June 1965
From The Space Library
First patent for production and separation of plutonium was granted to AEC Chairman Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg and co-inventors the late Dr. Joseph W. Kennedy and Dr. Arthur C. Wahl. The patented procedure included treatment of uranium in a reactor to produce plutonium-first synthetic element to he seen by man-and to separate and recover the plutonium by a method called oxidation reduction. (Jones, NYT, 6/26/65, 33)
Interviewed in Data, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff discussed basic research in the NASA program: "The term basic is employed for two reasons. The basic research program involves elements which undergird everything we do in aeronautics and space. Such areas as materials, fluid physics, electrophysics and applied mathematics form a common base for all of our work, In addition, most of this program is carried on at a fundamental level, that is, at the atomic and molecular level, If we select, for example, the field of materials we can observe that nearly everything we do in atmospheric and space flight is limited in some way by materials..." Asked about the role of industry in NASA's advanced research and technology program, Dr. Bisplinghoff said: "About 75 per cent of the OART research and development budget is spent outside the NASA organization. This money goes to university and research institutes and to industrial contractors capable of carrying out the advanced work making up this program." (Data, 6/65, 22-25)
Five-week study of atmosphere contaminants in a closed environmental system was concluded at USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Tex. The three phases of the test: determining leak rate of the main test cell; checking the unmanned cabin; and checking the manned, fully operational chamber (2 weeks). In the third phase four volunteer airmen lived inside the cabin in the strictly controlled experiment. They were not allowed to shave or wash; they subsisted on liquid nutritional compounds; they kept logs of diet consumed and waste volume and time; they occupied themselves only by operating psychomotor test panels or, for recreation, watching television, Study was conducted in cooperation with NASA. ( AFSC AMD Release 65-125)
Harold B. Finger, Manager of NASA-AEC Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, discussed nuclear-rocket technology in Astronautics & Aeronautics: "The recent reactor test experience shows that nuclear rockets can be made available to furnish thrust at high specific impulse for many possible post-Apollo missions. Whatever direction the future space program may take-whether toward extensive manned lunar exploration, unmanned solar-system exploration, or manned planetary exploration-the performance advantages of nuclear rockets will be available, valuable, and, certainly for the latter mission, necessary. Through this program the country will have the options it must have in selecting future missions. For the manned planetary missions, which they can perform for all planetary opportunities, nuclear rockets offer such substantial spacecraft weight reductions, and associated savings in cost, that no less-efficient form of spacecraft propulsion could be seriously considered. ..." (A&A, 6/65, 34-35)
A decade of nuclear-rocket research at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory was described in Astronautics & Aeronautics by Roderick W. Spence and Franklin P. Durham, both of LASL. The 10-yr, effort reached new levels of attainment in 1964-65, with successful tests of the Kiwi-B-4E and NRX-A2 reactors, and initial strides in the more advanced Phoebus reactor program, "The entire operations of both Kiwi-B-4E and NRX-A2 gave very close to the desired results and met or exceeded all of the test objectives. , the past decade of experience has given us confidence that nuclear-rocket engines can be built and that they will prove to give good performance with high reliability." (A&A, 6/65, 42-46)
W. Y, Jordan, Jr, R. J. Harris, and D. R. Saxon, all of MSFC, said in Astronautics & Aeronautics article that clustering of nuclear rocket systems up to 10,000 mw, of power had been studied. These studies indicated the concept showed sufficient promise to warrant more detailed design studies, and these studies had been initiated. They stated that a "modular nuclear vehicle system concept, which offers a flexible multipurpose space-transportation capability, now appears possible through development of only one basic propulsion system and vehicle stage..." (A&A, 6/65, 48-52)
A. O. Tischler, Director of Chemical Propulsion, Office of Advanced Research and Technology, NASA Hq., said in Astronautics & Aeronautics article that the time was rapidly approaching "when space will no longer be something we throw darts into, but rather an environment in which working propulsion systems maneuver and transport spacecraft payloads, eventually bringing them back to Earth for reuse. . . "Present space systems lag the launch vehicles in both development status and sophistication. But we can expect considerable performance improvement by the use of more-sophisticated space propulsion systems, Moreover, ground facilities that simulate the space environment are becoming available, With these to examine new concepts in depth, we can anticipate greater and more certain progress in spacecraft propulsion technology in the future. . . " (A&A, 6/65, 60-62)
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