Dec 30 1965
From The Space Library
Astronaut Walter Schirra said that he and Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford had maneuvered the Gemini VI spacecraft to within one foot of Gemini VII during their Dec, 15 rendezvous and that although they were backed up by an advanced type of computer, they probably could have effected rendezvous without it, Schirra and the three other astronauts involved in the Gemini VII-VI flights gave reports on their missions at an MSC news conference. (AP, Wash, Post, 12/31/65, Al; MSC Gemini VII /Gemini VI Fact Sheet)
Special NASA awards ceremony was held at MSC, with NASA Administrator James E. Webb making the presentations. Rep. Olin Teague, Chairman of Manned Space Flight Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, also was present for the occasion, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA's highest honor, was presented to Donald K. Slayton, Assistant Director for Flight Crew Operations, MSC, and to Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Command Pilot for Gemini VI mission, Slayton's award was for "his outstanding performance in directing NASA flight operations and for his leadership of the continuous and rapid adaptation of NASA's astronaut training activities to the experience gained from Mercury and Gemini flights. . ." Schirra's DSM cited "his courage and judgment in the face of great personal danger, his calm, precise and immediate perception of the situation that confronted him and his accurate and critical decisions that made possible the successful execution of the Gemini VI mission," This ceremony marked the first time the top NASA medal was presented away from Washington. (With these two presentations, all seven original Mercury astronauts had received the Distinguished Service Medal.)
NASA Exceptional Service Medal was presented to the crews of Gemini VII (Astronauts Borman and Lovell) and VI (Astronauts Schirra and Stafford) ; William C. Schneider, Deputy Director of the Gemini Program for Mission Operations, OMSF; and John T, Mengel, Assistant Director for Tracking and Data Systems Directorate, GSFC, Group Achievement Awards were presented to the following groups from the Cape: KSC Launch Operations; KSC Spacecraft Operations; Martin Co. Gemini program group; McDonnell Aircraft Corp. Gemini program group; Gemini Launch Vehicle Div., AFSC 6555th Aerospace Test Wing: and AFETR Test Operations Div. (MSC Gemini VII/ Gemini VI Fact Sheet; Exec, Secy., MSC Awards Committee; NASA Proj, Off,)
ComSatCorp invited design proposals for a multi-purpose satellite having at least 20 times the communications capacity of EARLY BIRD I, Firms throughout the world were asked to submit proposals, ComSatCorp said more than one study contract could be awarded. Proposed new satellite would make nationwide and international distribution of television feasible, provide a sending and receiving capability between ground stations and ships at sea or aircraft in flight, provide complete interchangeability from one type of service to another within a single satellite, and permit access to these services by any number of earth stations. (ComSatCorp Release)
NASA and USAF announced agreement for extended XB-70 flight research beginning next spring in joint project to obtain supersonic operational flight information impossible to get in ground facilities. Among the items of interest were skin friction, stability and control, drag, boundary layer flow, air loads, thermal environment, sonic boom, landing, and crew workload. (NASA Release 65-393)
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