Apr 9 1966
From The Space Library
LUNA X had detected electrons with energies higher than cosmic radiation, Tass reported: "Data have been obtained which may be interpreted as evidence of the existence in the near-lunar space of fluxes of electrons with energies of tens of thousands of electron volts. These fluxes are 70 to 100 times more intense than the cosmic ray background. Possibly, this phenomenon is due to the earth's magnetic `tail.' Later measurements will permit more positive conclusions on the radiation conditions near the moon." In addition, preliminary data analysis showed that intensity of the moon's magnetic field was "somewhat above the level of magnetic fields in free interplanetary space" and that meteorite "particle density" near the moon was higher than in "interplanetary space.". UPI reported that US. scientists, including Dr. James A. Van Allen, State Univ. of Iowa, believed radiation observed by LUNA X was either the earth's comet tail or a similar feature produced by the moon itself. Reported level of radiation would be no threat to manned operations near the moon, they said. (Tass, 4/9/66; UPI, NYT, 4/10/66, 79; AP, Wash. Sun. Star, 4/10/66, A6)
Problems of preventing space-probe contamination of other planets were discussed by James L. Haggerty, Jr., in Journal of the Armed Forces. He noted remarks of Boeing engineers C. S. Bartholemew and D. C. Porter at the March 28-30 AIAA-AAS meeting in Baltimore that "sterilization and spacecraft reliability are `competing characteristics.' If you apply enough heat to kill the bacteria, you may also damage the sensitive electronic gear. Alternatively, you can use chemicals such as ethylene oxide, but it must be applied wet and moisture is similarly an `enemy agent' to electronics equipment. . . . Boeing engineers feel that heat-sterilizable electronics are `within reach,' but considerably more investigation is required." (Haggerty, J/Armed Forces, 4/9/66, 9)
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