January 1968

From The Space Library

New knowledge of movement and state of electrons in Van Allen radiation belts that explained movement of electrons into and out of belts and trapped electron activity was reported from three new discoveries. Bell Telephone Laboratories used energetic particle collectors aboard NASA's Ats I, launched Dec. 6, 1966, to show that high-energy outer Van Allen belt electrons exhibited bunching phenomenon as they drifted around earth in its magnetic field. Bell scientist Charles S. Roberts presented theory that "radio noise in the charged particle gas" surrounding earth was "responsible for the loss of electrons from the Van Allen belts, rather than the mere presence of lightning-bolt initiated whistlers alone, as previously believed." At Nov. 16, 1967, meeting, Dr. James A. Van Allen had presented satellite-collected data suggesting that "both electrons and protons enter the outer Van Allen radiation belt" drawn by high voltage generated across earth's magnetic field, caused by earth's spin between dawn and evening sides of earth-surrounding magnetic envelope. (Strasser, Aero Tech, 1/29/68, 18-20)

U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency released Technological In­novation in Civilian Public Areas, study by Analytic Services Inc. which urged Government to continue support of advanced R&D on do­mestic problem-solving to prevent economic decline if disarmament agreement were reached. Unless such R&D was funded, study said, it was questionable whether large demonstration projects to alleviate do­mestic problems could be undertaken quickly enough to offset substan­tial reductions in defense spending. Defense industry could help solve civilian programs, study concluded, but it questioned whether industry noted for technological innovation would not encounter serious obsta­cles in orienting its activities to areas which often had resisted innova­tion in any form. (Text; Aero Tech, 1/15/68, 43)

India could be first developing country to orbit her own artificial satel­lite, according to recommendations of five-man mission of UNESCO. Sat­ellite would be first of "distribution" communications design, more powerful than current point-to-point satellites such as Early Bird I and requiring less complex ground facilities. Operating under long-term plan to end in 1981, India would build 56 ground stations which would bring TV to 25% of population. Network of 160 stations could reach 80% of India's population. Mission recommended India produce 50,000 home TV receivers by 1970-1971 and enter into bilateral agreement with major space power to purchase satellite and launching services. (NYT, 1/28/68)

Payoff from space investment (in satellite applications in extended weather forecasting, reduced cost, and extended range for telecommuni­cations) was discussed in Space/ Aeronautics. Government policy on fu­ture satellite applications would depend on four "key study efforts": (1) study by Presidential Task Force on Communications Policy on status of INTELSAT and its role in global and foreign domestic comsat systems; (2) study by NAS on potential of applications satellites and "an effective cost/benefit strategy"; (3) recommendation by Presi­dent's Commission and Council on Marine Sciences for consolidation of Federal efforts in marine engineering and oceanography, and crea­tion of policy framework hospitable to applications satellites; and (4) European organization of firms' formulation of arguments advocating four regional systems rather than one global network. (S/A, 1/68, 80)

History of lunar nomenclature and tradition in naming lunar features was reviewed by Director of Fels Planetarium, Dr. I. M. Levitt, in Air Force and Space Digest. Knowledge from space research had created complications for specialists who had to name lunar features. In past, craters, mountains, rills, and seas on moon had been named for scien­tists, mathematicians, and philosophers. In 1647, Johannes Hevelius had published Selenographica in Danzig, setting stage for naming lunar features. Ground rules were set down in 1932 by International Astronomical Union (IAU), which formed committee of astronomers to select names. U.S.S.R. had asked 1967 General Assembly of IAU to pass on 153 more names for features on moon's hidden side. Levitt recommended that names of dead astronauts - both American and Russian - be ac­cepted for lunar nomenclature; later, living astronauts could be simi­larly honored. Also pioneers in space research-"such as Goddard, von Braun, Gilruth, Newell, Ley, Lovelace, Flickinger, Stehling, and so on" - and astronomers and benefactors of mankind could be considered. (AF/SD, 1/68, 66-9)

William Leavitt in Air Force and Space Digest asked; "Are antiballistic missile systems necessarily provocative and 'destabilizing' in the sense that they will inevitably set off a new spiral in the arms race? Many-but by no means all-scientists answer 'yes' to these questions, despite impressions to the contrary." Director of Oak Ridge National Labora­tory Dr. Alvin Weinberg, who would answer "no" to ABM question, was quoted: "The deployment of ABMs on both sides has been deplored as the first step in the unending arms spiral that eventually will con­sume everything, including our vision of abundance. But suppose Aims and other defensive measures turn out to be effective, and at the same time there is no escalation of offense in unending spiral. The knife-edge of delicately balanced terror would then be blunted." (Leavitt, AF/SD, 1/68, 72-4)

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