May 7 1964
From The Space Library
EXPLORER XVIII, the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) satellite, survived sub-zero temperatures during eight-hour flight in the earth's shadow, a duration record for satellites. IMP remained in the shadow for so long because of its highly eccentric orbit, carrying it out 122,000 mi. at apogee. As it entered the shadow, IMP shut off automatically, and temperatures on IMP'S surface fell to more than 400° below zero. After it emerged once again, IMP"S transmitter signal was picked up by NASA tracking station at Santiago, Chile. Preliminary evaluation of telemetry tapes at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center indicated data from the IMP experiments were of good quality. (NASA Release 64-111)
First anniversary of TELSTAR II communications satellite. AT&T reported its second communications satellite was "functioning normally in every respect" and had completed 2,340 orbits of the earth. Nearly 60 public demonstrations, most of them overseas TV transmissions, were conducted with TELSTAR II. Radiation data collected by TELSTAR II enabled scientists to determine that the very high intensity of electrons in inner region of the Van Allen belt had decayed slowly during the past year. Built with stronger shielding against radiation than its predecessor and equipped with specially developed transistors to better withstand the space environment, TELSTAR II was orbiting in higher apogee than TELSTAR I, making possible communications experiments of greater length. (AT&T Release)
At NASA background briefing for news media, Doctors W. Randolph Lovelace II, Orr E. Reynolds, and Frank B. Voris made presentations on space medicine, biosciences, and effects of space environment on man. Dr. Lovelace described the close working relationship between the offices of Space Medicine, Biotechnology, and Space Science and Medicine. He pointed out Center responsibilities as well as the "detailed task-level technical coordination" completed at the NASA-DOD level "which ensures Most effective use of all existing facilities" throughout the Nation. In question period, Dr. Reynolds discussed timing of life-detector experiments for Mars: ". . . we had hoped that it would be possible to have a landing capsule on Mars for the 1966 mission. Just as the plans for that were being developed, questions were raised by recent astronomical data about the density of the atmosphere of Mars that made it very difficult, if not impossible, to design the proper landing system. "At the present time we are hoping to have a landing vehicle for Mars for the 1969 opportunity. This is not an improved program. But we are working on the development of plans in that direction. It has already been decided that the biological sciences payload, that is, the life detector instruments, or whatever else the biological community thinks are most appropriate for that flight, will have high priority on any landing mission. "So I think the best guess now would be that certainly our first opportunity would be for 1969, and we certainly hope we will have such instruments aboard." Discussing space radiation, Dr. Reynolds said: ". . . a number of committees and meetings that have been held by the radiobiologists in this country have recommended that an experiment be done below the radiation belt carrying a known source of radiation. The reason for this is that there have been reports, from organisms, living organisms flown in the natural radiation belt, of a higher than expected effectiveness of the radiation. There is no good theoretical basis for knowing why this should occur. . . ." Experiment for checking this would be flown in first flight of Biosatellite, carrying known source and dosage of radiation below the area of the Van Allen belts. Asked about the previous data, Dr. Reynolds said: "There are experiments both by United States experimenters in piggy-back flights, and the Russian experiments that show a higher than expected effectiveness of the ambient radiation in genetic effect and in systemic effect. These experiments we strongly suspect had this result due to lack of adequate dosimetry, measurement of the actual dosage that was encountered. For this reason the radiobiologists who have been advising us have recommended this experiment with a known source so as to eliminate any question of whether the dosimetry was wrong. . . ." Dr. Voris discussed "our studies into the biological effects of extremely low magnetic fields and into alternating and high magnetic field forces. Because of a recently expounded theory that individual neurons possess individual and isolated electromagnetic fields of their own, it is conceivable that the functions of the human nervous system may suffer impairment as a result of exposure to electromagnetic fields that deviate markedly from ambient terrestrial levels. . . ." Asked about slow rotation for manned space stations to provide partial gravity, Dr. Voris said that it presented "a problem in disorientation and in the effects of mal de mer. Slow rotation is fine if you can keep your head immobilized and become acclimated to it and stay in one spot. If you move around, move with the turn or away from the turn, or move from the periphery of a circular station into the center, you are changing the field force there, you are developing what is called a Coriolis effect, and you then disturb the balance mechanism or vestibular mechanism of the body and you develop recurrent effects such as seasickness." (Transcript)
