Dec 29 1965
From The Space Library
Dr. John W. Salisbury and Joel Adler of Cambridge Laboratories reported to 132d meeting of the AAAS in Berkeley, Calif., that American astronauts landing on the moon might encounter lunar dust that would stick like wet snow to their windows, faceplates, and camera lenses, Salisbury and Adler said they had reached those conclusions by two separate experiments. ( Wash. Post, 12/30/65, A4)
Medical and physical data from the two-week Gemini VII flight indicated that man could withstand a lunar mission without any serious harm, reported Dr. Charles A. Berry, Chief of Medical Programs for NASA MSC, at the AAAS meeting. Dr. Berry revealed that the astronauts' heart rates and blood pressures during the flight had remained within normal ranges and that within 10 hrs. after splashdown, Borman had regained 4.8 lbs. of the 9.6 lbs, he had lost; Lovell, who had lost 5.9 lbs, had regained 6.6 lbs. Berry, who doubted the astronauts could have endured 14 days in spacesuits, attributed much of the success of the mission to the freedom of flying in underwear, He reported that the electroencephalogram studies recording brain wave activity had shown no abnormalities during the first two flight days, but that the electrodes on the astronauts' scalps had come loose before the end of the planned 4-day experiment. As to the radiation dosage hazards on the 14-day flight, Dr. Berry said the measured amounts were "peanuts." The calcium balance studies which required measurements of calcium loss to sweat, blood, urine, and feces might take "several more months to complete," he added. Astronaut Edward H. White (L/Col., USAF) accompanied Dr. Berry to the meeting to brief scientists on preparations necessary to plan and execute successful space missions. (Haseltine, Wash. Post, 12/30/65, Al)
NASA Hq, reorganization plan, effective Jan, 2, 1966, was disseminated throughout NASA. Two main effects of the changes: establishment of Office of the Administrator, in which the Administrator and Deputy Administrator would be supported by the Associate Deputy Administrator with a strong Secretariat; and, establishment of operating pattern within this office delegating authority and responsibility to the Deputy Administrator, who would serve as general manager as well as Acting Administrator in the Administrator's absence, Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Deputy Administrator, retained the additional title of Associate Administrator. Other changes included: Director of the Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition would be made Associate Administrator for Tracking and Data Acquisition; heads of functional staff offices except General Counsel would have the title Assistant Administrator, Heads of all functional staff offices as well as the four program offices would be responsible to the Deputy Administrator. (NASA Memo)
Article in Japanese newspaper said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara's estimates of Red Chinese nuclear potential were probably conservative, citing increasing appropriations by Red China for scientific research as indication of rapid progress that might be expected. From $16 million in 1955, the amount rose to $340 million in 1959; it was estimated that $2 billion had been spent since 1960. It was calculated that Red China should have a minimum arsenal of between 150 and 200 atomic bombs by the end of 1967; production of delivery vehicles should by that time be keeping pace. (Elegant, Wash. Post, 12/30/65)
USAF awarded Thiokol Chemical Corp, a $2,000,000 initial increment to a fixed-price contract for production of solid rocket motors. Estimated final amount of contract was $5,000,000. General Dynamics Corp, received from AFSC a $1,655,299 fixed-price contract for design and fabrication of reentry vehicle instrumentation and range safety systems. (DOD Release 946-65)
Mounting cost of the Vietnam war was apt to slow the USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory project, the New York World Telegram quoted informed sources as saying. (Troan, N.Y, World Telegram, 12/29/ 65)
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