Sep 10 1964
From The Space Library
Kiwi B-4E reactor, operated at nearly full power for eight minutes Aug. 28, was restarted and run for a second time at power level nearly identical to that achieved during the first experiment. Test lasted about 2.5 min. and reactor performance was excellent. This demonstration of capability to rerun reactors came much earlier in the NASA-AEC nuclear rocket program than had been anticipated; officials considered it a significant step toward economical development of nuclear propulsion technology. Harold B. Finger, Manager of NASA-AEC Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, said: "We have proved that nuclear rockets can give the kind of performance that is needed for advanced space missions. We could use essentially this type of reactor for experimental flights in the early 1970s and have an operational system by 1975." Test marked final one planned for Kiwi. (SNPO; Wash. Eve. Star, 9/15/64)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center officials successfully made the first of two final corrections in the orbit of SYNCOM III communications satellite, raising the satellite's perigee closer to perfect circle 22,289 mi. above the earth. (Wash. Eve. Star, 9/10/64)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientists conducted interrogation of OGO I satellite through Rosman, N.C., tracking station, and 15 experiments were turned on to confirm their operation. Signals were weaker than previously received, because OGO I's solar panels were not locked onto the sun; the satellite's solar panels were successfully commanded to turn 42° into a more favorable sun angle, thus ensuring satisfactory power levels. As of this date, 19 of the 20 onboard scientific experiments had been turned on and had transmitted data, which were being evaluated by experimenters. (NASA Release 64-232; GSFC Release G-26-64)
In Warsaw at the luncheon of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) , Rep. George P. Miller (D.-Calif.), Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, expressed the intent of the U.S. to engage in the conquest of space for peaceful purposes as instituted in National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 and implemented by NASA. Prof. C. Stark Draper of MIT was re-elected as president of IAA for the coming year. In Missiles and Rockets interview while in Warsaw, Rep. Miller said that "the U.S. would be happy to open up negotiations with Poland on space projects." A possible means of such cooperation, he said, might be incorporation of Polish scientific experiments on U.S. satellites and sharing of data they would acquire, a program such as U.S. already conducts with U.K., France, and Italy. (NASA Hist.; M&R, 9/14/64, 16)
NASA announced it had assigned management responsibility for large solid rocket motor development to its Lewis Research Center. The 260-in. solid motor development was formerly a program of the Department of Defense. Under its FY 1965 budget, NASA assumed funding responsibility for the program, it would begin management responsibility for it next July. Two contracts for the program, with Aerojet General Corp. and Thiokol Chemical Corp. and initiated by the Air Force in June 1963, had been transferred to NASA. Smaller, 156-in. solid motor program continued under Air Force development (NASA Release 64-231)
Joint Navigation Satellite Committee (JNSC) established by agreement between Depts. of Treasury, Defense, Interior, Commerce; FAA; and NASA. JNSC would evaluate requirements for a nonmilitary satellite system for air-sea navigation, traffic control, emergency and res-cue operations, and related functions. If JNSC found navsat system to be the most advantageous means of providing these services, it would recommend appropriate program to develop the satellite system. (Agreement; NMI 2-3-39)
Sen. Hubert Humphrey (D.--Minn.) introduced in the Senate a joint resolution providing for establishment of a President's Advisory Staff on Scientific Information Management (PASSIM), to "deal forthrightly with the problem of evaluating, developing, and operating properly structured information management and decision-aiding systems. . . . Positioned at the Presidential level the staff of PASSIM will be permitted to necessary overview of information management practices within Government, and will be better situated to develop and organize data and decision-aiding systems on an interdisciplinary and interagency, intergovernmental, interindustry, or intersector basis. . . ." (CR, 9/10/64, 21281 )
Findings of survey on distribution of Federal research and development funds, conducted by Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, were made public by subcommittee chairman Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D.-Conn.) . Said to be first definitive, Government-wide survey of this subject, survey showed that during FY 1963 California received 38.4% of the total $12 billion spent by the Government on R&D, New York received 9.2%, and Massachusetts, 4.6%. Nine states accounted for 70.9% of the total, and the 41 remaining states had less than 2.5% each. Regionally, Pacific Coast states received 41.8%; Middle Atlantic states, 15.7%; Mountain region, 8.7%; South Atlantic, 8.5%; East North Central, 6.6%; New England, 6.1%; West South Central, 5.5%; West North Central, 3.6%; and East South Central, 2.8%. (Finney, NYT, 9/11/64)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb said in address at Midwest Governors' Conference, Minneapolis: "In many ways, it seems to me that at least a part of the answer to the problems of the Midwest can be found in further development of your great universities and finding new ways through which they can work with industry in ways that will speed up the process of utilizing the technology that builds rapidly on the scientific base of university research. "The success of the national space program to date has stemmed directly from cooperation between industry, government, and universities. We are convinced that the maximum advance can best be achieved by close cooperation between these segments of our society. We believe that this cooperation is most fruitful when it is broadly based or regional. . . . ' (Text)
U.S.S.R.'s Ivan Cheprov, speaking at symposium on international space law held in Warsaw in conjunction with IAF congress, criticized the planned global communications satellite network being organized by Communications Satellite Corp. He said it appeared "that the very use of new communications channels by other nations would depend on the whims of Comsat . . . The right to participate hi the management of the space communications system is denied those who are not willing to subsidize and to perpetuate a monopoly in the sphere of producing communications satellites and running space communications business. . . . The other participants merely form a chorus for approving any decisions dictated by Comsat." He said the U.N. and the International Telecommunication Union could organize an inter-national communications system "on the basis of equality." (Reuters, Wash. Post, 9/11/64)
Rep. Joseph E Karth (D.-Minn.), speaking at Midwest Governors' Conference in Minneapolis, recommended establishment of a national technology commission to award Federal research projects to promote nationwide economic development. Rep. Karth said concentration of Government R&D contracts to industries and universities on East and West coasts showed that "the broad national economic development is not being served." (Higgins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/11/64)
Jet-propelled back-pack, part of a Modular Maneuvering Unit (MMU) for Gemini astronauts, was described by AFSC, whose Aero Propulsion Laboratory conceived the device. The unit would enable astronauts to fly outside their Gemini spacecraft for up to an hour and travel as far as 1,000 ft. from the spacecraft, although the first flight would be made with astronaut on a 200-ft. tether to send the astronaut forward, backward, up, and down. In addition to the back-pack, MMU consisted of a chest-pack, furnished by NASA, which the astronaut would use when leaving and entering the spacecraft, before donning and after discarding the back-pack. First flight test of the unit on Gemini mission was planned for mid-1965. (AFSC Release 47-22-113; MSC Roundup, 1/16/64, 5)
Col. John M. Stapp (USAF) said at IAF congress in Warsaw that pigs and bears had been used in tests to determine best position for astronauts to be in when Apollo spacecraft returning from the moon hits the earth. Human volunteers were used in 146 test runs but anaesthetized bears and pigs were used in tests which were considered too dangerous for human subjects. Results: safest position would be landing backwards at 45° angle to the line of impact. (, Chic. Trib., 9/11/64)
Rep. William Miller (R.-N.Y.), Republican Vice Presidential candidate, said he felt recent successful RANGER VII lunar flight had "no political implications" and was "completely a scientific effort, outside the realm of politics." Upon questioning, he said the success showed U.S. is ahead of U.S.S.R. in space technology and added U.S. had never been behind U.S.S.R. in accumulation of space data. (Sci. Serv., S.F. Chronicle, 9/10/64)
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