Feb 1 1965
From The Space Library
The second meeting of the French-Anglo-United States Supersonic Transport ( FAUSST ) group was held in Washington to discuss airworthiness objectives in connection with commercial supersonic transports (SST). Agenda items included a discussion of atmospheric problems, structures, and sonic boom as related to SST flight. (FAA Release T-65-41)
Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, retiring Air Force Chief of Staff, received a fourth Distinguished Service Medal from President Johnson at the White House. Later, during formal retirement ceremonies at Andrews AFB, a letter from the President was read: "All the world can be grateful to you for your courage, tenacity and exacting standards of professionalism," Gen. LeMay was succeeded by Gen. John Paul McConnell. (Loftus, NYT, 2 /2/65. 13; NYT, 2/2/65, 13)
Sealed brushless DC motor, originally developed to power instrumentation on unmanned spacecraft, was selected for use in the Apollo two-man Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) ) and the Gemini two-man spacecraft. The new motor utilized photo-optical detectors and transistorized switching elements which duplicated the functions of conventional brushes and commutator without physical contact of the rotating parts. Environmental tests had shown the brushless motor had a predicted operational life of one year. A barrier to DC motors had been the short life of conventional brushes in the space vacuum because of the lack of lubricating moisture necessary to prevent excessive friction. Motor was developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center under contract with Sperry Farragut. (GSFC Release G-2-65)
NASA Flight Research Center issued requests for proposals for two preliminary feasibility studies of a manned lifting reentry vehicle to 16 industrial firms. Primary objective of the proposed studies would be to determine problem areas and their influence on design and to provide accurate estimates of the weight, cost, and developmental schedule involved with such a research craft. (FRC Release 5-65)
NASA awarded $8.3 million contract to Pacific Crane and Rigging Co. for installation of ground support equipment at Kennedy Space Center's Apollo-Saturn V Launch Complex 39 on Merritt Island. The contract called for purchase, fabrication, assembly, installation, cleaning, and testing of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems, valves and control modules, pipe assemblies, and support hardware. (KSC Release 17-65)
Transfer of USN's Pacific Missile Range and instrumentation facilities at Point Arguello, Calif., to USAF operational control became effective. The Navy also turned over its Point Pillar tracking stations in California and mid-Pacific stations at Canton Island, Eniwetok, and at South Point and Kokee Park, Hawaii. Missile impact location stations (MILS) at Wake and Midway were still under Navy control. For operation of its Pacific Missile Range, Navy retained tracking stations at Barking Sands missile tracking facility, Kauai, Hawaii, and was a tenant at Johnston Island. Other PMR stations included those at St. Nicolas and San Clemente Islands on the Sea Test Range. (Zylstra, M&R, 3/8/65, 33-34)
Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (USN ), said he probably would be assigned as command pilot to the sixth Gemini flight, which would be the first U.S. attempt to meet and join two vehicles in space. (AP, Balt. Sun, 2/2/65)
USAF successfully launched an Athena test missile from Green River, Utah, to White Sands Missile Range, N.Mex. (AP, Wash. Post, 2/3/65)
Construction unions' strike, that had shut down all NASA construction at Merritt Island and Cape Kennedy since Jan. 28, ended when the President's Missile Sites Labor Commission set a date for hearing the grievances of the unions involved. It had been the fifth walkout within a year. (UPI, Chic. Trib., 2/2/65; Wash. Post, 2/2/65)
FAA predicted continued aviation growth over the next five years: U.S. airline revenue passenger miles would increase 30 billion over the 54 billion flown in FY 1964; general aviation, measured in estimated hours of flying, would increase by four million hours over the estimated 15.5 million flown in FY 1964; general aviation fleet would number 105,000 aircraft by 1970, compared to 85,088 aircraft as of Jan. 1, 1964. ( FAA Release T-65-3)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
