May 24 1964
From The Space Library
Interviewed in Washington Sunday Star, NASC Executive Secretary and Acting Chairman Dr. Edward C. Welsh was asked how far U.S. now was on its way to the moon. "I suppose we went a good way toward the moon objective when the decision was made. Consequently, I would say that we are much more than a third of the way to the moon at the present time." Asked about Administration policy to classify Soviet space failures, Dr. Welsh replied: ". . . The policy of classifying Soviet space failures was developed largely to protect sources of information, many of which in those days were individuals actually in the Soviet Union. "Most of the information we get today comes from sources outside the Soviet Union which need no protection. As a consequence, there is less justification at the present time for classifying Russian space fail-ures than there was in the past. I am not saying that there is no justification. . . . "I think we will continue to examine this policy to see whether or not it can be relaxed, to see whether there is any justification at all for keeping from the American people information in regard to Soviet failures." (Wash. Sun. Star, 5/24/64)
Recently published testimony by NASA Administrator James E. Webb before a House subcommittee indicated for the first time that there was more than just presumption to indicate USSR might be developing larger space booster to compare with Saturn I. In response to question, Mr. Webb said that "there is some evidence, although it is not sufficient to draw a firm conclusion, that they [the Soviets] are proceeding with larger developments. . . . There is some evidence that they are not stopping with their present [space] vehicle and are expecting to move into larger categories. It will take a longer period of time to evaluate that evidence clearly and be sure." (Finney, NYT, 5/25/64, 1, 4)
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