Nov 1 1966
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 3 was flown by NASA test pilot William H. Dana to 3,750 mph (mach 5.34) and 306,900-ft. altitude in flight test to collect micrometeoroids. As secondary mission, pilot performed maneuvers to check dual channel radiometer, tip-pod accelerometer, and precision attitude. (X-15 Proj. Off.)
An 8,189-hr. test of cesium electron-bombardment engine performed for LRC by Electro-Optical Systems, Inc., ended when supply of cesium fuel was exhausted. Conducted in space simulation chamber, test was part of NASA's electric engine research program. Studies had shown that such systems could result in increased payloads in unmanned and manned spaceflight missions. (NASA Release 66-306)
U.S.S.R. successfully launched and recovered aerostat containing 7.6-ton high altitude automatic astronomic station," to 20-km. (12-mi.) altitude for "exploration of physical processes in the solar photosphere." Equipment, including optical and radio-technical apparatuses, had functioned normally, and results were being processed. (Tass, 11/5/66; AP, Wash. Sun. Star, 11/6/66, E26)
Test-firings of XE nuclear rocket engine-last major step before developing hardware for flight-rated nuclear engine-would begin in latter half of 1968, Milton Klein, Deputy Manager, NASA-AEC Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, told Atomic Industrial Forum in Pittsburgh. Klein also disclosed that his office had begun preliminary design of new facilities with two test positions, each capable of testing a 200,000-lb.thrust engine or an entire propulsion module under simulated altitude conditions. (Text)
Gen. Jacob E. Smart (USAF, Ret.), former Deputy Commander-in-Chief of U.S. European Command, was sworn in as a special assistant to NASA Administrator James E. Webb. (NASA Release 66-288)
George C. White, Jr., chief of NASA Hq. Apollo Spacecraft and Vehicle Test Performance Office, was appointed Director of Apollo Reliability and Quality. (NASA Ann., 11/18/66)
Survival of 17 chimpanzees without permanent damage after 3« min. in simulated space environment offered hope that an astronaut outside his spacecraft could be rescued if his spacesuit were to spring a leak. In 18 tests conducted at Holloman AFB during one year, chimps placed in a decompression chamber for time periods that were gradually increased from 5 sec. to 3« min. suffered only temporary abnormalities. L/Col. C. H. Kratochvil, commander of Holloman's aeromedical research laboratory, said close relationship between chimps and humans made it possible to assume that findings would be applicable to astronauts. (Nelson, Wash. Post, 11/2/66, ALE)
Dr. Hugh Odishaw was appointed executive secretary of the NRC Div. of Physical Sciences. Space Science Board, Geophysics Research Board, and Committee on Polar Research-groups with which Dr. Odishaw had been closely associated-would be shifted into MC as joint responsibility of Div. of Earth Sciences and Div. of Physical Sciences. They previously had been among 12 NAS groups that functioned outside the formal NRC divisional structure. (NAS-RRC-NAE News Report, 11/66, 1)
Aerobee 150 sounding rocket launched by AFCRL from WSMR reached 150 mi. (241 km.) in experiment to measure extreme ultraviolet solar radiation. (OAR Res. Rev., 1/67, 8)
ComSatCorp signed agreements to purchase 210-acre site in Montgomery County, Md., for $7-to $10-million Research and Development Center. Construction would begin in 1967. (ComSatCorp Release)
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