Mar 25 1966
From The Space Library
In answer to charge that the “rush of Jodrell Bank Observatory to distribute LUNA IX pictures and of scientists both in the U.S. and U.K. to comment on the pictures can only be considered a breach of ethics [see Feb. 4 and 5],” Sir Bernard Lovell said in an open letter in Science: “We did not ‘rush’ to distribute the LUNA IX pictures in advance of the Russians. Our pictures came off the facsimile machine several hours after the Russians had convened a large press conference in Moscow to show the pictures which LUNA IX had transmitted the previous night. Why they did not do so, or publish them in Izvestia the following morning remains a mystery. As for commenting on the pictures before the Russians, my only remarks were that the Lunik seemed to be resting on a hard surface with little evidence of dust, and these comments had previously been made by scientists in Moscow. Any suggestion that we published a scientific analysis of the results before the Russians is absurd.” ‘‘(Science, 3/25/66, 1477)’’
Series of power tests for breadboard version of NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application) was completed by NASA and AEC at Nuclear Rocket Development Station, Jackass Flats, Nev. Final 16-min. test studied duration capability at approximately design power and temperature--1,130 mw and 3,715° F. Engine system had been started 10 times during series [see Feb. 3, 11, March 3, and 16] and had operated for 110 min., including 29 min. at nominal full power. ‘‘(Atomic Energy Programs, 1966, 186)’’
USAF successfully carried out second launch from Vandenberg AFB in High Altitude Background and Signal to Noise (Hitab) program to investigate and measure infrared radiation and emission characteristics associated with missile exhaust plumes and other exhaust products. Nike-Javelin combination carrying payload of plume measurement was launched seconds after launch of its target, a Titan II ICBM, and data. were telemetered back to Vandenberg station. Preliminary reports indicated that missile was on target for preselected Pacific target area. ‘‘(UPI, NYT, 3/26/66, 27; UPI, Chic. Trib., 3/25/66)’’
USAF launched unidentified satellite from WTR with Scout booster. ‘‘(US. Aeron. & Space Act., 1966, 149)’’
Low-level penetration flight of 1,201.8 mi.-longest to date-was made by a USAF F-111A variable-sweep-wing fighter from Edwards AFB to General Dynamics Corp. Fort Worth, Tex., plant. L/Col. R.C.W. Blessley, director of F-111 joint test force at Edwards, flew three-hour nonstop mission at an even 1,000 ft. above uneven terrain varying from 500-ft. to more than 10,000-ft. altitude. ‘‘(Gen. Dyn. Corp. Release)’’
Provisional analysis of LUNA IX’s photographs by Gerard P. Kuiper, Robert G. Strom, Rudolph S. Le Poole, and Ewen A. Whitaker of the Univ. of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory appeared in Science. Referring to theories that spacecraft landing on the lurain might encounter electrostatic dust problems, the scientists said: “There is no evidence that this process is important since the LUNA IX components visible on the record appear in a very clean condition. Also, the camera pictures are clear and sharp and no stray light appears above the horizon. Apparently the optics remained clean upon exposure a few minutes after landing. The cleanness of the lunar surface may also explain the absence of a visible dust cloud from the impacts of Rangers VI, VII, VIII, and IX.” ‘‘(Science, 3/25/66, 1561-63)’’
Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Northwestern Univ. astrophysicist and scientific consultant to USAF’s Project Blue Book, discussed at a press conference the findings of his investigation of reported UFO sightings in Hillsdale and Dexter, Mich., near Ann Arbor: “The majority of observers . . . reported only lights. They have not described an object. Both sightings were in swampy areas-a most unlikely place for a visit from outer space. The glow was localized here. It could have been due to the release of variable quantities of marsh gas.” Rotting vegetation in swamps produces the gas, Dr. Hynek said, “which can be trapped by ice and winter conditions. When a spring thaw occurs, the gas may be released in some quantity, producing flames which could be yellow, red, or blue-green.” In the Hillsdale case, he added, the sighting might have been assisted by youths “playing pranks with flares.” Hynek’s conclusions were disputed by several of those who had made the sightings. ‘‘(AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/26/66, A3; Rugaber, NYT, 3/26/66, 31)’’
Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.) said he would ask the House Armed Services and Science and Astronautics Committees to consider “full blown” investigations of unidentified flying objects. Several hundred people in Michigan had reported mysterious lights during the past week. Ford said that if swamp gas had caused the lights as investigators suggested, “USAF should have no hesitancy in explaining that to a committee.” ‘‘(Clark, NYT, 3/27/66, 61)’’
Detection of low exposure ages in four iron meteorites-from 4 million to 50 million years-was reported in Science by Dr. James C. Cobb, Brookhaven (N.Y.) National Laboratory geochemist. Radioactivity measurements of 18 iron meteorites revealed four with unusually low amounts of stable isotope argon-38, compared to normal amounts of radioactive product argon-39. Both “are produced by interactions of cosmic rays with the meteorite while it is in space.” Dr. Cobb’s calculation of exposure age, based on ratio between the two isotopes, “provided definite evidence of an overlap . . . between the chondrites and the iron meteorites.” Iron meteorites previously had been thought to range in age from 120 to 2,200 million years, except for Braunau meteorite estimated at 4.5 million years. ‘‘(Science, 3/25/66, 1524)’’
Evidence that Soviet scientists and engineers had acquired a determining voice in decision-making was presented to the Midwest Slavic Conference by Colgate Univ. professor Albert Parry. He cited a report of a plenary session of the Moscow Communist Party Central Committee in which surprise was expressed that the capital’s 700 scientific establishments, with more than 350,000 scientists, engineers, and technicians, were escaping party control. Prof. Parry said he saw in Siberia’s new science city in Novosibirsk the final and irrefutable proof of the emergence of the Soviet scientist as a dominating force in society: “The experience in Siberia’s science city in collecting and integrating so many divergent institutes and laboratories in one place; the role of computers in cutting across disciplines . . . all this is sufficient proof that Russia’s science and technology cannot be so readily or lastingly thwarted by the party hierarchs from free and easy cross-fertilization and thus from one more step to independence and political influence.” ‘‘(Handler, NYT, 3/27/66, 10)’’
W. Cameron Roberts, Jr., director of Atlantic Research Corp’s Production Div., died of a kidney ailment. Roberts, an expert on solid-propellant and meteorological rocketry, had conducted extensive research for U.S. upper-air and space programs, and was co-inventor of Arcas -one of world’s most widely used meteorological rocket systems. ‘‘(Wash. Post, 3/27/66, B10)’’
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