Dec 10 1963
From The Space Library
Cancellation of USAF Dyna Soar (X-20) manned aero spacecraft project announced by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. Some of the funds saved would be diverted into broader, long-range exploration of the problems and potential of manned military operations in near space, chief project of which would be Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). Attached to modified Gemini spacecraft (Gemini-X), MOL will be launched into orbit by Titan III launch vehicle, the two-man Gemini crew then transferring to the house-trailer-sized MOL where they will conduct experiments and observations for two to four weeks, then return to earth in the Gemini-X spacecraft. Schedule called for launching late in 1967 or early in 1968. Also affected would 141-623 0 64 31 be Project Asset, which will be expanded to increase number of launchings, increase shapes and materials studied, and "substantially expand our knowledge of precision reentry gained through this unmanned program." Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert issued statement : "We welcome the assignment of the manned orbiting laboratory project, and we will now concentrate our resources and best management effort on this job in the exciting field of space. This will assure effective Air Force participation in the manned space program." Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Curtis LeMay said that "the Air Force will provide the best space laboratory program in the national interest that is possible within technical and management resources available to us." NASA Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs Julian Scheer said : "The decisions announced by Secretary McNamara today with respect to the Dyna Soar Project and Manned Orbital Lab. followed discussions with NASA and were fully coordinated with the programs of this agency. The transfer of research resources and objectives from Dyna Soar to the Asset program will accomplish objectives important to both agencies. The decisions announced by Secretary McNamara are based on the best uses of resources to maximize our national capacity in space and NASA fully supports them." (DOD Briefing Transcript; NYT, 12/11/63, 1, 22; Wash,. Poet, 12/11/63; AF Policy Letter, 1/1/64, 1 ; Space Bus. Daily, 12/12/63,386)
Both Houses cleared for the President the Independent Offices Appropriations bill (H.R. 8747), including $5.1 billion NASA appropriation for FY 1964 ($612,000,000 less than requested). Of this amount, $3,926,000,000 was for research and development; $680,000,000 for construction of facilities; and $494,- 000,000 for administrative operations. House agreed to Senate amendments (unresolved in conference committee report) : Amendment 82 provided that a joint venture to land a man on the moon may not be undertaken with any other nation without the consent of the Congress; Amendment 84 provided that no part of NASA's appropriation could be transferred to any other Government agency for research without approval of the Bureau of the Budget. (NASA Leg. Act. Rpt. 11/202; C R, 12/10/63, 22788-95)
National Science Foundation announced $393,000 grant to Univ. of Minnesota for Project Pocibo (Polar Circling Balloon Observatory), a U.S. contribution to the International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY). 20 or more balloons will be launched during IQSY from Point Barrow, Alaska, research laboratory and fly at 100,000-ft. altitude, with 45-lb. instrumented payload to observe cosmic rays and the aurora borealis. (NYT, 12/11/63, 22)
Nobel Peace Prize for 1962 was presented to Prof. Linus Carl Pauling in Oslo. Gunnar Jahn, chairman of award-selection committee, emphasized Prof. Pauling's relationship with the nuclear test ban treaty : "Can anyone believe that this treaty would have been reached now if there had been no responsible scientist who tirelessly, unflinchingly, year in, year out, had impressed on the authorities and on the general public the real menace of nuclear tests ?" (NYT, 12/11/63, 1, 20)
President Johnson briefed Congressional leaders on the defense budget, emphasizing that "the U.S. military program will continue to provide for a strategic force sufficiently large to absorb a surprise attack and survive with sufficient power to be capable of destroying the aggressor." (Kiker, N .Y . Herald Trib., 12/11/63)
Hook-up of three global satellite tracking networks into a single central console at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center was announced. Console allows combinations of operators at 51 communications points around the world in the satellite tracking and data acquisition network, the manned space flight tracking network, and the deep space instrumentation facilities. (AP, NIT, 12/11/63)
Col. Charles Yeager, Commandant of Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards AFB, was forced to eject at 10,000 ft. after his rocket-augmented NF-104A aircraft failed to recover from a flat spin from 90,000 ft. Col. Yeager sustained first and second degree burns on face, neck, and left hand before bailing out. (M&R, 12/16/63,13)
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