Dec 15 1965
From The Space Library
Success of the Gemini VII-VI mission received worldwide acclaim: newspapers in France, Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy, and Cuba were among those which gave the flight front-page coverage and radio stations throughout the world interrupted regular programs to broadcast minute-by-minute accounts of the historic rendezvous. The Soviet newspaper Izvestia printed a detailed description of the rendezvous which it described as "a great success." Communist China remained silent. (Reuters, Wash. Post, 12/16/65, A14; UPI, NYT, 12/16/65, 29; Reuters, Wash. Post, 12/19/65, A17; AP, NYT, 12/17/65, 29)
Dr. Edward C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of the NASC, after watching the successful Gemini VII-VI rendezvous on television, told reporters that the accomplishment would lead to: (1) operation of manned space stations with crews replaced and supplies renewed by rendezvous methods; (2) assembly of large observatories and spacecraft hundreds of miles above earth; (3) ability to inspect foreign spacecraft; and (4) techniques for visiting and rescuing astronauts stalled in orbit. (UPI, Wash, Post, 12/16/65, A14)
In a telegram of congratulations to NASA Administrator James E. Webb on the rendezvous of Gemini VI and Gemini VII, President Johnson said: "You have all moved us one step higher on the stairway to the moon, By conducting this adventure for all the world to see, you have reaffirmed our faith in a free and open society, We invite those throughout the world who have shared our suspense and suffered with us during our temporary failures to share with us this triumph, for it belongs not just to the United States but to all mankind." (Pres, Doc, 12/20/65, 593)
Brazil successfully launched the first Nike-Apache sounding rocket from its Natal Range in a joint program with NASA to investigate the lower regions of the ionosphere with emphasis on the effects of cosmic rays. Launching was conducted by the Brazilian Space Activities Commission (CNAE), Instrumentation for the rocket payload and the telemetry ground support equipment was constructed by Brazilian technicians at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (Wallops Release 6580; NASA Release 65-328)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched by NASA from Wallops Station, boosted 51-lb. payload with ionosphere experiment for the Univ. of Illinois and the GCA Corp, to 113-mi. (182-km,) peak altitude, Payload carried instrumentation to measure electron and ion density and solar radiation in D and E layers of the ionosphere, No recovery was required since data from the experiments were radioed to ground stations during the seven-minute flight. Experiment was last NASA 1964-65, IQSY project. (Wallops Release 65-79; AP, Wash, Post, 12/17/65, A8)
Bodies of NASA Director of Space Medicine Dr. [[W. Randolph Lovelace II], his wife, and pilot were found near the wreckage of their two-engine aircraft about 40 mi. southeast of Aspen, Colo. Aircraft had been missing since Dec. 12. Coroner's report later said that the cold and not injuries had apparently caused the deaths. A space medicine pioneer, Dr. Lovelace had parachuted from record 44,000-ft, altitude in 1944, had helped determine criteria for selection of Mercury astronauts, and had founded the famous Lovelace Clinic. (Wash, Eve. Star, 12/16/65, A18; Wash. Post, 12/16/65, A3; NYT, 12/16/65, 50; AP, NYT, 12/18/65, 16)
AP quoted informed sources as saying that negotiations were in the final stages to allow the U.S. to fire Redstone rockets in Australia as part of the development of an antimissile missile. Agreement would call for about 12 of the rockets to be fired at the joint British-Australian Woomera Weapons Research Range. (AP, NYT, 12/16/65, 12)
Ralph E. Cushman had been named Director of the new NASA Facilities Management Office, reporting to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Industry Affairs. Cushman had been Director of Management Coordination in the Hq. Office of Administration. Appointment was effective immediately. (NASA Ann,)
New NASA Space Radiation Effects Laboratory, Oyster Point, Va., was dedicated in ceremonies attended by Gov. Albertis S. Harrison, Jr. LaRC facility would provide LaRC the means to test and study the effect on spacecraft and their systems of particle radiation from the sun or in the earth's magnetic field; scientists would be able to simulate space radiation and conduct studies to increase reliability and safety of spacecraft and space missions. (LaRC Release)
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