Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

February 25 ASTRONAUTICS AM) AERONAUTICS, 1967
Dr. Seamans said in his report that an “electrical malfunction” was
regarded as “most likely source of ignition” of the fire but the “POS-
sibility exists that no single source will ever be pinpointed.” Board was
still considering chemical reactions in onboard materials, spontaneous
combustion of certain materials, and possible electrical phenomena. Evi-
dence indicated fire had had three distinct phases: originating in left
side of spacecraft, it had burned several seconds unnoticed, then spread
becoming more intense and causing cabin pressure to rise rapidly as
atmosphere became heated. Fifteen seconds after crew first reported fire,
cabin ruptured. During second phase, gases and flames flowed past as-
tronauts’ couches and through hole moving from left to right. With
cabin’s oxygen quickly reduced by rush of flames and gas outside, fire
continued as localized flame, smoking heavily, in third phase. Dr. Sea-
mans said Board noted: “The experience in flight and in tests prior to
the accident had suggested that the probability of a spacecraft fire was
low. Continued alertness to the possibility of fire had become dulled by
previous ground experience and six years of successful manned mis-
sions. . . . Potential ignition sources inside the spacecraft had been
treated so as to be considered safe; neither the crews nor the test and
development personnel felt the risk of spacecraft fire to be high. . . .”
Dr. Seamans emphasized that Board did not recommend changing pure
oxygen system or planned cabin pressure for space flight, but did urge
that “trade-offs between one- and two-gas atmospheres be re-evalu-
ated . . . [and] pressurized oxygen no longer be used in prelaunch
operations.” It also recommended: (1) combustible materials be re-
placed where possible with nonflammable materials; (2) nonmetallic ma-
terials be arranged to maintain fire breaks; (3) systems for oxygen and
liquid combustibles be made fire resistant; (4) full flammabiiicy tests
be conducted with mockup of new configuration; (5) more rapidly and
easily operated hatch be installed; and (6) on-the-pad emergency pro-
cedures be revised to recognize possibility of cabin fire. (NASA Release
67-38)
astronaut
* NAS had received 9223 applications for 20-30 positions in NASA’s
training program. Academy was expected to forward NASA a list of 60-75
recommended candidates in March for final selection. (Sehlstedt, Jr.,
B Sun, 2/26/67)
* Europe was weak educationally and should greatly expand institutions of
higher learning to close a “technological gap” that was widening in favor
of US., Secrehry of Defense Robert S. McNamara told students at
Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss. “Europe’s weakness is seriously crippling
its growth. It is weak in general education, it is weak in its technical
education, and it is particularly weak in its managerial education.”
( W Post, 2/25/67,11)
* Electrically powered cars, trucks, and buses, with limited ranges and speeds,
could be produced with existing technology, and their general usage
would greatly reduce air pollution, Federal Power Commission ( FPC)
concluded in report to Senate Commerce Committee. Committee Chairman
Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) said he would hold hearings
in March on the report which “hopefully will produce quick response
from industry.” (Ayres, Jr., NYT, 2/26/67, 69)
* Quasars, which radiate as much light and energy as a galaxy, appear to
have a diameter only 1% as large as galaxies, scientists from U.K.’s
Royal Astronomical Observatory and Royal Radar Establishment re-
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