Mar 8 1965
From The Space Library
In first Pacific Ocean sounding rocket experiment from NASA's Mobile Range Facility, two two-stage Nike-Apaches were launched from USNS Croatan about one mile north of the equator at 84° west longitude, Conducted by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the mission of first rocket was to measure ionospheric currents and magnetic fields in "equatorial electrojet," a system of electrical current circulating in ionosphere in the region of magnetic equator which could be responsible for intensifying equatorial magnetic field at about local noon, Second Nike-Apache, conducting an experiment for Univ. of Michigan, was launched about 2 hrs. later carrying Pitot-static probe to measure pressure, temperature, and density in the region of 20 to 75 mi. altitude. ( NASA Release 65-82; Wallops Release 65-12; NASA Rpts. SRL)
The countdown rehearsal for the Gemini ( GT-3) flight, conducted at Cape Kennedy, was delayed two hours because of (1) a propellant leak in Titan II rocket. (2) crossed wires in ground support equipment. (3) failure of some of the batteries to reach peak power immediately, and (4) faulty reading in control center. Project Gemini officials said none of these problems had been serious, but the combination would have caused a postponement on launch day. (NYT, 3/9/65; N.Y . Her. Trib., 3/9/65; Balt. Sun, 3/9/65)
In testimony before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, on "the status, management, and prospects of the aeronautical and space program," NASA Administrator James E. Webb said: "The progress during this period in the space program has been made possible by the cooperative efforts of many organizations and people, Ninety-four per cent of our work during Fiscal Year 1964 was conducted by American industry and involved a total of about 380,000 people in industry, universities, research institutes, and government installations. Almost 250,000 separate procurement transactions were initiated during this time. "... the past year saw the continued strengthening of the coordination and the mutual support between NASA and the DOD in space and aeronautics. The Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board has continued to be an effective medium for formal coordination, During 1964 NASA and the DOD developed procedures for the coordination of the space science programs; a national program in satellite geodesy w as established by the DOD, NASA, and the Department of Commerce; a standardized basis for reporting space and aeronautical sciences research and technology information has been adopted; a joint NASA-DOD study w as conducted to determine the launch vehicles needed to meet projected requirements during the next decade; a joint study was conducted of the current and planned lifting reentry vehicle research and development programs; the needs of NASA, the Air Force, and the Federal Aviation Agency were incorporated into an expanded flight research program utilizing the XB-70 aircraft to confirm theoretical and wind tunnel data on supersonic flight vehicles, "All of this, Mr. Chairman, of course, is under an umbrella of policy followed closely by the [National Aeronautics and] Space Council..." Commenting on the Soviet space program, Webb said: "Our rapid rate of advance and the success we have achieved already has, we believe, denied the USSR many of the benefits and many of the options which the Soviets expected their space program to provide as a part of their forward thrust toward world domination. However, there is every evidence, on the basis of their activity during the past three years, that the Russians intend to maintain a vigorous effort in space, and, in fact, that their activities may be further increased. During 1963 and 1964 more Soviet spacecraft were put in earth orbit or deep space than in the six previous years combined. The number placed in orbit last year was double that of the year before. . . ." (Testimony; NASA Auth. Hearings, 13-50)
NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Hugh L. Dryden reported on the status of NASA cooperation with the Soviet Union in testimony before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences: "Let me review where we stand. Of three projects agreed to in 1962, the only one completed is that which involved communications tests with Echo . . . "The second project-joint mapping of the geomagnetic field-is at the stage of exchanging ground-based magnetic observations . . . we are now acquiring data that was not previously available in the United States. . . . "In the third project-for the coordination of meteorological satellite launchings and the establishment of a link for exchange of data-our prime purpose was and remains a sharing of the cost of providing weather satellite service and the exchange of satellite data. . . . we are ... exchanging conventional data over the link, which . . . is financed on a 50-50 basis. I look forward for a meeting soon with Academician Blagonravov which will afford opportunity to review this II. exchange and the prospects of satellite data exchange. . . . a recent check shows the U.S. sending surface data for more stations than it receives but receiving upper air data for more stations than it sends. In sum, the present exchange is considered by the Weather Bureau to improve the quality of forecasts by our national weather services since it makes more data available in time for such forecasts than was the case prior to establishment of the link." (Testimony; NASA Auth. Hearings, 50-76)
