Nov 30 1962
From The Space Library
Franco-American scientific sounding rocket launchings coordinated when two U.S. launchings were made from Wallops Island while France launched one from Algeria and failed to launch one from France. First U.S. rocket (Nike-Cajun) fired at 5:57 AM carried a Langmuir probe to determine electron density and the temperature of the "E" layer of the ionosphere (50-100 miles altitude) ; the second (Nike-Apache) launched at 6:15 AM, released a sodium vapor cloud to 106-mi. altitude which spread over 100 miles of the eastern seaboard. "Sporadic E" regions of the ionosphere have electron density that reflects much higher radio frequencies, and may result from wind shears. On November 7, GSFC scientists undertook the first sounding rocket firings to examine correlation between "E" region and wind shears.
Sixth and final powered test of Kiwi B-4A ground-test reactor for Project Rover was successful at Jackass Flats, Nev. Newsmen were permitted to watch this test from a mile away, the first test to which outside observers had been allowed. Kiwi B-4A, looking more like a flyable engine than some of its predecessors, was mounted on a remote-controlled railroad flatcar, consumed tons of liquid hydrogen in the half-power, five-min. test. Part of the joint AEC-NASA program for development of a nuclear-powered rocket, the series of ground reactors tested different reactor designs, fuels, metals, and accessories.
Dr. Jesse L. Greenstein, prof. of astrophysics at Cal Tech, estimated aggregate of energy far out in universe was equal to amount of energy released by 10,000,000 stars like our sun in their entire lifetimes. "No known physical phenomenon can account for it. It must be the result of some fantastic catastrophe in the universe," Dr. Greenstein said. Electromagnetic energy was detected by radiotelescopes.
Representative Charles E. Goodell (R–N.Y.), speaking at Douse Education Subcommittee hearing, criticized NASA’s hopes to recruit 1,000 graduate students into space research each year during this decade: "That's 25 per cent of our production of Ph.D.'s in the space-oriented sciences. That's an incredible share of our brainpower to concentrate on one agency." John F. Clark, Associate Director and Chief Scientist, NASA Office of Space Sciences, defended NASA aim as being commensurate with NASA’s share of total Government expenditures for research.
Representative John E. Moss (D–Calif.), Chairman of special House Subcommittee on Government Information, criticized "Government news management which is unique in peacetime." He objected strongly to handling of news about military space launches: "All launches by military agencies, whether they are for a military purpose or to gather information of a scientific nature, are covered by a blanket of secrecy. . . . All information about the billions of dollars spent by the military in Space research is channeled through the Pentagon's single public information voice." Moss recalled last September when NASA said that six Russian attempts to send space probes to Venus and Mars had failed. Since then, Moss said, "there has been a complete blackout of information about Russian satellite efforts. This is the kind of news management that causes grave concern. If we cover up Russian successes . . . we can certainly cover up our failures. This . . . leads to a dangerous delusion of the American people." In press interview, former President D. D. Eisenhower recommended reduction in next year's Federal spending by at least $4 billion, with $2 billion coming out of the $4-billion space budget.
At meeting of the National Academy of Sciences at Austin, Texas, President Frederick Seitz said that other nations should bear a larger share of space exploration efforts. This would help solve "a big problem for us today—whether the attention being given to aerospace in America is draining too much manpower from the other sciences." Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz said in San Francisco that Lockheed Aircraft Corp.'s "extraordinary intransigence" was responsible for deadlocked negotiations with the International Association of Machinists which resulted in two-day strike (IAM strikers returned to work today). Three-man board of inquiry appointed by the President began their investigation of the "union shop" conflict.
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