Jan 21 1964
From The Space Library
RELAY II active communications satellite launched into orbit with Thor-Delta launch vehicle from AMR (4,606-mi. apogee; 1,298-mi. perigee; 195-min. period; 46.3° inclination to the equator). The 184-lb. satellite would continue communications tests of RELAY I, still orbiting the earth, and provide evaluation of improvements in the new comsat. RELAY II completed its first communications test during its first orbit, receiving radio signals and TV test pattern from Mojave, Calif., ground station and beaming them back to earth. RELAY II was initially in excellent mutual visibility position between North America and Europe for TV transmission between the two hemispheres- Mutual visibility with Japan, about 40 min. at maximum, would decrease gradually to nothing by mid-July and continue with no mutual visibility again until mid-November. RELAY II was equipped for transmitting one-way wideband communications (one-way TV, 300 one-way voice channels or high-speed data) or two-way narrow-band communications (12 two-way telephone conversations or teletype, photo-facsimile and data). Unlike its predecessor, RELAY II had no automatic cutoff device; it had negative-on-positive (n-on-p) solar cells for greater resistance to radiation than RELAY I's p-on-n solar cells. RELAY II was 22nd straight launch success of Thor-Delta launch vehicle. (GSFC Historian; Goddard News, 1/27/64, 1; AP, NYT, 1/22/64, 17)
Both stages of first Titan II launch vehicle for Project Gemini were successfully static-fired for 30 seconds at Launch Complex 19, Cape Kennedy, producing combined total thrust of more than half a million pounds. Purpose of test was to evaluate overall Gemini launch vehicle system performance-fueling, countdown, ignition and cutoff commands, guidance control, and telemetry; and to verify engine performance by thrust generation and engine gimbaling. The stages were mounted side-by-side on separate mounts; electrical signal cut off first-stage engine after 30 sec., then started second-stage engine, which was cut off by radio signal from ground computer just as in actual flight. Charles W. Matthews, Gemini Project Manager, MSC, said static-firing test met all prelaunch requirements. (MSC Release 64-9; M&R, 1/27/64, 10)
President Johnson sent $97.9 billion FY 1965 budget to Congress. Of space research and technology, he said: "Our plan to place a man on the moon in this decade remains unchanged. It is an ambitious and important goal. In addition to providing great scientific benefits, it will demonstrate that our capability in space is second to no other nation's. However, it is clear that no matter how brilliant our scientists and engineers, how farsighted our planners and managers or how frugal our administrators and contracting personnel, we cannot reach this goal without sufficient funds. There is no second-class ticket to space. "Appropriations enacted for 1964 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration were $600 million below the amount requested. As a result, major development programs leading to the manned lunar landing have fallen behind schedule. Careful replanning of the entire program, including a reduction in the number of test flights, will offset some of this delay. Even so, more funds are needed in 1964, and I am therefore recommending a supplemental appropriation of $141 million for this year. "For 1965, I am requesting appropriations of $5.3 billion, $63 million above the 1964 amount, including the proposed supplemental appropriation. The 1964 and 1965 recommendations represent the minimum amount needed to achieve our goals in space. The estimated increase of $590 million in expenditures in 1965 is due principally to payments required by commitments made in 1964 and earlier years. With the leveling off of appropriations, annual outlays should remain relatively stable in subsequent years. "In addition to the manned space flight program, though related to it, funds are included to support unmanned space flights for lunar exploration and supporting research and development. Funds are also included for scientific satellites, planetary probes, and experiments with meteorological and communications satellites. "The programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are designed to maintain American supremacy in space and to demonstrate this supremacy by achieving a manned landing on the moon in this decade. . . . "The level of activity in support of the 3-man Apollo lunar spacecraft development program will reach its peak during 1965 with 13 flight spacecraft in production by the end of the year. The Saturn V rocket program will be proceeding rapidly along its development cycle in preparation for launching the Apollo spacecraft, and will account for about $850 million of the estimated 1965 expenditures. . . (Text, NYT, 1/22/64,19-21)
The Federal budget for FY 1965 estimated expenditures for R&D in FY 1965 at $15.3 billion, only a three per cent increase over FY 1964. For past decade Federal R&D spending averaged 20% increase each year over the preceding year; a decade ago, Government spent $3.3 billion on R&D. (Finney, NYT, 1/22/64, 18)
In the President's proposed budget for FY 1965, DOD expenditures were estimated at $51.2 billion, of which $5.5 was for research and development (including military space expenditure) . Requested budgets for operation of ranges: $231 million for AMR, $159 million for PMR, and $93 million for WSMR. (NYT, 1/22/64, 21, 22; M&R, 2/3/64, 9)
17-nation Disarmament Conference resumed in Geneva. In his letter of Jan. 19 to the Conference, President Lyndon B. Johnson said: "There is only one item on the agenda of this conference-it is the leading item on the agenda of mankind-and that one item is peace. "Already this conference has led to more concrete and effective results than any disarmament conference in modern history. Your efforts and deliberation laid the ground work for the nuclear test ban treaty-for the communications link between Washington and Moscow-and for the U.N. General Assembly action against nuclear weapons in space. . . ." President Johnson then proposed five major types of potential agreement: to stop spread of nuclear weapons to nations not now possessing them; to accept observation posts on both sides; to stop all production of fissionable material; to ban threat or use of force in changing boundaries or controlling territories; and to freeze numbers and kinds of strategic nuclear-carrying vehicles (aircraft and missiles). (Text, CR, 1/22/64, 812; "Statement to American People," CR, 122/64, 813)
Vice president of Soviet Academy of Sciences Mikhail A. Lavrentev's disclosure that U.S.S.R. had been forced to abandon attempt to drill through the earth's crust was reported by Howard Simons in Washington Post. Soviet drillers reached depth of about 20,000 ft. near Caspian Sea when economic and technical difficulties forced them to give up the project. Lavrentev said Soviet scientists now were "seeking more effective methods of drilling and shoring up the hole." Project was akin to U.S. Project Mohole, directed by National Science Foundation, which would attempt to drill through sea floor to penetrate earth's crust and sample the mantle beneath. (Simons, Wash. Post, 1/21/64)
Dr. Abe Silverstein, Director of NASA Lewis Research Center, was presented 1964 Sylvanus Albert Reed Award at AIAA dinner in New York. Dr. Silverstein was cited for "major contributions toward the development of propulsion systems for aircraft and spacecraft and for outstanding leadership in the nation's programs of scientific satellites and manned space flight." Also presented were AIAA'S Research Award to Henry M. Shuey and Space Science Award to Herbert Friedman. (LRC Release 64-6; "AIAA Honors & Awards")
Rep. Edward J. Gurney (R.-Fla.) included in Congressional Record a resolution by Florida Library and Historical Commission appealing to the President, the Florida Governor, and the U.S. Board of Geographic Names "to carefully consider the possibility of retaining the name, Cape Canaveral, as the geographic designation only of the easternmost tip of the land formation known as Cape Canaveral (that tip upon which no portion of the missile complex is located) thereby detracting none whatever from the widespread desire to honor our late President John F. Kennedy." (CR, 1/21/64, A214)
Testimonial dinner for Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, resigning to return to MIT as Dean of Science, held in Washington. For three years Dr. Wiesner had been Director of the Office of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Federal Council of Science and Technology, Chairman of the President's Science Advisory Committee, Special Assistant to the President, and Acting Director for Telecommunications Management. (Miller, Wash. Daily News, 1/22/64)
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