Jul 3 1967
From The Space Library
Minor fire broke out during an unmanned vacuum chamber test of Lunar Module (LM) descent stage mockup at WSMR. NASA officials said vehicle was under a vacuum soak condition when fuel escaped into the vacuum chamber; fire apparently developed from spontaneous combustion. It was extinguished immediately by the water deluge system, and damage was believed to be minor. (WSMR Release)
Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D-Conn.) , Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Science, Research, and Development Subcommittee, emphasized that, "with the immensity of consequences and the irreversible nature of many technological changes, the propensity for risk taking must be coupled with a deeper assessment of both deficits and benefits." His statement, Technology Assessment, to subcommittee proposed a seven-step approach which would place technology within the total societal framework; "identify all impacts in the natural, social, economic, legal and political sectors;" and examine causes, effects, and alternatives. A three-phase Subcommittee program would include hearings and seminars, a request for National Academies of Science and Engineering working group on pilot projects, and a number of other analyses. (Text)
"Unless US. space program moves much faster than now seems likely, US. consumption of helium this year . . . may be down as much as . . . 25%," Chemical and Engineering News reported. Since Jan. 27 Apollo fire and resulting "slowdown" in space program, use of helium to pressurize rocket fuels-which accounted for 45% of helium consumption - had dropped to about half of its former level. Despite the 1967 recession, however, helium industry was optimistic that trend would be reversed when manned space flights were resumed in 1968. (C&E News, 7/3/67, 18-9)
USN had selected six companies to compete for six-month study contract to design ship-based antimissile missile system which could support Nike-X, William Beecher reported in New York Times. Companies were Hughes Aircraft Co., Martin Marietta Corp., Boeing Co., Aerojet-General Corp., McDonnell Douglas Co., and Raytheon Co. Code-named Seaborne Anti-Ballistic Missile Intercept System (SABMIS), it would be deployed on submarines and warships stationed in international waters off Communist China and U.S.S.R. to intercept long-range missiles launched from those countries. A USA Nike-X official commented: "The Navy system is both feasible and attractive. It could intercept enemy ICBM's before they can deploy most of their penetration aids; it would reduce the number of missiles Nike-X would have to contend with; and it would tremendously increase the enemy's technology problems by forcing him to become very sophisticated indeed if he wants to stand any chance of getting his ICBM's past both the mid-course and terminal phase defenses." (Beecher, NYT, 7/4/67,1,2)
ERG Director James C. Elms announced appointment of Dr. Franciso C. Schwarz as head of ERC's Power Conditioning and Distribution Laboratory. (ERC Release 67-22)
Col. Robert A. Merchant (USMC, Ret.), former Assistant Chief of Staff, USMC Hq., became Director of the new International Technology Affairs Div., Office of International Affairs, NASA Hq. He would be responsible for coordinating dissemination of NASA scientific and technical information abroad, developing recommendations for the disposition of export control cases, and exploring broader use of space technology overseas. (NASA Ann, 7/3/67)
Harold W. Yates, former chief engineer of Barnes Engineering Co.'s Field Research and Systems Dept., became Director of the National Environmental Satellite Center's Satellite Experiment Laboratory. (USA Release 67-17)
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