Mar 10 1965
From The Space Library
A dummy model of the Gemini spacecraft, dropped from 11,000 ft. altitude by a C-119 aircraft, parachuted into the Atlantic Ocean and was recovered by three USAF pararescue men. This was a practice mission in case Astronauts Virgil I. Grissom (USAF) and John W. Young USN) had to abort their GT-3 flight during the launching phase. (AP, Orl. Sent., 3/11/65)
Reviewing NASA's activities in manned space flight in the last year, Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, testified before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences: "It is a pleasure to report that . . . there has been substantial progress in the development and testing of flight vehicles and earth-based facilities, in the nearly complete marshalling of the government-industry manned space flight team, and in the consolidation of firm program-wide management. "During the past year, the Gemini Program has advanced to the point that we are ready for manned flight operations. The Apollo Program is entering a year of comprehensive development testing of major systems prior to the 'all-up' unmanned earth-orbital flights, which will begin in 1966. And our study of advanced manned missions has established that it is feasible to return dividends from the current investment by applying the wide range of Apollo capabilities to a number of other potential missions." (Testimony; NASA Auth. Hearings, 143ff)
Harold B. Finger, Director of NASA Nuclear Systems and Space Power and Manager of the AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, discussed NASA's electric thrustor program in testimony before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Advanced Research and Technology: "We conducted the first successful flight test of an electric rocket engine in July, using the SERT I spacecraft. This flight demonstrated that ion beam neutralization will take place satisfactorily in space and, therefore, eliminated the only uncertainty regarding the basic feasibility of successful space operation. A second major accomplishment was the design, fabrication, and test of a 30 kilowatt thrustor. This thrustor is 10 times larger than previous ion engines, and demonstrates that we are successfully developing the engineering relations required to build the mega-watt size thrustors needed for spacecraft prime propulsion." Discussing nuclear propulsion programs, he said: "1964 was a year of significant progress in the Nuclear Rocket Program. It was marked by the successful completion of the Kiwi series of reactor development experiments and the successful initiation of the NERVA reactor testing. These reactor experiments, coupled with work in other portions of our Nuclear Rocket Program, provide assurance that the graphite core nuclear rocket can be available to fulfill its role as the next major space propulsion system. "Of particular significance in 1964 was the successful demonstration of the adequacy of the reactor structural design, the elimination of reactor structural vibrations, full power reactor operation for over ten minutes at an altitude equivalent specific impulse of about 750 seconds, a rapid automatic startup, the ability to restart the rocket reactor, the determination of the effect of a maximum reactor power excursion, and the neutronic investigation of two rocket reactors located side-by-side as would be necessary in clustered engine configurations. . . . "During this year emphasis will be placed upon extending our reactor technology to higher temperature, longer duration, and higher power while we proceed as rapidly as possible to close coupled nuclear rocket engine system testing. We face this task of developing nuclear rocket technology including component, subsystem, and engine system work, with a confidence that is based on the solid accomplishments in our reactor development program and with the knowledge that the technology we are developing will provide the propulsion capability that will ultimately be required for extensive space exploration." (Testimony ; NASA Auth. Hearings, 243-300)
According to USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories study, a continuous barrage of meteoroids was causing moon to lose up to 6,000 tons a day and earth to gain 10,000 lbs. a day. Because of its strong gravity, earth absorbed about four times as many impacts as moon. (OAR Release 3-65-3; Chic. Trib., 3/11/65)
NASA announced award of $3,713,400 contract to Raytheon Co. to provide digital systems for Project Apollo. Options for additional displays and consoles, if exercised, could add $400,000 to basic price. The equipment was for use at NASA control centers and critical tracking stations to give instantaneous display of information received by encoded radio signals during Apollo flight permitting immediate decisions concerning welfare of the astronauts and conduct of the mission. (NASA Release 65-79)
Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) introduced in the Senate S. 1483, a bill to provide for a National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities. (CR, 4/26/65, 8122)
Roy W. Jenkins, British Aviation Minister, presented a plan to House of Commons to give grants of up to £100 ($280) each to householders plagued by noise of jetliners to soundproof their homes. It was estimated that about 40% of 200,000 householders affected would accept the grant, bringing the total cost to $7 million. An Airport Authority would be established to underwrite the cost of the grants. Householders complained that money was insufficient for adequate sound-proofing. (NYT, 4/11/65, 57)
Dr. [[W. Randolph Lovelace II], NASA's Director of Space Medicine, said NASA physicians screening future astronauts were eliminating people with heart and spine defects so slight they would be insignificant on earth, "We are interested in finding minute defects between the left and right heart," he explained. "If you lose pressure and you have this defect, thousands of little air bubbles may find their way up to the brain. If there is no defect, they are removed from the lungs. We are also looking for congenital defects of the spine. When someone experiences the acceleration astronauts do, however, a small defect may be magnified in effect." (Kass, Houston Post, 3/11/65)
March 10-11: Stuart G. Tipton, President of the Air Transport Association, testified before Senate Aviation Subcommittee that "more joint fares, perhaps more guaranteed flights, certainly more sales campaigns" by larger airlines might be initiated to help helicopter lines which were r facing end of Federal subsidies. Tipton stipulated, how- ever, that CAB's five-year declining subsidy proposal still would be essential. Earlier in the week, he had testified that airlines would not increase their aid, Senators and Representatives from all three states that had helicopter service testified in support of subsidies. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy I D-N.Y.) said: "I think that, really, if we don't do it now [continue subsidy] it won't be done and that will affect not just New York and the other two cities but the entire country." Opposition came from Sen, William Proxmire (D-Wis,) who argued for a "user tax on the people who use helicopters . . ." (Clark, NYT, 3/11/65, 55; Clark, NYT, 3/12/65, 66)
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