Mar 14 1966

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Gemini VIII launch would be delayed at least 24 hrs. because of a leak in a unit of the spacecraft’s environmental control system and an overflowing fuel tank in the Atlas booster, NASA announced. Launch was reset, NASA announced March 15, for March 16. ‘‘(Wilford, NYT, 3/15/66, 17; Sehlstedt, Balt. Sun, 3/15/66; Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/14/66, 1)’’

Global television relayed by US. and U.S.S.R. satellites could be used as a political instrument, threatening the independence of some countries and causing far-reaching changes in world relationships, warned Eurospace, organization of 160 European aerospace industries, in a memorandum released in London. When ordinary home television sets began to receive programs from these satellites “the national independence of developed countries without similar means of expression might be threatened by this persuasive new weapon,” memorandum said. Eurospace warning, released three days after an announcement that U.K. and other European nations had joined US.-dominated Intelsat consortium to launch system of world-spanning comsats by 1968, urged Europe to play its own major role in space “before it is too late.” Intelsat’s space communications system would utilize Early Bird-type satellites which Eurospace did not consider “powerful enough to have noteworthy political or economic repercussions.” ‘‘(Reuters, Wash. Post, 3/15/66, A16)’’

Two meteorologists from US. National Environmental Satellite Center were in Geneva to discuss with their Soviet counterparts a cooperative approach on gathering weather information by satellite, including information exchange about meteorological satellite design and operation, Aviation Week reported. Full review of US.-U.S.S.R. agreement was scheduled for May. ‘‘(Av. Wk., 3/14/66, 25)’’

US. might achieve a manned lunar landing by 1968, Dr. Gerard P. Kuiper, director of Univ. of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, told Phoenix Gazette. “There is nothing on the moon’s surface to prevent a landing and subsequent take-off. The surface is crunchy but solid. It will support the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module), and man can walk on it with relatively little trouble,” Kuiper added. ‘‘(AP, Balt. Sun, 3/15/66)’’

Investigations of seals’ habits might yield valuable information for astronauts exploring the moon, particularly with regard to enduring extremes of cold and lack of oxygen, Dr. Carleton Ray, New York Zoological Society, told the New York Times. Ray, who recently returned from Antarctica expedition sponsored by the Society with NSF aid, said that of pertinent interest would be reasons why seals can endure tremendous cold, sleep under water without breathing, and use what appears to be a remarkable echo-sounding system for navigating in total darkness under thick ice to return to isolated breathing holes needed sporadically to help them remain submerged in a state somewhat akin to semi hibernation.” ‘‘(Devlin, NYT, 3/14/66, 6)’’

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