NASA Associate Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., discussing the management of NASA's aeronautics and space effort before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, said: "... our performance in terms of data returned is perhaps the most succinct evidence of success. The volume of information brought back from space in 1964 averaged 57 million data points per day in comparison with a previous high of some 6 million data points per day. This indicates not only more advanced instrumentation but also more reliable functioning of flight experiments, We averaged 54 working experiments throughout 1964, which represents an improvement of 35% over the 1963 average. "We have achieved significant results in ground based experimentation, testing, aeronautical flights, and sounding rocket launchings, Work conducted in our wind tunnels continues to refine aircraft configurations for vertical takeoff and landing, supersonic transportation, and hypersonic flight. We are continuing to experiment with materials, fuels, turbines, injectors, and nozzles in order to improve the efficiency of air-breathing and rocket propulsion systems. The 3 successful power tests of the Kiwi reactor demonstrated the applicability of nuclear energy to rocket propulsion, In 1964 we conducted 27 more flights of the X-15 aircraft, 19 of them over Mach 5, amassing data important to supersonic and hypersonic flight. In addition, we launched 131 successful sounding rockets from stations around the world to test new instrumentation and to obtain important scientific data in geophysics, astronomy, and meteorology. In the areas of manned space flight, the Apollo escape system has been successfully tested, and a boilerplate spacecraft checked out and flown on the Saturn I. A mock-up of the lunar excursion module has been approved. The Saturn IB and Saturn V 'battleship' upper stages have been successfully fired. The F-1 engine has passed its flight rating test. This record was established by the hard work and careful attention to detail of the government-industry-university team charged with aeronautic and space exploration. This total team, numbering 380,000 people, is managed by the relatively small hard core NASA organization of less than 34,000." (Testimony; NASA Auth. Hearings, 76-114)
Gemini astronaut parachute system was successfully tested in drops from a C-130 at 15.000 ft. altitude by USN Chief Warrant Officer Mitch Kanowski and USAF Maj. Dan Fulgham over the Naval Air Facility El Centro. Parachutes deployed at 9,000 ft, as they would on actual Gemini missions. Additional tests would be made in drops from altitudes up to 35,000 ft. (Miles, L.A. Times, 3/9/65)
U.S.S.R.'s Zond II would pass within 900 mi. of Mars on Aug. 6. according to Soviet space scientist Prof. Mstislav V. Keldysh. This an- nouncement was relayed by Dr. Charles S. Sheldon of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, who quoted Keldyshas saying Zond II weighed about 2.000 lbs. Dr. Sheldon speculated that the probe's considerable weight-four times more than MARINER IV-could mean "it may be doing something more than a simple fly-by" of Mars. (UPI, Denver, Post 3/10/65; UPI, NYT, 3/11/65, 42)
According to Missiles and Rockets, Dr. Joseph Shea, director of Apollo spacecraft program at NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, said Apollo spacecraft was having no weight problems. He explained that the current weight of 89,000 lbs. was under 90,000 lbs. goal and there was room for additional growth since Saturn V booster had increased estimated payload capability to 95,000 lbs. Weight of LEM was increasing in early development stage, but new evaluation stemming from NASA decision to make it as safe in terms of redundancy as command and service modules, could raise weight from 29,500 lbs. to 32,000 lbs. Shea commented that a stable baffled injector had been selected for service module's propulsion system and it was currently undergoing qualification test series, Recent tests of heatshield in reentry tests with Scout I Aug. 18, 1964) achieved high total heat of 250 Btu's per square foot-about 80% of the heat expected to be encountered during return from moon. (M&R, 3/8/65, 14)
NASA had decided to replace LEM's fuel-cell power subsystem with a more conventional battery system, Missiles and Rockets reported. Motivation was concern for reliability, Decision would not affect use of fuel cell in the Apollo command module. (M&R, 3/8/65, 14)
In a letter-to-the-editor in Missiles and Rockets, Thomas M. Morse said that since there were no indications that the Russians were building a bigger booster for their lunar program, they might be planning to use a libration orbit to reach the moon. He described the libration orbit as an almost stable earth orbit in which a spacecraft would always be on a direct line between earth and moon, about 33,000 mi, from the moon. Advantages offered over the U.S.-planned lunar orbit included easier rendezvous; pre-parking of unmanned freight, shielding, and modules; unlimited rendezvous and liftoff windows; continuous line-of-sight communications between earth, rendezvous craft, and lunar landing crew; better radiation protection; improved safety factor; reduced cost. (M&R, 3/8/65, 6)
California's Gov. Edmund G. Brown, in his second Annual Economic Report to the legislature, warned that new cutbacks in defense and aerospace spending could dilute "the reservoir of scientific brainpower and skilled manpower that has made California the leader in the space age." Brown said that 200,000 new jobs a year would have to be created and that the state had already contracted with aerospace firms for studies that might provide solutions "in transferring manpower from defense and aerospace production to other areas." (AP, L.A. Herald-Examiner, 3/8/65)
France announced successful launching in the Sahara of the Emeraude stage of the Diamant booster. (M&R, 3/15/65, 111
March 8-9: President Johnson's proposal to cut Federal subsidies to helicopter carriers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago by Dec. 31, was opposed by the CAB, who suggested continuation of Federal subsidies on declining basis until 1970. Sen. A. S. Mike Monroney (D-Okla.), Chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee investigating ways s to keep helicopter lines alive, suggested increased support from major airlines as possible alternative to Federal aid. Stuart G. Tipton, President of Air Transport Association which represented almost every scheduled U.S. airline, testified that helicopter lines received about $1 million a year in indirect support and that "as a matter of principle, this is as far as the airlines should go or be expected to go." He added that experience and advances in helicopters and poor-weather landing equipment were about to make helicopters potentially profitable in all large cities. Withdrawal of Federal support now would be disastrous. (Clark, NYT, 3/9/65; Clark, NYT, 3/10/65, 69)
March 8-12: "Efficiency and Perfection through People" was objective of AFSC's Internal Zero Defects Program which encouraged people to "set their own immediate goals and devise measurement techniques," Results of the program would be analyzed and recognition awards would be given to individuals making significant achievements. (AFSC Re- lease 19.65; CR, A1315-A1318)
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