Oct 29 1965
From The Space Library
NASA had selected Philco Corp, for negotiation of an estimated $1 million contract to build magnetometers to fly on interplanetary Pioneer spacecraft. The instruments would survey the interplanetary magnetic field during 1967 and 1968. (ARC Release 65-24)
A new telescope on Mt. Wilson, after surveying more than half the sky visible from that site, had detected from 400-1,000 celestial objects cooler than 1,500° F. reported Dr. Bruce T. Ulrich of Cal Tech at a meeting of the American Physical Society in Chicago. Since between 70% and 80% of them lay along the Milky Way, it was theorized that they were "very large-probably thousands of times larger than the sun, very distant, and quite rare," The new telescope was novel in several ways: its concave mirror was of an epoxy plastic coated with aluminum; the mirror rocked back and forth at 20 cps, so that light from an infrared source in the sky would sweep across detectors of lead sulphide and silicon; the detectors, kept at -320° F. were sensitive enough to detect the slight increase in the infrared as the arm of the telescope swept past one of these objects. (Sullivan, NYT, 10/30/65, 28C)
American Newspaper Publishers Association asked the FCC to permit wide use of communications satellites by newspapers and wire services, In a brief filed with the Commission the publishers' group said: "Specifically, we propose that a basic policy determination be made at this time, assuring access by the press to Comsat facilities for news media determination." (NYT, 10/31/65, 22)
Soviet Union announced new rocket tests in the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii and asked all countries to leave the area during the testing period. An official announcement by Tass, the Soviet press agency, said "a new modification of a space vehicle booster" would be launched. Tass said the test area covered "a circle with a radius of 40 n. mi, with a center of 19°8' north and 178°46' west." The test firings would take place between October 31 and December 30. (Pravda, 10/30/65, 1, ATSS-T Trans.)
U.S. exploded an 80-kiloton hydrogen bomb 2,300 ft. below the surface of Amchitka Island. The experiment was expected to produce important data for the monitoring of future bans against nuclear testing. The experiment, called Project Longshot, had required two years of preparation at a cost of $10 million. The readings of shock waves at 211 stations throughout the world were expected to enable scientists to distinguish between manmade explosions and natural seismic disturbances. (UPI, NYT, 10/30/65, 1)
William F. R. Ballard, chairman of the New York City Planning Commission, had proposed in a letter to Robert C. Weaver, administrator of the Federal Housing and Home Financing Agency, that a major study be made of land use problems around New York metropolitan airports. Ballard sought Federal aid for the proposed study, which called for an inquiry into methods for reducing disturbances to home owners rising from the noise of aircraft, under the Housing and Urban Redevelopment Act. (NYT, 10/30/65, 14)
Lt. Frank K. Ellis (USN), who had lost his lower legs in an aircraft crash, was advised that the Navy was considering his application to become an astronaut, "The only difference between me and any normal man," he said, "is running and jumping ability. There is no change in my flying ability. I've wanted to be an astronaut ever since I first heard the word. That field is moving more and more into actual controlled flying, I'm a fly boy. Count me in." (AP, NYT, 10/30/65, 28C)
First full-scale testing of a Coralie engine took place at Vernon, France, 15 days ahead of schedule. Firing of the engine, second stage of the European Launcher Development Organization's ELDO Europa booster, lasted 96 sec. Compatibility of the four-nozzle liquid engine with the flight-type structure was checked out, arid the low level of vibration was called highly encouraging. (M&R, 12/6/65)
Dr. Philip H. Abelson, editor of Science, editorialized: "To date the purely scientific results from our manned space program have not been impressive. With good reason, the engineering and medical aspects have been given overriding priority. In effect, our manned space program has consisted of a series of great technological stunts... "Will the Space Agency be able to devise a continuing series of spectaculars of ascending dramatic quality? I think not. The first successful landing on the moon will be a climax, Just as succeeding climbs of Mt. Everest, after the first ascent, have drawn diminishing attention, later lunar travel will lose its novelty. "As for Mars, how many popular songs have been written about it? ... More fundamental is the question, 'How many people know where Mars is, or even care?' Perhaps man will one day go to the planet, but the psychological and emotional impact of the trip will be pale in comparison with that of the first successful landing on the moon." (Science, 10/29/65, 557)
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