May 16 1963

From The Space Library

President Kennedy telephoned Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper aboard carrier Kearsarge, saying, "I just want to congratulate you. That was a great flight .... We are very proud of you." (UPI, NYT, 5/17/63,1)

Senate Resolution 143 resolved that "the Senate of the United States extends its profound congratulations to Major Cooper on his heroic accomplishment, and expresses its gratification to his family and to all those who have contributed to the success of his mission." (OR, 5/16/63,8364-65)

Former President Harry S. Truman said flight of L. Gordon Cooper was "one of our greatest" moments in history...... I was exceed­ingly happy when he got down all right. That's what I was worried about. "He made a great flight." (UPI, L.A. Times, 5/17/63)

U.S.-U.S.S.R. negotiations on space cooperation resumed in Geneva with NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Hugh L. Dryden and Soviet space expert A. A. Blagonravov heading respective teams. At­tempt would be made to reach agreement on cooperative use of satellites to study earth's magnetic field. Discussion also would center on implementing agreement reached in principle last March concerning exchange of information furnished by meteorological satellites and coordinated experiments with communications satellites. (NYT, 5/17/63, 18; Manchester Guardian, Wash. Post, 5/17/63)

Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told House of Commons that British scientific criticisms of Project West Ford's orbiting copper filaments had been forwarded to U.S. Government, but he defended the project, saying it could have "very, very great significance in the whole system of deterrent defense." He also rejected Laborite Arthur Henderson's demand that he urge Presi­dent Kennedy to submit plans for experimental projects to an international scientific committee. Henderson cited report by special committee of British scientists on effects of U.S. high­ altitude nuclear explosion last July, report calling for inter­national agency to control space experiments. (Lewis, Wash. Post, 5/17/63)

Tass reported Soviet scientists had lost contact with MARS I inter­planetary probe on March 21, when it was about 66,000,000 mi. from earth. Probe was continuing on its flight toward vicinity of Mars but telemetry data indicated difficulty in orientation system had misaligned its radio antennas. Tass said MARS I had recorded considerable change in boundaries of radiation belts around earth; "sphere of maximum intensity" in innermost belt was farther out than previously noted. Intensity of cosmic rays had almost doubled m last four years, Tass said. Important findings were made concerning stability and energy of interplane­tary and solar plasma, and MARS I made possible first scientific observation of junction of earth's ionized gas envelope with outer­ most belt of charged particles. Other data on intensity of mag­netic fields in space and distribution of meteoric particles were recorded (Balt. Sun, 5/17/63; Av. Wk. 5/27/63, 24)

D. Brainerd Holmes, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator and Director of Manned Space Flight, said in address to American Ordnance Association, Washington: "The Department of Defense has not fully defined the role man should play in its space activi­ties. However, under an agreement between Secretary McNamara and Mr. Webb, reached in January 1963, NASA will manage the Gemini program to assure the fulfillment of both DOD and NASA requirements, and the DOD will contribute funding, in an amount to be determined later .... "Although manned flight is more expensive than unmanned flight in the development phase, the increased reliability of a manned vehicle will ultimately enable us to carry out complex tasks in space more effectively and, very possibly, at less expense than with automatic equipment. "Thirteen years ago, the late William Faulkner made a com­ment that may apply to the present discussion "`I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail. He is immortal ... because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. "In exploring the moon and planets, I am convinced with Faulk­ner that man will prevail." (Text, CR, 5/21/63, A3220)

U.S.S.R. announced reorganization of its Academy of Sciences, designed to recentralize all basic research in physical and social sciences and to reflect trend toward specialized differentia­tion in the sciences. (Shabad, NYT, 5/18/63, 1, 9)

May 17 1963