Mar 5 1965
From The Space Library
NASA's MARINER IV spacecraft, at 8:02 a.m., EST, automatically switched from its omnidirectional antenna to fixed narrow beam antenna to communicate with earth, thereby becoming radio-ready for the remaining 130 days of its Mars flight. JPL received report from tracking station at Canberra, Australia, of a prompt increase in signal strength. (NASA Release 65-78)
NASA Aerobee 150 sounding rocket launched from White Sands, N. Mex., went to a peak altitude of 188.5 km. (117 mi,). Primary experimental objective was to study the group of stars of Orion in the ultraviolet. Because of a failure with the attitude control system the experiment had no chance to operate. Experiment instrumentation was provided by Princeton Univ. Observatory. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
In summary of activities of the NASA Office of Lunar and Planetary Programs in testimony before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Space Sciences and Applications, Dr. Homer E. Newell, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications, said: "The Ranger pictures represent our major scientific achievement in 1964. In addition to their direct value as new Information, the subtle significance of these pictures toward increasing the value of other astronomical data is perhaps worthy of mention, as it may not be recognized generally. It is interesting to note how the information presented in the high resolution Ranger pictures has sent scientists scurrying back to the files of photographic plates taken years before to discover features which have remained unnoticed throughout the years. Some new interpretations of long recognized features have also been made possible by the close-up look obtained by Ranger." (Testimony; NASA Auth. Hearings, 56-111)
At a House Science and Astronautics Committee budget hearing at NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Rep. Olin Teague (D-Tex,) said he thought U.S. had about a 50-50 chance of landing a man on the moon by 1970 "if we get the money for our space team." Teague felt that America was ahead of Russia in development of scientific programs in space, but Russia was ahead in development of large boosters. Rep. Robert Casey (D-Tex,) stressed that the program would be considered a success even if 1970 schedules were not met. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), Chairman of House Science and Astronautics Committee, said that in 50 to 100 years, "people won't care if we made it in this decade, if the program itself is successful." Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, MSC Director, said that the Apollo and Gemini spacecraft would not be limited to manned space program but also would be useful in other scientific programs. Teague expressed his disappointment at the military's failure to make greater use of NASA-developed spacecraft and boosters. He predicted that both Gemini and Apollo would be used some day as weapon carriers. (Maloney, Houston Post, 3/6/65)
NASA had awarded one-year, cost-plus-incentive-award fee contracts to nine firms for engineering, fabrication, and institutional support services to six laboratories and three offices of Marshall Space Flight Center. Cost of work was estimated at $58.5 million for one year and was primarily in support of the Saturn/Apollo launch vehicle program. The firms were Sperry Rand Corp., Brown Engineering Corp., Vitro Corp., Hayes International Corp., Northrop Corp., Spaco, Rust Engineering Co., RCA Service Co., and Management Services, Inc. (NASA Release 65-77; MSFC Release)
USAF launched a Titan I ICBM from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., as one of a series of tests to determine compatibility of the missile with various payloads. (AP, NYT, 3/6/65, 9; M&R, 3/15/65, 11)
General Dynamics Corp.'s F-111 fighter jet broke the sound barrier for the first time in a 1 hr. 32 min. flight test. Afterward, in quick-stop braking test, both tires in main landing gear blew out. (AP, NYT, 3/6/65, 11)
Dr. Clyde W. Tombaugh of the New Mexico State Univ. Research Center was quoted in an editorial in the Kansas City Times as saying that the "canals" seen on Mars through telescopes were fractures of the planet's crust. He said: "The origin may be due to asteroids impacting on the surface, much as what happens when a stone hits the windshield of a car. I think I have the right answer. . . ." (McCoy, Kansas City Times, 3/5/65)
West Germany was waging vigorous campaign by letter, circular, and word-of-mouth to persuade German technicians to leave their jobs in Egyptian aircraft and rocket industry. The campaign could be result of recent arrests in Cairo of several West German citizens on espionage charges. (Olson, NYT, 3/6/65, 7)
Fred P. Strother, in charge of requirements for Boy Scout merit badges, announced that details of a space exploration merit badge were being worked out with NASA. (NYT, 3/6/65, 27)
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