June 1966
From The Space Library
Lurain as seen by SURVEYOR I Science Evaluation Analysis Team after preliminary analysis of data was a dark, relatively smooth, gently rolling plain "the consistency of a freshly turned field," studded with craters ranging in diameter from one inch to several hundreds of feet and littered with fragmental debris ranging in size from few hundredths of an inch to more than three feet. Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, U.S. Geological Survey, said terrestrial scenery most closely resembling the lurain as seen by SURVEYOR I would be Sedan crater at AEC's Nevada Test site-large crater covered with small craters and "secondary ejecta" resulting from explosion of subsurface nuclear device. Lurain appeared to be composed of soil-like substance, or a fine sand, with rougher material through it. It appeared to be about three feet deep with harder surface beneath. Surface had dynamic bearing strength of 6-10 psi. Leonard Jaffe, NASA Project Surveyor scientist, noted that results of SURVEYOR I could be summarized by list of previous theories on nature of lurain that had been disproved: surface was not composed of hard rock; it was not composed of one piece of very porous rock; it was not covered by a layer of loose dust either thick or thin; it was a finely granulated material with particles that cohered to each other but did not seem particularly attracted to spacecraft; it was heavy enough for man to walk and work on and for a properly designed spacecraft to land on; and it reflected accurate radar signal from surface, not from subsurface substance. Jaffe noted there were a few hazards to manned spacecraft, mostly from large rocks and possibility of sinkage, but emphasized data so far indicated surface was adequate for landing Apollo LEM. There appeared to be two different types of rocks near SURVEYOR I: one with pitted, spongy surface that appeared to be caused by molten rock that had cooled and from which gas had escaped; the other harder, smoother surfaced, and smaller grained. SURVEYOR I photographs were considered superior to U.S.S.R.'s LUNA IX results because (1) camera was higher so that horizon was 10 times farther away; (2) camera resolution was greater (down to 1/50th of an inch); camera worked longer and took more photos under different light angles. SURVEYOR I's pictures of its own footpad had yielded data on surface and subsurface composition. (Clark, NYT, 6/8/66, 1; 6/17/66, 15; Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/17/66, A4; Sullivan, NYT, 6/19/66, 14F; SBD, 6/20/66,297)
NASA Deputy Administrator Robert C. Seamans, Jr., writing in Astronautics & Aeronautics, outlined choices in "potential manned spaceflight missions of the next generation" and argued for taking up the preliminary options now. He selected what he called "three natural, potential targets" for major extensions of manned space flight. First of these he saw as "a spacefaring research and operations center in earth orbit," described as a "large, permanent, manned space facility" that would "make possible whole new ranges of experiments, investigations, and operations." Second choice was "the moon itself. . . following up the initial exploratory landings with a permanent lunar base." Third objective could be "manned surface exploration of Mars" within context of "extension of the lunar-landing experience to the near planets." Citing both advantages and difficulties of the latter, he said: "Such an effort would represent a greater national commitment of far longer duration than our commitment in 1961 to a manned lunar landing, and would generate proportionately increased industrial, university, and government activities. Significant advances in virtually every field of space-related technology would be required. The increase in scientific knowledge from direct, firsthand observation and experimentation on another planet, however, has not yet been measured against the direct cost of its achievement, or against the more subtle cost of long term dedication to a given course of action, with its inherent loss of national flexibility in allocation of the limiting resources-technical and scientific manpower." (A&A , 6/66, 30-33)
Measurement of angular size of x-ray source Sco X-1 [see March 8, May 23, June 17-18] was reported by Herbert Gursky, Riccardo Giacconi, Paul Gorenstein, and John R. Waters of American Science and Engineering, Inc. (ASE) and MIT's Minoru Oda, Hale Bradt, Gordon Garmire, and B. V. Sreekantan in Astrophysical Journal. Accompanying article by ASE's Oscar P. Manley suggested source was a protostar; Giacconi group said source, if observable, would appear in visible light as starlike object. (Astrophys. J., 6/66, 1249, 1253)
AIP Center for History and Philosophy of Physics received grant from Ford Foundation "for a long range planning study to determine the future level and direction of the Center's growing activities in the history, philosophy and sociology of twentieth century physics." (AIP Center, Newsletter, 6/66)
Purposes of Saturn/Apollo Applications program, M/G David M. Jones (USAF), NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, said in an interview in Data magazine, were to serve as transition program from Apollo to next space goal and to accomplish "significant scientific experiments." Apollo Program Director M/G Samuel C. Phillips (USAF) said in an interview in the same issue that "barring some major setback, some major failure in a static test on the ground or major failure on a flight, it is reasonable to expect that the lunar landing . . will be accomplished before the end of 1969." (Data, 6/66, 27, 32)
Univ. of Toronto Chancellor O. M. Solandt was named chairman of newly created Science Council of Canada; Univ. of Montreal Rector Roger Gaudry was named Vice Chairman. (NAS-NRC-NAE News Report, 6-7/66,8)
More than 70 tethered balloon ascensions to 1,500-ft. altitude for vehicle drop tests had been conducted by AFCRL at Holloman AFB over past three years to test Surveyor spacecraft's retrofire descent and impact capabilities, OAR Research Review reported. (OAR Res. Rev., 6/66, 17)
Dr. Dorothy Martin Simon, Avco Corp. vice president and director of Corporate Research, received 1966 Achievement Award of Society of Women Engineers. She was cited for "significant contributions to engineering administration and space engineering, especially in the fields of combustion and ablative coatings.'`(Tech. Wk., 6/27/66, 46)
Star RU Camelopardalis, that four years ago varied its light output rhythmically every 22 days between visual magnitudes 8.2 and 9.1, had become constant in brightness at magnitude of 8.5-too faint to be seen with naked eye. Cause of change, reported in Sky and Telescope, was unknown. (Sci. Serv., NYT, 7/4/66, 32)
Ten-month survey was reported by Cal Tech radio astronomy research fellow Dr. John D. Wyndham. He found that at least a fourth of the radio sources reported beyond this galaxy belonged in the quasar category. If a fourth of the thousands of radio sources beyond the Milky Way are quasars, the latter must be very abundant, the report said. (Henry, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/29/66, A26)
U.S. aerospace exports in 1365 totaled $1,474,000,000-up 21.6 per cent from 1964 Aerospace Industries Assn. reported. (WSJ, 6/27/66, 5)
- May 1966
- June
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
