Dec 26 1962
From The Space Library
At AAAS convention in Philadelphia, Dr. P. J. Coleman, UCLA scientist, reported on the findings of MARINER II in the vicinity of the planet Venus. Coleman reported on the magnetometer experiment which showed no rise in the average value of the magnetic field above the "interplanetary value" during the fly-by of Venus: "The sensitivity, or lower limit, of the field's change that could be observed on the magnetometer was five gamma . . . During the encounter, no changes were observed of this magnitude—five gamma - which might be attributed to Venus." Observations thus far, he said, suggest that planets and satellites such as the moon that rotate slower than the earth have small magnetic fields.
Dr. Homer E. Newell, NASA Director of Space Sciences, urged in speech before AAAS that scientists be among the next group of astronauts selected for training. "I have a complete and utter conviction that we should take a scientist and make a flyer out of him rather than the other way around." In interview, Dr. Newell outlined tentative NASA plans for 1963 launchings: 6-8 communications satellites, three weather satellites; 8 scientific satellites; at least one manned orbital flight; initial unmanned flight-test of Gemini capsule; three lunar impacts; Apollo capsule boilerplate tests of emergency flight conditions; three Saturn launch vehicle flight-tests; two electrical rocket-engine flight-tests; three re-entry heating tests.
FERRET super-sensitive robot-inspector satellite developed by Lockheed Aircraft and RCA for U.S., reported in orbit by Newsweek. FERRET was reported capable of tapping microwave telephone messages and pinpointing missile launching sites by their radio guidance signals. Newsweek said satellite was aimed particularly at Baikonur, major Soviet rocket-testing base.
NASA Marshall Space Flight. Center's selection of Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. to establish method of assessing hazard potential of operational nuclear vehicle (Saturn C-5/Nerva) was reported. Three-phase study would include: (1) study of influence of impact delay time on hazard magnitude at impact in case of flight failure; (2) study of effect of vehicle trajectory on flight hazards; and (3) study to produce integrated hazards evaluation technique.
In interview with Data magazine, Director of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, said that Houston Chamber of Commerce had predicted that the "arrival of the Manned Spacecraft Center will influence the economic growth of the area to a degree similar to that associated with the opening of the ship channel here almost 50 years ago. Community leaders are enthusiastic concerning the diversion of Houston's growth from an almost total reliance on the petrochemical industry. Of course, you must also remember that Houston, in terms of population increase, is one of the most dynamic cities of America. The Manned Spacecraft Center represents only a segment of its growth. . . .
"Undoubtedly, there has been some immediate impact on the economy since MSC's arrival in the Houston area. More than 80 aerospace companies have opened local offices here. . . . "
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