Oct 4 1965
From The Space Library
LUNA VII 3,313-lb, instrumented moon probe was successfully launched by U.S.S.R. Tass said the last stage of the multistage launching rocket was put into parking orbit and then LUNA VII was fired on a trajectory toward the moon. All onboard equipment was said to be functioning normally, Launching occurred on the eighth anniversary of the orbiting by the Soviet Union of the first earth satellite, SPUTNIK I. (AP, Wash. Eve, Star, 10/4/65, 1; AP, Wash, Post, 10/5/65. All; Nordlinger, Balt, Sun, 10/5/65, 5)
Dr. Mac C. Adams was sworn in at NASA Hq, as Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology by Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., NASA Associate Administrator, Dr. Adams came to NASA from Avco Corp, Wilmington, Mass., where he was vice president and assistant general manager for space systems, In 1949-51 he was an aeronautical research engineer with NASA Langley Research Center (then NACA Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory). ( NASA Release 65-317; NASA Ann,)
Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, discussed the national space program in address before the Hartford Rotary Club, Hartford, Conn, Looking toward the future, he said: "The Gemini and Apollo-Saturn programs are providing this country with a broad base of technological, managerial, and resources capability which makes feasible a wide spectrum of space missions beyond the first lunar landings. This capability can be exploited in a wide range of earth orbital, lunar orbital, and lunar surface missions. . . . "Over 90 percent of the Apollo program is directly applicable to our earth orbital capability. Many interesting ideas are under consideration on how to use this extended earth orbit capability to yield great benefits to mankind in his daily life on earth, and to conduct much significant scientific research. "We are also studying the use of modified Apollo vehicles for missions both in orbit about the moon and for exploration of the moon's surface, In lunar orbit, we can do mapping, surveying, and exploration of the moon. On the moon, we can conduct detailed exploration of the surface environment and the moon's overall properties. We are also looking at the moon as a base for astronomical and for biological studies. "All of these applications will capitalize on the presence of men in space. There is no substitute for having man's abilities available right on the spot during a mission, with his human intellect to cope with the unexpected and operate in an unplanned or unprogramed manner... ." (Text, CR, 4/7/65, A5656-58)
NASA was negotiating estimated $25-million follow-on contract with Bendix Field Engineering Corp, for operations and maintenance support of the Space Tracking and Data Acquisition Network (STADAN), reported Missiles and Rockets. (M&R, 10/4/65, 10)
Dr. Willard Libby, UCLA, recommended development of a nuclear spaceship in his address before the Aerospace Instrumentation Symposium in Los Angeles: "The only possible way of reaching into the deep reaches of space is by accelerating to incredible speeds, speeds that go far beyond those which we have obtained so far in the space program, and it is completely clear that the only way of reaching these speeds is by using atomic energy." Libby specifically recommended consideration of a reactor complex capable of supplying 10,000 megawatts of power to an engine with a designed thrust of 15,000-20,000 lbs. Such a spaceship would cost billions of dollars and be a decade in the building, but "with it we could expect literally to explore the Solar System," Libby said. He noted that Project Orion-the use of atomic explosions to propel massive space platforms-might be useful for delivering freight to the moon, but the shock of the explosions would pose difficulties for manned spaceflight. He was pleased with the success of the Rover-Phoebus thermally-heated atomic engines and felt they might be used to propel ships and run a ferry service to a moon base. (Text)
In a press conference, Dr. Libby urged a program to put more science into space exploration because "the dominant factor so far in the manned space program has been the drive to establish good engineering technology." He suggested: (1) NASA establish a six-man scientific task force to live and work for a year with training astronauts; (2) close cooperation between scientific research at outstanding universities, engineering efforts at aerospace industries, and NASA facilities; and (3) a mutually-happy "marriage" between space and education to attract and inspire students. (M&R, 10/11/65, 23)
JPL Director Dr. William H. Pickering told the Symposium that adaptive instrumentation was an important requirement for future unmanned interplanetary missions. In view of the increasing number of instruments on interplanetary spacecraft, more effort should be concentrated on the onboard data handling and command system, he suggested. This might transmit data only when meaningful changes were recorded by sensors. Also, the data system should monitor the performance of instruments and take corrective action should a failure occur. (Pay, M&R, 10/11/65, 36)
FREEDOM 7 Mercury spacecraft, flown by Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (Cdr, USN) , on May 5, 1961, was put on exhibit at the Science Museum in London. (Reuters, Boston Globe, 9/17/65)
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