Dec 11 1967
From The Space Library
NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., testifying before the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries' Subcommittee on Oceanography, summarized NASA's activities in national marine science program. NASA's activities, primarily exploratory, were aimed at ascertaining what potential benefits could be gained in oceanography through the application of space techniques and equipment, he said. Major areas included: (1) investigation of the applicability of existing space technology to problems of oceanography; (2) studies of remote sensing of oceanographic phenomena, including analysis of data obtainable from space missions not originally conceived for oceanographic purposes such as Gemini, TIROS, and Nimbus photos; and (3) development and test of remote sensors for viewing and discrimination of oceanographic phenomena. Spacecraft, Dr. Seamans said, "will not supplant surface, subsurface, and airborne research and monitoring systems; rather they will supplement them. The absolute accuracy, three-dimensional capability, and selective resolution of these conventional systems will continue to be necessary and must be utilized as a part of the overall system to their best advantage. However, Earth-orbiting spacecraft have unique advantages for obtaining certain types of marine data as follows: repetitive worldwide coverage, greater frequency of observation (once or twice daily for polar orbiting satellites and continuous for geostationary satellites, ability to observe remote areas at will, and an `all-weather' capability for certain parameters." (Testimony SBD,12/20/67, 257)
Model No. 001 of delta wing Anglo-French Concorde supersonic aircraft was publicly displayed in Toulouse, France. The 132-passenger, 1,450-mph, aluminum aircraft was scheduled to make its first flight Feb. 28 and enter commercial service in 1971-three years earlier than 277-passenger, 1,800-mph US. SST. US. airlines accounted for more than half of the 74 orders already placed. (Garrison, NYT, 12/12/67, 1; B Sun, 12/12/67,1; NYT, 12/24/67, D33)
Boeing Co. revealed details of design proposals for Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) being evaluated by USAF. Proposed designs, result of a one-year study conducted by Boeing, used a Boeing 707 jet aircraft to house extensive radar and communications equipment for dual-purpose capability in air defense and as a tactical flying command post. Main radar antenna was housed in a 30-ft-dia rotodome on top of aircraft's vertical stabilizer to assure excellent radar performance a d minimize reduction of aircraft performance. (Boeing Release S-9051)
"Our national security depends upon progress in science and technology as much as or more than any other aspect of our national strength," Dr. Alexander H. Flax, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development, said at Univ. of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma. "The Federal budget for research and development test and evaluation [RT&DE] has experienced a steady and phenomenal growth over the past twenty five years . . . from 7/10s percent in 1941 to almost 3% in 1965. Most recently, we have been through a period of highly accelerated growth in which the initiation of a massive space program added to a rising culture of cost for development, and acquisition of ballistic missiles resulted in RDT&E growth rates . . . of 20% per year. . . . This trend, if it were to continue from the level of '66 for ten years, would result in a Federal RDT&E budget almost as large as the total budget of today by that time." (NASA LAR VI/129)
Philadelphia Inquirer editorial on Dec. 8 death of Maj. Robert H: Lawrence, Jr., (USAF) : "[His death] deprives the Nation of another highly trained scientist who had been selected for future service in space. . . . "With the toll of astronauts now at nine victims, it is significant that not one has been lost in space itself. . . . Our astronauts are not only men who have extensive educational qualifications but who have equally extensive experience as test pilots and similar extremely hazardous activities. . . "They may put their lives on the line willingly, but the Nation should strive to safeguard them as much in their non-space activities as . . . in space." (P Inq. 12/11/67,10)
December 11-14: Some 100 representatives of Government and industry attended Orbital Workshop design meeting at MSFC to discuss structures, mechanical systems, propulsion, instrumentation, communications, crew station, and electrical systems. A five-day Orbital Workship mockup review would be held in late January 1968 with a McDonnell Douglas Corp. mockup containing recent design concepts. (NASA Release 67-239)
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