Sep 1 1963
From The Space Library
Theory of "hypersonic organosynthesis," creation of organic molecular compounds by giant explosions, offered as a clue to origin of life on earth by Adolph R. Hochstim, researcher of Institute for Defense Analysis and National Bureau of Standards. Hochstim said 1,000-yd.-diameter meteorite would have exploded with tremendous force upon impact, transforming molecules of earth's atmosphere, its water, and meteorite itself into heavy organic compounds. Since theoretically such compounds could be formed by meteorite impact "on any planet which contains any type of atmospheric and liquid phase," Hochstim warned, space probes "sent to a planet on a crash landing may on impact produce complex chemical compounds which will need to be discounted when searching for a sign of life in the vicinity of the planet." (Myler, UPI, Wash. Post, 9/1/63 A3) )
In speech to American Psychological Association, Dr. Philip Abelson, Director of Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory and editor of Science, repeated his view that there were no predictable economic advantages to the exploration of the moon or possible subsequent flights to Mars. Much of the justification for manned lunar program was national prestige, he said, but "the half of the world that is undernourished could scarcely the expected to place a higher value on landing on the moon than on filling their stomachs." (Barbour, AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 9/2/63)
With launching and recovery of 120-ft. balloon, Balloon Research Center at Palestine, Tex., completed its cosmic-ray study project. Today's balloon floated to more than 10,000-ft. altitude to collect cosmic-ray data. (UPI, NYT, 9/3/63,4)
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