Jan 9 1966
From The Space Library
Project managers for the Mariner series deep-space exploration missions to Venus and Mars were announced by Alvin R. Luedecke (M/G, USAF-Ret.), Deputy Director of JPL: (1) Dan Schneiderman would manage the Venus project involving a single spacecraft to be launched in 1967, in addition to continuing his duties as MARINER IV project manager through 1967; (2) H. M. Schurmeier, former Ranger project manager, would manage the Mars project involving two new Mariner spacecraft scheduled for launch in 1969. Effective Feb. 1, Geoffrey Robillard would replace Schurmeier as Voyager capsule system manager in addition to continuing his present duties as deputy Voyager project manager. ‘‘(JPL Release 372)’’
U.S. Bureau of Standards chemists had developed an advanced rocket fuel which might be used in space flights to the moon and other planets. A mixture of liquid and solid hydrogen called “slush hydrogen,” the fuel involved a freeze-thaw process which could be used to produce large quantities for storage. ‘‘(NANA, Boston Sunday Globe, 1/9/66)’’
National Science Foundation must abandon its passive role and be more dynamic if scientific progress is to keep pace with society’s growing technological needs, concluded a report released by the Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. Subcommittee viewed the revitalization of NSF as “an area of the government-science relationship in which Congress should provide a large share of the leadership essential to significant improvement in the Nation’s resources and development.” Some recommendations of the report: (1) NSF supplement its traditional philosophy with positive plans and programs; (2) character and functions of the National Science Board be strengthened; (3) authority of NSF’s director be widened; and (4) important executive and policy problems of NSF be acted upon administratively or legislatively in the near future. ‘‘(Text, Committee Print)’’
President Johnson was asked to invite a Russian cosmonaut to join an American astronaut in a space mission in an open letter in Parade magazine written by editor Jess Gorkin. Gorkin admitted that, officially, there had been little cooperation in space science between the two countries, but said that “Russian and American scientists, guided by a tradition that scientific research belongs to all men, had been eager to cooperate. On a person-to-person basis, they had already exchanged more space data than their governments have officially sanctioned.” Gorkin envisioned joint space mission as proof that US. and U.S.S.R. could work together for “the good of all men on earth” despite disagreement on “how they want to live.” ‘‘(Parade, 1/9/66)’’
Since AEC’s plans to build a 200-billion electric volt (bev) atom smasher were being complicated by site and cost considerations, the Commission was considering three alternate proposals: (1) Cornell Univ. physicist R. R. Wilson’s suggestion for a “poor man’s’’ 200-bev machine costing about $150 million; (2) Columbia Univ. physicist S. Devons’ suggestion to increase the energy of existing 33-bev machine at Brookhaven National Laboratory to 150-bev, costing about $150 million; and (3)’’ incorporating changes in the 200-bev machine being designed by Univ. of California to lower costs. ‘‘(Sullivan, NYT, 1/9/66, E9)’’
Soviet rocket pioneer Vladimir Vasilyevich Razumov, presumed to have died in Stalinist purges of Leningrad during World War II, had been located and interviewed by Leningradskaya Pravda reporters. Razumov had headed the Leningrad Jet Study Group of space enthusiasts until Stalin abolished it in 1935. His residence was not disclosed, possibly because of his continued association with missile manufacture. ‘‘(NYT, 1/10/66, 46C)
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