Sep 6 1965
From The Space Library
NASA awarded $100,000 in initial funds to General Dynamics Corp.'s Convair Div. to determine vehicle design modifications and ground support requirements for combining the Centaur as a third stage with the two-stage Saturn IB launch vehicle. The combination was being proposed to launch unmanned Voyager spacecraft to Mars in 1971. Study would be under direction of LRC. (NASA Centaur Proj. Off,; Gen. Dyn. Corp. Release)
Capt, Joseph H. Engle (USAF), youngest holder of Air Force astronaut wings, was honored by his hometown of Chapman, Kansas, with a parade. Engle flew the X-15 to peak altitude of 282,000 ft. on June 29, qualifying for the astronaut wings. (AP, Wash, Eve. Star, 9/7/65, A-2)
German Space Research Commission (DKFW) recommended $460-million West German space program between 1966 and 1970: $250-$280 million would be spent on broad-based "vital-point" program; the balance would be used for West German participation in the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) and the European Launcher Development Organization (ELDO)) . The Commission's report emphasized three programs from its list of "vital points": development of satellites, development of a recoverable sounding rocket, and construction of research installations. The report deplored the previous neglect of space research in Germany, emphasized that the funds recommended were minimal and that Germany's late start in the space field would entail a high rate of annual increases in cost. At the end of the building stage, costs could "be adjusted to fairly fixed share of the gross national product." (Wetmore, Av. Wk., 9/6/65, 51)
"The world's first international school for training specialists in satellite tracking," would be opened in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan in Soviet Central Asia, Tass announced. Fifteen young scientists from Soviet satellite countries and 20 Soviet scientists would pursue each nine-day course. The school was set up within the framework of the U.N. International Commission for Space Research. (AP, NYT, 9/8/65, 5)
"The last two Gemini missions have shown clearly that the U.S. manned space flight program has come of age technically. They also demonstrated the operational flexibility that can be achieved in long-duration manned missions," wrote Robert Hotz in Aviation Week, "With each new manned mission, the Gemini program is forging a record that insures its place in space history as the great leap forward in space flight that transformed the role of man himself from that of a surviving passenger to a useful performer of vital functions in the space environment... "It was really the conclusive demonstration that adding a long-term manned capability would improve satellite reconnaissance by orders of magnitude that finally forced the decision to proceed with MOL after nearly two years of delay under the guise of 'further study.' " (Hotz, Av, Wk, 9/6/65, 17)
"Adaptation of Apollo technology to sustain the pace of the U.S. space program between initial manned lunar landings and still-undefined exploration of the future is accelerating toward selection of contractors to integrate a wide variety of potential applications," wrote William Normyle in Aviation Week and Space Technology, "Creation of an Apollo applications directorate in the Office of Manned Space Flight is the culmination of plans first generated months ago , . and formed the basis of pledges to Congress that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration intends to exploit every available use of Apollo hardware and techniques... "Apollo applications is considered by NASA to be the logical stepping-stone linking Gemini and Apollo to advanced earth-orbital stations, lunar-orbital surveying vehicles and extended lunar surface exploration. "It is also intended to define advanced logistics for larger orbiting space stations-based on Apollo and using several lunar excursion modules-and these more specific missions which NASA planners now consider of particular importance: "Orbiting launch complex involving several Apollo spacecraft joined into a multi-module space station that would be launching platform for an unmanned fly-by of Mars and possibly other planets, .. , "Recovery and repair of unmanned satellites. "Extensive extra-vehicular activity permitting such innovations as remote manipulative procedures for maintenance and repair... ." Normyle felt that the "largest single decision this fall will be to select two contractors to integrate the experiments which have been proposed." (Normyle, Av, Wk, 9/6/65, 25)
Two Soviet scientists retained their full capacity to work after spending 30 days in a closed test chamber-said to be the period necessary on a spaceflight to circle the moon, Psychologists did not favor a two-man crew for long space flights, however, since the experiment showed that "even trifles psychologically are blown out of all proportion." Results and data of the experiments were published in Problems of Space Biology. (Tass, 9/6/65)
Karl G. Harr, president of Aerospace Industries Assn, made public a study indicating that employment of scientists and engineers in aircraft, missile, and space fields would increase by about 13,000 from March to December 1965, reaching a total of 190,000 by the end of 1965. He said total aerospace employment would increase by 9,000-from 1,123,000 in March to 1,132,000 in December 1965. (AP, L.A. Times, 9/6/65)
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