May 6 1965
From The Space Library
MARINER IV, after 159 days in space, was 72 million mi, from earth, had travelled 243 million mi. The spacecraft continued to return scientific and engineering data to ground stations daily and to set new records for distance of communications. (NASA Release 65-148)
U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing appropriations to NASA for FY 1966 totaling $5,183,844,850, as follows: $4,537,121,000 for research and development; $60,675,000 for construction of facilities; and $586,048,850 for administrative operations, NASA had requested $5.26 billion, During the debate preceding passage of the bill, Rep. James G. Fulton (R-Pa.) said: "We have moved quickly, But we are not in a crash program. We are now conducting a reasonable program . . . it is a well-planned program, "It is impossible to believe that in the fiscal year 1959 only $48,354,000 was authorized for space [NASA]. In fiscal year 1960 it went up ten times to $485,550,000. It doubled again in fiscal year 1961 to $915 million, "In fiscal year 1962 it went to $1,361,900,000, "In fiscal year 1963, it went to $3,742,162,000 and in fiscal year 1964 to $5,238,119,400. "In fiscal year 1965 it went to $5,193,810,500. "For this fiscal year, the committee has recommended $5,183,844,850, which is down from last year's level. "I want the House to know we have gone over these programs thoroughly, We have made cuts in the committee, and the cuts were worthwhile. They are responsible, and they are substantial. They are not small," Regarding funds restored to the NASA budget, Rep. Fulton said: "The M-1 engine development, the 260-inch engine development, and the SNAP-8 development, were ongoing programs of research that were approved by the committee and authorized by the House over the past several years, However, for reasons of economy, the Administrator cut these three programs entirely from the NASA budget. The committee on the other hand, believed that such actions in the long run would be extremely wasteful and later result in very high costs when it would become necessary to reactivate these programs, "Consequently, the committee restored $15 million to the M-1 program to continue it on a technological development level, $6.2 million to the 260-inch solid rocket program to carry it through the test firing of two full length rockets, and $6 million to the SNAP-8 to continue it at the scheduled level of effort," Rep. Olin E. Teague (D-Tex.) discussed changes made by the Manned Space Flight Subcommittee: "The total request by NASA for manned space flight for fiscal year 1966 is $3,567,052,000... The subcommittee is recommending a total reduction of $42,825,000, "NASA requested $3,249,485,000 for research and development in manned space flights. Total reduction in research and development amounts to $30 million. All of this reduction comes from the Apollo program. It is the view of the subcommittee that in the areas of Apollo mission support and engine development that program improvements could be made. However, the reduction was made in the total request to allow NASA to make program alterations with a broad management latitude of choice without adversely affecting the total program. It was recognized by the subcommittee that NASA, prior to coming before the committee, had made substantial reductions in their total research and development program. A further reduction was also made by the Bureau of the Budget. Based on this, the $30 million reduction is considered a maximum amount that could be taken without jeopardizing the pace and progress of the Apollo program." (CR, 5/6/65, 9291, 9296, 9301)
Saturn V booster (S-IC stage) was static-fired for the second time at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The five F-1 engines were ignited in a 15-sec. test during which they generated 7.5 million lbs, thrust. Tests of this stage would gradually increase in duration until full-length firing of 2½ min, was reached in late spring or early summer. (MSFC Release 65-117)
USAF Titan III-A rocket was fired from Eastern Test Range in a maneuverability test in which the third stage (transtage), carrying two satellites, executed a series of consecutive and intricate maneuvers. Primary goal of the mission was four separate ignitions of the transtage's engines-a feat never before attempted. First firing, after burnout of the first two stages, lasted 296 sec. and injected the 7,000;lb, rocket-payload assembly into near-earth orbit of 125-mi. (201.3 km.) apogee, 108-mi. (173.9-km.) perigee, and 88,1-min, period. After one earth orbit, about 90 min, after launch, the third stage ignited a second time, for 37 sec, driving the stage upward into an elliptical orbit of apogee, 1,757 mi. (2,828.8 km,) and perigee, 115 mi. (185.2 km.). Two and one-half hours later, transtage's two 8,000-lb,-thrust engines burned a third