May 21 1964
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 3 flown by NASA pilot Milton O. Thompson to 63,000-ft. altitude and 2,045-mph speed (mach 3.10). The X-15 rocket engine burned 41 sec. before Thompson cut back power to planned 40 per cent. Then engine unexpectedly cut off. Thompson could not restart it, and he had to make emergency landing on Cuddeback Dry Lake. Cause of premature shutdown was malfunction in engine control system. This was fourth forced landing in 107 X-15 flights. (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.; AP, Balt. Sun., 5/22/64)
First two-way telephone call between U.S. and Japan via a communications satellite was conducted by personnel of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., and Radio Research Laboratory Station, Kashima, Japan, using RELAY II satellite in orbit about 4,000 mi. above the Pacific Ocean. (NASA Release 64-122)
House passed H.R. 11296 by voice vote, making FY 1965 appropriations for independent offices but excluding the $5.2 billion for NASA. Because Senate had not yet acted upon NASA authorization legislation for FY 1965, Congressional rules permitted any member to block appropriations on a point of order. Rep. John W. Wydler (R.-N.Y.) objected to the construction and administrative operation appropriation-because of $60 million included for electronics research center in Boston-and his objection was sustained. Then Rep. Olin E. Teague (D.-Tex.), Chairman of Manned Space Flight Subcommittee of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, objected to remainder of the NASA appropriations, thus blocking any attempts to cut them further. (NASA LAR III/102; CR, 5/21/64, 11241 II)
Following House debate of Independent Offices Appropriations Bill, Rep. Olin E. Teague (D.-Tex.) told press interviewers that cuts from FY 1965 space appropriations came "very close to being the straw that broke the camel's back" on goal to land man on the moon by 1970. $245 mil-lion less than requested, the $5.2 billion appropriation would leave "no place to cut this budget" Without the $141 million requested supple-mental, which was included in the $245 million cut, Rep. Teague said he feared manned lunar landing goal was lost. (AP, 5/21/64)
Rep. Louis C. Wyman (R.-N.H.) submitted his separate views on NASA FY 1965 appropriations, which he had filed with Independent Offices Subcommittee. In his report, he said: "Two things are seriously wrong in our space spending: First, the 1970 target date for a man on the moon; and second, advance contracting for Apollo before we know that Gemini is going to work. . . . "We should slow down in our spending on space, reassess the situation and bring the programs back to a more realistic, down-to-earth basis. - . We should cut back the present space appropriation by at least a billion dollars, or to an appropriation for fiscal 1965 of $4.2 billion. This is not going to wreck anything except the best-laid plans of a few space contractors. But it will help a great deal in providing additional funds for some of the pressingly important things we must do now on earth." (CR, 5/21/64, A2704-05)
Dr. Eugene Fubini, Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering, told House Military Operations Subcommittee of Government Operations Committee that Titan III space booster was potentially the most desirable and economical launch vehicle for medium-altitude communications satellite system. ". . . if we could use the Titan there would be a tremendous money saving" over the Atlas-Agena. He said a shared commercial military comsat system would have "undeniable advantages" over separate military system. (NASA LAR III/102; Av. Wk., 5/25/64, 32)
NASA said major contractor on Project Apollo, North American Aviation, Inc., Space and Information Systems Div., would soon reduce its Apollo personnel by about 1,000. The action was a cost-reduction measure, and was not indicative of either current Congressional debate or change in Apollo scheduling. "We are merely trying to keep costs down as much as we can," NASA spokesmen said. (AP, WSJ, 5/22/64; Finney, NYT, 5/22/64, 9)
Dr. Donald F. Hornig, Director of President's Office of Science and Technology, testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics" Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development in its hearings on geographical distribution and indirect costs of Federal R&D. Dr. Hornig said Congress was cutting administrative overhead funds in Federally financed research at universities, and universities were forced to divert funds from other needs to help pay for Federally sponsored research. "Since the university has many scholarly functions to perform, while Federal funds are devoted generally to the sciences or to areas within science, it does not seem to be in the national interest to pursue a policy which diverts private funds from the education of students or the performance of scholarly research in non-scientific areas." Dr. Hornig stated Federal support of research in past decade had produced "a dispersal of university strength," adding that Southeast and Mountain regions now were producing proportionately more doctorates than 10 years ago. (NASA LAR I11/102; NYT, 5/22/64, 8)
Addressing American Ordnance Association in Washington, Dr. Edward C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, said: "It is my thesis that mutual disarmament-and prudence dictates that there should be no other kind-would greatly increase the flow of funds and effort into space exploration and into the building of greater space capability. This does not necessarily mean a full transfer of all avail-able resources to space applications. But, just for illustration, suppose that there were a 10% decrease in weapon systems spending. With good planning at least half of it could be diverted smoothly and efficiently into an increased space effort. With greater difficulty, the remainder might be directed toward mending other inadequacies in our society. .. "I am an avid supporter of the private competitive enterprise system. I also am an avid supporter of a responsible government which creates a climate in which the private system can work efficiently. My proposal to accelerate space activity to offset decreases in weapon system activity does not conflict with my support of private enterprise. In fact, it supports it, even though the funds would pass through government hands in the process. The basic objective is to strengthen our country. . . . "In conclusion, let me emphasize: "First. Disarmament, in the form of decreased production of weapon systems, does not need to cause an economic depression. "Second. Resources made available as a result of decreased production of weapon systems could most effectively be applied to accelerated development of space systems. "Third. While it is important to keep private industry healthy, government financing of research and development is not in conflict with such objectives. In fact, it may well stimulate increased production and increased employment by private companies. "And finally, I do not suggest that there should be a sharp increase in spending for space. But I do believe space spending should increase at a rate at least consonant with the increase in our gross national product, not only because increase in the GNP makes resources available for more space activities, but also because space exploration itself stimulated the gross national product." (Text)
U.S. District Judge refused to halt supersonic flight tests over Oklahoma City in FAA sonic boom study, after 19 Oklahoma City residents filed suit attempting to halt the flights. (AP, NYT, 5/22/64, 70)
NASA announced that Joseph T. Dickerson, Jr., was appointed Special Assistant to Dr. George E. Mueller, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight. Mr. Dickerson would assist Dr. Mueller in the areas of management, labor relations, and Government-industry relationships. (NASA Release 64-119)
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