May 20 1964
From The Space Library
White House announced new development plan for U.S. supersonic transport, authorizing technical design competition between two air-frame manufacturers (Boeing and Lockheed) and two engine contractors (General Electric and Pratt & Whitney). Thus North American Aviation and Curtiss-Wright were eliminated from airframe and engine competition respectively. New "program of action" recommended by FAA and President's Advisory Committee on Supersonic Transport and endorsed by President Johnson called for: Commerce Dept. studies and forecasts of overall economy of the 1970's; National Academy of Sciences advice on sonic boom studies, and Boeing and Lockheed examination of purchase cost, operating cost, and sonic booms as related to various designs, sizes, and ranges of the plane. This phase would be completed in November. (Clark, NYT, 5/21/64, 1; Av. Wk., 5/25/64, 22)
FAA Administrator N. E. Halaby announced National Academy of Sciences had assumed advisory capacity in connection with sonic-boom research program, at invitation of FAA. First step in NAS program would be review of sonic boom study now being conducted at Oklahoma City. (FAA Release 61-50)
During annual meeting of international Committee on Space Research (COSTAR), which ended today, U.S. and Soviet scientists said manned space flights had raised the question of whether a man could tolerate more than five days in space, with present equipment. Scientists said astronauts showed effects of space flights, and last year's five-day manned space flight by Soviet cosmonaut was about the longest that could be attempted safely now. (Levin, AP, 5/20/64)
Independent Offices Appropriations bill (H.R. 11296) was introduced in the House and discussed, with no resolution reached. The bill provided $5.2 billion for NASA in FY 1965. (CR, 5/20/64, 11063-66)
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center selected Bendix Corp. and Boeing Aerospace Div. for negotiations of separate identical nine-month $15 million studies of lunar exploration payloads for Apollo Logistics Support System (ALSS). Payload would be carried to moon by Saturn V/Apollo using modified LEM ("LEM truck") to deliver from lunar orbit to lunar surface. (Marshall Star, 5/20/64,1)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb said in speech to Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Washington: "At the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, it has been estimated that about 40 percent of our booster costs, 70 percent of our major spacecraft dollars, and 90 percent of our tracking and data acquisition funds go into electronics. Unfortunately, as Dr. Albert Kelley . . . recently pointed out in this same context, a vast majority of our flight failures, not to mention flight delays, arise from electronic failures. Success in this area is obviously a major factor in over-all mission accomplishment. . . . "In space activity the United States is now at the midpoint of a 10- year program. It might be said, in a sense not entirely figurative, that we have reached the "mid-course maneuver point." Just as the Mariner II Venus fly-by mission would have missed by almost a quarter of a million miles instead of coming within 22,000-mile target area, we can fail to achieve our full potential if we do not seize every opportunity to correct our course as we go along.. - ." (Text)
In address to the Wayne State University College of Engineering Honors Convocation in Detroit, Mich., Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, said: "In the manned space flight program, we have tried to profit from the experience of the past. We are creating this very great capability in advance of the formulation of many of the specific operational requirements, which inevitably will emerge when it becomes clear what can be done. There are many elements to this capability. It includes trained people, a base of industry throughout the United States, ground facilities, launch vehicles, spacecraft, operational experience, and the ability to manage large research and development efforts. All of these things will enable the United States to undertake whatever exploration of space the national interest may require. "In the three years since 1961, the manned space flight effort has built up at a rapid rate until there are now 250,000 persons at work throughout the country-more than 90 percent in private industry-and their numbers will increase to 300,000 when we reach the peak activity of the presently approved programs next year. About 15 percent of these are scientists and engineers. The program has become a major element in the economic life of the country. Prime contractors assign work to subcontractors, who in turn engage second and third-tier subcontractors. "As the program progresses, we are now beginning to realize some of the benefits. Whereas six years ago we were extremely limited in the power available to place objects in space, we are now approaching a period when we will have the rockets available to do things beyond those being used in present programs. "The time is approaching when we must give more thought to the exploitation of the capabilities provided through these efforts. To avoid the pitfall into which we have fallen in the past, we must plan for the future even while we press vigorously to accomplish present programs." (Text)
President Johnson presented President's Safety Award for 1963 to NASA at White House ceremony. NASA Associate Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., accepted the award on NASA's behalf. (NASA Safety Off.; Marshall Star, 5/20/64, 2)
LRC announced two technical staff members, Richard A. Terselic and Dr. Louis Rosenblum, had applied for a patent on a portable electron-beam welder. (LRC Release 64 44)
Resolution approved at final session of COSPAR recommended that no spacecraft be landed on Mars if there were more than one chance in 10,000 that it was carrying earthly micro-organisms that could contaminate Mars. Resolution also said no nation should attempt an "unsterilized fly-by" of Mars if there were more than three chances in 100,000 of its accidentally hitting the planet. (AP, Tulsa Daily World, 5/21/64)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb was presented with Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association's Distinguished Service Honor Gold Medal Award and Certificate at the Association's annual banquet. (A-N-AF &R, 5/23/64, 2)
Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick sign a contract to make a science fiction film, which will become 2001:A Space Odyssey.
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