May 26 1965
From The Space Library
NASA launched an ionosphere experiment from Wallops Station, Va., on a four-stage Javelin (Argo D-4) sounding rocket, Primary objectives of the flight were to measure ion and electron densities and temperatures and the ionic composition in the upper atmosphere. A malfunction in the launch vehicle caused the 140-lb. payload to reach an altitude of only 200 mi. instead of the planned 520 mi. Telemetry data were received for about nine minutes, Project officials termed the flight a partial success despite the failure to achieve peak altitude. (Wallops Release 65-31)
PEGASUS II had reported two meteoroid punctures, NASA announced. The hits were recorded on the .0015-in, and .008-in,-thick aluminum-covered detection panels. (NASA Release 65-175)
On the floor of the Senate, Sen, Ralph W. Yarborough (D-Tex,) advocated that rights to patents from Government-sponsored research should belong to the Government: "In this struggle between the public interest and those who seek a public subsidy to enrich private coffers, the stakes are immense. The Federal Government every year becomes more involved in the financing of scientific research. This being the case, it is the responsibility of Congress to protect the public purse, rather than to construct private pipelines from the Public Treasury to private recipients." (CR, 5/26/65)
"Establishment of a communications satellite system for commercial purposes is a matter entrusted to the Corporation under the Communications Satellite Act," was the reply of ComSatCorp President Joseph Charyk to the FCC regarding the American Broadcasting Co,'s proposal to launch its own satellite. The FCC had requested the views of ComSatCorp on the proposal. (ComSatCorp Release)
In Second Annual Sight Lecture to the Wings Club, Dr. Jerome C. Hunsaker, former Chairman of the NACA and MIT professor of aeronautics, said: "We cannot return to the time when the century was young, yet we still need the ingenuity and luck of gifted individuals. It is important to establish an environment with incentives to bring new ideas forward. "I think of the British Admiralty's prize for a ship's chronometer. The chronometer appeared, and changed the entire art of navigation. Lilienthal's gliding experiments, the Wrights' flights and Sikorsky's helicopter were individual contributions, not in government programs. "Scientists have a favorable climate for their own research provided by the Universities and Foundations, with opportunity for publication and recognition through the learned societies. Could we not devise a plan to bring ideas of individuals before sensitive and wise people who would select wheat from chaff and arrange for development testing of some of the harvest, We must be patient. I am reminded of Dr. Paul Foote's remark that, for a new chemical, it is usually seven years from test tube to tank car, "What we must avoid is centralized control of the exploration of ideas by the people responsible for immediate needs. There is nothing more discouraging to an engineer than the statement: 'We have no requirement for what you are thinking of.' "Today, U.S. military power is supreme, but our intent and resolve are more in question than our strength, General LeMay says, 'We must make more determined and longer range plans and commitments. ... We must look further into the future to foresee the threats that lie ahead.' "Quantum advances in technology follow availability of scientific knowledge plus creative imagination and financial risk taking. International cooperative effort has been valuable in the past in research, and could be valuable in development work when the threat of destructive purpose becomes less. "Let us never think we have no requirement for men with new ideas." (Text)
First stage (S-I-10) for the tenth and last Saturn I launch vehicle left MSFC's Michoud Operations aboard the barge Promise, to arrive at KSC May 31. This was the second S-I stage built at Michoud by Chrysler Corp, Space Div. (SFC Release 65-135)
ComSatCorp may well face competition from foreign satellite communications systems in the next few years, David Sarnoff, chairman of the Board of Radio Corporation of America predicted at the convention banquet of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Assn, in Washington, D.C,: "We can expect that ultimately Russia will set up a satellite communications system competitive to our own and offer it to other nations on favorable terms determined more by political than economic considerations." Mr. Sarnoff advocated creation of "a single, privately owned American company" to handle all international communications currently handled by six private carriers. He argued that, among other benefits, a single "unified carrier" was the only way the U.S. could "deal on equal terms with foreign government [communications] monopolies. The RCA chairman warned that in only five years the interim agreement between ComSatCorp and the 45 participating nations would be up for re-evaluation. The U.S. he said, "will have to negotiate a new contract under different circumstances and possibly vastly altered bargaining conditions," It was technically feasible, Mr. Sarnoff said, that direct radio/TV broadcasting by satellite could be undertaken by 1975. Three equatorial, synchronous orbit satellites powered by nuclear energy, each equipped with a three-TV-channel capability, would be able, he said, to broadcast programs to the entire United States and parts of Canada. He estimated that the three satellites, exclusive of ground stations, would cost $30 million and compared this with the $50 million annual cost to the three major networks for leasing circuits to transmit programs to their affiliated stations or to the $30 million cost of a single large city television station. (WSJ, 5/27/65, 6; Wash, Eve. Star, 5/27/65)
