Oct 23 1967
From The Space Library
NASA announced that primary mission objectives of Biosatellite II (launched Sept. 7) had been accomplished. Biological experiments had been conducted to investigate synergistic and antagonistic effects of weightlessness and controlled gamma radiation aboard attitude-controlled spacecraft. Spacecraft recovery-essential to success-had been completed as planned. Environmental control of capsule and experiment packages had kept organisms alive while radiation source was exposed for flight duration. Dr. Rudolph H. T. Mattoni, principal investigator for bacteria experiment, said bacteria had increased 20 to 30% faster in weightless condition. He concluded "cellular turnover may be higher in man" during weightlessness and could be harmful to astronauts during long-duration space flights. He suggested that if further research proved growth of human cells to be faster in weightless state, future spacecraft might have to be equipped with some form of artificial gravity or astronauts might have to carry drugs to prevent too-rapid turnover of their body cells. Since the 45-hr experiment with bacteria equaled many years of human life, this would not be significant on flights of a few weeks or even a few months. The pepper plant experiment showed abnormal growth, indicating that plant leaves also depend on gravity. Other experiments did not show significant change and were still being analyzed. (NASA Proj Off; AP, NYT, 10/15/67,46)
Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D-Conn.), chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Science, Research and Development Subcommittee, spoke on "A Challenge to the Scientific Community," at autumn meeting of NAS, at Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He urged scientists to become more actively involved in helping Government leaders find effective ways of dealing with national problems, and he believed that Congress should take an active interest in the "state of science" because scientific activity "is critical to the deliberations and the decisions of our political representatives." In turn, he urged an understanding by scientists and engineers of "pressures and functioning of a government which must be responsive to every shade of thought which our nation harbors." (Text)
Passage of P.L. 90-112, DOT's FY 1968 funding, provided general funds of $1.5819 billion, including $142 million for SST development and $70 million for advanced-funding airport grants [see Sept. 28 and Oct. 5]. (P.L. 90-112)
House adopted conference report on amended NASA FY 1968 appropriations bill (H.R. 12474) and sent report to Senate, which adopted report, leaving two amendments in disagreement. Senate had added $96 million to original House bill for R&D on Voyager and Nema programs. House approved only $10 million of Senate's increase on R&D item; insisted on its original approval of $35.9 million for construction facilities for Voyager and NERVA programs, turning down Senate boost of $19.5 million; and approved Senate-voted $20 million cut for NASA's operations. (CRY 10/23/67, H13785-93; S15142; NASA LAR VI/115)
Rep. James G. Fulton (R-Pa.), ranking minority member of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, during debate on NASA appropriations bill on floor of House, said: "China is now proceeding with the development of a rocket with nuclear propulsion. The Chinese nuclear rocket program is based upon a nuclear reactor through which passes liquid hydrogen that is stored in the rocket. This same fuel . . . is also used as a coolant for the nozzle of the rocket." He also said Communist Chinese "are proceeding with the development of a sounding rocket called Caditi . . . [and] telecommunications satellites." He explained that Communist Chinese believe, "to operate successfully in space, big booster power, high energy fuels, and nuclear propulsion are necessary. The University of Nanking . . . is conducting training courses in various applications of rocket programs. The Chinese space research center of Sinkiang now has programs in the study of materials necessary for space experiments. In addition, it should be seriously considered that the Chinese rocket institute-Balon Roditi-is interested in the development of rockets `for all purposes.' This, of course, includes military as well as peaceful uses. Peking is not-a signatory to the recent peace treaty for the peaceful uses of outerspace. . . . "The nations of the West, including Russia, should not underestimate Chinese competence in these matters and the pace of their research and development programs. The US. Government and the American people must be alerted to the swift progress of the Red Chinese nation in space research and development, high energy propulsion, and large boosters . . . [and they] must realize the tremendous advances being made in the Red Chinese nuclear research field. . . . It is my belief and prediction that the [Communist] Chinese will orbit . . . [their] first . . . satellite by January 1968. . . ." (CR, 10/23/67, H13785-93)
U.S.S.R.'s intensified study of near-earth environment indicated their scientists planned long duration manned orbital flights, reported Aviation Week. Two investigations were cited: Cosmos CLXVI, launched June 16, in near-earth radiation study for protection of future cosmonauts in orbit during high sunspot activity; and "vertical cosmic probe," reaching altitude of 2,734 mi on study of upper atmospheric layers, ionosphere, and near-earth space. The "vertical cosmic probe," launched Oct. 12, provided Soviets with information on electron and positive ion concentrations, general intensity of cosmic rays, and radiation doses through various types of protection during flight within radiation belts. Cosmos CLXVI satellite provided solar flare data for continuous three months. Similar to these Soviet studies were those conducted using NASA's OSO IV (launched Oct. 18) , which would monitor sun so scientists could better determine how phenomena such as radio "blackout" and weather on earth were affected by solar activity. (Av Wk, 10/23/67, 27-8; NASA Release 67-273)
