Feb 23 1966
From The Space Library
Second 260-in.-dia. solid-propellant rocket motor (SL-2), Nation’s largest, was successfully test-fired for NASA in Dade County, Fla., by Aerojet-General Corp. Fueled with polybutadiene, aluminum and ammonium-perchlorate and fired nose down in a 150-ft.-deep pit, motor developed within 1% of the predicted 3.5-million lbs. thrust and burned for almost precisely the planned 126 sec. Test showed repeatability of the firing, proved that manufacturing techniques were reliable, and demonstrated that the motors could be produced at a predictable cost. First 260-in. motor (SL-1) was successfully fired for two minutes Sept. 25, 1965, producing 3.6-million lbs. thrust. Strength of the maraging steel motor case, structural integrity of the cast propellant, insulation, and the ablative nozzle were tested. Large solid motor project was designed to demonstrate feasibility of building and operating solid motors of greater size than those in current use for multistage launch vehicle systems carrying heavy payloads into space. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-31; Stern, Wash. Post, 2/24/66, A5; Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 2/24/66)’’
Testifying before House Committee on Science and Astronautics’ Subcommittee on Advanced Research and Technology, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology Dr. Mac C. Adams said: “During 1965 we flew the three X-15 airplanes 32 times, setting a new activity record. These aircraft comprise a unique research facility capable of providing data during actual hypersonic flight. . . . “At the end of 1965, the three X-15 airplanes had been flown 156 times. . . .” Referring to rocket reactor tests, Adams said: “The KIWI-NERVA Phoebus operations during 1965 demonstrated an altitude equivalent specific impulse of over 750 lb-sec./lb., equivalent thrust of over 50,000 lbs., and total duration of 4200 seconds, or over an hour. The experiments have shown that rapid starts and restarts can be made and that operation is stable over a wide range of conditions. “On February 3, 1966, we made the first power run with a complete nuclear rocket engine system. Although the major components were spread out and connected in a ‘breadboard’ fashion, the system started and operated as a unit with no external power. On February 11, the system was operated again. We feel that these runs are very significant milestones in the nuclear rocket programs.” ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 50, 57)’’
NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell summarized achievements and status of NASA’s physics and astronomy programs at hearings before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics’ Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications. Dr. Newell said that from a scientific point of view, Explorer program had been “one of the most cost effective means of accomplishing the scientific objectives in space physics and astronomy.’’ During 1965, “seven spacecraft were successfully launched including Alouette II, our second international project with Canada, and FR-1, the first cooperative satellite project with France. . . .” Of the OGO program he said: “. . . as of early January 1966, data acquisition from OGO-I included 3,522 hours of real-time wideband telemetry, approximately 800 hours of special-purpose telemetry, and 2,800 hours of onboard data storage. . . . Good quality magnetic field data” were contributed by the OGO II mission to the World Magnetic Survey of the International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY). Results of OGO I and OGO II missions had proven the operational capability of the spacecraft and underscored the validity of the concept of a laboratory for correlative geophysical studies. ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 114, 147, 159)’’
Test firing of NASA’s 260-in. solid-propellant rocket motor at Aerojet-General Corporation’s Dade County, Fla., facility.
NASA had awarded a $38,000 contract to US. Public Health Service on best approach to control and early diagnosis of viral infection in astronauts during space flight. Dr. Walter Kemmerer, MSC’s monitor on the virus control study, said in an interview: “We want to have techniques to enable us to prevent this from happening, and to detect that it is happening. Also, we want to know how to prevent one astronaut from transmitting it to another inside the spacecraft.” ‘‘(AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 2/23/66, A1)’’
Charles H. Ruby, president of the Air Line Pilots Assn., charged FAA had implied pilots were to blame for four recent Boeing 727 jet aircraft crashes although investigations were incomplete. He referred to “premature and seriously questionable public assessment” of the 727 during a Feb. 17 FAA meeting at which FAA said the aircraft was airworthy and had no serious defects: “We don’t believe this [cause determination] can be expected to be achieved with total objectivity by closed door meetings of parties with a substantial stake in the outcome.” Ruby added pilots felt the 727 was basically a “good and safe aircraft.” ‘‘(UPI, Wash. Post, 2/24/66, A2)
February 23-24: Gemini Mid-Program Conference was held at MSC to summarize Gemini program to date with emphasis on results obtained from first seven Gemini missions. Conference, attended by more than 600 persons, was conducted in the middle of the Gemini program rather than at the end so that scientists and the aerospace industry would have earlier access to Gemini experiences for application to other space programs. Gemini program director Charles W. Mathews announced that NASA had canceled plans for land landings of Gemini spacecraft because of ‘‘development time constraint”; U.S. spacecraft would continue to make ocean landings “for the foreseeable future.” ‘‘(Text, Houston Post, 2/24/66)’’
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