Mar 13 1965
From The Space Library
President Johnson signed a bill and proclamation declaring March 16 "Robert Hutchings Goddard Day." Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard of Clark University had launched world's first liquid-fuel rocket at Auburn, Mass, on March 16, 1926. ( Text, NYT, 3 /15/65, 8)
USNS Croatan, which had left Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, on Mar. 6, arrived at Lima, Peru. During the interval, ten two-stage sounding rockets had been launched from the deck of the ship, carrying upper atmosphere and ionosphere experiments for the Univ. of Michigan, the Univ. of New Hampshire, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Three single-stage Arcas meteorological rockets, two of which carried experiments to measure ozone in the atmosphere, were also launched. (NASA Release 65-13)
Seventy paintings and drawings rendered by 15 contemporary American artists at rocket and satellite launching stations were exhibited at the National Gallery, Washington, D.C. According to the National Gallery, the purpose of the NASA-sponsored art programs was to "record the strange new world which space technology is creating" and "to probe for the inner meaning and emotional impact of events of fateful significance to mankind," Accompanying the exhibit was a film "The World Was There" which contrasted secrecy of some nations' space programs with the openness of the American effort. (National Gallery Release, 3/14/65)
In New York Times Richard Witkin said F-111 variable-sweep-wing plane, intended as the mainstay of U.S. fighter forces before 1970, had developed problems with engines and with the inlets that feed air to the engines. Officials maintained that problems were normal in any development, but conceded that fewer difficulties had been anticipated because of record number of wind tunnel tests. The two prototypes tested, one of which was supersonic, had continuously run into two main difficulties: (1) air flow through compressors of engines had become disturbed, causing erratic power output; and (2) combustion in afterburner section causing been suddenly stopping. Otherwise, officials contended that flight tests, including tucking wins far back for high-speed runs, had been going better than anticipated. (Witkin, NYT, 3/14/65, 58; Chic. Trib., 3/15/65)
An article in The Economist questioned the political wisdom of the State Dept.'s ban on exchange of communications satellite information between Hughes Aircraft Co. and the British Aircraft Co.; it suggested that unfavorable repercussions to Anglo-American relations could result: "The reason had little to do with military security. The State Dept. appeared to think that American industry has a valuable monopoly in commercial satellites which should be exploited for maximum profit, which means keeping the know-how in America. ... The first commercial satellite of Comsat happens to be the Hughes-built Early Bird due to be launched in the first half of April, Comsat is obliged ... to distribute its orders among member countries on a basis proportional to the shares they hold. . . . Britain is the largest shareholder after the United States. So the less satellite know-how there is, particularly in Britain, the more work goes to the United States ... this ... is precisely what some people have been declaring the Americans would do whenever they found themselves in a position of technical superiority. . . ." (Economist, 3/13/65)
Two Russian airmen had set a world altitude record by flying M1-4 helicopter with a load of nearly two tons to 20,894 ft., Tass reported. (Reuters, N.Y . News, 3/14/65)
Israel, to reassure U.S. of her peaceful intentions for use of atomic energy, had permitted two AEC commissioners to inspect Dimona reactor, a natural uranium, heavy-water-moderated type, capable of producing enough plutonium for several relatively small atomic weapons, Israel had imposed strict secrecy on the inspections, one a year ago and a second last month. U.S. tentatively concluded that Dimona was not being used to produce plutonium for atomic weapons but suggested that reactor be placed under inspection by International Atomic Energy Agency. Israel refused, explaining: (1) she should not be forced to place her national development under agency inspection until international inspection had been accepted by all nations, and (2) the Agency had discriminated against her in favor of Arab states in membership of its board and location of research centers. Many American and British specialists feared that Israel could be "keeping the option open" to develop atomic deterrent against Arab nations. (Finney, NYT, 3/14/65, 1)
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