Engine noise survey designed to study noise prediction during ground runups was postponed by NASA, reported Aviation Week. Tests, which would have been combined with USAF studies of propulsion system calibration for AMSA, were given lower priority because these experiments would have caused two-week stand-down between flights. (Av Wk, 10/23/67, 23)
October 23-27: AIAA's Fourth Annual Meeting and Technical Display was held in Anaheim, Calif. Reviewing history of NACA and NASA, GISS Executive Officer Arthur L. Levine noted that forces which accounted for creation of NACA in 1915 were both different from and far less intense that those behind creation of NASA in 1958. NASA played a much more significant role in the Nation and in Federal activity in science and technology than NACA, he said, and NASA's leadership was subjected to a wider variety and greater intensity of pressures from within Government and from outside interests. NASA Historian Eugene M. Emme reviewed historical evolution of U.S. aeronautics and astronautics in context of major national policies and decisions. Citing effects of World Wars I and 14, the "cold war" of the 1950's, and launching of Sputnik, he described how they helped determine the pace and utilization of technological advances and reviewed major U.S. turning points and relevant factors contributing to' the Apollo decision. (Program)
M/G J. D. Caldara (USAF, Ret.) , President of Flight Safety Foundation, Inc., suggested commonality between safety problems and solutions for underwater, aircraft, and space systems based on recognition, reasoning, and responsibility: "This process [of problem solving] spells out the basic building blocks in the structure of the man/machine relationships . . . involving safety. . . . If every scientist-engineer accepts his rightful responsibility and applies his imagination and experience to his task, the end result will be . . . [operations that are] 100% efficient and . . . 100% safe." (Text)
GSFC engineers F. O. Vonbun and J. T. Mengel proposed development of a worldwide tracking and communications system for manned planetary missions similar to that used for Apollo. Planetary Manned Space Flight Network (PMSFN) consisting of three 30-to 50 ft-dia ground stations, three 210-ft-dia dish antennas, and three synchronous orbiting tracking stations (SOTS) -would obviate need for other radar, ships, and aircraft. SOTS, they said, while providing continuous communications, tracking, and telemetry functions, would be more cost-efficient by removing requirement for numerous new tracking stations. (Text, Program)
Addressing Honors Banquet, USC President Dr. Norman Topping stressed need for expanded program to search and disseminate data produced in space research. Although such data did reach social problems occasionally, "the arrival in the right place at the right time is largely a coincidence," he noted. To realize the total potential of modern discovery, scientists had to communicate outside their separate, narrow fields, find a common language with the layman, and work together to "find places for their discoveries within the social, ethical, and moral framework of our civilization." (Text)
Princeton Univ. economics professor Oskar Morgenstern, participating in President's Forum, "The Worth of the Space Program," contended that the space effort, as a public investment of natural resources, had to be evaluated by comparing its benefits with other ways the resources could have been used. Although no basic discoveries as important as atomic fission, the transistor, or the laser could be attributed to space exploration, he said, US. could still afford a high degree of space exploration and could expect discoveries "of a magnitude that will astonish even this generation which has seen so much and is prepared to expect that our knowledge will increase without limit." Dr. T. Keith Glennan, President of Associated Universities, Inc., and first NASA Administrator, submitted that the most important enduring contribution of the space endeavor to US. future was education. Progress in higher education, he said, had occurred as a result of the compelling challenge of space exploration along with NASA's "clear and evident desire to assure an adequate flow of highly trained manpower. . . . Current statistics on NASA investments in higher education were very impressive, he noted, but if NASA's budget were trimmed further its support to education would have to be diminished. Dr. Willard F. Libby of UCLA predicted that space program would come out to be the best bargain the American people have ever made--both for its practical value in technological developments, and for its contributions to pure knowledge through science." Space program had already contributed to and answered questions about geosciences, interplanetary sciences, astronomy, and chemistry but most consuming question was that of extraterrestrial life in solar system. (Texts)
Major AIAA awards presented at Honors Convocation included: Louis W. Hill Space Transportation Award to WRC Director Abe Silverstein for "imagination, technical excellence and leadership which have led to practical application of high energy liquid hydrogen fueled propulsion for space transportation, and for initiating and contributing to the free world's first manned space transportation system"; De Flora Training Award to Edwin A. Link, chairman of General Precision Equipment Corp.'s Link Aviation Div., for "conceiving and implementing the idea of ground-based flight training equipment"; G. Edward Pendray Award to Columbia Univ. professor Robert A. Gross for "original contributions to gas-dynamics and plasma physics especially in the field of shock wave ionization phenomena"; and Lawrence Sperry Award to MSC Flight Director Eugene F. Kranz for "outstanding contributions in directing spacecraft mission planning in developing flight control teams, and as Flight Director of manned Gemini spaceflight missions." (Av Wk, 10/30/67, 13; AIAA Facts)
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