August 1967
From The Space Library
"Despite the rancor and doubt of the moment [about U.S. space program], the evidence is persuasive that the nation has been well served indeed," Fortune magazine said in an article reviewing NASA problems, shortcomings, and accomplishments. The article, "Jim Webb's Earthy Management of Space," said: "Webb . . . has developed a managerial doctrine as extraordinary as the space mission itself. Essentially it is a bold extension of the systems-management principle first applied in the Pentagon for weapon development. This approach means that the Pentagon tries to relate design and procurement plans to the weapon system's maximum potential, to other weapon systems, to cost effectiveness, to foreseeable strategic situations, and to other spacial considerations. In NASA's case, the `system' is usually an exotic research objective, like landing a package of instruments on Mars. Such an undertaking, of course, requires management consideration of costs and engineering feasibility, but NASA also tries to relate it to the social, economic, and even political impact the new knowledge may have on some of the most basic mysteries of human life. In one sense, the system becomes an exercise in applied philosophy. To master such massively complex and extensive problems, the agency has mobilized some 20,000 individual firms, more than 400,000 workers, and 200 colleges and universities in a combine of the most advanced resources of American civilization." (Mecklin, Fortune, 8/67)
The Nation's press commented on photos transmitted by Lunar Orbiter V. New York Times: "Orbiter 5 is currently adding some enduring contributions to mankind`s cultural heritage as photographic by-products of the space effort. Some of the close-up pictures of the moon have been among the wildest, most disordered and most surrealistic scenes ever viewed by human eyes. Yet its distant views of the far side of the moon convey a sense of desolate tranquillity, of peace achieved after many storms. "This new art form has been produced by machines hundreds of thousands and millions of miles away, in realms where men have never been. Yet many of these pictures have far more power to move than much of the output of contemporary artists. . . ." (NYT, 8/13/67,10E)
Washington Evening Star: "The pictures of the moon we have been getting back from our assorted orbiting cameras have been fine and fascinating, but the most interesting of all has turned out to be the picture of the earth from the distance of the moon. This is natural enough: self-portraits are always the best portraits, especially from the point of view of the sitter. "But the thing about this self-portrait is the inescapable conclusion that the earth is really a rather lovely place, when seen from 214,806 miles away. . . ." (W Star, 8/18/67)
Choice of spacecraft atmosphere, according to Space/Aeronautics, "won't be pure oxygen, but whether the diluent will be nitrogen, helium or late-comer neon is far from clear." It emphasized oxygen regeneration would require difficult hardware tradeoffs to satisfy variety of missions. (S /A , 8/67, 71)
Federal civilian employment of professional scientific and technical personnel rose by 9% from October 1962 to December 1964, NSF stated in report on occupational characteristics of scientific and technical employees of Federal Government in December 1964. Engineers, largest of three major groups-scientists, engineers, and health professionals-made up 40% of the total 189,500 in 1964. Scientists made up about 36%. DOD continued to be the major Government employer. (Text)
Soviet northern cosmodrome, whose existence was first publicly announced at British Interplanetary Society's November 1966 meeting following radio-tracking activities at Kettering Grammar School [see Dec. 12, 1966], had maintained steady rate of satellite launches since beginning with Cosmos satellite in March 1966. New launch site, about 100 mi south of Archangel and between towns of Yarnerna and Tarasova, still had not been acknowledged by Soviet authorities. (Perry, S/F, 8/67, 274)
First issue of Soviet magazine Space Biology and Medicine had been published in Moscow. Contributors included medical experts, biologists, physiologists, and psychologists. Subjects included space psychophysiology, and life support systems. (S/F, 8/67, 271)
- August
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