Nov 2 1964
From The Space Library
November 2-4: RELAY I and RELAY II communications satellites were used to broadcast election week previews and results to Europe. Total broadcast time amounted to slightly less than two hours. SYNCOM II synchronous communications satellite, stationed in the Pacific, relayed nearly eight hours of U.S. Presidential election returns to the Far East. Voice of America transmitted the radio signals. (Goddard News, 11/ 16/64, 3; NASA Release 64-279)
USAF announced launch of Thor-Agena D booster combination with unidentified satellite payload, from Vandenberg AFB. (UPI, NYT, 11/3/64, 53; HHN-48)
FAA announced that the two airframe and two engine manufacturers participating in U.S. supersonic transport program had submitted second-round design proposals for evaluation by Government and airlines. (Airframe companies, Boeing Co. and Lockheed Aircraft Corp.; engine companies, General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney Div. of United Aircraft Corp.) 120-member joint Supersonic Transport Evaluation Group, comprised of specialists from FAA, NASA, USAF, CAB, and USN, would conduct Government evaluation, with aerodynamic studies of wind tunnel models submitted by airframe contractors being con-ducted at NASA Langley Research Center. Both Government and air-line evaluations were scheduled for completion Nov. 30. Basis of the Lockheed design was still a delta wing with a small delta at front of fuselage, but the company said that a larger, thinner wing, aerodynamically "cleaner" design, and engines with 25 per cent more power gave it "major advances" in range and passenger-carrying ability, with a profit potential of 30 per cent return on investment. Three different fuselage lengths, with capacity for 170 to 250 passengers, were offered. The Boeing Co., which initially offered two versions, said that its new design could match the economies of current jets over long ranges and would seat 200 to 250 passengers. (FAA Release 64-101; Clark, NYT, 11/4/64, 52)
Four-man panel of former DOD R&D directors, under auspices of Scientists and Engineers for Johnson and Humphrey, responded to Republican charges that Democratic Administration had "neglected and stifled innovation. . . ." Panel said: "We favor maintaining a substantial base of defense research and development which is essential if we are to maintain the flow of new ideas and new devices. But support of R&D does not mean the innovation of a large number of operational systems without regard for military requirements or without ample attention to technical and operational feasibility. Senator Goldwater and his advisors have ignored the fact that many of the projects cancelled during previous administrations had proved unfeasible or too expensive in relation to the military benefits they would yield. . . ." (SBD, 11/2/64, 5)
Soviet members of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space visited NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. They were Prof. 0. G. Gazenko, Prof. Yu. D. Kalimin, and Mr. I. V. Milovidov. (God-dard News, 12/14/64, 2)
Aviation Week editor Robert Hotz took U.S. intelligence experts and NASA officials to task for the "considerable disgruntlement [that] has been generated in the U.S. manned space flight program" since Soviets' VOSKHOD space flight. "All of this does not mean that the U.S. manned space flight program should be slowed, diminished, or abandoned, as a variety of critics have suggested. . . . It means that the U.S. manned space flight pro-gram is not overtaking the Soviets at its present pace and must be accelerated, expanded to yield better scientific results and aimed at some longer-ranging goals beyond the lunar landing. . . . "We always have been convinced that this nation has the technical resources to accelerate its pace and achieve the eventual leadership in man's exploration of space. What we seem to lack is the political leadership and management organization that will enable this complex partnership of taxpayer, government and industry to proceed at the pace of which it is capable toward goals that will surpass its competition. For a nation that grew to its present greatness on the strength of its competitive surge, we are coming extremely close to losing this legacy in space." (Av. Wk., 11/2/64, 11)
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