Oct 19 1964
From The Space Library
NASA launched four-stage Javelin (Argo D-4) sounding rocket from Wallops Island, Va., with sixth payload of Japan-U.S. experiments in cooperative program to investigate properties and characteristics of the ionosphere. Payload was sent to 521-mi. altitude before impacting in Atlantic Ocean 840 mi. from launch site. Telemetry during flight was intermittent, so preliminary results of the experiments were inconclusive. For the cooperative experiments, Radio Research Laboratory, Tokyo, supplied radio frequency (RF) resonance probe and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center supplied Langmuir probe. (Wallops Release 64-75)
Rally in Moscow's Red Square celebrated homecoming for the three Soviet cosmonauts who orbited Oct. 12-13 in VOSKHOD I spacecraft: Vladimir Mikhailovich Komarov, Konstantin Petrovich Feoktistov, and Boris Borisovich Yegorov. This was first public appearance of new U.S.S.R. leadership, and principal address was given by CPSU First Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, who said: "The Soviet Union has still further outstripped the United States of America in the 'space race'. . . . [We] do not regard our space research as an end in itself, as some kind of 'race." In the great and serious cause of the exploration and development of outer space, the spirit of the frantic gamblers is alien to us. We see in this cause part and parcel of the tremendous constructive work of the Soviet people . . . in con-formity with the general line of our party in all spheres of the economy, science and culture in the name of man, for the sake of man. . . ." (Tanner, NYT, 10/20/64,1,2; AP, 10/19/64)
NASA announced Dr. George E. Mueller, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, assumed the role of acting director of Project Gemini. George M. Low, former Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight at Hq. and since February 1964 Deputy Director of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, had served as acting director of Gemini since last November. (NASA Release 64-247)
NASA announced three-month expedition at sea using converted Navy aircraft transport to launch sounding rockets would be conducted next year as part of International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY). 40 or more scientific experiments would be carried by Nike-Apache and Nike-Cajun sounding rockets as well as Areas and Hasp weather rockets to areas of the upper atmosphere and the ionosphere that cannot be reached by land based rockets. Exact locations of the launches had not yet been determined, but it had been decided that a number of experiments would be made in region of the magnetic equator in eastern portion of the. South Pacific Ocean. NASA Wallops Station was assigned project management of the expedition and Goddard Space Flight Center was responsible for coordinating most of the scientific experiments, being provided by universities, other Federal agencies, and NASA field centers. Project was under overall direction of NASA Office of Space Science and Applications. (NASA Release 64-246; Wallops Release 64-73)
NASA began recruiting 10-20 scientist-astronauts for future manned space flights. Qualified applicants-with doctoral degree or equivalent experience in natural sciences, medicine, or engineering-would be screened and evaluated according to standards established by NASA and ad hoc Committee on Scientific Qualifications of Scientist-Astronauts of the NAS Space Science Board. Before final selection as astronauts, applicants would receive training in a limited space-simulation program designed to familiarize them with space environment and test their ability to withstand physical stresses of space flight. Departing from previous requirement that astronaut candidates be experienced jet pilots, NASA said selected astronauts not already qualified pilots would be given individual flight training to qualify them as pilots of high-performance aircraft and helicopters. (NASA Release 64-248)
Maj. Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., from the newest group of NASA astronauts, already was qualified as a scientist-astronaut, holding a doctorate in astronautics. Two other astronauts were nearing completion of doctoral studies: R. Walter Cunningham. (physics) and Russell L. Schweikart (aeronautics/ astronautics) . (Houston Post, 10/20/64)
Astronaut Russell L. Schweikart began week-long test of continuous living in a Gemini spacesuit. Before donning the spacesuit at Edwards AFB, he had biosensors attached to his body. Among his activities for the test: experiencing weightlessness in F-104B aircraft, going through reproduction of a Gemini space flight in Manned Spacecraft Center mission simulator, and spinning in Ames Research Center centrifuge. (Maloney, Houston Post, 10/20/64)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb said in interview in Chicago that he had predicted in 1961 that U.S.S.R. could launch a multi manned spacecraft with then-existing equipment and that they could send a manned spacecraft on a lunar-orbiting mission-"and this might still be attempted soon." He added: "Nothing that occurred during the recent three-man flight has caused me to deviate from the prediction I made in 1961." (Chic. Trib., 10/20/64)
JPL analysis of portion of last lunar surface photographed by RANGER VII found that median slope was about 1.6° over 30-ft. distance, not considered a problem for Apollo's Lunar Excursion Module (LEM). (Av. W k., 10/19/64, 23, 30)
Editorial by Robert Hotz in Aviation Week summarized significance of Soviets' VOSKHOD I three-man space flight: "It establishes clearly that the Soviets have not abandoned their goal of a manned lunar landing. . . . "It establishes the scientific validity of the Soviet manned space program and should convince even dullards that this venture has sound purpose far beyond its propaganda value. . . . "It indicates clearly that the Soviets are prepared to continue with their own across-the-board space exploration program and will not be dependent on any cooperative ventures with the United States. . . . "It also confirms the widening Soviet lead in space medicine, which is the key to all manned space flight operations. . . . "It spotlights the ultra-conservatism shown by the U.S. military approach to manned space flight in starting to do now what the Pentagon planned to begin on a lesser scale in three years. . . ." (Av. Wk., 10/19/64, 21)
NASA announced appointment of Charles F. Yost, assistant director of DOD's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) since 1960, as Director of Office of Technology Utilization, NASA Hq., effective Nov. 1. (NASA Release 64-245)
Reported that NASA was considering University Explorer program, under which universities would design and build their own scientific satellites with NASA funding. The satellites would be launched from Wallops Island with Scout boosters. (Av. Wk., 10/19/64, 35)
Univ. of Chicago president George W. Beadle said at National Electronics Conference in Chicago that communication of scientific information among industry, Government, and universities was too slow. He said two main things should be done: "(1) academic people must do better at translating their discoveries and (2) industry and government applying this basic research must do better at keeping up on new developments so they can take advantage of them." (Chic. Trib., 10/20/64)
Unnamed DOD officials said they were certain that U.S.S.R.'s Cosmos satellites were being used for reconnaissance over U.S. (Hoffman, Wash. Eve. Star, 10/19/64)
British astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell, Director of Jodrell Bank observatory, told newsmen in Boston that there were "indications the Soviet economy is being strained" by their space program. He predicted that U.S.S.R. would next attempt "to achieve a rendezvous of two spaceships and to circumvent the moon." (Long, CSM, 10/19/64)
Royal Crown Cola Co. president W. H. Glenn announced Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr, former NASA astronaut, had been elected a director of the company. (Hammer, NYT, 10/20/64, 49)
Explosion-fire of fuel for USAF XB-70 aircraft at Edwards AFB, Calif., caused four injuries and one death (Ivan W. Mayo of North American Aviation, Inc.). (PI, Wash. Post, 10/21/64)
Republican six-man study group headed by former Secretary of Defense Neil H. McElroy released report charging that Kennedy-Johnson Ad-ministration had neglected research and development of new weapon systems. In reply to the charges, DOD issued statement saying it was "pursuing a vigorous and effective research and development program designed to keep this nation the strongest in the world . . ." and citing more than 200 major new projects initiated since 1961. (AP, NYT, 10/20/64)
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