Jun 16 1965
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 3 flown by pilot Capt, Joseph H. Engle (USAF) to 244,700 ft. altitude at maximum speed of 3,404 mph (mach 4,66) to measure ultraviolet radiation and noise intensity of the boundary layer of air. (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.; X-15 Flight Log)
Poland launched its first meteorological rocket. The two-stage vehicle was 2.5 m. (8.2 ft.) long and reached an altitude of 37,000 m. (121,360 ft,). (M&R, 6/28/65, 10)
B-70A research bomber, leaving Edwards AFB, flew 1,700 mph at 65,000-ft, alt, on its 13th test flight. It landed three minutes earlier than planned because of a possible leak in a hydraulic system. (AP, Balt, Sun, 6/17/65)
James A. McDivitt and Edward H. White are debriefed about their Gemini 4 mission
Gemini 4 Crew Debriefing Part 1
Gemini 4 Crew Debriefing Part 2
An atomic clock so accurate it could help determine the position of a rocket hurtling at 238,000 mph toward the moon within three-quarters of an inch was in production at Varian Associates, UPI reported. The clock would be about the size of a hatbox. (UPI, NYT, 6/16/65, 31)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb, in Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations' hearings on the requested $5.26 billion appropriation request for NASA in FY 1966, said: "Recent events have clearly demonstrated two important facts about space activities, First, the United States has shown that it can successfully build and launch complex spacecraft to measure the space environment over large regions of our solar system and to extend our knowledge of our neighboring space bodies. We have developed a capability to produce large launch vehicles, to test them, and to launch them successfully. We are producing the space hardware for environmental testing that will prove out our concepts and engineering for the large launch vehicles and spacecraft that will be required to operate out to and on the moon and meet all the demands of our other difficult undertakings. We have successfully developed space technology for improved communications and weather reporting and forecasting systems. The Ranger program, completed with Ranger IX, provided 17,000 closeup pictures of the moon that have not only given us a better understanding of its topography but may reveal totally unexpected processes taking place below the surface: The first two manned flights of the Gemini program verified the system for using man in space, the capability of the Gemini spacecraft, the capability of an astronaut to operate outside of his spacecraft, and the utility of the ground net and mission control, and provided the first tests of some of the equipment designed to accomplish rendezvous and docking. They also served as an orbiting space laboratory with several experiments included on both flights, "The second major fact demonstrated by recent space events is that the Soviet Union continues to make a major commitment to its aeronautical and space activity. In late 1964, they launched the first multi-manned mission with the three-man VOSKHOD I satellite. So far in this calendar year, they have launched 17 Cosmos satellites; in the VOSKHOD II flight they achieved the first extravehicular activities of man in space; in April they placed in orbit Molniya I, their first active communications satellite; in May they launched a Lunik spacecraft to the moon with a successful midcourse correction but apparent terminal failure; and only a few days ago they launched another Lunik spacecraft to the moon with an apparent unsuccessful midcourse correction. They, too, are expanding upon a sound basis for both manned and unmanned activities in space. The growth of their space activity is quite apparent. The exhibition in Paris yesterday afternoon of a new very large air transport indicates the same kind of emphasis on equipment to use the earth's envelope of air, "In aeronautics, it is important to note the increasing tempo of our research in not only the aerodynamics, loads and structures, propulsion, and operating problems of supersonic flight, but hypersonic flight as well. There is a resurgence of interest in air breathing propulsion in the form of advanced turbojet and ramjet engines to meet the requirements of supersonic and hypersonic transports and to make them competitive with transports operating in the subsonic range. And of course, we are also engaged at the other end of the speed spectrum in our work with vertical takeoff and landing aircraft." In response to questioning, Mr. Webb said: "A substantial amount of time is now being put into aeronautics by our top people, Remember, we have to go through the air to get to space. The use of thin wall structures and the use of power delivered by engines all come out of the same research competence which we have. ". . I have been asked once or twice to consider whether NASA should take on the management and development of prototypes and all other factors relating to the building of a supersonic transport. "Each time I have pointed out that we spend a large number of our dollars through the military services because they have the procurement capability. They are the only people in the U.S. Government today who know how to let a contract, monitor a contract, and take delivery on large airplanes and large numbers of airplanes. We use them for that purpose in boosters where they have already developed the competence; and in new boosters like SATURN V. we also use their contract administration and their Project 60 for engines... ." (Ind, Off, Approp, Hearings, 1095-1195)
Max Quatinetz of NASA Lewis Research Center addressed International Powder Metallurgy Conference in New York, He discussed LRC research in adding fibered metals to tungsten to strengthen that metal, which has a high melting point but is brittle and difficult to work. Quatinetz described a new method of producing the fibered compounds -extrusion of powdered metals. Researchers had formed tungsten composites containing high-temperature additives such as oxides, borides, nitrides, and carbides; they had noted increases in the metal's stress-rupture life of up to 50 times. Quatinetz observed that the new method of fibering would have wide potential application in materials research. (LRC Release 65-45)
Dr. Werner R. Kirchner, vice president and manager of Solid Rocket Operations, Aerojet-General Corp, received AIAA's James H. Wyld Propulsion Award during the Institute's Propulsion Joint Specialists' Conference in Colorado Springs. He was cited for "outstanding contributions to the field of solid rocketry for over 15 years, including the development of thrust-vector control and thrust-reverser systems that made possible the use of solid rocket motors in ballistic missiles." (NYT, 6/17/65, 54M)
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