dart sounding rockets in high-altitude atmospheric research at KSC. Super Loki, costing $800, in contrast to $2,800 for Cajun, would deliver similar performance in taking high-altitude wind measurements before and after Saturn launch vehicle flights. (MSFC Release 68-139)
USN announced selection of 54 men to serve as aquanauts in 60-day Sealab III experiment in underwater living, scheduled to begin in October. Former Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter (Cdr., USN), team leader for Sealab II (Aug. 28-Sept. 26, 1965), would serve as Senior Aquanaut. Ocean floor experiments would be conducted at 620-ft depth off San Clemente Island by 40 aquanauts in 5 teams serving 12 days each. Remaining 14 men would serve as alternates and backup surface support divers. (DOD Release 579-68; Aero Daily, 6/26/68)
President Johnson announced he would nominate AEC Chairman, Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, to fill unexpired term of Dr. Samuel M. Nabrit, who had resigned from AEC Aug. 1, 1967. Term would end June 30, 1970. Dr. Seaborg's current term would expire June 30, 1968. President also would nominate James T. Ramey, AEC member since 1962, to new five-year term expiring June 30, 1969. (PD, 7/1/68, 1012-3)
U.S patent No. 3,390,336 was issued to Dr. Michael J. DiToro, Vice President for Science of Cardion Electronics, for Adapticom, instrument that corrected multipath reception or time-spread responsible for fuzziness and consequent errors in high-speed radio and telephone communications and eliminated ghosts from facsimile transmission. (Jones, NYT, 6/15/68, 49)
Senate by vote of 78 to 3 passed H.R. 16703, authorizing construction at military installations, including funds for ABM land acquisition and construction. Approximately $1.2 billion for Sentinel program was included in various budget requests of DOD and AEC for FY 1969. During final day of debate Sentinel system advocates had warned more of U.S.S.R. missile threat and less of Red Chinese missile threat which Sentinel had been designed to counter. (CR, 6/25/68, S7721; W News, 6/25/68, 4)
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