Jul 12 1967
From The Space Library
Soviet space officials hinted that they were conducting an advanced lunar exploration program and said that series of spacecraft from LUNA IX through Luna XIII would not be used again, Space Business Daily reported. Officials did not elaborate on the "new material,, that would be used, but indicated that new plans would include unmanned mobility on lunar surface. (SBD, 7/12/67,42)
American Security Council (ASC) released results of study prepared for House Armed Services Committee which concluded that U.S.S.R. would achieve a marked nuclear superiority over US. by 1971 unless steps were taken immediately to improve American strategic capabilities. Study, conducted by ASC's National Strategy Committee under chairmanship of former AFSC Commander Gen. Bernard A. Schriever (USAF, Ret.), found that US. had "exchanged its goal of a war-winning strategic superiority for a strategy of mutual deterrence" while U.S.S.R. "is driving hard toward a goal of overwhelming superiority. . . ." Report predicted that by 1971 U.S.S.R. would have a 30,000-to 50,000-mt nuclear delivery capability, contrasting with 6,000-to 15,000 mi for US., and recommended a rapid arms buildup or development of an antiballistic missile system. It warned that "by placing our sole reliance for deterrence on ICBMS, POLARIS and POSEIDON missiles, and the remaining manned bomber force . . . [US.] places itself in the dangerous position of having only one option left if it is faced with a Soviet ultimatum to surrender. It must either fire its offensive nuclear weapons or give up its sovereignty. An ABM [Antiballistic Missile System] would at least strengthen the hand of the President if he is confronted with such a fateful decision, and it might stay the hand of an enemy at a critical moment. . . ." (Text, ASC News)
July 12-19: "Cold flow" test series of Phoebus 2 nuclear reactor was successfully conducted at NRDS as part of NASA-AEC Project Rover program to develop a nuclear-propelled rocket. Purpose of tests was to check reactor design under gas-flow conditions and at liquid-hydrogen temperatures; measure variations in pressures, temperatures, and flow rates during simulated "start-up" operations; and obtain initial experience on the hook-up and test operations of Phoebus 2 reactors in test facility. Assembly used for experiments in "cold flow" tests was identical to that used in "hot" tests, except that it contained no fissionable material and did not produce a nuclear reaction. (NASA Proj Off; UPI, NYT, 7/22/67, 11)
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