Missile lead of the U.S. was put at three to one in an article by Richard Fryklund in the Washington Evening Star: "U.S. intelligence estimates are that the Soviet Union has 245 to 295 intercontinental ballistic missiles on launchers ready to be fired. "The United States has 900." (Fryklund, Wash. Eve. Star, 5/26/65, 2)
May 26-28: NASA-sponsored Fifth National Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Space and St. Louis Bicentennial Space Symposium was held in St, Louis with participants from Government, education, industry, and the scientific community. (NASA SP-82)
NASA Deputy Administrator Hugh L. Dryden, delivering the keynote address, said : "The rate of growth of space activities in the first six years of the space age has been unprecedented in the history of a new field of science and technology but there are signs of attainment of a certain degree of maturity. The most obvious is the establishment, following several years in which available funds nearly doubled each year, of a level of five to five and a quarter billions for congressional appropriations to NASA, or about seven billions for space activities of all agencies at the suitable level... "Maturity is also indicated by the drastic reduction in the number of unsuccessful missions, the result of increased knowledge and experience in the previously unknown field of space. Thus in calendar year 1958 in the first three months of NASA, four missions were attempted without a single success. In the following year eight of fourteen were successful, whereas in 1964 twenty-five of thirty more difficult missions were successful, a percentage of 83 which has been maintained now for three years... " (NASA Release 65-83; Text, NASA Release 65-165)
Answering the query "What does the future hold in store?" NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight Dr. George E. Mueller told the Symposium about future manned flight options: "In near-earth space, missions could include low and high inclination, polar, or synchronous orbits to accomplish research, technological, and applications objectives. . . "In a low inclination orbit, below the Van Allen belts, the basic problems of keeping men in space for extended periods can be studied, rendezvous and resupply problems could be worked out, and scientific experiments conducted. "In synchronous orbit, where the spacecraft hovers over a fixed area of the earth all the time, experiments could be carried out which involve manned observations over a given portion of the earth or which use man to assist in the operation of various experimental systems. "In polar orbit, scientist-astronauts could monitor and observe the entire surface of the earth as it passes beneath the spacecraft, mapping it and surveying most of the world's resources... "In earth orbit . ,. a medium-size manned orbiting research laboratory might be developed. Such a space station would accommodate six to nine men and remain in orbit for up to five years.... Resupply vehicles, or space shuttles, could be used for crew rotation and for delivery of equipment and supplies. The laboratory would provide roomy quarters with a shirt-sleeve environment for conducting a wide variety of experiments in space. It would also contain a centrifuge, should it be found essential for reconditioning crew members to withstand the effects of gravity after periods of weightlessness. "Following this a larger permanent manned orbiting research laboratory accommodating 20 to 30 men, might then be developed, by assembling three or four of the medium-size laboratories in space. Artificial gravity could be provided in the laboratories by rotating them about their axes, "Possibly the most challenging long-term goal of the entire space program is manned exploration of the planets-especially of Mars." (Text)
Comparing the space programs of the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Dr. Edward C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, said: "1. In number of earth-orbiting payloads the United States has launched almost three times as many as has the USSR, although the 1965 rate is less than two to one. "2. In the weight of such payloads, the USSR has put up almost three times as much as has the United States, "3. In propulsion, the Soviets have from the beginning enjoyed an operational advantage over the United States. However, we are currently making great strides in this regard and it is hoped that we will keep moving up the propulsion ladder so as not to be overtaken again. "4. In manned space flight, the USSR is ahead of the U.S., not only in hours of flight but also in multi-manned flight and extravehicular activity. So far, the U.S. astronauts have Completed 40 orbits of the earth, the Soviet cosmonauts have completed 342 such orbits, Moreover, as our Gemini schedule proceeds and contributes continued progress, we must look for much more activity on the part of the Soviets. "5. In the application of space developments to directly useful purposes, the United States is well ahead, particularly in such fields as weather observations, navigation, and communications, However, the Soviets have potential capabilities of these types and have already begun to show some actual experience in space communications, "6. In lunar and interplanetary activity, the U.S. may have an edge with the spectacular success of the Rangers and Mariners, We