Mar 20 1966
From The Space Library
Tokyo Univ. Space and Aeronautics Institute announced it had launched a two-stage meteorological sounding rocket, last in a series of 15, from test center in Uchinoura, Kyushu-600 mi. southwest of Tokyo. ‘‘(AP, NYT, 3/21/66, 27)’’
Astronomers at Bochum Observatory, West Germany, reported they had sighted a giant new sunspot at the approximate center of the solar disc. Visible to the naked eye in early morning or just before sunset, sunspot had 88,000-mi. dia. and was expected to affect weather conditions and radio communications on earth during the next few days. Sunspot was unexpected since 1966 had been designated “year of the quiet sun” and scientists had expected only a minimum of solar disturbances. ‘‘(UPI, Chic. Trib., 3/21/66)’’
Pratt & Whitney Div., United Aircraft Corp., announced that JTF-17A engine developed under FAA supersonic transport engine competition would be tested at company’s West Palm Beach, Fla., center. Twin-spool turbofan engine would develop 50,000-lbs. thrust-more than twice amount generated by current commercial engines-by burning fuel in a full-length fan exit duct. ‘‘(P&W; NYT, 3/20/66, 83)’’
Benefits from atomic test-ban treaty signed in July 1963 by US. and U.S.S.R. were reported. Fallout from strontium 90, which might cause bone cancer or leukemia, was decreasing; iodine 131, believed harmful to the thyroid gland, had virtually disappeared from the milk supply three years ago. ‘‘(AP, Crowley, Wash. Post, 3/20/66, A6)’’
Proposal by Dr. Herbert Friedman of the Naval Research Lab. that a scanning system be mounted in a lunar crater to report to earth the precise location of x-ray sources as they appeared over the crater’s rim because of the moon’s rotation, was discussed by Walter Sullivan in the New York Times. Recent rocket observations [see Mar. 21 had disclosed objects, some of them otherwise invisible, that strongly emitted x-rays part of the spectrum which cannot penetrate earth’s atmosphere. “A systematic survey of the sky in this wavelength,” Sullivan said, would open an entirely new window on the universe.” ‘‘(Sullivan, NYT, 3/20/66, 8E)’’
Commentary in the Washington Sunday Star: “One of the saddest lessons of Gemini VIII is that bureaucrats will be bureaucrats. . . . NASA officials suppressed for about 18 hours tape recordings of ground-to-orbit conversations under circumstances that strongly suggest their only reason for the suppression was to make sure nothing embarrassing was on the tapes. “For as long as the United States has been active in space, it has cultivated an image of openness in contrast to the Russians’ obsession with secrecy. The overnight gag on tape recordings-which turned out to be legitimate items of news interest-only served to tarnish this image of candor.” ‘‘(Wash. Sun. Star, 3/’20/66, G1)’’
Endorsement of suggestion in Jan. 9 open letter to President Johnson that he invite “a Russian cosmonaut to join an American astronaut for a space ride in a two-man capsule” was reported by letter’s author, Parade editor Jess Gorkin. Newspapers throughout the world had publicized the idea and written favorable editorials. Le Figaro (Paris) had given it front page coverage. Melbourne (Australia) Herald had said the idea had “great merit.” Asahi Shimbun (Tokyo): “As long as America and Russia accelerate space development separately, there will be much money wasted. Both ".. countries will probably suspect that the other party is engaged in space development for military purposes. . . . If the United States and the Soviet Union cooperate and ‘all the families of the earth’ pitch in to further space development, war on earth will gradually become absurd.” New York World Telegram: “What do we have to lose? If we succeed and the two men orbit the earth together the psychological effect will be tremendous. If Russia turns down the idea, we will be on sounder moral grounds.” ‘‘(Gorkin, Parade, 3/20/66)’’
During week of March 20: Several hundred sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFO’s) near Ann Arbor, Mich., were reported. Rep. Weston Vivian (D-Mich.) said he would ask DOD to make an investigation. ‘‘(UPI, NYT, 3/22/66, 19; WI, NYT, 3/23/66, 22; Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/23/66, A1; WI, Wash. Post, 3/25/66, A20; AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/25/66, A1)’’
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