Feb 13 1964
From The Space Library
At conclusion of Rome meeting of European Conference on Satellite Communications with representatives from U.S. and Canada, head of U.S. delegation Abram Chayes said "the most significant result of the conference is that a number of European countries as well as Canada have now expressed serious interest in joining as copartners" in the international comsat system. Discussions would continue, and another meeting was scheduled for mid-March in Washington. (Wollemborg, Wash. Post, 2/14/64)
NASA-AEC Space Nuclear Propulsion Office (SNPO) announced that the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory had successfully completed a major cold-flow test series on the Kiwi B-4D-CF reactor. The experiments were designed to verify design changes incorporated in the basic Kiwi B-4 reactor to prevent flow-induced vibrations under nonpower producing conditions. No vibrations were observed. (SNPO)
NASA employees Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., and Dr. John W. Townsend, Jr., were among the 10 outstanding young men in Government service awarded the 1963 Arthur S. Flemming Awards. Kraft was Assistant Director for Flight Operations, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center; Townsend, Assistant Director of Space Science and Satellite Applications, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (NASA Notice)
Technology from $3 million program to eliminate vibrations in Project Gemini's Titan II launch vehicle should be applied to other large boosters, according to NASA Chief of Launch Vehicle Systems Integration Jerome B. Hammack. (Webb, UPI, Houston Press, 2/14/64; SBD, 2/13/64, 240)
$1,224,793 NASA contract for construction of JPL Explosive Safe Facility at Cape Kennedy was awarded to Fryd Construction Corp. by Army Corps of Engineers. (DOD Release 134-64)
Sen. Stuart Symington (D.-Mo.) speaking before the Annual Meeting of the Cape Girardeau, Mo., Chamber of Commerce, said: "Our policies are peaceful in nature, and our space program is peaceful in purpose and content; but it is also a sound investment for our future national security, economic as well as military. . . . "Landings on the moon will add to our knowledge of the origin of the universe, and also contribute to our knowledge of the broad spectrum of science and technology in such areas as meteorology and communications . . . "But the lunar project is not the whole space program; and the military significance of the program cannot be judged by examining that project alone; nor can anyone today estimate the great wealth and resources that will flow from this new knowledge. Knowledge is, and will be, the basic power of modern states. "Moreover, the Defense Department is now deeply engaged in the space effort . . . "The true defense value of the lunar project rests with the development of our over-all space capabilities; and no one can say today how this stockpile of knowledge Will be used in the defense of this Nation or how important it will be. . ." (Text)
Dr Willy Ley predicted at Texas A&M Univ. that U.S.S.R. would attempt manned orbital flight to the moon during 1964. He did not believe such a flight would "significantly advance the time of an actual landing . .. [because] that would take great strides in new rocket power." He believed U.S. had a "50-50 chance of being the first to get there." (Maloney, Houston Post, 2/14/64)
New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, campaigning in New Hampshire Republican primary for presidential nomination, said there was a "very serious question" whether U.S. should abandon Project Apollo manned lunar project and rely instead on instrumented spacecraft. About 95% of information obtainable by men on the moon "for a half an hour" could be gathered by instruments, he said. He said the decision for Apollo came after the abortive Bay of Pigs invasion, when the Administration decided the U.S. needed something "dramatic." Rockefeller proposed reconsidering the space plan advocated by President Eisenhower, calling for a slower, less expensive, "scientific" program. (NYT, 2/14/64, 10; AP, Wash. Post, 2/14/64)
Atlas missile caught fire and exploded at silo site east of Roswell, N. Mex., demolishing the $1.5 million missile and the $10 million silo. USAF reported no personal injuries. (UPI, Wash. Post, 2/14/64)
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