Mar 16 1964
From The Space Library
38th anniversary of first liquid-fuel rocket flight-that of Dr. Robert H. Goddard whose rocket flew 184 ft. in 21/2 sec. at Auburn, Mass., in 1926. (A&A/ 1915-60, 21)
NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, Dr. George E. Mueller, testified before Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences to present FY 1965 funding requirements for the manned space flight program and to discuss Project Apollo schedule considerations in detail. Dr. Mueller observed: "The funds thus far appropriated by the Congress represent about one-third of the cost of the manned space flight program-up to and including the first manned lunar exploration. We now approach the period of maximum effort. The measure before you will bring us about half way to the moon." (Testimony)
NASA announced requesting from industry proposals for feasibility and design study of possible payloads for manned lunar exploration with an Apollo Logistic Support System (ALSS). One of the payloads was a mobile laboratory capable of supporting and transporting two Apollo astronauts for about 14 days; the other payload concept included both a stationary base and a smaller vehicle. The ALSS concept, making maximum use of Apollo-developed systems, provided for Saturn V launch vehicle to launch into earth-moon trajectory a manned Apollo command module, service module, and lunar excursion module modified for landing equipment rather than men on the moon and called the LEM Truck. Following ALSS landing, astronauts would land nearby in unmodified Apollo LEM. MSFC would manage the nine-month study. (NASA Release 64-62)
Boeing study of post-Apollo manned lunar bases for NASA was basis for LESA concept (Lunar Exploration System for Apollo). LESA provided that a 25,000-lb. module would be soft-landed on the moon by a Saturn V launch vehicle. Three crewmen would follow by means of Saturn V/Apollo. The module would have 3,000 cu. ft. volume and could support three men for 90 days on the moon. Boeing's lunar base was expandable simply by adding more of the basic shelter modules, and longer visits by larger crews could be made with larger lunar bases. (M&R, 3/16/64, 26-27)
Article in Pravda described Soviet radar observations of the planets Venus, Mercury, and Mars as "an outstanding achievement in Soviet science and technology." The value of the astronomical unit was computed, as a result of radarastronomy measurements, to be equal to 149,599,300 km., with an error of ±2,000 km. Radar fixes on planets Mercury and Mars in June 1962 and February 1963 confirmed their reliability in determining the astronomical unit. First radio communications via Venus, transmitted in November 1962, also were described. Article was signed by M. Subbotin, Director, Institute of Theoretical Astronomy, and Member of U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences. (Pravda, 3/16/64, 4, ATSS-T Trans.)
FCC announced Communications Satellite Corp. planned negotiation of $8 million contract with Hughes Aircraft Co. for development, fabrication, assembly, test, maintenance, and service for "Early Bird" communications satellite-the proposed experimental-operational comsat system. The proposed contract would be subject to FCC approval. (UPI, Houston Chron., 3/17/64; Wash. Eve. Star, 3/17/64; M&R, 3/23/64, 8)
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