Anglo-French manufacturers of the supersonic airliner Concorde revealed a long-range version of the Concorde was in development stage. British Aircraft Corp. and France's Sud-Aviation said the aircraft would have longer body and greater wingspan, greater fuel capacity and greater reserves, increasing passenger load from 100 to 118. (UPI, Phil. Eve Bull., 5/7/64; Av. Wk., 5/11/64,36)
NASA Director of Manned Lunar Mission Studies Thomas C. Evans discussed at AAS meeting the systems that might be used for post-Apollo exploration of the moon. The concepts, making maximum use of the investment in Saturn and Apollo, included: Apollo itself, with separate missions to each point of interest; Apollo supplemented with Stay Time Extension Module (STEM), with increased payload capacity developed in Apollo system to transport "saddle bags" of supplies or surface equipment attached to outside of LEM; Apollo supplemented with Apollo Logistic Support System (ALSS), with two flights-one to transport two astronauts, the other to deliver support equipment and supplies probably including lunar surface vehicle; and, Apollo supplemented with Lunar Exploration System for Apollo (LESA) , with 2-3 flights and payload to include shelter-laboratory and roving vehicle. (Text)
In paper on manned lunar scientific operations, prepared for AAS meeting in New York, NASA's Dr. Paul Lowman (Office of Space Science and Applications) and Donald A. Beattie (Office of Manned Space Flight) said that ". . . it is apparent that the moon is a virtual Rosetta stone that, if properly read, may permit us to learn how the solar system, the earth, and the continents on which we live were formed. . . . "Since the scientific investigations of highest priority are in the fields of geology and geophysics, it appears that there is definite value in extending manned lunar exploration by the use of modified Apollo equipment. Experience has shown that geophysical and geological mapping investigations of large areas are continuing tasks; like the painting of the Golden Gate Bridge, they are never really finished, because new concepts, questions, and methods evolve during the pro-gram. The occasionally-expressed view that the major questions about the moon could be settled by a few landings and the return of a few samples ignore the experience of several centuries of terrestrial geology and geophysics. . . ." (Text)
Maj. Gen. O. J. Ritland (USAF) , Deputy Commander for Space, AFSC, dis-cussed in AAS luncheon address the role of USAF in U.S. space program, tracing history of ICBM development: "The task for the Air Force in those early days was a tremendous one. It had full responsibility for the development, acquisition, and deployment of an ICBM force capable of deterring any missile threat the Soviets might develop. This meant that we had to develop reliable high thrust boosters, materials that could withstand extreme heat caused by re-entry friction, guidance components, and a host of subsystems for use in our ICBM's. We had to develop command, control and tracking systems, and a wide range of support and test facilities for launch and retrieval. We had to recruit and train a tremendous force of highly skilled specialists and technicians. In addition we had to set up whole new management structures and apply expedited management methods under which these tasks could be accomplished with the greatest possible speed. "Time was the critical factor. The Soviets had a very substantial advance in technological lead times over us. For this reason it was essential that we have the fullest cooperation and support from all segments of our society. The response to these needs was characteristic of the American people. . . . "We had tremendous support from many government agencies. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which became the National Aeronautics and Space Agency in 1958, gave unfailing support. For example, NACA's Moffett Laboratories did a major portion of the high speed wind tunnel testing for our nose cone development program. NACA's Cleveland Propulsion Laboratories provided vital support to the Air Force in the rocket engine field. These are just two examples of the highly successful partnership which has evolved between the Air Force as the primary military agency in space and the NASA as the primary civilian agency in space. The partnership continues to be one of the most vital and dynamic aspects of the national space effort. . . ." (Text, AFSC Release 45-R-51)
Martin Marietta recently completed NASA-funded, DOD-concurred upon study of Centaur upper stage mated with various Titans. Most promising configuration-particularly for heavy Surveyor spacecraft and for advanced Mars missions-was using Centaur as trans-stage for Titan III-A (without the strap-on solids). (SBD, 5/7/64, 34)
FAA adopted safety regulation requiring that cockpit doors on all commercial aircraft be locked throughout flights. (FAA Release 64 45)
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