Oct 18 1964
From The Space Library
National Aeronautics and Space Council Executive Secretary and Acting Chairman Dr. Edward C. Welsh said on "From the People" radio program that U.S. has "at least a 50-50 chance of getting to the moon ahead of [USSR]. . . I'm talking about landing on the moon and taking off from the moon and returning safely to earth. I'm not talking about a [circumlunar] shot around the moon which they might be able to do even with this [present] equipment" Discussing Soviet's three-man VOSKHOD I space flight, he said the fact that the cosmonauts did not wear spacesuits was "probably one of the most significant aspects of the whole flight." (AP, Houston Post, 10/19/64)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb said in interview with John Finney on the subject of U.S. and U.S.S.R.'s space programs: "The significance [of VOSKHOD I flight], it seems to me, is the clear indication that manned flight in large spacecraft is important to the Russians, and offers opportunities for them for the future that justifies the investment clearly required." Asked if VOSKHOD I flight meant U.S.S.R. had "extended its lead over the United States in manned space flight," Mr. Webb replied: "This is hard to answer categorically but if I had to give a quick answer, I would say "Yes." " Asked when U.S. would overtake U.S.S.R. in manned space flight, Mr. Webb said: "Well, first I think we must always keep in mind that our program including the developmental flights on the Saturn IB and the flights out to a quarter of a million miles with Saturn V are designed to meet United States needs for an operational capability out that far in space. "If the flight capability of the Russian craft is extended to include these additional capabilities, then we will have a serious problem in catching up in the next few years. If their capability does not extend to the booster power necessary for the full range of operations out to the moon, then we will pass them in this decade, provided our present program is adequately funded and no unknown or unanticipated difficulties show up." (Interview, NYT, 10/18/64, ES)
Soviet space scientists Dr. Vladimir Lebedev and Dr. Oleg Kuznetsov, writing in Soviet Air Force magazine, discussed U.S. Astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper's sightings of houses and other objects from space as he orbited over Tibet in May 1963. The scientists noted that some U.S. experts had attributed Major Cooper's sightings to hallucinations caused by spaceflight conditions. However, the Soviets said, their own experiments with men in soundproof, dark chambers simulating spacecraft led them to conclude that Major Cooper's observations were "an illusion of recognition caused by insufficient information." (AP, NYT, 10/19/64, 3)
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