Oct 11 1965
From The Space Library
Formation of a Voyager Landing-Capsule Task Team at Ames and Langley Research Centers to assist JPL during early phases of the design was announced by NASA. This would include research and analytical support. (ARC Release)
NASA's attempt to launch 99-lb. "mother-daughter" payload from Wallops Station for Pennsylvania State Univ. was unsuccessful because of a launch vehicle malfunction, Launched with four-stage Javelin (Argo D-4), the two-part payload, which only reached 20-mi. altitude, had been programed to separate at a 170-mi, altitude to obtain a profile of electron density in the upper atmosphere as the two parts ascended. In a similar launch Oct. 5, the mother-daughter sections of the payload had failed to separate. (Wallops Release 65-64)
Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, NASA Deputy Administrator, addressed symposium on universities and Federal science policies held during meeting of National Academy of Sciences, in Seattle, He discussed the role of universities in space exploration and specified NASA-university relationships: (1) direct project support by means of research contracts to universities; (2) provision of new facilities, including those to encourage interdisciplinary groups for research in the interest of both the university and NASA; and (3) training support, including program to turn out 1,000 Ph.D.'s annually, He then turned to evolution of the university's future role: "It is not expected that the university will become the primary action agency for solving the economic and social problems of our society or for setting basic social objectives, but it must have a prominent voice and influence. The university should, I think, aspire to intellectual leadership, to observe and analyze, to apply the power of the human mind-that faculty which distinguishes man from animal, to establish a rational basis for policy and action. The direct attack must be undertaken by other institutions, mainly by political agencies. We are now witnessing the evolution of government agencies, particularly those of the Federal government, to meet social needs by direct action in all fields from economics and public health to science and technology. A beginning is being made in the mobilization and integration of the total available resources to attack the most complex social problems. ". . I believe that . . . the traditional values of pursuit of excellence, freedom of inquiry, preservation of creativity, and the support of the unconventional new ideas, particularly those of young scientists. may not only be preserved but may even be strengthened within the larger framework of increased scope which can provide a sounder human motivation, bring allocation of increased resources, provide a satisfaction of great accomplishment in terms of human goals, and a sense of a community of interest with all mankind. If you will take the time to discover what is now going on in the exploration of space, you will find a free association of individuals, each with complete freedom of individual choice, in the largest and most challenging venture of man, the search for knowledge of his environment, and the application of this knowledge to his benefit. In this group of several hundred thousand people you will find innumerable examples of the pursuit of excellence from the renewed pride of the workman in his handicraft, to the intellectual effort of the scientist to analyze and observe. You will find mainly young men, unafraid of large problems or rapid change. You will find the unconventional idea being given attention. The university and the university scientist must and will adapt to the age of space exploration." (Text; Science, 11/26/65, 1129-33)
This has been the best year in history for airline-equipment orders, Stuart G. Tipton, president of the Air Transport Association, told a news conference in a summary marking the tenth anniversary of the first order for jet airplanes. Tipton said that U.S. airlines would make delivery this year on 161 jet and propjet airplanes costing $880.6 million; 239 jets and propjets costing $1,201,600,000 would be delivered to the U.S. airlines next year, on the basis of orders already placed; and 187, costing $1,033,900,000, in 1967. (AP, NYT, 10/12/65, 69)
October 11-13: The AIAA's Fourth Manned Space Flight Meeting was held in St, Louis, William B. Taylor, Director of NASA Apollo Applications Office, outlined some long-range goals of Saturn/Apollo: "By 1980, it seems likely there will be a vigorous program for manned exploration of the near planets, probably based on a new generation of space vehicles capable of flights for durations of 2 to 3 years with crews consisting of 6 to 8 men. Although by 1980 it is not likely that men will have landed on Mars, it is possible that a Mars flyby or manned orbiting mission will be imminent if not already accomplished. "On the moon by 1980, there may be in operation one or more multi-manned research observatories, conducting astronomical and geophysical operations on a year-round basis. These observatories may also be home base for mobile lunar explorations, using self-sufficient surface vehicles. "In earth orbit by 1980 there may be one or more multi-manned, orbiting space stations, functioning as research laboratories for the advancement of human knowledge and increase of living standards, In addition to these permanent space stations, there could be a variety of smaller earth orbiting spacecraft, operated by private industry or government agencies in much the way aircraft operate today, to carry out such applications as long term weather forecasting and control; surveys of water resources, crops, forests and ocean currents; continuous, wide-band worldwide communications; air, sea and space navigation, and traffic control. "These, then are some of the longer range objectives of the 1970's and 1980's which we feel can be achieved with the wide base of space technology which can be developed in alternate missions using the Saturn/Apollo systems... " (Text)
Undiscovered biological rhythms in man could prevent his visiting other planets, reported biologist Eugene Spangler, TRW Systems. "The consequences of the removal [of man from earth] are in many respects unknown. The solution may not come except by means of gradual accretions in the total time that man spends in space together with careful monitoring of his reactions as that time is increased. But it seems necessary to come to further grips with the problem insofar as possible before prolonged space flight is attempted. The goals must be first to define the problem in two steps: (1) what specific correlations exist between the life processes of man and the variations in his geophysical environment? and (2) what are the results of substantial alteration of that environment on these correlations?" Spangler noted that all of the known human rhythmic cycles could be interrupted without apparent harm, yet even the adjustment to a rapid change of several time zones after a jet flight could involve unpleasant recycling of the body's "biological clock." (Text)
Suits of armor might be worn by astronauts on long lunar explorations, reported Richard S. Johnston, James V. Correale, and Matthew I. Radnofsky, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center. The suits must be reliable, mobile, leak-resistant, and have lightweight construction and high durability for repeated wear. Two models of a metal spacesuit had met these requirements and been delivered to MSC for further testing, they said. Spacesuits for the Apollo mission, which would involve relatively brief lunar walks, would be of fabric and consist of several layers, starting with water-cooled underwear, followed by pressure layers to hold the suit's atmosphere, and finally an "overcoat" of fabric. (Text)
Greater space cooperation between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. was predicted by Astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper (L/Col., USAF) in a news conference. Cooper based his prediction on discussions he and fellow GEMINI V Astronaut Charles Conrad, Jr. (LCdr., USN) , had had with Cosmonauts Col. Pavel I. Belyayev and L/Col. Aleksei A. Leonov at the International Astronautical Congress in Athens, Cooper said the cosmonauts were "mighty nice fellows" who "appeared to be very happy that we could get together and talk." (Clark, NYT, 10/12/65, 9)
Dr. Alfred J. Eggers, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, told the meeting that the nation as a whole should be ready to decide whether to send men to other planets. He expressed faith that the public would want to continue space exploration: "It is all part of man's wanting to know what the hell he's doing in his environment, "The American people are just about what they claim they are-a people very fascinated with their environment, and when they can find another way to explore their environment they are very willing within reason to put their resources where their interest is, "They will do that so long as they are getting return on their investment, But there has to be a payoff here..." The "payoff" would not necessarily come before the mid-nineteen seventies' planetary decision, so the public would have to continue to have faith that the space program had such potential, Eggers said. (Clark, NYT, 10/14/65, 8)
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