Feb 1 1967
From The Space Library
NASA Administrator James E. Webb told Washington, D.C., women's club that Deputy Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., would report to KSC Feb. 2 to meet with Apollo 204 Review Board investigating Jan. 27 accident which killed three Apollo astronauts. Dr. Seamans would report Board's preliminary findings to Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D-N.Mex.) Chairman of Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, and Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.) Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics. Webb said NASA's decision to use 100% oxygen atmosphere in spacecraft had been made after "a long series of tests and evaluations. Any change would be made only after a most careful examination of all alternatives." (Sehlstedt, Jr., B Sun, 2/2/67; W Post, 2/2/67)
Three sets of experiments were continued at Ft. Churchill, Canada, and Point Barrow, Alaska [see January 31]. Last five of a series of six Nike-Apache sounding rockets were successfully launched from Ft. Churchill to obtain wind profiles of upper atmosphere to 96-mi (154 km) altitude. Last five of a series of six Nike-Apache sounding rockets were launched from Ft. Churchill to study short-term variation of density, pressure, and temperature during 12-hr period where altitudes ranged from 94 mi (152 km) to 102 mi (164 km) . In first launch, Nike booster malfunction resulted in payload malfunction; for other four launches, rocket and payload performance were satisfactory. Last five of a series of six Nike-Cajun sounding rockets were successfully launched from Point Barrow at two-hour' intervals to determine short period variations in . upper atmosphere temperatures. (NASA Rpt SRL)
$5.050-billion NASA authorization bilk (H.R. 4450) was introduced to House by Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.) and referred to the Committee on Science and Astronautics. Bill was superseded March 2, by $5.100-billion authorization bill (H.R. 6470). (NASA LAR VI/15; Committee Off.)
Announcement of major breakthrough in Soviet space program-probably an orbiting manned space platform-was imminent according to unidentified US. scientist recently returned from two weeks in U.S.S.R., Marquis Childs reported in Washington Post: "The likelihood of a dramatic new Soviet achievement takes on particular weight in view of the tragedy to the three American astronauts at Cape Kennedy. It will dramatize the degree to which the Soviets are ahead in heavy boosters essential to carry out a landing on the moon. Repeated denials from both sides that this is not a race to the moon are all very well. The fact remains that the first power to land men on that silver orb will gain enormous prestige." (Childs, W Post, 2/1/67)
U.S.S.R. planned to fly a supersonic transport ". . . probably into Kennedy Airport, now that the Moscow-London-New York run has been opened-probably early in 1968," stated Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) , Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, speaking on floor of the Senate. He inserted into Congressional Record, Look interview of Najeeb E. Halaby, PAA's senior VP and former FAA administrator, which stated that Soviets planned to flight test Tu-144 "SST" next winter and begin commercial service three years later. (CR, 2/1/67)
Apollo accident at KSC, January 27, 1967, was discussed in press circular released by Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C.: "The sorrow of [the] American people is shared by peoples of all countries. In reality, cosmonauts are somehow representatives of the whole Earth, of the entire mankind in boundless Cosmos, no matter what . . . country has dispatched them." (U.S.S.R. Press cir/GSFC Trans. )
MSC Director Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, in welcoming address at MSC's two-day Gemini Summary Conference, urged space scientists to avoid second-guessing" Apollo 204 Review Board because undue speculation on the Jan. 27 accident was a disservice both to the Nation and the Board. (MSC Roundup, 2/3/67, 8; W Post, 2/2/67, A2)
Report entitled "Status of the Federal Aircraft Noise Abatement Program," in response to President Johnson's direction in Mar. 2, 1966, Transportation Message, covered initiation of ten-point action program aimed at alleviating jet aircraft noise in vicinity of airports. Report showed participating agencies to include OST, FAA, NASA, HUD, and Dept. of Commerce. Meeting program objectives would require continuing program of research performed in-house and by contractors, several projects being reported as underway. NASA and FAA jointly pursued investigations on: noise measuring methods and techniques; sociological noise assessment; noise level and duration criteria; LeRC Quiet Engine project effects of blade characteristics on compressor noise levels; compressor noise suppression and absorption; scale model studies in support of compressor