Sep 7 1962
From The Space Library
AEC-DOD-NASA announced that results of joint study of artificial radiation belt indicated Project Mercury flight MA-8 could be made with no change of plans and with no fear of harm to Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (Cdr., USN). Study showed that radiation on outside of capsule during Cdr. Schirra's 6-orbit flight would be about 500 roentgen (R). Shielding, vehicle structures, and flight suit would cut this to 8 R on the astronaut's skin. "This exposure is well below the mission limit previously established by NASA for the manned flight program," the report said.
Other results of the investigation: Soviet Cosmonauts Nikolayev and Popovich (VOSTOK III and IV orbital flights in August) received very small radiation doses on their double-mission flight; radio interference caused by new radiation belt constituted "a significant problem to radio astronomy"; radiation doses caused rapid deterioration of solar cells aboard ARIEL, TRAAC, TRANSIT IV-I3 satellites as previously reported, but TELSTAR solar cells were apparently unaffected; future space missions were being reviewed "in light of the present information concerning the new belt." It appeared likely that "a substantial number" of future space experiments would be changed to avoid possible damage from radiation.
Replying to queries of whether Administrator Webb's public letter of Sept. 5 on Soviet failures marked a reversal of NASA policy, NASA said no change had been made in policy of not releasing information on unsuccessful Soviet space attempts. The September 5 letter to Congressmen was "an exception to a continuing policy." Aerospace Industrial Life Sciences Assn., established to "assist the industrial aerospace life scientist through exchange of information and to increase his contribution to the nation's space efforts through better professional communication in the industrial life sciences field," with Dr. Charles I. Gell of Ling-Temco-Vought as president. AILS was accepted as full affiliate of U.S. Aerospace Medical Association.
D. Brainerd Holmes, NASA Director of Manned Space Flight, addressed National Advanced Technology Management Council in Seattle on the U.S. lunar program. "Although we are still in a very early phase of the greatest engineering project that man has ever undertaken, the Nation has made four crucial management decisions which clear the way for action. First, the goal has been identified. We are to land American explorers on the moon. Second, the timetable has been laid down. We are to carry out the mission and return the U.S. explorers safely to earth within this decade. Third, we have settled on the organization to meet the national goal on schedule. Finally, we have selected the method which we believe can accomplish the lunar expedition on the shortest possible time schedule, with the greatest assurance of success, and at the least expense. You do not need to be a specialist in management to realize that decisions such as these are central to the success of any job—what to do, when to do it, who is to be in charge, and how it is to be done. In the United States space program, these fundamental decisions have been made. And we have proceeded with the work to carry them out at the swiftest pace consonant with other processing needs of the country and with the resources available . . .
"The achievement which stands out [in the manned lunar landing program] . . ., in my opinion, has been the launching by the people of the United States of a truly national effort to demonstrate our determination and our capacity to sail on the new ocean of space and to master the technology of the space age in all its aspects—for the security of the Free World and the good of all mankind.
"The lunar landing is no stunt. The most important accomplishment will be the development by this Nation of the ability to make the landing, and not the landing itself. Achievement of such ability is worth the great investment in brains and industrial capacity and technological advance that we are making. The lunar landing is a yardstick—a measure of this country's technological leadership, a measure of the ability of this democracy to 'manage,' if you will, a great engineering and technological undertaking in the national interest."
In private audience with Pope John XXIII, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the Pope with a small model of TELSTAR communications satellite.
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