Jul 2 1964
From The Space Library
House adopted by voice vote the conference report on NASA FY 1965 authorization bill (H.R. 10456) and sent bill to Senate. Senate adopted conference report, clearing bill for President's signature. Bill provided NASA authorization of $5,227,506,000 of which $4,341,100,000 was for research and development, $622,880,500 was for construction of facilities and $623,525,500 was for administrative operations. (NASA LAR 1I1/133)
Sen. J. W. Fulbright (D.-Ark.) called for 10% cut in NASA's Apollo FY 1965 budget, in statement submitted to Senate Appropriations Committee- He stated 1970 Apollo goal had already been missed, so that cut in funds would have no serious effect, and that NASA's past estimates of costs and time were not reliable, so that little confidence could be placed in NASA's meeting its 1970 deadline. (Wash. Eve. Star, 7/2/64, A8)
USAF launched Thor-Agena D space booster from WTR with undisclosed satellite payload. (HHN-4 s)
At AIAA, William G. Huber of MSFC outlined NASA's plans for space projects beyond Apollo project. According to one set of plans for the 1970-1990 period, space program costs would be $6,970,000,000 per year for 20 years. This figure was highest yet publicly discussed by a NASA official- Huber was outlining possibilities for the future in his discussion of large post-Saturn launch vehicles. (Wash. Eve. Star, 7/3/64)
Paul D. Reader, Head of Lewis Research Center's Electrostatic Thrustor Systems Section, presented test results of experimental ion engine which was six times larger than any other electric engine. Large engine ejected beam of charged particles 20 in. in diameter with power of 30 kw. Development of large, high-powered ion engines, which may provide thrust for extended deep-space exploration, was step in direction of solving weight problem posed by electrical circuitry for smaller ion engines- (LRC Release 64-60)
Columbia University Electronics Research Laboratories announced development of plasma-jet generator that produced continuous jet of hot plasma-8,000 to 20,000° F-and that required no confining jacket or chamber. (A&A, 9/64, 97)
In satellite communications demonstration at AIAA Washington meetings, Lt. Cdr. J. F. Debold, Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Research and Development Satellite Communications Group, spoke via SYNCOM II satellite with his second in command on board USNS Kingsport. Kingsport, which can acquire, track, control, and communicate via a satellite while cruising at sea, was built by Navy to complement two Army-developed communications terminals on East and West Coasts. ( AIAA Booster, 7/2/64, 2)
Engineers proposed development of intercontinental ballistic troop trans-port capable of carrying 1,200 troops to any trouble spot on earth in 45 minutes- Such an Ithacus rocket transport would be ideal for helping stamp out "brush fire" conflicts, according to engineers Philip Bono and George C. Goldbaum of Douglas Aircraft who spoke at AIAA annual meeting. If funds were committed to project, they considered the ICBM transport system might be operational by 1975. (Houston Chron., 7/3/64)
Final Polaris A-3 in test program was launched from Cape Kennedy. Advanced Polaris 2,500-mi- flight was 41st in program begun in summer 1962. (M&R, 7/13/64, 14)
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