Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967 August 14
ence not able to capture headlines, to speed the transfer of defense and
space technology into other areas, and to put the special interest groups
on the line for blockage of improvements within the state-of-the-art.
There is no group directly responsible to the citizenry to develop and
carry through legislation to try and save us from tomorrow’s smog and
urban clutter; for we have not, by a long shot, run out of self-inflicted
ills. . . .” Getler urged that the overall responsibility be given to Con-
gress. “It is the Legislative branch of Government, properly augmented
with a permanent staff of specialists, that is best equipped to serve as
a responsive arbiter between the good life of our people, the promise
of technology, and the pressure of the marketplace.” (Getler, Aero Tech,
8/14/67,62)
Soviet mathematician Dr. Alex M. Letov, visiting Huntsville for the
Guidance, Control, and Flight Dynamics Conference sponsored by
Alabama chapter of the MAA, said he supported the exchange of tech-
nical information between US. and U.S.S.R. After delivering an im-
portant technical paper, Letov remarked: “I am hopeful that I may
have initiated some steps in this area of exchange. I am completely
satisfied with my presentation and the response of the American scien-
tist. In my report I will reflect this.” One of the world’s leading authori-
ties on spacecraft guidance and control, Letov outlined a complex
theory for stabilizing a large manned spacecraft, which he considered
a major problem. “You can’t consider the other problems of engineer-
ing if your system is not stable. It must be stable.” (KC Star, 8/15/67)
August 14-18: US. scientists “still cannot provide definite protection from
the biological hazards” of 1,000-day duration planetary mission, accord-
ing to experts at Blacksburg, Va., Bioastronautics Conference, sponsored
by VPI and NASA. Discussions had indicated: “Extremely long periods
of ground simulation and experiments in space with animals will be
necessary before man can undertake a 1,000-day journey to a near
planet like Mars.” Scientists had discussed several problem areas: ability
nf man to function in weightlessness for more than 90 days (midcourse
goal of Apollo Applications program) ; weight, volume, and content
of food, water and atmosphere requirements; and biological reactions
of crew to spacecraft contaminants. Toxicologists considered reaction to
be “most insidious potential problemyYy respiratory system taking on
contaminants in “subtle, long-term reactions.” (Normyle, Av Vk, 8/
21/67,17; 9/11/67,75-8)
August 15: NASA Administrator James E. Webb, testifying at a closed hear-
ing before House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on In-
dependent Offices and Department of Housing and Urban Development,
said NASA hoped to keep an approximate $5.5-billion annual budget fol-
lowing a manned lunar landing. “. . . we believe it would be wise to
keep the budget approximately level, approximately at where it is now
or even going up a half billion dollars a year, and use this capability
for some further landings on the moon, for ability to move around, for
synchronous orbital work with large stations using men for a multipli-
city of other purpposes related to the earth, and further studies in
space. . . .”
“This is very much what the Russians are doing. They are develop
ing a very large number of options and maintaining the ability to select
those that are most useful to them at a particular time and move rapidly
with it and creating the image that they are out in front with respect
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