have developed this advantage, even though the Soviets have made a greater relative commitment in this regard, both from the view of absolute numbers of launches and also in regard to weight of payloads, "7. Based upon clear knowledge of our own program and upon assertions by the Soviets about theirs, one can reasonably conclude that both countries have manned lunar landing projects under way. It would be impossible to state definitely who is ahead in this regard but I am hopeful that we will turn out to be, "8. As regards the collection of scientific data from space, both countries have made impressive strides, resulting in a possible advantage to the USSR regarding the effects of space environment on human beings. "9. Both countries are in a position to make many observations from space, but both countries have pledged not to orbit weapons of mass destruction and have stressed that their programs are dedicated to peaceful uses. I can only speak for this country in regard to our intent and do state that we will maintain our defenses while pledging not to use space for aggressive purposes." Dr. Welsh warned: "Let us not expect our space program to proceed indefinitely without some tragedy involving our astronauts." (Text)
Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, said: "In assessing our growth in space capability in terms of three steps from earth to earth orbit, from earth orbit to moon, and from moon to planets, it is important to recognize that the first two steps rest on essentially the same technologies. These are technologies which have evolved for decades and which are familiar: chemical energy conversion, relatively common engineering materials, measurement and control systems generally consistent with aircraft and ground technology and microwave communications. However, the third step will demand performance and efficiency well beyond the first two. An entirely new level of technology is needed; nuclear energy conversion, new refractory materials, accuracy of sensors-improved by orders of magnitude-and laser communications. There are the underlying requirements of higher reliability and longer lifetimes than have yet been demonstrated, together with low specific weight, "The requirement for improvement in this spectrum of space-related technologies will drive them well beyond their present level. The presence of difficult goals can have a profound influence on earthbound consumer products through the advancement of common fields of technology in addition to opening the gateway to deep space. The NASA program of advanced research and technology embraces most of these elements at least in their fundamental forms. Without this research the space program would soon wither and die, With it, by the year 2000, an enormous influence can be exerted on national prestige and strength." (Text)
Discussing space projects of the future at the Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Space, Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, said: "The reusable vehicle seems to be the key to development of an economical earth-to-orbit transportation system. Passenger conveniences must be improved so that scientists, engineers, technicians, military personnel-and even politicians and journalists--can make the trip, "One of the methods we have been studying several years combines the experience gained in the X-15 rocket plane program with present Saturn know-how, for building a high performance two-stage rocket "plane"-called the Re-Usable Orbital Transport. It appears entirely practical to develop a vehicle that would not subject passengers to more than three g's in ascent or descent. "In the orbital transport under study, the first stage would fly mission paths similar to the X-15, with the second stage, carrying passengers and cargo, launched from a piggy-back position. The second stage would fly into and out of orbit, gliding to a power-off landing after re-entry in the same manner the X-15 does now as routine procedure. "It would offer passengers who are in a hurry transportation over global ranges with about one-hour flight time. If we can develop a single or two-stage chemical rocket aerospace vehicle and learn to fly it over and over before it is worn out, the high-income traveler should find the operational cost acceptable, But, of course, the thing we must have is the demand-the traffic, cargo, and passengers to make the system economical, "After we have tried our wings in the immediate earth environment, our next major step in exploring and utilizing the solar system is the moon. And after that, the planets." (Text)
Dr. Joseph V. Charyk, ComSatCorp president, announced at the Space Symposium that the corporation might invite the aerospace industry to submit detailed proposals for satellites that would connect the television networks to their affiliated stations and would provide new facilities for airplane companies to communicate with aircraft in flight, Dr. Charyk's disclosure was a consequence of the American Broadcasting Company's recent proposal to put up its own comsat to relay TV shows to affiliated stations for rebroadcast to home viewers. Dr. Charyk said a satellite to relay television programs to affiliated stations involved no new basic engineering problems and offered "real potential, sound economic basis." He envisioned a television satellite equipped with 12 channels, three of which would serve each of the four time zones. A satellite of essentially the same design could serve the airplane companies, he noted. (Gould, NYT, 5/29/65, 55)
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