Sep 7 1964
From The Space Library
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientists, via Rosman, N.C., tracking station, succeeded in turning on 14 of the experiments onboard OGO I and received scientific data transmitted from the satellite. Power level in the NASA "space bus" was said to be satisfactory. OGO I was obtaining less than half the power it needed for full-time operation of its 20 experiments, because it was spinning slowly in space instead of having its solar panels constantly aimed at the sun. (Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 9/8/64; AP, NYT, 9/8/64, 31)
NASA announced 39 new international fellowships in space science had been granted for one year's graduate study at universities across the U.S. Initiated in 1961, program was administered by National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council, with NASA providing university costs and travel within the U.S. So far, 34 fellows had completed U.S. studies under the program and 17 countries had participated. (NASA Release 64-223)
General Dynamics/Astronautics received $6 million contract from USAF for additional standardized Atlas space launch vehicles. Atlases produced under this contract were said to be for sending lunar-orbiting probes on photographic missions. (San Diego Union, 9/8/64)
September 7-12: 15th Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) held in Warsaw. Reported that 700 scientists and engineers representing 40 countries attended; largest delegation (100 persons) from the U.S., while 60 representatives from the U.S.S.R. was largest Soviet delegation ever to attend such a conference. 180 papers were given. The Polish Government issued an IAF stamp in honor of the Congress, while Pravda referred to Warsaw as the "space capital of the world." Congress opened with statement by President Edmond A. Brun (France) that deliberations "should undoubtedly contribute towards increasing international cooperation in the field of astronautics." First report to the entire Congress was on the lunar mission of RANGER VII by JPL Director William H. Pickering and Harris Schurmeier. RANGER VII movie was shown five times during the week to packed audiences. Informative U.S. papers on progress on comsats, weather satellites (including NIMBUS I photographs), manned lunar landing program, and bioastronautics, as well as consideration of the idea of a Lunar International Laboratory, appeared highlights of the 15th IAF Congress. (NASA Hist.)
IAF paper by Soviet bioastronautics expert N. M. Sissakian, read for him in his absence, stressed conviction that artificial gravity must be created in spacecraft for long manned flights: ". . . We see the need for a new field of research called gravitational biology that would determine the general laws relating acceleration and body function." Dr. 0. Gazenko and P. K. Isakov reported Soviet cosmonauts' space flights of up to five days raised the questions of whether prolonged weightlessness would: cause loss of body calcium and softening of bones; affect the inner ear and deteriorate man's ability to concentrate, or damage the brain; weaken body systems such as heart muscle so that they would be destroyed upon sudden re-entry into earth's gravitational force. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 9/7/64; AP, NYT, 9/8/64, 11; L.A. Times, Wash. Post, 9/8/64)
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