Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

February 27 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
their egress. Crew died within 20 sec after detection of fire. Webb
added that tbe handle for equalizing pressure, necessary precondition
to opening hatch, had not been actuated. Dr. Berry said carbon mon-
oxide had asphyxiated astronauts. He confirmed that bodies had had
“some thermal burns of second and third degree” but “not of suilicient
magnitude to cause death.” Dr. Berry warned that “we are never going
to be able to completely eliminate the risk of fire as long as oxygen is
available.” Dr. Mueller said “an atmosphere which will support life will
also support combustion. Therefore the first answer . . . must be fire pre-
vention in terms of strict control of both potential ignition sources and
cornbustible materials.” During the questioning session, Sen. Walter F.
Mondale (D-Minn.) inquired about a 1965 report by Apollo Program
Manager M/G Samuel Phillips (LEAF). Dr. Mueller said that he did
cc
not recall such a report,” and when asked to supply a copy, Webb said
NASA would try and identify the specific report and would make it avail-
able to the Comptroller General “under any request that the Committee
. . would make to him.” (Testimony; Transcript, 3-4, 247 41-2,61,70,
Apollo Accident, Part 2,6566 , 86,97,1@3,115,125 ff., and 130 ff.)
* NASA Administrator James E. W presented the Distinguished Service
Medal-NASA’s highest award-to former NASA General Counsel Walter
D. Sohier in special Washington, D.C., ceremony. Sohier was cited
especially for his efforts on the space law treaty, patent policy, and NASA-
university-industry relations. ( NASA Release 67-39)
* ERC announced appointment of James M. Bayne, former chief of MSC’S
Facilities Program Office, as Project Construction Office chief. Bayne
would supervise construction of ERC’S multi-million dollar permanent site,
already under way, at Kendall Square, Cambridge, Mass. (ERC Release
67-3)
February 28: U.S.S.R. launched the meteorological satellite Cosmos CXLIV
into orbit with 635-km (395-mi) apogee, 585-km (364-4 perigee, 96.9min
period, and 81.20’ inclination. All equipment was functioning
normally. (Tech Wk, 3/6/67, 15; Ten Years of Space Research in the
U.S.S.R., USS-T Trans, vol. 5, No. 5,1967)
0 President Johnson sent $149.8-million FY 1968 budget amendment to
Congress which included $91 million for development of Rover nuclearpowered
rocket engine. In his message, the President stated: “Government
scientists and engineers have now concluded that a much more
powerful nuclear engine would have distinct advantages over rockets now
in use. I am recommending that . . . [US.] move ahead with the
development of a nuclear engine having a potential of 200,000 to 250,000
pounds of thrust.
cc
Such an engine could be used for a new and much more powerful
third stage for our Saturn V launch vehicle. Because of its high efficiency,
it could: [ 11 permit us almost to double the weight of the present payload
of the Saturn V vehicle, [2] increase our ability to maneuver spacecraft,
and [3] be used in future manned landings and explorations of far
distant planets. . . .” (PD, 3/6/67,33&5)
* President Johnson’s FY 1968 budget recommendations marked “a turning
point in the Nation’s space program,” NASA Administrator James E.
Webb testified before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics.
Webb said President Johnson had ‘‘placed before the Congress a program
which says that this Nation must go forward in space and not call it
quits at the end of this decade.” He summarized recommendations for
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