Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967 December 4
French experimental aerotrain Le Zinc reached 215 rnph in test on 4.2-mi
track at Gometz-la-Vie, France, claiming new world record for track
vehicles. Previous 195 mph record had been set by a French Aerotrai Co.
locomotive. Le Zinc, a half-size experimental model of an aerotrain
designed by Jean Berlain, rode on a l/lO-in:thick air cushion over a concrete
track. Full-scale model, driven by turbo-propeller, would carry 80
passengers up to 250 mph. (Hess, NYT, 12/5/67,1)
* Zzvestia announced completion of one of the world’s largest atomic research
reactors, designed to produce and test materials that could provide
heat and power for long-duration space flights. Material Investigations
Reactor (~m) , located in Melekess reactor development center in Volga
River Valley, reportedly could generate 100,000 kw of heat at full power
. from fuel elements containing 90% uranium 235. Designed to produce
an intense flux of neutrons to irradiat; test materials rapidly, MIR could
attain maximum neutron flow of 500,000 billion neutrons per sq cm per
sec. Highest flux attained to date was 600,000 billion, achieved by AEC’S
Savannah River reactor in 1965-1966 demonstration. (Shabad, NYT,
12/10/67,72)
* Michael Getler, in Aerospace Technology editorial, cited U.K.’s lack of
“willingness to invest at home in the pursuit of new technology needed to
compete and to grow,” as a major reason for devaluation of the British
pound [see Nov. 181. Comparing French and U.K. economies Getler
noted that France had invested heavily in her own industry to support
a large-scale military buildup and an expensive national space
program. “In contrast to French willingness to pay for the cost of
[R&D], the British have tended to treat their big companies solely as
manufacturers. . . .
“While the British have purchased [US.] Polaris missiles . . . the
French have built their own. The British . . . now are buying U.S.-built
F+ and F-llls, while the French continue to design and build newer
versions of their own Mirage family, and are now exporting them. . . .
“The British national space program is virtually non-existent despite
a growing realization. . . [by] Farliament that investment in a properly
scaled effort can be of great importance in developing [British] technology.
. . . There is no suggestion that the British take on a multibillion
dollar effort, but there certainly are grounds to support investment
in a $100 million program . . . that would be directed at developing
satellites with some obvious commercial applications.”
Although U.K.’s purchases of U.S. goods were “good business for
American industry,” Getler noted, “the long range risk to this country
is that an old and comparably faithful ally will be weakened in the
process. Eventually, the British will tire of buying US. weapons . . .
[but will have] no R&D base . . . to fall back. . . .” (Getler, Aero Tech,
12/4/67,58)
December 5: USAF launched OV Ill4 research satellite from Vandenberg AFB
by Scout booster into orbit with 275-mi (439-km) apogee, 254-mi (408km)
perigee, 93-min period, and 90.6” inclination. The 219-lb satellite,
designed for 256-day lifetime, carried two main experiments: mass spectrometers
and ion density gauges to measure density, temperature, and
composition of the upper atmosphere and its variation .with latitude.
(Pres Rep 1967; GSFC SSR, 12/15/67; SBD, 12/5/67,176)
0 USAF launched an unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB toward polar
orbit using Titan 111-Agena D booster. (UPI, W Post, 12/6/67, A24)
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