May 16 1964
From The Space Library
New and more detailed information about Van Allen belts gleaned by HITCHHIKER I satellite was reported to COSPAR by Ludwig Katz, AFCRL project scientist. HITCHHIKER satellite was launched pickaback on USAF satellite and separated last July 1 In the AFCRL measurements the count rate for protons between one and five million electron volts (mev) indicated that for this energy region there were two distinct Van Allen belts. The count was significantly lower in the middle region between two belts. A second feature, found in measurements between 15 and 100 key, was that more electrons were found in energy region of the radiation belt, although there was decrease in total flux of electrons from the inner to the outer areas of earth's magnetic lines of force. (USAF OAR Release 5-64-2)
In speech to COSPAR on the NASA Biosatellite Program, Dr. Dale Jenkins, Bioscience Programs Div., NASA Office of Space Science and Applications, remarked: "The United States Biosatellite Program is a second generation series of carefully planned and selected experiments, including some highly sophisticated experiments which have required several years of baseline study and equipment development This program has been designed to study the biological effects of : (a) zero gravity or weightlessness, (b) the effects of weightlessness combined with a known source of radiation, and (c) removal of living organisms from the Earth's rotation. These orbiting recoverable Biosatellites provide an opportunity to critically test major biological hypotheses in the areas of genetics, evolution, and physiology. The Biosatellite studies will delineate hazards to astronauts, and determine and define effects on degradation of human performance. Prolonged manned flights, for example, may involve changes observed in ten days of bed rest such as decalcification of bones (particularly the vertebrae), loss of muscle tone and physical capability, and certain cardiovascular changes. The effect of continued sensory deprivation on behavior and performance is unknown." (Text)
Results of Soviet biological experiments reported to COSPAR meeting. Discussing fruit fly experiments in space [see May 8], report said fruit flies mated in space apparently normally, but when the eggs hatched in the laboratory after the flight there was excess number of females. Furthermore, report said, average weight of male fruit flies was lower than of flies bred in the laboratory. Soviets disclosed that Cosmonaut V. Bykovsky had conducted fixed biological experiments during his five-day VOSTOK V space flight, killing specimens to stop their development at various intervals. In another biological experiment, Soviets reported that normal cell division in spores of Tradescantia plant was upset in space environment, with rearrangements of plant chromosomes as well as development of freak cells. (Simons, Wash. Post, 5/17/64)
Eight Tiros meteorological satellites had taken more than 350,000 photographs from altitudes above 400 mi. The spectacularly successful weather-forecasting satellites did not live up to the one-time charge of "spying," for of all the pictures, only two showed any indication of existence of intelligent life on earth-and both of these pictures required corroborative knowledge to identify them. (, Phil. Sun. Bull., 5/17/64)
Temperature on planet Jupiter was reported to be higher than previously thought Geology-astronomy team at Cal Tech that studied the planet with heat-sensitive detector fitted to 200-in. telescope on Mt. Palomar found sunlit atmosphere of Jupiter averaged 230 degrees below zero F. But in shadow cast by one of its moons-Ganymede-temperature jumped to minus 117 degrees. Dr. Bruce C. Murray, associate professor of planetary sciences, and Dr. Robert L Wildey, research fellow in astronomy and geology, gave two possible explanations for the unexpected rise in temperature: "Perhaps in sunlight the atmosphere is photochemically stable, and the shadow removes the stability. Then the atmosphere may start to break down into more transparent material, permitting the heat detector to observe much deeper into the atmosphere where temperatures are higher. Another possibility is that a breakdown of the shaded atmosphere may result in an upwelling from deeper, warmer zones of the atmosphere." Study also showed that another of Jupiter's moons - Callisto - radiated twice as much heat as a normal moon would be expected to do. (Dighton, AP, Wash. Post, 5/17/64)
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