Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967 April 19
in Pacific after losing its %otation gear. (Tech Wk, 4/%/67,13; Av Wk,
4/24/67,35)
NASA Nike-Cajun sounding rocket launched from Wallops Station carried
GsFc-instrumented grenade payload to 67-mi (108-km) altitude to ob-
tain data on temperature, pressure, density, and wind between 22-59 mi
(35-95 km) at transition from winter-time westerly to summer-time east-
erly circulation. Rocket and instrumentation performance were only
partly successful due to low apogee of rocket, which placed the highest
grenade burst at only 42-mi altitude. (NASA Rpt SRL)
* NASA Administrator James E. Webb addressed Edison Electric Institute’s
35th Annual Convention in New Orleans: “Our flight projects, both
manned and unmanned, depend upon electronic links back to earth
where their data are recorded and analyzed, where their actions are con-
trolled, and where the new knowledge is put to use. We must therefore
continue to provide and operate the tracking and data acquisition net-
works and their associated communications. Our technology utilization
program will continue to provide effective means for making available
the fruits of our technological progress to the scientific and industrial
community at large. And, in every area of our program effort, we are
continuing the underlying supporting research and technology which
make possible the development of experiments, the implementation of
ideas, and the advances in technology which culminate in meaningful
aeronautical and space projects. . . . Research and development, scien-
tific inquiry and technological advance, are the province of men working
here on earth. New knowledge and new tools for its application are
major elements of our total national power-political, military, and
economic.” (Transcript)
* Edgar M. Cortright, NASA Depu’ty Associate Administrator for Space
Science and Applications, testifying on NASA FY 1968 authorization
bill (H.R. 6470) before House Committee on Science and Astronautics’
Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications, said he had “high
confidence that we can sterilize the Voyager system by 1973 to the satis-
faction of the biologists.” He disagreed with the opinion of Dr. N. H.
Horowitz (Cal Tech) that US. was adhering to sterilization standards
which were exceedingly severe and represented an obstacle to US. plans
for planetary exploration [see March 241. To support his view, Cortright
presented a summary of the findings of Spacecraft Sterilization Advisory
Board, chaired by Dr. Richard Bond, Univ. of Minnesota, which was
“examining the statements” made by Dr. Horowitz. Cortright said it was
felt that “probably Prof. Horowitz has overestimated the difficulty posed
by the current sterilization requirements and underestimated the ability
of aerospace companies and government laboratories to cope with it.”
Most of the components and parts NASA planned to use in Voyager and
sterilize were already b‘demonstrably sterilizable,” so there seemed to
be no justification in abandoning a goal which the majority of the
scientific community feels is legitimate.” (Transcript)
* The “Phillips Report”-report by NASA’s Apollo Program Director M/G
Samuel C. Phillips which “found insufficient competence in key manage-
ment and technical positions” at North American Aviation, Inc., 16 mo
before Apollo accident-was being suppressed by NASA, Rep. William
F. Ryan (D.N.Y.) charged in an AP interview. Representative Ryan
said he would ask Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astro-
nautics’ Subcommittee on NASA Oversight Rep. Olin E. Teague (D-Tex.)
117