Nov 25 1962
From The Space Library
MARINER II Venus probe established new communications record, transmitting "excellent quality" data from more than 22.5 million mi. in space. (PIONEER V probe's transmission had ceased with position signal from 22.5 million mi. in 1960; PIONEER V had ceased transmitting scientific data at 17.7 million mi.) NASA said MARINER II signals were relaying good data on the four scientific experiments on board. MARINER II was expected to pass within about 21,000 mi. of Venus on Dec. 14.
Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, AEC Chairman, predicted in interview that in 20 years "we'll be well advanced in the use of nuclear power in space both for propulsion of rockets and for auxiliary power within orbiting satellites.
"Around the year 1982 we will have already made, or be seriously planning, a manned journey to one of the near planets. And we'll be using nuclear energy rather routinely in satellites as an auxiliary source of electric power.
"For example, by then, we'll probably be able to have [world] television broadcasts relayed by satellites brought directly into homes, . . . Within 20 years it might be possible to get reception direct from a satellite wherever a television set was located, even in the darkest part of Africa . . .
"I feel that even such predictions as I have outlined may be too conservative in the sense that there may be spectacular developments that we do not even foresee . . . ." U.S. diplomatic source in Geneva disclosed U.S.S.R. had been conducting nuclear tests at the rate of one every two days since Nov. 20, the date previously announced by Soviet Premier Khrushchev as end of current series.
Pertinent facts of human evolution should be included in preparation for interstellar communication, according to Prof. Robert Ascher of Cornell Univ. dept of anthropology and his wife, Marcia, assistant professor in Ithaca College dept. of mathematics and physics. Models of primitive man's efforts in surmounting barriers can be used as theoretical background for thinking about possible civilizations on other planets. Problem of watching and listening for signals across space and developing means to reach source of those signals is essentially same as problem of prehistoric man nicking contact with other races or civilizations. Ascher also declared whenever two civilizations have made contact, conquest by dominant group has followed. Models of those communications should be constructed anal studied, Ascher said, and applied to future interstellar communications.
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara allotted additional $50 million for development of radar and other components in USAF RS-70 project. DOD announcement said restudy of the project had been completed and that recommendations had been submitted to President Kennedy last week.
U.S.S.R. was building an atom accelerator about twice the size of any in existence, it was reported. The "alternating gradient synchrotron" would be able to accelerate a beam of protons to energies of 50-70 bev (billion electric volts), as compared to 33-bev accelerator at Brookhaven. Atomic research station, with many supporting facilities, was located near Serpukhov.
U.S.S.R. was building "largest radiotelescope in existence" near Serpukhov, it was reported. 20-acre, cross-shaped radiotelescope featured two movable antenna arms of 1-km. length with supporting towers of 65-ft. height, the instrument modeled after cross designed by Dr. Bernard Y. Mills of Australia. Chief character-tic of cross was its ability to collect considerable amount of radio energy emanating from an extremely small area of the heavens. Another instrument at the radioastronomy station was radiotelescope with parabolic antenna 72-ft. in diameter. Station was under direction of Dr. Viktor V. Vitkevich and operated by Lebede Institute of Physics of Soviet Academy of Sciences.
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