Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

During January ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
During January: British government awarded Manchester Univ. a $126,000
grant to design a successor to radiotelescope at Jodrell Bank Experi-
mental Station. New radiotelescope would have an aerial dish 450 ft
in dia, and would cost abut $11.2 million to build. (AP, W Star, 2/1/67,
A3; AP, NYT, 2/2/67,2)
* Chimpanzees could survive sudden exposure to near vacuum according to
tests performed by 6751 Aeromedical Research Laboratory at Holloman
AFB. Visual inspection of the EEG as well as power spectral density com-
puter analysis indicated the expected greater subcortical resistance to
anoxia when compared to cortical responses. Results showed that all
subjects not only survived the exposnres in excellent health but recovered
within 4 hr after rapid decompression and were able to execute a com-
plex behavioral schedule at a preexposure level of performance. Central
nervous system damage was absent or negligible. (Text)
0 Edgar M. Cortright, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Sci-
ence and Applications, reviewed in Astronautics & Aeronautics the
achievements of US. unmanned spacecraft: “For exploring the farthest
reaches of space, for probing its most unknown and hazardous regions,
for continuous monitoring of many diverse phenomena, for day-in,
day-out practical utility, and as precursors of all space activity, auto-
mated spacecraft remain without peer.” Among unmanned spacecraft
worthy of future development, Cortright named Voyager, Mariner, a
Jupiter probe, a new Applications Technology Satellite (ATS), a Syn-
chronous Meteorological Satellite, a Voice/TV Broadcast Satellite, and
a Navigation Satellite. (A&A, 1/67,22-8)
Earth resource evaluation satellites could give “. . . greatest immediate re-
turn of all space expenditures,” Space/Aeronautics reported. Applica-
tions were listed: spotting indications of petroleum and mineral de-
posits; providing land use maps for urban renewal, agricultural and
industrial development ; monitoring underground streams; checking
crop and forest vigor; and monitoring pollution dynamics. (S/A,
1/67, 85)
In spite of unleased capacity in two commercial communications satellites
now in orbit, optimism prevailed, and ComSatCorp’s entry into “global
marketplace has led carriers to slash transoceanic rates,” SpaceJAero-
nautics reported. As technical manager of INTELSAT, ComSatCorp had
been establishing operational position in “aeronautical and domestic
communications market.” (S/A, 1/67,80)
* Dr. Karl G. Harr, Jr., President of the Aerospace Industries Assn., em-
phasized the importance of US. space effort to our total national
interest in Aerospace: “As a nation . . . we have probably never learned
as much in so short a length of time as from our space effort. . . . Leaving
aside the advantages in scientific knowledge, national prestige, defense
insurance, domestic economics, and everything else, the task of con-
quering space requires far and away the greatest technological reach
man has ever attempted. . . . As it has in the past, this will set the pace
for our total national technological advance. Every aspect of our na-
tional life which is influenced in any degree by such advances will be
the beneficiary.” Harr cited a range of future alternatives that would
extend the Nation’s technological reach: (1) more ambitious, wholly
automated program, including extraterrestrial probes and new appli-
cations for earth-orbiting spacecraft; (2) expanded manned space-
craft program which might involve construction of a “permanent”
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