Jul 21 1965
From The Space Library
A small roving vehicle as a payload for the Surveyor soft-landing lunar spacecraft would not be developed, NASA announced. Bendix Systems Div. and General Motors Defense Research Laboratories had studied the feasibility and possible scientific value of a rover, NASA's decision was based on a desire to concentrate on the development of the spacecraft itself and on scientific instruments to conduct experiments near the landing area. (NASA Release 65-245)
"Hopper," a versatile rocket-propelled Lunar Flying Vehicle (LFV) to transport Apollo astronauts on exploration flights of the moon's surface, had been designed by Bell Aerosystems Co, as a result of a 12-month study conducted for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Bell announced. The 400-lb., four-legged, rectangular LFV would be desk size and propelled by a cluster of five 100-lb-thrust rocket engines; it could fly 50 mi. nonstop. Bell also disclosed receipt of a $489,898 follow-on NASA contract to design a Manned Flying System (MFS) capable of carrying one astronaut-scientist and 300 lbs. of equipment or two astronauts. Intended primarily as an exploratory device, the MFS would be able to fly 15 mi. round trip without fueling. (Bell Aerosystems Co. Release)
Tariff amendments for use of EARLY BIRD I satellite for television transmission were filed by ComSatCorp with the FCC. Under the new regulations, which would supersede the May 28 tariff and become effective July 26, circuits between the Andover, Me., ground station and EARLY BIRD I could be leased for a minimum period of 10 min. rather than 30 min. as previously proposed. The European communications agencies were expected to offer comparable 10-min, services from the satellite to their respective ground stations. The rate for one-way TV service during non-peak period Would be $1,800 for the first 10 min, and $32 for each additional minute. During peak period, it would be $3,000 for the first 10 min. and $48 for each additional minute, For two-way transmission and reception of black-and-white television signals or one-way color TV, the change would be 150 per cent of the charge for a one-way TV channel. Weekday peak period would be between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. New York City time; non-peak period would be between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.; between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.; and all day Saturday and Sunday. (ComSatCorp Release; WSJ, 7/22/65, 2)
Dr. Albert C. Hall, Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering, told the National Space Club meeting in Washington, D.C., that a significant announcement on the MOL program would be made in the "near future," according to Missile/Space Daily, When asked if MOL would match the capability demonstrated by the U.S.S.R. in July 16 launch of PROTON I, Dr. Hall replied: "We feel a capability in the order of placing 25,000 lbs. in orbit would enable us to meet DOD needs." Dr. Hall said that DOD was interested in the development of recoverable, reusable boosters and he felt that the reduction of problems in mating payloads to boosters had been a "significant event during the past year." (41/S Daily, 7/21/65; NSC Release)
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center had issued 11 new contracts and modified one other to provide for further studies and component development on the Apollo Extension Systems (AES). (MSFC Release 65-186)
Astronomers of the Pulkovo Observatory, Leningrad, had completed installation of a more powerful telescope, Tass announced. Diameter of the instrument's main mirror was 440 mm. (17.3 in.) ; its focal length, 17.5 m. (57,33 ft.). The new telescope would be able to produce spectrograms from any sector of the sun and simultaneously measure the magnetic field. (Tass, 7/21/65)
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