Mar 15 1965
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched into orbit three earth satellites-COSMOS LXI, COSMOS LXII, and COSMOS LXIII-with a single booster rocket. Tass said three satellites were orbiting in close initial orbits: apogee, 1,837 km. (1,141 mi.) ; perigee, 273 km. (170 mi.) ; period, 106 min.; inclination, 56°. It was reported that the scientific apparatus onboard was functioning normally. (Krasnaya Zvezda, 3/17/65, 1, ATSS-T Trans.)
The S-IB-1, Chrysler-built first stage of NASA's Saturn IB, arrived at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center from Michoud Operations in New Orleans for static-firing tests. The stage was 21 ft. in diameter, 80 ft. in length, and weighed 90,000 lbs. For Saturn IB program, its eight engines had been uprated to 200,000 lbs. thrust each and weight had been reduced by some 16,000 lbs. It would be returned to Michoud Operations in about six weeks for post-firing checks. Saturn IB vehicles would be used for earth-orbital missions of Apollo spacecraft. ( MSFC Release 65-60)
NASA and DOD had approved first phase of a General Dynamics proposal for 30% -uprated Atlas SLV X3 booster. This phase covered only reliability improvement by introduction of new components. Order to proceed on actual uprating was expected this month. (M&R, 3/15/65, 7)
The House Committee on Science and Astronautics reviewed the master planning standards of ten major NASA centers and concluded that, considering the permanence of the space program, ". .. the installations and facilities required by NASA to implement the program should be planned on a long-range basis, in recognition of permanency." In addition, they suggested that NASA: (1) develop "consistency of planning policy." (2) invest in master plans to prevent situations similar to "confused and congested layouts of Lewis and Wallops." (3) invest in facility planning, and (4) avoid procrastination and expediency. The Committee concluded that "NASA has achieved substantial success in master planning at many of its installations . . ." but that attempts should be made to succeed at all NASA installations. (House Report No. 167, 3/15/65)
A Benedictine nun, Sister M. Margaret Bealmear, said she had declined an invitation to apply for astronaut training and that she assumed the letter from NASA Manned Spacecraft Center had been a mistake, Sister Bealmear, a candidate for a doctorate in biology from the Univ. of Notre Dame, said she had received the invitation in December 1964. Invitations had been extended by NASA to select names appearing on a list provided by the National Academy of Sciences. (AP, NYT, 3/16/65, 5; MSC Historian)
Dr. John T, F. Kuo, associate professor at Columbia Univ. Henry Krumb School of Mines, was studying the earth's gravity from each of the Empire State Building's 102 floors. Kuo was using a gravimeter sensitive to weight differences of one-billionth of a pound to measure gravitational acceleration on each floor. He felt that extrapolations from his figures might help in the "design of instrument measuring the gravitational acceleration on space vehicles as they hurtle through the universe." (NYT, 3/15/65, 29)
Dr. Thomas F. Bates, professor of mineralogy and director of the Science and Engineering Institute at Pennsylvania State Univ., had been named science advisor to Interior Secretary Stewart L. Udall, it was announced. He would succeed Dr. John C. Calhoun, Jr., who was returning to his post at Texas ABM. ( UPI, NYT, 3/16/65, 4)
Despite boasts of increased Government volume by Westinghouse Electric Corp. and Sylvania Electric Products, Inc., most major companies complained of decline in defense, Government, and aerospace contracts. The Electronic Industries Association offered solutions to the problem: (1) look for new fields and products. (2) work harder to find Government contracts, or (3) continue complaining. ( Smith, NYT, 3/15/65)
"Project Stormy Spring," a meteorological study by the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories to develop more precise forecasting techniques for specific local areas, began, AFCRL scientists would investigate mesoscale structures and weather system dynamics in New England, particularly within a mesoscale. A varying distance measure, a mesoscale in New England in March was an area about 100 mi. sq, Major storm systems would be observed and analyzed for continuous periods of 24 to 36 hrs. each. A weather satellite, U-2, and C-130 aircraft would provide cloud photographs. The U-2 would also measure ozone distributions, temperature, wind, and radiometric data; the C-130 would contribute cloud physics, temperature, and wind data. Permanent and mobile radiosonde sites 60 mi. apart would comprise one aspect of the data-gathering network; special surface linkage of 25 sites spaced 20 mi. apart would gather wind, temperature, pressure, humidity, and precipitation data. The study would continue through April 30. (USAF OAR Release 3-65-5)
Aviation Week reported theory of many U.S. officials that COSMOS LVII, launched by U.S.S.R. on Feb. 22, 1965, had strayed from its programmed flight path and been deliberately destroyed the day after it was launched. The alleged reason was to prevent COSMOS LVII from falling into foreign hands, U.S. officials were said to have assumed that COSMOS LVII was a trial run for VOSKHOD II flight because of similar orbits: VOSKHOD II had 308 mi. (496.7 km.) apogee, 108 mi. (174.4 km. perigee. 65° inclination; COSMOS LVII had 317 mi. (511.3 km.) apogee, 107 mi. ( 172.6 km.) perigee, and 65° inclination. According to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Satellite Situation Report, 51 pieces of COSMOS LVII were in orbit Feb. 28, 1965; 39 pieces on March 15, 1965. The Report also listed COSMOS L. launched by U.S.S.R. October 28, 1964, in 88 pieces. (GFSC SSR, 3/15/65, 33, 37; Av. Wk., 4/12/65, 34)
B. F. Goodrich Corp, had been selected by Hamilton Standard to replace International Latex Corp. as subcontractor for garment portion of the Apollo spacesuit. Change followed problems with certain portions of garment. ( M&R, 3/15/65, 7)
Astronaut R. Walter Cunningham suffered a simple compression fracture of a neck vertebra during exercise unrelated to astronaut training. Cunningham would be grounded during the three months he would wear a neck brace but would continue other phases of astronaut training. (AP. Wash. Eve. Star, 3/17/65)
Opening the annual meeting of the National Research Council, Harvey Brooks, professor of applied physics at Harvard Univ., discussed recent trends in Federal support of research and development, Of the $14.5 billion R&D budget for FY 1966, he observed, nearly half was for space activities-expended principally through DOD and NASA. Scientific satellite programs accounted for 36% of all basic research expenditures. He noted the steady trend toward greater diversity in sources of Federal support for academic research. One indication is the fact that in 1954 DOD accounted for 70% of academic research but in FY 1966 for only 27%. (NAS-NRC News Report, 3/65, 1)
Theory held by Soviet astrophysicists Vitaly Ginzburg and Leonid Ozernoi that intergalactic space is hot was reported by Tass. Scientists generally believed the hydrogen gas in intergalactic space to be cold -273°C. Ginzburg and Ozernoi considered it "incomprehensible" that the gas could be cold yet neutral-no emissions in the 21-cm, wavelength had been detected from the intergalactic hydrogen. They theorized that the gas was heated by galactic explosions and likewise ionized by them, making impossible any 21-cm.-wavelength emissions. (Tass, 3/15/65)
Lance battlefield missile was successfully test fired at the White Sands Missile Range. Built for the Army by Ling-Temco-Vought, Inc., the Lance was said to combine guided missile accuracy and range with the low cost and high reliability potential of a free rocket. It would complement division artillery and expand the capability for nuclear and non-nuclear fire. AP, NYT, 3/18/65, 57)
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