Jan 23 1964
From The Space Library
Nike-Cajun sounding rocket was fired from Wallops Island with 82-lb. payload containing grenades, detectors, and associated equipment, the grenades ejecting and exploding at altitudes ranging from 24- to 59-mi. altitudes. This flight was followed 20 min. later by Nike-Cajun sounding rocket launched from Fort Churchill, Canada, with identical payload, a less successful flight because second-stage motor failed to ignite. Grenades were ejected and detonated but at altitudes too low to obtain useful data. The close-order firings Were first two in current NASA series to gather comparative data on winds and atmospheric temperatures up to 55-mi. altitude at widely separated locations on near-simultaneous basis. (Wallops Release 64-7)
Rep. Thomas M. Pelly (R.-Wash.) introduced a concurrent resolution to change the goal of the manned lunar landing to before 1975 instead of before 1970 (H. Con. Res. 257). "The change of policy . . . is to allow our scientists greater flexibility in meeting the challenging technological problems of the Apollo project. Especially, I have in mind the desirability of eliminating the pressures of meeting time schedules, of minimizing perils such as solar radiation, and frankly I would stretch out the fantastic cost of the manned space exploration program over a longer period of time. . . . "My new resolution is to invite the opinions of qualified experts and knowledgeable persons on this subject. . . . Congress should provide for an overall reappraisal of such a costly manned flight activity which accounts for two-thirds of the $5 billion space budget. Certainly, I cannot believe there is any valid reason why the Space Administration and those engaged in the manned space research venture should not be given more latitude in the scheduling of the program. Any slippage in time schedules due to reasons of safety and increasing assurance of success should not require any apology or excuse. Nor should the program be speeded for prestige at the cost of added risk. Congress by adopting my resolution would be setting a policy of proceeding at an orderly and normal speed and of avoiding undue risks in establishing any deadline. Finally this greater latitude should allow for tighter budgeting and contribute to reductions in the level of annual appropriations." (CR, 1/23/64, 932)
New evidence of possible explosions in Milky Way galactic core, reported by Soviet astronomer Dr. Iosif S. Shklovsky, was discussed by British astronomer Dr. Fred Hoyle at American Physical Society meeting in New York. Dr. Shklovsky discovered that spur-like structures above and below the galaxy are connected in a single figure-8 configuration, its center at the galactic core. It is possible that the loops, which are strong sources of radio emissions, are magnetically trapped particles which may have been forced from the core by a past eruption. (Sullivan, NYT, 1/24/64, 48)
Rep. John W. Davis, (D.-Ga.) said DOD had turned over the large solid-propellant rocket motor project to NASA, the decision made because no definite military mission was assigned for the technology. In FY 1965 NASA will cover cost of the large-motor R&D; in FY 1964 USAF carried the cost. NASA officials said they planned to request $13 million for the project, with about half that going to contractors Thiokol Chemical Corp. and Aerojet-General. (Atlanta Const., 1/24/64)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb stated Boston still appeared to be the most suitable site for NASA electronics research center. NASA'S Electronics Site Selection Committee had reviewed presentations by 50 groups representing 19 geographical areas, in accordance with P.L. 88113 (NASA Authorization Act for FY 1964). Mr. Webb still had not officially notified Congress of NASA'S site selection. (SBD, 1/24/64, 129)
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center awarded $9.2 million increase to contract with North American Aviation, Inc., calling for construction at Downey, Calif., of seven new buildings and modifications to existing structures to permit expansion of NAA's research and development. NAA is prime contractor for Apollo command and service module under contract signed with MSC Aug. 14, 1963. (AP, Tulsa Daily World, 1/24/64)
USAF launched Titan II ICBM from underground silo at Vandenberg AFB in successful flight 5,000-mi. down Pacific Missile Range. (M&R, 2/3/64, 10)
Paper on Government's relationship with universities, by Delphis C. Goldberg, staff member of Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations of House Committee on Government Operations, inserted in Congressional Record: "There is much to be said for disbursing a substantial portion of research project funds through universities as a partial substitute for the selection of individual grantees at the Federal level. However, I would doubt the political feasibility and wisdom of allocating very large sums to institutions to be expended at their discretion. Instead, I would propose that Federal agencies set standards for university project review committees and require approval of the grant management policies and procedures of an institution as a condition to its eligibility for distributing Federal research funds. . . . "As the funds available for science and for each of its major components become more scarce relative to demand, Federal agencies will be increasingly confronted with the necessity of making hard choices in the allocation of money between research fields as well as between competing projects within each specialized field. The multi-disciplinary committee, consequently, will likely become a valuable device in helping to determine priorities for Federal science expenditures as the pressure for efficient resource allocation grows. The university project review committee, which included representation from a variety of disciplines and specialties, might serve in this capacity at the local level. . . ." (Text, CR, 1/23/64, A286-87)
Dr. Romney H. Lowry, former head of Boeing Co. bioastronautics organization, was named Chief of Research and Education Div. in FAA Office of Aviation Medicine by Dr. M. S. White, FAA Federal Air Surgeon. (FAA Release T64-1)
January 23-24: More than 100 representatives of European electronics and aeronautical firms met in Brussels where they discussed feasibility of development project for manned shuttle service between earth and orbiting space stations (U.S. and Soviet). Recent cancellation of U.S. Dyna Soar project spurred the discussions. German delegation was headed by Dr. Eugen Saenger. (M&R, 2/3/64, 9)
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