Oct 9 1963
From The Space Library
President Kennedy's news conference. Asked about developments on his proposal for U.S.-U.S.S.R. cooperation on manned lunar landing, the resident replied: "We have had no indication that the Soviet Union is disposed to enter into the kind of relationship which would make a joint exploration of space or to the moon possible. But I think it is important that the United States continue to emphasize its peaceful interest and its preparation to go quite far in attempting to end the barrier which has existed between the Communist world and the West and to attempt to bring as much as we can the Communist world into the free world of diversity which we seek . . . ." Asked whether the question of verification had come up in U.S.-U.S.S.R. talks on an agreement to ban the orbiting of nuclear weapons, President Kennedy said: ". . . there is not an agreement: The United States has stated it would not put weapons in outer space. We have no military use for doing so, and we would not so. The Soviet Union has stated that it does not intend to. We are glad of that. There is no way we can verify that, but we are glad to hear the intention .... "This is a matter, it seems to me, that can best be handled not through any bilateral agreement but as a General Assembly matter, because other countries may have the same capability, and I think every country should declare that they are not going to put atomic weapons in the atmosphere, which could threaten not only the security of a potential adversary but our own security, if for some reason the weapons should miscalculate and descend upon us .... " (Wash. Post, 10/10/63, 14)
NASA announced the details of a major reorganization of NASA Hq., to become effective Nov. 1, 1963. Designed to consolidate authority and responsibility for major program management and for direction of field centers and to realign headquarters management of agency-wide supporting services, the reorganization provided the following: Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight (Dr. George Mueller) directing the manned space flight program and the related centers, MSFC, MSC, and LOC; Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology (Dr. Raymond Bisplinghoff), directing the advanced research and technology program and the related centers, ARC FRC, LaRC, and LRC; and the associate Administrator for Space Sciences and Applications (Dr. Homer Newell), directing the scientific explorations of space and peaceful applications program and the related centers, GSFC, Wallops Station, PLOO, administering the contract for JPL. These program managers would report to the Associate Administrator, Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr. Dr. Seamans acquired a deputy, Walter L. Lingle. Also reporting to Dr. Seamans would be four staff functions: Deputy Associate Administrator for Industry Affairs (Earl D. Hilburn) ; Deputy Associate Administrator for Administration (John D. Young) ; Deputy Associate Administrator for Programming (D. D. Wyatt) ; and Deputy Associate Administrator for Defense Affairs (Adm. Walter F. Boone (USN, Ret.) Several agency-wide support functions would report directly to the Administrator: Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs Julian Scheer) ; Assistant Administrator for Technology Utilization and Policy Planning (Dr. George Simpson); Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs (Richard Callaghan); Assistant Administrator for International Programs (Arnold Frutkin) ; Executive Director of the Policy Planning Board (Paul Dembling) ; General Counsel (John A. Johnson). In addition to his assistant administrator duties, Dr. Simpson would also become Associate Deputy Administrator, coordinating the staffs reporting to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator. (NASA Release 63-225) [[ Nike-Apache]] sounding rocket launched at twilight from Wallops Station, Va., with 100-lb. payload to test theories of free radical formation in comets. At 95-mi. altitude a flame was produced that left a faintly luminous cloud of combustion products visible from earth for 10 to 20 seconds. The cloud reflected sunlight in the way a comet does. Conducted by Lewis Research Center, the studies would test theories that natural comets are composed of the materials existing at the time of formation of the solar system. A second test was scheduled for the following night. (Wallops Release 63-90; Space Bus. Daily, 10/11/63, 68)
NASA officials testified before the Subcommittee on NASA Legislative Oversight of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics on the summary report on Project Mercury that had accused industry of poor workmanship. Dr. George Mueller, Director of Manned Space Flight, and his Deputy, George Low, and Walter C. Williams, Deputy Director for Mission Requirements and Flight Operations, MSC, agreed that the bulk of the 444-page report was "a recital of success," with only one 10-page section listing deficiencies. The committee agreed with the witnesses and considered the matter closed. (Space Bus. Daily, 10/10/63, 60)
Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D.-Minn.) spoke on the Senate floor about the results of the Senate Committee on Government Operations' five-year fight for more comprehensive, integrated technical information programs in Government. The Senator said that useful programs were now at last underway in all major Federal agencies; he particularly cited the Science Information Exchange, which as of June 30, 1963, had a roster of 75,000 research proposals and projects in the life sciences and physical sciences. (CR, 10/9./63,18128)
By this date, engineering design work on the Apollo spacecraft was more than 75 per cent complete and work had begun on fabrication of the stainless steel skin and molding of honeycomb aluminum inner walls of the command module at the North American Aviation plant at Downey, Calif. (Finney, NYT, 10/13/63, 80)
AEC Memo, "Electromagnetic Effects on World Communications," described the effects of high-altitude, high yield nuclear explosions on worldwide communications, according to Space Business Daily. Data had been accumulated from high altitude nuclear explosions in Project Argus, 1958, Operation Hardtack, 1959, and Starfish Prime, July 9,1962. The AEC report said that a 50-megaton blast at 50-mi. altitude would black out communications within a radius of 2,500 miles for as long as a day. Such effects had been an area that opponents of the nuclear test ban treaty had argued the U.S. had too little information about and that the knowledge was critical for ICBM penetration and antimissile defense. (Space Bus. Daily, 10/9/63, 50, 51)
A "flying carpet" escape system from orbital space stations has been advanced by Douglas Aircraft Co. The escape system would be a saucer shape that would expand into a blunt-nosed, cone-shaped vehicle 25 ft. across at its base. Passing through the atmosphere, the vehicle would act as its own brake. Re-entry heating problems would be met by using fabrics woven with filaments of nickel based alloys that can withstand 1,600-degree temperatures. (Space Bus. Daily, 10/9/63, 52)
Air Force Systems Command and Air Force Logistics Command announced a joint program of data management applicable to all Air Force contracts from the two commands. Program calls for tight data control by project officer, selection of minimum essential data, line-iteming each data point in the contract. (AFSC Release 310-R-87)
An editorial in the Washington Daily News supported the idea that a slower program would not save money in the long run. Today the moon and space programs are in high gear and almost $5 billion in prime contracts have been placed with American industry. Plants are tooled up, scientists are on the job, research centers are going up and near Houston even a new city is being built. "We are inclined to agree with Dr. Wernher von Braun, NASA Director James Webb and others that a major slash in space funds at this stage would not save money in the long run because a stretched-out lunar landing program would come to an even greater total cost.. Mr. Webb, for example, estimates an extra $3 billion for the additional overhead costs alone of a three-year stretch-out. "It was judged two years ago by the President and Congress to be in the national interest to place a man on the moon-and before the Russians, if possible. If the reasons were valid then, and we think they were, they are valid today." (Text)
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