Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

February 28 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
of an experiment, conducting an exploratory survey, probing for early
discoveries, and in general providing an inexpensive means to lay the
groundwork for more expensive satellite and space probe experiments to
follow.” Important uses for sounding rockets included: detection of
x-ray soums; generation of artificial plasma clouds in space; solar
observations; investigation of eclipses; study of atmospheric and iono-
spheric phenomena; and collection of micrometeoroids. Dr. Newel1
concluded: “We at NASA regard the sounding rocket program as a vital
part of our total national space effort. It will continue to receive our
strong support.” (Text)
0 NASA had presented monetary awards totaling $4,200 to six inventors, all
employed by industrial contractors, for advancements in space tech-
nology: Charles R. Peek and Lewis E. Boodley, RCA-$~,OOO for new
type of interconnector for satellite solar cells; G. Richard Blair, Hughes
Aircraft C0.-$1,000 for passive heat protective coating used on Sur-
veyor spacecraft; Kenneth A. Ruddock and Robert G. Rempel, Spectra-
Physics, Inc.-$1,000 for magnetometer to measure earth‘s magnetic
field more precisely; and Paul A. Jensen, Hughes-$1,200 for low-noise
antenna feed system used in all NASA Deep Space Network stations.
(NASA Release 6742)
During February: Space flights lasting one month or more should pose no new
respiratory problems for astronauts, but additional research was neces-
sary to ensure against respiratory problems that could arise from pro-
longed weightlessness and an artificial environment, NRC Space Science
Board study concluded. Only serious effects of weightlessness on respira-
tory system anticipated were possibility that astronauts might inhale
dust and other solid particles floating in the spacecraft and that muscles
controlling the lungs might weaken because work was easier in weight-
less environment. Areas recommended for further study included : tolera-
tion limits for carbon dioxide in case spacecraft’s absorption system mal-
functioned; problems of infection during long missions; possibility of
intentionally filling astronauts’ lungs with a liquid to prevent collapse
of blood vessels and tissues during acceleration greater than 15 g; and
basic medical training and use of drugs for self-medication by crew
during weightlessness. Committee also recommended efforts to improve
methods to detect and extinguish spacecraft fires, and suggested that a
two-gas system with nitrogen or helium be used until effective methods
of fire control in 100% oxygen were developed.
Report, to be released shortly by NAS, was the product of a June
26-July 9,1966, conference held at Woods Hole, Mass., at OART request.
(NAS-NRC-NAE News Report, 2/67)
0 Soviet Academy of Sciences, using results obtained from Luna ZZZ and
Zond ZZZ probes, had handed over to International Commission on Lunar
Nomenclature list of objects on other side of moon and their names-list
containing 153 objects of invisible hemisphere and two areas of visible
hemisphere. Names would honor great scientists of the past and renowned
contemporaries from many countries of the world. For two areas
of visible hemisphere, it was proposed to call region of first impact of
Luna ZZ (1959) , the Bay of Lunik; and region of first nondestructive
lunar landing of Luna ZX apparatus (1966), Bay of Lunar Landing.
(S/F, 2/67,38-9)
0 Initial reaction by the press to Jan. 27 flash fire in which three Apollo
astronauts died:
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