Dec 15 1963

From The Space Library

President Johnson announced the five recipients of 1963 National Medal of Science : Dr. Vannevar Bush, president of MIT corporation and formerly president of Carnegie Institu­tion of Washington, director of Office of Scientific Research and Development during World War II, NACA Chairman 1939-41; Luis W. Alvarez, Associate Director of Lawrence Radiation Lab­oratory ; John R. Pierce, Executive Director of Bell Telephone Laboratories; Dr. Cornelius B. van Niel of Hopkins Marine Sta­tion, Stanford Univ. and Dr. Norbert Wiener, Professor Emeritus of MIT. (AP, NYT , 12/16/63, 36)

Interview by Howard Simons of Dr. Donald F. Hornig appeared in the Washington Post. Chairman of the Chemistry Dept. at Princeton Univ., Dr. Hornig was appointed Science Adviser to the President on November 7, accompanied President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson on a tour of military and space in­stallations in November, and was recently reaffirmed as Science Adviser by President Johnson. Dr. Hornig has been one of the 18 members of the President's Science Advisory Committee since 1960. Dr. Hornig was reported as saying that the place of basic re­search was distorted by the legacy of World War II when concen­trated scientists were able to convert the most abstract scientific notions into impressive useful devices : "The days of pie-in-the-sky promises of basic research are over. The mood 20 years ago was one that suggested by turning loose great numbers of scientists miracles happened. Well they did happen, and I suppose it was logical that after the war the same notion would carry over. "Only it doesn't work that way today. Miracles of the kind per­formed during the war are a little harder to find. Scientists are no longer concentrated nor are their efforts. They do come, of course, but over periods of years . . . . "The meaning of Sputnik," Hornig said, "was that it demon­strated the Soviets were capable of big-time technology; capable, if you will, of playing in the big leagues." He declined to label the American attempt to send men to the moon as a "race." "The moon is, after all, the first important object beyond the earth. . . . There are valid scientific objectives to be pursued on the moon's surface all linked to gaining new insights into cos­mology and to providing clues to man's destiny. That is, where we came from. . . . (H. Simons, Wash. . Post, 12/15/63, E3)

DOD decision to develop military communications satel­lite system, probably beginning operation in 1966, reported in New York Times. Funds were contained in proposed DOD budget for FY 1965, recently presented to the White House. Plans called for 24-30 satellites in random polar orbits with alti­tudes ranging from 5,000-12,000 mi., linking military forces around the world. No contracts would be awarded, however, until discussions with ComSatCorp resolve question of whether DOD should use commercial facilities for its military purposes. (Fin­ney, NYT, 12/16/63, 1)

• December

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31