Aug 10 1964
From The Space Library
Paraglider landing system definitely would not be used for the scheduled Project Gemini space flights, MSC Public Affairs Officer Paul Haney announced. Development of paraglider system was too far behind for the 12 scheduled flights. After many rumors and much speculation, this statement was first official announcement of decision not to use the paraglider. It followed by three days the first manned free-flight test of the system, which was unsuccessful. Development and testing of paraglider by North American Aviation would continue, Haney said. (Maloney, Houston Post, 8/11/64)
Ernest W. Brackett, NASA Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator (Procurement Policy) , addressed National Association of Professional Contract Administrators in Orlando, Fla. Discussing some NASA contract matters of current interest, he outlined ways in which NASA worked similarly to and differently than DOD contract administration, then said: "Perhaps the outstanding difference between NASA and DOD in the field of contract administration is in the area of quality control and inspection. NASA's contracts are almost wholly for research and the development of satellites, space vehicles, engines, etc., the like of which have never been made before. There are no production type contracts and these probably will be very few. The system of inspection and quality control as envisaged by NASA is quite different from the sampling type of inspection used on a production line. "We buy only a few of each item and a failure may mean the com-promise of a program. Also, development items are very expensive and the loss of a shot may mean the loss of millions of dollars. There have been failures where the cause has been traced to the failure of a small component costing a hundred dollars or so which might have been caught with proper inspection. The Saturn is an example of a project where very high degrees of quality control have been applied and very detailed inspection has taken place. The six Saturn shots have all been successful and it is difficult to criticize success. "NASA has had over 100 space shots. There have been successes and failures. In 1960 only 47% of the shots were successful, but in 1963 successes had risen to 85%. You can expect continued emphasis on quality control from NASA. Someone described that degree of reliability that NASA is looking for as being the equivalent of 1,000 TV sets made to run continuously for a year without a single one failing. . . ." (Text)
The newest 14 NASA astronauts began week-long desert survival course in Nevada, under direction of USAF 3637th Survival and Special Training Squadron, Stead AFB. (MSC Roundup, 8/19/64, 2)
Interviewed in Missiles and Rockets, Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D-Conn.) discussed the work of his research and development subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. One current activity: "The National Academy of Sciences is undertaking several studies for us through a 14-man committee headed by Dr. George Kistiakowsky, science advisor to former President Eisenhower. It will look into such questions as what is the level of basic research that should be supported Federally to maintain the nation's security, economy and industrial strength. ." (M&R, 8/10/64, 26)
Orbital tanker study by Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center was discussed in Aviation Week & Space Technology. Tanker would be unmanned and would be used to transfer propellants to other unmanned or to manned spacecraft in earth orbit. Concepts in which orbital refueling capability was underscored were future manned planetary flights and potential reusable lunar transport ferries. (Av. Wk., 8/10/64, 55-57)
U.S. Samos (Satellite and Missile Observation Systems) satellites, undiscussed by DOD since secrecy policy was adopted in late 1961, had been orbited "periodically" ever since then, Albert Ravenholt said in New Orleans Times-Picayune article. Even though Samos was developed as successor to U-2 high-altitude photographic airplane, Ravenholt said, U.S.S.R. had "made no threatening noises about Samos," probably because some Russian Cosmos satellites are equipped with cameras; U.S.S.R. has no missile capable of shooting down a Samos; and, if it could down one, the action would open whole new vista of legal problems about control of outer space. (Ravenholt, N.O. Times-Picayune, 8/10/64)
According to unnamed DOD official, U.S.S.R. had yet to demonstrate "even the beginnings of U.S. solid rocket technology." The official said in Missiles and Rockets that this fact, combined with the fact that Soviet operational ICBM's were liquid-fueled vehicles stored above ground rather than in hardened silos, had greatly influenced defense planners' viewpoint that U.S. could mount a second strike and destroy a number of Soviet ICBM's before they were fired. (Trainor, M&R, 8/10/64)
Soviet newspaper Izvestia singled out Marina Popovich, wife of Lt. Col. Pavel R. Popovich, as a possibility to become woman space traveler, saying the cosmonaut's wife had "finished the higher aviation school and has now left for a distant business trip." Izvestia quoted Pavel as saying: "The machine with which she is now familiarizing herself is considerably more powerful than the one in which she established a new record for speed two months ago." (UPI; NYT; 8/11/64, 3; Wash. Post, 8/12/64)
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