Jan 31 1970
From The Space Library
Library of Congress Legislative Reference Service published United States and Soviet Progress in Space: How do the Nations Compare? Report by Dr. Charles S. Sheldon II, Chief of Science Policy Div., summarized 12-yr efforts of major space powers. U.S. expected to have spent by June 30, 1970, just over $56 billion on combined military and civilian space programs in which some half million persons had been employed. It was likely U.S.S.R. had "committed a similar amount of resources." U.S. space employment had peaked; Soviet had not, "as judged by their rising number of launchings." There was no evidence that total Soviet aerospace industry was as fully equipped as U.S., but missiles of differing design philosophies seen in Moscow parades suggested "more than one design and development team for space work just as in Soviet aviation." Each country seemed adequately equipped with launch pads. U.S.S.R. claimed nationwide tracking system but relied on ships to fill gaps. U.S.S.R. was still using ICBM with 1400-kg (3000-lb) thrust and improved staging to boost 4700-kg (10400-lb) Vostok and 6600-kg (14 500-lb) Soyuz. Proton launch vehicle had carried 16 800 kg (37 000 lbs) to earth orbit and might have potential to lift 27 200 kg (60 000 lbs) with circumlunar capacity of 6000 kg (14 500 lbs). "We have not yet seen the very large Soviet vehicle confidently predicted by NASA officials the last three years. Lesser Soviet launch vehicles account for unmanned programs." There was no sign of Soviet breakthrough in fuels "but their engines are run at relatively high pressure, increasing efficiency." There was no sign that solid-fuel rockets had been used by U.S.S.R. for space purposes and question of Soviet development of nuclear rocket was "highly speculative." Soviet work on electric rockets had reached only "early proof-of principle" stage. U.S. Saturn V was "clearly the best operational weight lifter in the world," Odds were "overwhelming" that Vladimir M. Komarov had been only Soviet Cosmonaut killed in space so far. "This is because the Russians have followed a conservative approach to manned flight with heavy vehicles allowing much redundancy in equipment." There seemed to be "little difference between the Soviet and U.S. space programs as to general purpose and direction." About three fifths of U.S. flights were conducted for DOD; similar heavy military emphasis existed in U.S.S.R. "Soviet Union has a large and regular program of military support flights including use of satellites for photographic observation, electronic listening, weather reporting, communications relaying, and ship navigation." U.S. did not have FOB program, "because it does not regard them as necessary or desirable. The Russians obviously do, for reasons not wholly clear." While assessment could not be conclusive, "suspicion remains that a capability to inspect and destroy satellites has been created" by U.S.S.R. In space applications, U.S. "has held a clear lead from the earlier days of the space program, and this experience has permitted us to move ahead to more advanced systems while the Soviet Union was still' working hard to catch up." U.S.S.R. had made greater effort in number of lunar and planetary flights, "but so far has not gained as good results as we have from a more modest program." Some 14% of Soviet flights had been in escape mission category and 8% of U.S. flights. Reasonable assumption was "that manned flights by the Russians to the Moon will come as soon as they solve their present problems of unreliability of hardware." Question of U.S. and U.S.S.R. going to moon together "has been asked more in rhetorical sense than as a concrete offer by either side." No assessment of prospects could be made "without forecasting the future political climate which is beyond our present capabilities." (Text)
Twelfth anniversary of Explorer I, first U.S. satellite. Launched Jan. 31, 1958, stovepipe-shaped 14-kg (30.8-lb) satellite was in orbit with 585.7-km (364-mi) apogee and 294-km (182.7-mi) perigee and was expected to reenter and disintegrate in May. (MSFC Release 70-11)
Aerospace Defense Command reported that U.S. had 290 satellites in orbit around earth at end of January, with 18 deep-space probes still active. U.S.S.R. had 75 satellites and 14 deep-space probes. U.K. had 3, France 5, Canada 3, West Germany 1, Australia 1, and ESRO 3. (SD Union, 2/8/70)
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