May 1966
From The Space Library
Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Harold Brown said in an article written for NATO’s Fifteen Nations that one of his principal tasks had been to find the most effective way of integrating technical and non technical advice. Of contributions scientists had made to the process of defense policy-making, he said: “First, the scientist, operating at the frontiers of knowledge, may have anticipated many political and military problems posed by scientific advance. Second, military necessity made the scientist a leader in applying sophisticated rational and mathematical analysis to the solution of some problems-especially resource allocation -which have been generated by scientific advance. “At the same time it must be acknowledged that advice from scientists had been far from infallible, especially where the advice touches upon aspects of a larger problem on which the specialist is less expert, and in some cases, may not even be fully informed.” (NATO’s Fifteen Nations4-5/66, 18)
Dr. Von R. Eshleman of Stanford Univ., speaking at International Scientific Radio Union meeting in Washington, D.C., urged greater interplay between those concerned with the design and communications of spacecraft and those who decide what scientific experiments will be aboard.” He cited success of NASA’s MARINER IV mission in use of telemetry signals to learn that Martian atmospheric pressure was 1% that of earth’s as example of accomplishment through cooperation in bistatic radar studies. (Science News, 5/14/66, 366)
Three Boeing engineers had invented a jet engine inlet which could “choke” supersonic transport engine-compressor whine during approaches to airports, thereby avoiding airport-area nuisance. Noise choking feature was in addition to inlet’s primary advantage-its ability to provide a smooth and even flow of air to a jet engine at mach 2.7, or 1,900 mph, the planned cruising speed of the US. SST. (Boeing Release)
Postulating that “many members of the House Space Committee are determined to become full partners with NASA in the development of basic objectives and policy,” Space Science Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Joseph E. Karth (D-Minn.) cited recent approach by Subcommittee in reallocation of funds during hearings on NASA FY 1967 authorization: “The Congress makes resources available for our national space program in the name of the American people. Therefore Congress believes that it should have a voice in the allocation of these resources. This principle was reflected in the actions taken by the Subcommittee.” Karth was writing in Astronautics & Aeronautics. (Karth, A&A, 5/66, 26-8)
Revolution in military communications “to which we are now fully committed and which we are actively pursuing,” was discussed by William Beecher in Astronautics & Aeronautics: “At this writing, the Pentagon plans a May launch of the first eight of a series of 14 to 22 repeater satellites in its Initial Defense Communications Satellite Project (IDCSP) . The first eight, riding piggyback on a Titan III-C test booster, will be deposited into random orbits about 21,000 mi. up. Within 60 days thereafter, another six repeater satellites together with two gravity gradient experimental satellites will be similarly orbited. If all 14 of the communications satellites function perfectly, sufficient coverage will be provided to obviate the need for a third shot of eight, Pentagon experts Although meant primarily to perfect the technology of space communications, after a relatively short test-only period, this IDCSP would be made available for high-priority worldwide military traffic-for instance, important communications between Washington and Saigon. . . . “Then, in 1969 or 1970, the Defense Department hopes to put up a fully operational system, called the Advanced Defense Communications Satellite Project (ADCSP). As John S. Foster, Jr., Director of Defense Research and Engineering, described it in recent Congressional testimony, ‘This system will take advantage of advances in both booster and communications technology which will permit the establishment of an economical, highly reliable system capable of providing many secure, jam-resistant, long-range communications circuits to support vital security operations wherever they occur.’ ” (Beecher, A&A, 5/66, 10)
New NASA-developed technique for making biomedical checks on test pilots was being used at Univ. of Kansas Medical Center. Method, which replaced bulky sensors with bare wires acting as their own electrodes, permitted doctors to send instrumented patient home after office visit and record biomedical data while patient resumed normal activities. Wires were applied in three-minute operation. Data obtained in this way-rather than while patient was on operating table-were considered more meaningful by some physicians. Technique was conceived by Dr. James A. Roman, chief of biomedical research at NASA Flight Research Center, and introduced to the Univ. of Kansas by Midwest Research Institute. MRI was under contract to NASA’s Technology Utilization Div. in its program of transferring aerospace technology to the public. (NASA Release 66-116)
B/G J. C. Maxwell, director of FAA SST development, discussed supersonic air travel in Aerospace: The national SST program, though small (from a dollar point of view) when compared to the national space program, nevertheless may well have a more immediate impact. The challenge inherent in producing an economically attractive supersonic aircraft has already identified and created demands for improved manufacturing techniques, simple yet reliable electronic and communications equipment, advancements in extrusion and machine tooling techniques, more efficient (and less costly) fuels and lubricants and many other needs. “The economic aspects are more easily definable. Concerning the potential market for the SST, varying estimates have been made based on the expected growth of air transportation over the next 20 years and beyond. . . . Conservatively speaking, we now look for a three-fold increase in long-haul revenue passenger miles flown by the airlines of the world by 1980 and a five-fold increase by 1990. SSTs could carry almost half of this traffic. . . . “Obviously, the SST program will have a significant impact on the US. balance-of-trade position. Based upon past experience along with current encouraging signs, we expect that the export market for a U.S. made SST will be about half of the total production rate. Over a 20year period, this could result in a gold inflow approaching $10 billion.” (Aerospace, 5/66)
Space research programs of the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. were opening the way for solving earth’s future overpopulation problem and mankind’s future raw material needs, Soviet Prof. E. Kolman wrote in Mirovaya Ekonomika i Mezhdunarodnyye Otnosheniye, a publication of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. He referred to estimates that in 400 yrs. the earth would have a population of about 900 billion people, equivalent to about 10,000 people per square mile. In such a situation, this planet would not be able to give all its people even elementary living space, let alone food. Therefore, he said, "escape into cosmic space . . . will become inevitable.” Professor Kolman mentioned the stimulating impact of the space program on progress in science and technology and the likelihood of developments useful in more mundane areas of human activity. He cited the use of meteorological and communications satellites as examples of terrestrially useful byproducts of space research. (NYT, 5/22/66, 85)
Four experimental ramjet missiles launched by France’s Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales (ONERA) reached speeds of nearly 4,600 fps between 40,000-and 115,000-ft. altitudes. Missiles were part of a 10-flight program code-named STATALTEX, to generate data applicable to eventual development of an atmospheric booster that could reach mach 5. (M&R, 5/23/66, 9)
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