May 14 1962
From The Space Library
In NAS broadcast for Voice of America, Dr. Colin S. Pittendrigh, Professor of Biology, Princeton University, said that biological engineering for manned space flight will have an influence on theoretical physiology, but that "space technology holds far less promise of any revolution in biology than in physics." The possibility of extraterrestrial life, he described as "the most exciting scientific question of the day." Optimum conditions for a manned spacecraft with regard to temperature, moisture, oxygen, and carbon dioxide can be specified. But "we have difficulty in being precise about anything else." He pointed to the possible exclusion of heavy radiation by means of an intense magnetic field, but "can man perform normally in such intense magnetic fields?" Little is known about the reliability of algae, and new studies of photosynthesis and techniques of algoculture are needed. Rhythmic innate oscillations, previously considered superficial to the physiological architecture of organisms, are "a highly significant parameter of physiological organization." And the possible effect of the earth's gravitational field on normal physiological function is not fully known. Dr. Pittendrigh concluded: "Clean questions and clean answers are going to be difficult for some time. When we put organisms into space at present and detect deleterious effects, we are simply unable to disentangle the many variables that exist there and decide which has been responsible." U.S. delegate to the 17-nation disarmament conference, Charles C. Stelle, urged early action to ban outer space for nuclear armaments: "This conference could lead to measures designed to insure that outer space can become an impetus to man's peaceful progress and not a battleground in the future." Testimony of Feb. 27 by Prof. James A. Van Allen before the House Committee on Appropriations on the relative worth of instrumented unmanned satellites versus manned satellites was released. Van Allen was misquoted on the wire news services to the effect that manned space flight was of limited scientific value in the future.
FRIENDSHIP 7 capsule went on exhibit at the Science Museum in London in beginning of its tour of European cities.
Cosmonaut Titov wrote in Pravda on his arrival in Moscow: "I returned home, heaved in a breathful of clear spring air, and told the comrades welcoming me: Despite all the comforts of America, there is no land on earth better than our dear, wonderful Soviet homeland." He indicated that American astronauts Alan Shepard and John Glenn have been invited to visit the Soviet Union.
Drew Pearson referred to Cosmonaut Titov's recent denial of Pearson's report of February 23, 1962, that five Russian cosmonauts had been lost in previous manned space flight attempts.
He pointed out that the unsuccessful attempts were not orbital shot, rather were suborbital "rocket rides" such as that of Cdr. Alan Shepard.
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