Feb 25 1963
From The Space Library
Testifying at Space Posture Hearings, before House Committee on Science and Astronautics, NASA Administrator James E. Webb revealed that NASA "did submit to the Director of the Budget and discussed with the President, the level of effort that might be obtained under four budget figures [$5.2 billion, $5.8 billion, $6.2 billion, and $6.6 billion] . . . . the figure recommended by the President, $5,712 million, was based on two policies established directly by the President after thorough discussion . . . . [1] the areas of space science . . . must fall under the same kind of criteria as other scientific areas in his budget . [2] with respect to the manned space flight activity, the budget level is set at the lowest level which will permit us to maintain target dates that give us a margin and still permit us to assure manned lunar exploration within this decade, barring some situation . . " . it is not a lavish budget by any manner of means; it is an austere budget set at this lowest level which would permit the maintenance of target dates that we believe are realistic . . . . "When John Glenn was here last week and we presented his spacecraft to the Smithsonian Institution and found it there under Lindbergh's `Spirit of St. Louis', Dr. Dryden used the phrase, `An aura of obsolescence is hanging over the Friendship 7 "It is important to recognize that just a year ago this spacecraft was the most modern thing we had in the United States. Today it has an air of obsolescence and is now in the Smithsonian Institution." (Space Posture Hearings, 2/25/63, 3-18; Posture of the National Space Program, Rpt. of House Comm. on Sci. and Astron., 5/7/63, 5 )
Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., NASA Associate Administrator, presented before House Committee on Science and Astronautics an account of NASA's use of FY 1963 funds. Explaining $170 million decrease in launch vehicle costs because of lunar orbit-rendezvous decision, he said NASA had deferred developmental phase of Nova very large launch vehicle and was conducting "further studies on the requirements and design concepts of a large launch vehicle consistent with optimum post-lunar-landing usage . . . . We are continuing M-1 engine developments for Nova, since it is a long lead time component, but have reduced the level of contractor effort to reflect the removal of a firm operational timing." Speaking on space sciences, Dr. Seamans said: "Extensive study of the biological science area has demonstrated that specific recoverable satellite flights should be undertaken for the purpose of acquiring data on the effects of space environment on living matter. We are, therefore, undertaking such a bio-satellite program and have increased our estimated funding requirements in this area by $13.9 million in this fiscal year." On communications satellites, Dr. Seamans said: "We re-examined our Communication Satellite program quite carefully in the light of the creation of the Communication Satellite Corporation and the reoriented activities of the DOD following the cancellation of the Advent project. From this programmatic re-examination we have concluded that principal NASA effort should be focused on the research and development problems associated with the synchronous altitude class of communication satellite. We have, therefore, dropped the low altitude multiple passive satellite project, Rebound, and advanced intermediate active satellite projects from hardware development consideration at this time. As a result of these decisions, we reduced our communication satellite program by $35.2 million . . . ." (Testimony)
NASA announced signing of formal contract with Boeing Co. for development and production of Saturn V first stage, largest rocket unit under development in U.S. Contract worth $418,820,967, largest ever signed by NASA, called for design, development, and manufacture of 10 flight boosters and one ground test booster, as well as assistance to NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in portions of ground test program. Preliminary development of the vehicle stage, powered by five F-1 rocket engines, had been in progress under interim contract since December 1961. (NASA Release 63-37)
Publication of U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1962 was announced by NASA. A detailed description of earth's atmosphere "intended to meet the needs of space age research and operations," report was prepared under joint sponsorship of USAF, NASA, and Weather Bureau, with 29 scientific and engineering organizations participating in its preparation. (NASA Release 63-35)
28-nation U.N. Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space approved Indian progress report on plans to sponsor an international rocket base at Quilon for launchings in space above the equatorial regions. Italian delegate reported that the San Marco floating launching facility would be completed in time for use in the IQSY. (L.A. Times, 2/26/63)
AFSC announced installation of 100-in. centrifuge at Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility, Air Force Missile Development Center (AFMDC), Holloman AFB. Intended primarily for calibration, testing, and evaluation of high-precision inertial accelerometer, centrifuge was capable of providing acceleration forces up to 25 g's, giving USAF "a laboratory capability for simulating accelerations common to actual missile flight." (AFSC Release 31-53-18)
House Armed Services Committee voted 31-to-5 to authorize $363 million for RS-70 supersonic bombers in FY 1964. No RS-70 funds had been included in President's requested DOD budget. (UPI, Wash. Post, 2/26/63, A17)
USAF announced award of formal contract to Martin-Marietta Corp. for design, development, fabrication, and delivery of Titan III Standardized Space Booster. Martin-Marietta was serving as systems integration contractor, with Aerojet General producing liquid propulsion systems and United Technology Corp. the segmented, solid-propellant engines. (DOD Release 256-63)
An article in Aviation Week, by George Alexander, summarized the important advances in the Atlas test program: (1) 0.032-in. airframe, basically a stainless steel balloon relying on gas pressure for rigidity; (2) contaminant control in liquid oxygen systems; (3) early exploration of problems in staging: timing, hardware clearances, shifting center of gravity, flight control response and adaptability; and (4) handling of liquid oxygen to reduce geysering by using last-moment slug-filling to load the tanks. Of 87 research and development Atlas vehicles, 10 were classified as failures and 18 as partial successes. (SID, 5/20/63, 9; Av. Wk., 2/25/63)
Federal Aviation Agency released its fourth annual report (July 1, 1961-June 30, 1962), in which was covered progress toward development of a commercial supersonic transport air craft and an outline of required research and study to be done. (FAA Release 18)
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