May 8 1964
From The Space Library
NASA and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory had begun operating "Prairie Network" in midwestern US., a network of 16 automatic camera stations to photograph falling meteors and aid in tracking and recovering meteorites, NASA announced. Photographic measurements would assist scientists in determining how much mass is lost by bodies during atmospheric entry and in calculating origin of meteors. (NASA Release 64-106)
NASA signed $80-million incentive contract with Boeing Co. to build five Lunar Orbiter spacecraft. Beginning in 1966, Atlas-Agena boosters would launch Lunar Orbiters from Cape Kennedy on missions to take close-range photographs of moon's surface for scientific study and to help select landing sites for Project Apollo. (NASA Release 64-l09)
Four Soviet scientists reported to Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) in Florence that "a distortion of sex ratio" occurred among offspring of fruit flies that bred on board manned spacecraft during four-day space flights. The abstract prepared for COSPAR preliminary program did not explain the change in sex ratios, did say that experiments' purpose was to study effects of space flight-primarily weightlessness and space radiation-on the fruit fly and its cells. (AP, Balt. Sun, 5/9/64, HTNS, Wash. Post, 5/9/64)
Soviet Academician Anatoli Blagonravov, chief Soviet delegate to COSPAR meeting in Florence, indicated to newsmen in press conference that the next major Soviet space flight might be a year away: "We are trying to open a way to the nearest planet. It will take a long time." Asked if this meant that no launch was planned for the present, he replied: "We are preparing projects. The preparation might take a year." (Levin, AP, 5/9/64)
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center announced scientists were investigating use of chewing gum for astronauts on long-duration space flights, "to stimulate dental tissues and freshen the astronaut's mouth. . . . (MSC Release 64-69)
Patent award to Bell Aerosystems Co. for electronic stethoscope, a by-product of space research, was announced. The 20-oz. transistorized stethoscope enabled physicians for the first time to eliminate all unwanted heart sounds and focus on only those desired. Bell was offering manufacturing rights to medical-electronics companies. (Jones, NYT, 5/9/64, 31)
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