Sep 8 1964
From The Space Library
Hurricane Dora with her 125-mph winds approached the U.S. Atlantic coast from Cape Kennedy to Myrtle Beach, S.C., and workers at the rocket launching center dismantled five of the six rockets being prepared for launch this fall. Only the Saturn I SA-7 rocket was secured in its gantry; removed were Titan II (for GT-2 Gemini launch), Atlas-Agena (for Mars probe launch), Thor-Delta (for Imp launch), Atlas-Centaur (launch vehicle development launch), and Atlas for USAF re-entry test. (UPI, NYT, 9/9/64, 1; Witkin, NYT, 9/9/64, 23)
Soviet scientist Prof. A. G. Kuznetsov Told IAF that U.S.S.R. had conducted tests of cosmonauts spending 25 days in sealed chamber with helium-oxygen atmosphere. He said in one test, although there were no adverse effects on the subject, slight changes were noted-quickened pulse and respiration rate, faster blood circulation, and higher voice pitch to 7/10th of an octave. Prof. Kuznetsov noted that the manned Vostok spacecraft used mixture of nitrogen and oxygen; he did not disclose whether that mixture affected cosmonauts adversely, but he said that "helium offers a possible substitute for nitrogen that might prove more suitable for spacecraft requirements." Helium might reduce toxicity and provide a more hygienic atmosphere, he said. Dr. Eugene B. Konecci of NASA, cochairman of the bioastronautics session, said U.S. had not pressed development of helium system for three principal reasons: (1) helium's tendency to alter voice pitch; (2) helium's leak qualities, which make it difficult to contain in enclosure; and (3) helium's high thermal conductivity, which might pose possible astronaut heating problem. "We still feel strongly about nitrogen. We presently see no advantage to helium that would cause us to change. However, we will continue to study the possibility of using it in case we encounter some unforeseen nitrogen difficulty," Dr. Konecci said. (Wash. Post, 9/9/64; AP, Balt. Sun, 9/9/64)
Dr. Eugene B. Konecci, NASA Director of Biotechnology and Human Re-search, in paper delivered at IAF in Warsaw, examined man's possible roles in space flight. As a transmitter, receiver, or control mechanism, he said, man's capacity and speed are limited as compared with a machine's. Boredom, he said, makes man ineffective "in tasks that call for long periods of relative inactivity." However, he said, man "is the only available computer which can solve problems by logical induction, although unfortunately he cannot keep emotions out of this thought process. He can make sense of fragmentary information." (NASA Re-lease 64-229)
Communications Satellite Corp., authorized two years ago by law as a private corporation to establish a global commercial comsat system, was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Incorporated Feb. 1, 1963, ComSatCorp had offered 10 million shares at $20 each, five million to communications common carriers and five million to the general public. (ComSatCorp Release)
Sen. Mike Monroney (D.-Okla.) said in the Senate that "one of the out-standing accomplishments of this Congress is the action taken to solve the problem of obtaining professional advice on scientific and technological questions involved in the legislative process. The appropriation of funds to establish a Science Policy Research Division of the Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress is the latest in a series of steps taken by the Congress to improve the effectiveness of its staff. . . . "I join other Members of the House and Senate in hopeful anticipation that the new Science Policy Research Division of the Legislative Reference Service, will develop successfully under the direction of Dr. Edward Wenk, Jr. Dr. Wenk's experience in both the legislative and executive branches of the Government is invaluable in meeting his new responsibilities of advising Congress on science, engineering, and public policy." The division would begin operation Sept. 28. (CR. 9/8/64, 21030; M&R, 9/14/64, 15)
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