Nov 9 1964
From The Space Library
NASA Nike-Apache sounding rocket with French sodium-vapor payload was launched from India's Thumba Range to about 192-km. altitude (about 119 mi.). Two ground camera stations photographed sodium vapor released from the rocket to obtain measurements of atmospheric winds, turbulence, and diffusivity. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D.-N. Mex.) , Chairman of Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, recommended in letter to President Johnson that USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory (L) and NASA Apollo-X programs be merged. Jointly operated national space station program would best utilize U.S. resources, according to his letter which Aviation Week cited in its Dec. 7 issue. Senator Anderson argued that $1 billion could be saved overt five-year period if MOL were canceled and USAF funds applied to the Apollo-based space station. (Av. Wk., 12/7/64, 16; NASA Archives)
NASA officials told Missiles and Rockets that Phase I of the floxed Atlas development program, which was to end this year, would be continued until mid-1965. Also delayed was the decision whether to move on to Phase II, which called for development of flight hardware and two flights in the 1966-67 period. (M&R, 11/9/64, 9)
A scheduled flight of the X-15 rocket ship to test star-tracking cameras was canceled when rain soaked lakebeds used as landing fields for the plane. No new date was scheduled. ( Wash. Post, 11/10/64)
United Press International (UPI) reported that the Air Force would attempt pickaback launch of a secret satellite (0V-1) next month from Vandenberg AFB with hopes of proving a method which would save the tax-payers $370,000 per launch. The 300-lb. satellite, carrying its own rocket motor, would ride into space on the side Of an Atlas missile making a re-entry test. Near the peak of the Atlas' flight, 0V-1 would spring away, coast for a few seconds, and be launched into orbit by its own rocket. The Atlas would continue on its mission. (PI, NYT, 11/10/64, 34)
Air Force Systems Command announced that Air Force pilots would fly a high-altitude Lockheed U-2 aircraft in a research program directed by the Research and Technology Div.'s Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, to measure and predict high-altitude clear-air turbulence (Hi-Cat) . The U-2 would gather Hi-Cat data at altitudes above 55,000 ft. for developing a worldwide statistical model showing occurrence of clear-air turbulence. (AFSC Release 47-30-144)
Physicists at Columbia University had produced a "photon echo" effect in a synthetic ruby crystal by shooting two successive flashes of light at it, Physical Review Letters reported. A ruby laser was the light source. The phenomenon, which scientists had not been sure was physically possible, was described as appearing as though a light flashed into a dark, empty closet received, after a pause, an answering wink of light. Authors of the research were Dr. Sven R. Hartmann, Norman A. Kurnit, and Dr. Isaac D. Abella. The photon echo effect would seem potentially valuable in designing computers because it occurred at 186,000 mi./sec., the speed of light, and because the nature of the effect would seem readily adaptable to computer use. (Schmeck, NYT, 11/9/64)
Air Force Systems Command announced plans to orbit an experimental fuel cell able to produce both electricity for space power and pure drinking water for space crews. The fuel cell would be orbited from Vandenberg AFB early in 1965. (AFSC Release 43-11-145; NYT, 11/10/64, 34; Houston Post, 11/10/64)
California Institute of Technology radio astronomers Glenn Berge and David Morris announced that Jupiter's radiation belt is centered 30,000 or more miles from the center of that 85,000-mi.-diameter planet, making the zone of intense radiation lopsided. Berge and Morris said they couldn't explain their finding but that it did help to explain the origin of bursts of radio signals from the planet: they may result when Jupiter's rotation brought the magnetic poles into the proper angle to beam radiation in earth's direction. (AP, N.O. Times Picayune, 11/9/64)
ComSatCorp announced six companies had made summary proposals to provide research data and consultant services for ground terminal stations: American Telephone & Telegraph Co.; ARCS Industries, Inc.; Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall; Hughes Aircraft Co.; Page Communications Engineers, Inc.; Westinghouse Electric Corp. Of these, one or more contractors would be selected. (ComSatCorp Release)
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