Oct 13 1968
From The Space Library
New observations from U.K.'s Jodrell Bank Experimental Station indicated distance estimates to pulsars had been 30 times too short. Observations from Australia's Molonglo Radio Observatory had identified pulsar PSR 1749-28, believed to be three times more distant than 10 others observed to date. Despite great distance, its pulses were more powerful than those of all but one other. From these observa- tions, Jodrell's Dr. Graham Smith believed pulsars lay in distant halo, not in Milky Way. (Sullivan, NYT, 10/13/68, 74)
October 13-19: At 19th Congress of IAF in New York, Dr. Edward C. Welsh, NASC Executive Secretary, read message from Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Chairman of NASC: "We take considerable pride in the United States with the generally open nature of our space program and in the manner in which we have attempted to cooperate with other nations in space participation as well as in the dissemination of facts and theories gleaned from our space experience. . . . man has now begun to make the space far beyond the Earth's surface a part of his library of education and his scope of achievement. Now more than ever before the way of the future must be the way of nations working together to harness the forces of nature so that the peaceful pursuits of mankind may flourish." Dr. Welsh said: "I would place high on the list of benefits those which flow from increased international cooperation in the field of space. . . . stimulated by the universal desire for knowledge [it] has brought somewhat closer together the peoples of the world. . . . as the practical applications of space become more evident in the form of weather predictions, communications, and increased knowledge of the world's limited natural resources, additional strength is added to the foundation for peace." (Text)
Daniel and Florence Guggenheim International Astronautics Award of $1,000, made annually by International Academy of Astronautics in recognition of outstanding contribution to progress of space research and exploration over five-year period, was presented Oct. 18 at IAF Congress banquet to Dr. Zdenek Svestaka of Astronomical Institute of Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. He was Chairman of Commission on Solar Activity of the International Astronomical Union. (IAF IAA Release 34; AIAA Release 10/13/68)
Soviet scientist Prof. Leonid Sedov in news conference said U.S.S.R. was not in race to moon with U.S. "The question of sending astronauts to the moon at this time is not an item on our agenda. The exploration of the moon is possible, but it is not a priority." Prof. Sedov said Soviet timetable for manned expeditions would depend on next series of flight tests using Zond rocket. Zond V was successful, he said, "because the capsule returned safely, which was the purpose of the flight." Regarding U.S.-U.S.S.R. scientific cooperation, "its successful implementation is very much dependent on international relations." At present, he said, close relations did not exist. (NYT, 10/15/68, 48)
Informal meeting of international space scientists, organized by Northwestern Univ. UFO expert, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, in conjunction with IAF Congress, discussed advisability of world cooperation on UFOS. Several speakers urged international cooperation such as uniform UFO report forms, but it was agreed that no action should be taken until after appearance of Univ. of Colorado report expected later in year. (Sullivan, NYT, 10/16/68, 12)
Dr. Harold Masursky, U.S. Geological Survey astrogeologist, reported to IAF analysis of data from spacecraft that had orbited and crashed into or landed intact on moon had shown side facing earth was largely a basin similar to that of Pacific Ocean. It seemed more like earth than had been previously believed. Lunar interior had been molten. Deep cracks in its crust were lined with craters where molten material had erupted from below. Study of remains of giant crater in western Texas had shown features analogous to lunar craters with mountain in center. (Sullivan, NYT, 10/19/68, 19)
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