time, for 27 sec., to circularize the orbit at 1,743-mi. (2,806,2-km,) apogee and 1,729-mi. (2,783,7-km,) perigee. Thirty seconds after shutdown of the transtage, an 82-lb, Lincoln Laboratory experimental communications satellite (LES II), equipped with its own rocket motor to shoot itself into a higher elliptical orbit, was spring-ejected from the stage. LES II attained orbit of 9,364-mi. (15,076-km.) apogee; 1,753-mi. (2,822-km.) perigee; 315-min, period; and 31.35° inclination. Then, 42 sec, after LES II was released, a 44.5-in,-dia., 75-lb, hollow aluminum radar calibration sphere (LCS I) was ejected from the transtage, LCS I was to remain in near-circular orbit with 1,743-mi. (2,806.2-km.) apogee, 1,729-mi. (2,783,7-km,) perigee. Seven hours after launch, the transtage was fired a fourth time, driving it into a final elliptical orbit of 2,317-mi. ( 3,730,4-km,) apogee ; 1,725-mi. ( 2,777,3-km.) perigee ; 157-min, period; and 32.07° inclination. (UPI, NYT, 5/7/65, 12; Av. Wk, 5/10/65, 33; USAF Proj, Off.; U.S. Aeron, & Space Act, 1965, 141)
NASA announced its agreement with the Brazilian Space Commission (CNAE) to cooperate in scientific sounding rocket program to investigate the lower regions of the ionosphere, emphasizing the effects of cosmic rays. NASA would provide and CNAE would launch two sounding rockets from Natal, Brazil; scientific payloads would be constructed by Brazilian technicians at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA and CNAE would combine to provide ground support equipment, to analyze data, and to publish the results of the experiment, In addition, NASA would launch one instrumented sounding rocket from Wallops Station, Va., in a complementary experiment. The project would contribute to observance of 1965 as International Cooperation Year. (NASA Release 65-149)
To assure expeditious completion of NASA's Mississippi Test Facility-permanent national center for ground testing of large launch vehicle stages-Marshall Space Flight Center announced two changes in preparation of the installation: (1) buildup in personnel would start immediately; (2) MSFC planning, construction, and activation elements would be grouped into a new Mississippi Test Facility Task Force. Jackson Balch, until now MSFC's assistant deputy director, technical, would have the dual titles of Mississippi Test Facility site manager and head of the MTF Task Force. A permanent organization to operate MTF once it was activated would be formed later. (MSFC Release 65-114)
Techniques for weather predictions reliable up to two weeks were discussed at Geophysics Corp, of America in Bedford, Mass, by Dr. D. Q. Wark of the U.S. Weather Bureau, Dr. William Nordberg of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and Dr. Jean I. F. King of GCA. These scientists had successfully utilized radio waves to collect weather data and were planning to build a new weather satellite which could log greater amounts of data and provide constant coverage. They proposed placing weather buoys in the oceans and weather balloons in the atmosphere equipped to relay data to the orbiting satellite which, in turn, would relay data to ground stations. (Hughes, CSM, 5/6/65)
Russian communications satellite MOLNIYA I, because of its higher and sharply elongated orbit, could transmit continuously several hours longer than American Telstars, reported Tass, Tass claimed that Tel-stars could transmit uninterruptedly for only 30 min. (Reuters, NYT, 5/7/65, 3)
Chairman of the UCLA Astronomy Dept. Dr. L. H. Aller believed the moon might be as solid as metal below the top few inches of surface, reported George Getze in the Los Angeles Times. According to Getze. Aller said chances were good that the chemical composition of the moon was more like the sun's than the earth's and that elements in the sun as gases would be found in the moon as solids. "The first few inches of the moon's surface may have been changed a good deal by meteor hits and solar radiation, but if we go down a few feet we will probably find that the composition is like the sun's," he said. (Getze, L.A, Times, 5/6/65)
Editorializing in the Evening Star, Richard Fryklund said: "It is a pity that the hot, new plane, called the YF-12A, has almost no chance to be used by the Air Force for anything except tests and speed records, , "The reason: Secretary of Defense McNamara doubts that any new interceptor is needed or that the Air Force's nomination is the right plane even if one is needed... "Three of the records set by the YF-12A on May Day are considered to be the most important performance checks on any airplane: Speed over a straight course (2,062 miles an hour, or about mach 3,2), altitude (80,000 feet, though it can go 'higher) and speed around circular course (1,688 miles an hour) (Fryklund, Wash, Eve, a Star, 5/6/65, 7)
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