acoustics investigations; landing approach and climb-out procedures; and implication of introduction of Boeing 747 and SST (and others) on aggravation of aircraft noise problem. HUD and FAA jointly studied: delineation of aircraft noise exposure and land use values in vicinity of major international airports; relative economic and social costs and benefits through application of noise reduction and land-use modification; stimulation of airport community development in directions which would anticipate or ameliorate community aircraft noise problems; noise alleviation through insulation of houses; and compatible land use. In relating US. and international efforts in the broad field of aircraft noise abatement, the US. would have to proceed with a sense of urgency to develop its national standards to the point where they could be proposed for international adoption. The forum in which such standards must ultimately be agreed upon was the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) . In the field of legislating proper control of aircraft noise, both 89th and 90th Congresses had received "aircraft noise" bills from the Administration, empowering Secretary of Transportation ". . . to promulgate noise standards and to exercise all of the regulatory and certification authority . . . on the basis of such noise standards." (Text, NASA SP-4007, 80; Hudson, NYT, 4/9/67, 1)
February 1 FAA announced that contracts for development of SST would be extended on month-to-month basis with funds already available, "pending negotiations . . . with the manufacturers and the airlines for airline financial participation in the Phase III (Prototype Construction) program." Evert Clark commented in the New York: Times: "The move to have the airlines share the cost is intended to lessen budgetary pressures on the Administration, make the program more appealing to Congress and have the airlines, the ultimate beneficiaries of the project, show good . faith by joining in the risk to a greater degree. . . ." (Text, Clark, NYT, 2/2/67,1)
Transportation men were still the great "risk-takers of our society," Secretary of Transportation Alan S. Boyd told Transportation Assn. of America meeting in Chicago. "Most of the entrepreneurs associated with America's great moments in transportation seem to have lost their shirt. "The builder of the greatest clipper ship went broke. "The builder of the greatest steamboat of the nineteenth century went "The builder of the first monorail went broke. "Most of the early railroads went broke. "Most of the early canals went broke. "For that matter, the builder of the first Ford automobile went broke, at least on the first try. . . . our society must try to hold open financial rewards which are commensurate with such risks. Especially when you realize how brief . . . the life of many important transportation innovations has been. . . ." (Text)
USAF's $3.3-million solar vacuum telescope, designed to predict more accurately solar proton showers which endanger astronauts and spacecraft, was meeting its timetable for construction at Sacramento Peak Observatory near Sunspot, N. Mex., Office of Aerospace Research announced. Telescope-of which 193 ft would be underground and 135 ft above ground-would be largest solar vacuum telescope in the world when completed in 1968. In addition to predicting "safe periods" for space flight, it would study solar phenomena and solar-terrestrial relationships. (OAR Release)
Organizational changes became effective at AFSC Hq.: (1) creation of new Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS) for Operations; (2) reassignment of functions and responsibilities of the Office of the Deputy Commander for Space to other appropriate staff agencies; (3) redesignation of DCS for Foreign Technology to DCS for Intelligence and Dcs/Plans to DCS Development Plans; (4) establishment of Office of the Headquarters Commandant as a special staff office; and (5) reassignment of GAO activities function to Deputy Chief of Staff, Procurement and Production. (AFSC Release 28.67)
Entire universe might be immersed in a sea of tiny particles known as neutrinos whose presence had thus far eluded observation, Dr. William A. Fowler of Cal Tech told American Physical Society meeting in New York. His theory sought to explain absence of helium in the spectra of certain older stars within the framework of the "big bang" theory of the universe. If the exploding fireball from which the universe was formed had been packed with neutrinos, these particles would have interacted with neutrons to produce a cloud of protons and electrons, Dr. Fowler said. Latter would then have combined to form hydrogen atoms which broke would have stringently limited amount of helium formed. "Neutrino astronomy is just getting started," he said, "but it might ultimately verify or deny presence of the hypothetical neutrino sea." (Sullivan, NYT, 2/2/67,25)
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