Nov 4 1965
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched COSMOS XCV artificial earth satellite carrying scientific instrumentation to continue the space exploration program, Orbital parameters: apogee, 521 km. (323 mi,) ; perigee, 207 km. (128.3 mi,) ; period, 91.7 min.; inclination, 48°. Equipment was functioning normally. (Pravda, 11/5/65, 2)
NASA issued a phased-planning policy directive, effective immediately, prescribing sequential steps for each major project: Phase A-Advanced studies; Phase B-Project Definition; Phase C-Design; Phase D-Development/operations. Each phase would be a specifically approved activity undertaken after management review of the preceding phase. (NASA Release 65-345)
NASA pilot William Dana flew X-15 No, 1 to 80,200-ft, altitude at 2,795 mph (mach 4,22) in a pilot-checkout flight which also carried a slightly modified horizon scanner and device for measuring microscopic atmospheric pressure. (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.; X-15 Flight Log)
Data obtained by the Pegasus meteoroid-detection satellite program and estimates by Dr. Fred L. Whipple, Smithsonian Astrophysical and Harvard College Observatories, prompted Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger Director of MSFC Research Projects laboratory and one of the scientists who had conceived the Pegasus program, to estimate that a Pegasus-sized sensor with a 1-mm. (40-mil) aluminum sheet would be perforated in earth orbit about 40 times annually and a sensor with a 2-mm, aluminum sheet only one to three times annually. Dr. Stuhlinger told the Northeast Electronics Research and Engineering Meeting in Boston of initial evaluation of the Pegasus data: in the smallest size meteoric particles, fewer particles were encountered than expected; in the largest, more were encountered than planned; and in the mid-range, actual results agreed closely with theoretical predictions. Dr. Stuhlinger reported on the Pegasus project from inception in 1962 through reduction of data as late as October 8, 1965. (MSFC Release 65-275; Marshall Star, 11/17/65)
Six key appointments at NASA's Mississippi Test Facility were announced by MTF Manager Jackson M. Balch: Henry F. Auter, Deputy Manager and Chief of Projects Control Office; L/Col. Frederic C. French (USA), Assistant Manager for Construction and Installation; Waldo H. Dearing, Chief of Management Support Office; Myron L. Myers and Robert A. Bush, project managers for S-IC and S-II operations, respectively; and Myrl E. Sanders, project manager for support activities. (MSFC Release 65-278)
U.S. had no knowledge that any Soviet cosmonaut had ever died in spaceflight, Dr. Charles S. Sheldon II, of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, told an AIAA luncheon meeting in Washington, D.C, Posthumously published notes of convicted Soviet spy Col. Oleg V. Penkovsky had contended that "several cosmonauts had lost their lives in spaceflight." Sheldon said that statistically the U.S. was leading the U.S.S.R. in the number of successful satellite launches by a 2,3-to-1 ratio, but that the Russians were leading in total weight of payloads launched and their lead had been increasing each year for the past five years, He noted, however, that "the true value of scientific findings made by each country is harder to measure statistically, and neither country has been wholly capable of objective judgment in this regard." (Text)
NASA's increased use of real-time planning in the Gemini program, in contrast to the "cast-in-concrete" planning of the Mercury program and the first Gemini flight, was praised by William Hines in the Washington Evening Star. He said this new elasticity had made possible the "revolutionary reprogramming" of the Gemini VI and Gemini VII missions where "quick and drastic re-thinking of almost every aspect of space flight operations was required. Also required was the junking of a great many shibboleths, not the least important being the fixed opinion long weeks of launching-pad checkout must precede liftoff of a man-carrying rocket..." (Hines, Wash. Eve, Star, 11/4/65, Al2)
The impact of a meteorite might have begun life on earth, Dr. Brian Mason, U.S. National Museum, told the annual meeting of the Geochemical Society of America in Kansas City. Scientists had speculated that the presence of organic compounds-substances containing carbon and nitrogen-in meteorites indicated that life exists, or had once existed, elsewhere in the universe. Mason noted that such compounds could be made without life, but added: "I believe . .. they may be a forerunner of life. A falling meteorite may be the way life got started," Mason said that most meteorites appeared to come from the asteroid belt which orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. This belt might be a planet that never collected to become a single body, he suggested. Dr. Mason was conducting research on the chemical differences a man-earth environment had imposed on meteorites. (Houston Chron., 12/5/65)
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