Mar 25 1965
From The Space Library
MARINER IV was nearly 40 million mi, from earth, traveling 30,000 mph relative to the sun. It had covered 188 million mi. in its orbit around the sun. The Mars probe had transmitted to earth more than 160 million bits of engineering and scientific information about planetary space. ( NASA Release 65-95)
Soviet Union launched COSMOS LXIV with scientific instruments aboard for investigation of outer space. Tass announced. Orbital data: apogee, 271 km. ( 167 mi.) ; perigee, 206 km. (127 mi,) ; period, 89.2 min.; inclination, 65°. All systems were functioning normally. (Pravda, 3/26/65, 1, ATSS-T Trans.)
USAF launched an unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB on a Thor-Agena D booster. It also fired its 85th Minuteman ICBM. (UPI, Phil, Inq., 3/26/65)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb reported to President Johnson and the Cabinet on both the two-man GT-3 flight and the RANGER IX photographic mission, Mr. Webb made these points: "The most significant accomplishment of the GT-3 flight was that , . it provided verification of the basic design, development, test and operations procedures NASA is using to develop manned spacecraft, man-rated launch vehicles and a world-wide operational network. . . . "We now know that at least two spots, and perhaps three, when we look more carefully at the RANGER IX pictures, are at least smooth enough for the LEM [manned moon landing]. . An American astronaut probably would be able to open his spacecraft and partly emerge from the cabin during the GT-5 flight. Mr. Webb said under questioning that there might be some possibility of achieving this in the next Gemini flight, but that GT-5 was more likely. He regarded a Russian cosmonaut's leaving a space vehicle briefly as spectacular but said the U.S. was more intent on developing a space suit that would enable American astronauts to work outside on space vehicles and develop or put together space centers. (Text; UPI, N.Y. Her. Trib., 3/26/65)
At a press conference, Maj. Virgil I. Grissom ( USAF ) and LCdr. John W. Young (USN) described the three-orbit GT-3 flight of Mar, 23, as busy, exhilarating, near-perfect, and short on surprises. They said it was highly significant for future flight in space since it proved that a spacecraft could be maneuvered precisely, at will, and more independently of the ground than before. They said it also proved that man can eat and safely dispose of wastes as they will need to do on long flights. Major Grissom suggested two possible reasons that the "Molly Brown" had undershot the target landing area: one was that something might have gone wrong during the final orbit change or when subsequently the braking rockets were fired to start the spacecraft's descent; the other was that there might have been a miscalculation of the craft's center of gravity. (NASA Transcript)
Soviet President Anastas Mikoyan sent President Johnson congratulations on the Gemini GT-3 space flight. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/25/65)
Use of a special airlock through which Lt. Col. Aleksei Leonov passed from the spacecraft cabin into space and back again was a major factor in the success of the VOSKHOD II flight Mar, 18, it was reported. According to Soviet sources, the preservation of normal pressure inside the spacecraft throughout flight had had an important psychological effect on both Col. Belyayev and Col. Leonov. Findings were to be discussed at a press conference to be held by the cosmonauts Mar, 26. (Shabad, NYT, 3/26/65)
Tass reported that the Soviet Union was making extensive use of RANGER VII photographs presented to the Pulkovo Observatory: "Prof. Alexander Markov who supervised the study of the photos, told a Tass correspondent that the materials received from the United States would be used to study the size and distribution of moon craters, to ascertain the origin and development of the entire lunary relief, He emphasized the particular topicality of these problems 'in view of the landing of spacecraft on the lunar surface planned for near future.' " (Loory, N.Y, Her. Trib., 3/26/65)
Gen. Curtis E. LeMay (USAF, Ret,) said in a speech at a dinner meeting of the National Security Industrial Assn, where he received the James Forrestal Memorial Award that the "United States should observe with great care any tendency of the Soviet Union to develop space weapons. Already there is considerable reason for concern about Soviet capabilities in space, Many of the techniques the Soviet Union has developed so far point strongly toward a military space effort. The development of a capability by the Soviet Union to deliver strategic weapons from near space or to deny to the United States the opportunity to continue its present programs in space would amount to a serious threat and would negate our present favorable balance of military power," General LeMay criticized "current conservatism in the Department of Defense growing out of economic considerations" and said responsible officials should reappraise existing military R&D policies. (Sehlstedt, Balt, Sun, 3/26/65; Raymond, NYT, 3/29/65, 36)
Dr. Wolfgang B. Klemperer, pioneer in glider and missile design, died of pneumonia. A fellow of the AIAA, the AAS, and the British Interplanetary Society, Dr. Klemperer had been active in preparations for a NASA project to photograph a solar eclipse on May 30 from a jet airliner over the South Pacific. (NYT, 3/27/65, 27)
Kenneth Gatland, Vice-President of the British Interplanetary Society, urged U.S.-U.S.S.R. cooperation in manned lunar exploration in New Scientist article, ", , it seems we are faced with the ludicrous situation of the world's two most powerful nations, each with massively expensive rival programmes, heading for a common objective which each proclaims is being pursued in the highest interests of peaceful scientific exploration," A joint venture would have the advantage of providing for contingencies such as rescue of astronauts possibly stranded on the moon or in lunar orbit-a capability not included in Project Apollo, "This situation can only be satisfactorily resolved by the provision in lunar orbit of a second soft-landing vehicle and back-up crew capable of mounting an emergency rescue operation. To achieve this would require a specially adapted version of the craft already designed to soft-land astronauts. "This is where the merit of US-Soviet cooperation lies for, as an international venture, a project to land men on the Moon would surely not be undertaken as envisaged in Project Apollo; and certainly not with such rigid constraints on time. In all probability it would be planned as an operation rather than a solo mission, with logistic support from a second space vehicle placed in lunar orbit ahead of the main expedition... "The essential requirement in terms of the eventual lunar expedition is that launchings should be coordinated so that expedition components arrive in lunar orbit together. By the mid-1970's, orbital rendezvous techniques should be well established with the ability of men to move between orbiting vehicles. An agreed crew could then descend to the lunar surface while another ship remains in reserve orbiting the Moon in case of need. Alternatively, a reserve vehicle might be landed, unmanned, in advance. . . "Although at this stage such . , [a combined lunar expedition] would have little influence on overall costs, it could mean a great deal to the safety of initial manned missions, "Such a move would demand concessions on both sides. It would mean America abandoning her 1970 target date for placing men on the Moon, and while allowing Russia to keep her rocket secrets she would have to be prepared to reveal her programme for manned spaceflight. . ." (New Scientist, 3/25/65, 774-76)
Click here to listen to an interview with Hugh Dryden, recorded on this day.
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