Jun 30 1965
From The Space Library
A four-stage, 60-ft.-long Journeyman (Argo D-8) sounding rocket launched by NASA from Wallops Station, Va, carried a 137-lb, instrument package to an altitude of 1,060 mi, on a 25-min, flight that ended 1,700 mi, offshore in the Atlantic, east of Bermuda. After launch, the payload, unfurled two 35-ft. antennas to provide a single dipole antenna, measuring 70 ft, from tip to tip. Main objective of the mission was to measure the intensity of radio frequency energy originating largely from outside the solar system. This was done at three frequencies: 750, 1,125, and 2,000 kc. Secondary objectives were the investigation of previously detected radio noise on the top side of the ionosphere and measurement of electron density in that part of the ionosphere, Information would be used in planning future space radio astronomy experiments to investigate certain characteristics of antennas in the ionospheric region. Experiment was conducted in cooperation with the Univ. of Michigan. (NASA Release 65-214; Wallops Release 6540; AP, Balt, Sun, 7/1/65)
Lunar Landing Research Facility, a controlled laboratory for exploring and developing techniques for landing a rocket-powered vehicle on the moon, had been put into operation at NASA Langley Research Center. The $3.5 million facility included a rocket-powered flight test vehicle which would be operated while partially supported from a 250-ft, high, 400-ft,-long gantry structure to simulate the one-sixth earth gravity of the moon in research to obtain data on the problems of lunar landing. (LaRC Release 6/30/65)
ComSatCorp asked the FCC for authority to assemble a third Early Bird-type satellite from existing parts for a future launch. A back-up satellite to EARLY BIRD I was already assembled; components for a third comsat were completed earlier this year. The application before the FCC requested permission to assemble these components. (ComSatCorp Release)
Voice of NASA Administrator James E. Webb was relayed from Washington, D.C., to Tulsa, Okla., via RELAY II for the dedication of Tulsa's Central Library, Mr. Webb spoke briefly before triggering an electronic signal that turned on the lights in the new building. (AFP; Tulsa Daily World, 6/10/65)
Senate confirmed the nominations of Gen. William F. McKee (USAF, Ret.) as Federal Aviation Agency Administrator and David D. Thomas as his deputy administrator. President Johnson formally accepted the resignation of McKee's predecessor, Najeeb E. Halaby, with a "Dear Jeeb" letter praising Halaby's "vigorous and dynamic leadership," particularly in supersonic transport development. (CR, 6/30/65, 14824; UPI, Wash, Post, 7/1/65)
NASA procurements for FY 1965 totaled $5,187 million, an amount 13% greater than the amount awarded during FY 1964. About 94% of NASA's procurement dollars was contracted directly or indirectly to private industry: About 79% of net dollar value was placed directly with business firms; 4% was placed with educational and other nonprofit institutions or organizations, 5% with Cal Tech for operation of JPL, and 12% with or through other Government agencies. 90% of the dollar value of procurement requests placed with other Government agencies resulted in contracts with industry (awarded on behalf of NASA) ; also, about 76% of NASA-placed funds under the JPL contract resulted in subcontracts or purchases with business firms. (NASA FY 1965 Annual Procurement Rpt, 54)
During FY 1965, NASA awarded $121,115,000 in grants and research contracts to 190 colleges and universities in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 8 foreign countries, In addition, $25,527,000 was awarded to 53 nonprofit institutions in 20 states and the District of Columbia. (NASA Proj, Off,)
Strongly urging greater emphasis on U.S. aeronautics and aviation than now exists, Sen. A. S. (Mike) Monroney (D-Okla,), Chairman of Senate Aviation Sub-committee, addressed Air Force Association in Dallas, Tex, "I am afraid some people, and I mean people of high stature and great influence, seem bent on relegating aeronautics to a secondary position. This I think is a crucial mistake, In aeronautics we stand on the threshold of a boundless upsurge which may well dwarf what has been achieved by aviation over the past 61 years, "Also, the economic productivity of aeronautics makes dollars ... and sense. It means money in the bank, or rather gold in Fort Knox, On the other hand, I don't know of any scheme ... and I doubt that one will emerge within this century for fighting the balance of payments deficit in outer space. "There simply are no dollars floating around between here and the moon, For the time being, outer space commerce just doesn't seem to be in the cards. And as long as this is the situation, I don't think we should banish aeronautics to the back seat , . or have a NASA budget which is better than 98 percent spacecraft and less than 2 percent aircraft. And this in spite of the fact that NASA and its forerunner, NACA, were ostensibly founded to serve aeronautics! "I am not saying this to downgrade space, but to suggest that we strike a balance based on how the national interest and economy are served best. . . This widening disparity between NASA's space and aeronautical efforts ... this wall flower treatment of the airplane ... is a reckless gamble, economically, politically and militarily, that will come back to haunt us in the future, My criticism, by the way, is not directed at the level of competence in that agency but at the lack of programming of aeronautical goals and the failure to mobilize this nation's brain power on behalf of aviation. It seems to me the real deficiency is that the well qualified aeronautical talent in NASA is so far down in the hierarchy that these men rarely ever get involved in the decision making, It's crystal clear that other nations, the Russians included, have cut this Gordian knot and are rapidly filling the vacuum which we so invitingly created for them. . . ." (Text; AP, NYT, 7/2/65)
Dr. Albert J. Kelley, Deputy Director of NASA Electronics Research Center, retired as a U.S. naval commander. He had been assigned to detached duty with NASA by USN in 1960 and would continue with ERC as a civilian. (Boston Globe, 7/1 /65)
A Titan II ICBM was fired from Vandenberg AFB underground silo on a routine flight down the Western Test Range by a Strategic Air Command (SAC) crew. (UPI, Boston Globe, 6/30/65)
The last of 800 USAF Minutemen I ICBMs became operational at Warren AFB, Wyo, Weighing about 65,000 lbs, the three-stage solid propellant missiles would have a range of more than 6,300 mi., a speed of over 15,000 mph, and would carry a nuclear warhead. The missiles were housed in individual blast-resistant underground launch sites and could be stored for long periods with a minimum of maintenance. (AFSC Release 97,65)
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