December 1965
From The Space Library
NASA Flight Research Center had completed analysis of flight handling characteristics of six representative light private aircraft currently manufactured in the U.S. Aircraft flown in the study were considered a good cross-section of this type of aircraft and included high- and low-wing and single- and twin-engine configurations, Report would be published as a technical note in spring 1966. (Av, Wk, 12/27/65, 13)
Snap-10A nuclear ground test system, designated Flight System-3 (FS-3) and a flight-qualified copy of the SNAPSHOT I orbital test system, had operated continually since January 22, 1965, exceeding by four months the previous record for continuous power operation of any known reactor, By the time of the SNAPSHOT I launch (April 3), FS-3 had accumulated more than 70 days of operating time, Continuing to operate throughout the remainder of the year, the system operated satisfactorily but with a gradual degradation in power output. (Atomic Energy Programs, 1965, 151-152)
The Council of the NAS announced that a statement had been placed in the Minutes of the Council as a memorial to the late Dr. Hugh L. Dryden: "Although the service and devotion of Hugh L. Dryden to the National Academy of Sciences, where he was ten years Home Secretary, twelve years our colleague in the Council, and twenty-one years a member of the Section of Engineering, have in our time rarely been equalled and certainly not surpassed, they represent only a portion of his service and devotion to several national institutions closely linked to the welfare of our people... In achieving so much for his country and its institutions, he gave of himself without thought of self, He was deeply admired and loved by all who came in association with him. The sorrow felt at his passing by all members of the Academy is accompanied by an enduring pride in honoring his memory." (NAS-NRC-NAE News Report, 12/65)
In his book Galaxies, Nuclei, and Quasars British scientist Fred Hoyle declared that on the basis of new evidence the "steady-state" theory of cosmology-of which he had been a leading proponent since 1948-was now untenable, He discussed his new theory, a variation of the oscillating-universe concept. (Science, 12/24/65, 1708)
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center ended 1965 with 7,522 employees earning in excess of $82.8 million-about 700 of whom were located in contractor plants throughout the U.S. There were some 4,280 contractor employees working at MSFC's Redstone Arsenal complex with estimated earnings of $43 million bringing the Center's direct and indirect payroll for 1965 (combined Civil Service and contractor) to about $125.8 million. An estimated 10,000 other contractor workers were employed by contractors in Huntsville in connection with MSFC programs. (SFC Release 65-313)
Principal source of advanced technology in the U.S. had been and would remain the aerospace industry, postulated an article in Aerospace. Only in its programs were technical goals high enough and national requirements urgent enough to move forward in major steps. As these steps were completed and technical goals achieved, the entire economy fell heir to the new technology. Key goals in defense and space programs were listed as: (1) lowering costs; (2) improving the efficiency of motors, generators, and all other energy conversion devices and processes; (3) improving design, that is, reducing the weight and increasing the strength of all machines, by either improved knowledge of the machine or by using lighter, stronger materials; (4) improving the accuracies to which machines could be controlled; (5) improving reliability; (6) improving communications between men, between men and machines, and between machines. (Aerospace, Winter 1965)
- December
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