Feb 24 1966
From The Space Library
First Saturn V launch vehicle (S-IC-1) underwent second successful captive firing at MSFC for 85 sec. ‘‘(MSFC Release 66-48)’’
NASA’s second space-tracking station near Canberra, Australia, was officially opened by Minister of Supply Denham Henty. Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, attended ceremony and praised Australia’s contribution to US. space program saying: “We will explore space together for the benefit of mankind.” ‘‘(NYT, 2/25/66,3)’’
Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, testified in support of NASA’s FY 1967 budget authorization before the House Science and Astronautics Committee’s Manned Space Flight Subcommittee. Questioned by Congressman Emilio Q. Daddario (D-Conn.) about the Apollo program schedule, Dr. Mueller said current budget request left no room for a major problem; any test failure would be directly reflected in a schedule dip. In connection with possible further use of Apollo/Saturn V and the lunar landing mission, Dr. Mueller stressed necessity for early decisions on the FY 1968 budget. Industrial research, development, and manufacturing employment had already reached its peak and, ironically, would begin to decline sharply before the first manned flights with Apollo/Saturn hardware. Facilities now becoming operational would be scheduled for “mothballing” within two years if no further use were planned for capability beyond the lunar landing, Dr. Mueller said. ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 279-384; MSF Historian)’’
NASA’s lunar and planetary programs were discussed by NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Edgar M. Cortright, testifying before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics’ Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications: “It is important to note that the MARINER IV photographs do not determine whether life exists on Mars. Even before the flight of MARINER IV, it was known that pictures taken at this resolution could not give any direct evidence of life forms. . . . “We propose to continue the exploration of Venus and Mars begun so well with Mariners II and IV, respectively, by utilizing for the 1967 Venus opportunity an appropriate modification of the spare spacecraft vehicle.” Cortright presented prepared statement by Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell summarizing comsat and sounding rocket launches: “The first launching by NASA of a satellite for the Corporation [[[ComSatCorp]]] took place on April 6, 1965, when the Early Bird satellite was placed in orbit using a thrust-augmented Delta launch vehicle. The launching was carried out under an agreement between Comsat and NASA, signed in December 1964, which detailed the services to be performed by NASA, financial arrangements, etc. . . . “Although the original agreement gave Comsat options for as many as seven additional launchings through March 1967, none of these options has been exercised. In the meantime, Comsat has inaugurated the HS-303A program, and has advised NASA that it will require two or three HS-303A launchings in 1966, beginning in August. The HS-303A is larger and heavier than Early Bird, and will need the capabilities of the thrust-augmented improved Delta launch vehicle. Otherwise, launch services are expected to be similar to those provided in support of the Early Bird. “The Corporation is now negotiating for development and procurement of spacecraft for the eventual global system. These spacecraft are expected to be deployed beginning in 1968.” Referring to the NASA sounding rocket program, Dr. Newell said: “Since 1959 to the present NASA has launched 668 sounding rockets for scientific investigations in space and 516 of these were for investigations in the areas of physics and astronomy.” He mentioned as significant the International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) Mobile Launch Expedition carried out in spring 1965 using an aircraft carrier as a launching platform: rockets carrying instrumented payloads were launched off west coast of South America from 5° north latitude to 60° south latitude with the greatest concentration of flights at the geomagnetic equator near Lima, Peru. 45 Nike-Cajun/Nike-Apache rockets and 32 single-stage Arcas from the MARINER IV program. This will be launched on an Atlas-Agena. rockets were flown carrying experiments furnished by NASA, USN, USAF, universities, and industry. ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 233-4, 359, 375-6)’’
Charles W. Harper, Director, Aeronautics Div., NASA Office of Advanced Research and Technology (OART), testified before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics’ Subcommittee on Advanced Research and Technology on the NASA aeronautics program. Citing the need for close coordination between scientific groups within Government, he said: “Recognizing the Air Force interest in hypersonic flight, a proposal was made to the Air Force Systems Command Headquarters that the two agencies prepare a single coordinate program representing a national effort in hypersonic technology with each agency supporting that portion most appropriate to its capabilities. The proposal was accepted. . . . Technical approval of general plans is through the NASA OART Office and the AFSC RTD Office and generation and coordination of program details are developed through appointed technical groups from the NASA and Air Force research centers. To date this coordination activity has been very effective. . . .” As major elements of NASA’s 1967 aeronautics program, Harper listed: (1) a continuing effort in advanced research; (2) major effort in support of SST with emphasis on flight operations and advanced propulsion; (3) a substantial increase in research in propulsion systems appropriate to the whole speed range, from V/Stol to hypersonic speeds with special attention directed to the noise problem and supported by two new facilities; (4) a substantially increased effort in V/Stol research supported by construction of the first research facility to be built expressly for conducting research on problems unique to V/Stol aircraft. ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 170-1, 179)’’
Astronauts Frank Borman and Walter M. Schirra, Jr., met with Japanese space scientists in Tokyo and presented Japanese Premier Eisaku Sato with a letter from President Johnson and a color photograph of their GEMINI VII/VI rendezvous in space. ‘‘(Wash. Eve. Star, 2/25/66, Al; Wash. Post, 2/25/66)’’
Two solid-fueled Minuteman ICBMS were launched simultaneously from Vandenberg AFB, to evaluate multiple-firing techniques which could be used “under combat conditions at operational bases.” This was first salvo launch down WTR. ‘‘(SAC Release 6-17)’’
AFSC announced that all-weather landing systems (Awls) developed by USAF and FAA would be installed on all C-141 Starlifters within two or three years to enable the huge fan jet cargo-troop carriers to land safely under adverse weather conditions with a minimum of ground-landing aids. Awls would program aircraft’s flight path, speed, angle of approach, and attitude; generate and provide data to pilot or autopilot; and be nearly self-sufficient. Lockheed Aircraft Corp. had been contracted by AFSC in May 1965 to design, install, test, and obtain FAA certification for Awls and produce a flying prototype aircraft by spring 1966. ‘‘(AFSC Release 6.66)’’
Lunar surface photograph from U.S.S.R.’s LUNA IX mission “fully coincided with the photograph of a model of the moon designed by scientists at Kharkov University’s laboratory several years ago,” Tass announced. Nikolay Barabashov, chief of university’s observatory, hypothesized that “the relief at the landing site of the Soviet station is typical of the entire lunar surface,” which he claimed was “porous, sponge-like, and sufficiently firm to hold a rather heavy body.” ‘‘(Tass, 2/24/66)’’
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