Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1966
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
NASA SP-4007 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1966 Chronology on Science, Technology, and Policy Text by Science and Technology Division Library of Congress Sponsored by NASA Historical Staff Office of Policy Screntrfic and Technrcal Information Divisron 1967 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION WaJhington, D.C. For Sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Price 8.50 (paper cover) Library of Congrcss Catalog Card Nmbcr 66-60096 Foreword . .. At the opening of the tenth year in the era of man’s mobility in outer space, we can look back on 1966 as offering convincing evidence that the United States had gained great competence. This evidence included: five orbital space flights by ten Gemini astronauts; four lunar missions under- taking the orbiting of and softlanding on the moon; numerous contributions to scientific knowledge by unmanned spacecraft and sounding rockets; and further demonstrations of the practical utility of operational space systems, including weather and communications satellites. During 1966, a record 100 American spacecraft were placed into earth orbit or on escape trajectories. Thousands of revealing and useful pictures of the earth were taken from space and of the moon from lunar orbit and on its surface. The Gemini program ended with rendezvous and docking experiments and extravehicular activity by the Gemini test pilots as the Apollo R&D test flights leading to the manned lunar mission came into the schedule. Thirty-five major scientific, technological, and operational mile- stones were cited for 1966 by the President in his Report to the Congress on aeronautical and space activities of the United States. This was one measure of the American commitment to share in the peaceful exploration of space for all mankind. Another was our support of the final steps toward a United Nations space treaty, undertaken to ensure that the peaceful exploitation of space had juridical basis in international law. Spectacular as some events in the space venture were in 1966, they nonetheless came to have diminished novelty in the eyes of many laymen. The multitude of both important and unspectacular space activities attained almost an accepted and routine place. This volume, as well as its predecessor chronicles, offers a ready reference on the major as well as the less-well- known events. Beyond the welter of documented details on the complex nature of aeronautical and space related events and their impact, this volume helps to provide a better perspective upon today as we contemplate tomorrow. Such intent also serves future historians and analysts who cannot be unmindful of what is herein presented. When the Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- ministration in 1958, it charged NASA with the responsibility to “contribute materially to . the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space’’ and to “provide for the widest practical and ap- propriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and results thereof.” NASA has attempted to do this and to include documentation for the historical record. The relating of NASA history begins with this day-by- day chronicle and leads to more specialized studies and histories of the unprecedented task of extending man’s mobility and understanding beyond his planet. While a chronology cannot in itself serve as a full-fledged history, the size of this annual volume alone is illustrative of the scope and complexity of the historical task yet to be completed as memories fade and the records disappear. EUGENEM. EMME NASA Historian 111 Contents PAGE i11 vi1 1 39 75 125 MAY 16 1 JUNE 202 23 1 255 283 3 10 336 364 387 417 423 427 43 1 Preface Before the commentator or the administrator or the scholar can analyze and interpret the record in his search for understanding and lessons, there must be a factual account. This chronology, like its predecessors, is the beginning of such a record. Drawn from open public sources, it has the serious limitations of any work based largely on quickly available sources and further of being done virtually on the heels of the events it chronicles. But these limitations are offset by the assets of the historical method; by the very catholicity of material and interests included it helps open new vistas of relationship, of cause and effect. Because a chronology is limited for the user who does not have a date for the particular item he seeks, an extensive crossreference system is presented in the detailed index. And to provide the broadest possible context, we have included worldwide space- related material, to the extent it was available to us. The entire NASA Historical Staff in Headquarters participated in source collection, review, and publication. The Science and Technology Division of the Library of Congress was responsible for drafting of the text proper, in the persons of Miss Lynn Catoe, Mrs. Anne Horton, and Miss Shirley Medley. Miss Jane Adams and Mrs. Carmen Brock-Smith translated com- ment edition into final manuscript. The index was prepared by Arthur G. Renstrom, also of the Library of Congress. General editor of the volume was Frank W. Anderson, Jr.; Mrs. Helen T. Wells was technical editor. Creston Whiting (uss) provided timely translations of Russian materials. Historians and historical monitors throughout NASA contributed slseful materials. Validation was the constant concern of many busy persons throughout NASA. Appendix A, “Satellites, Space Probes, and Manned Space Flights, 1966,” and Appendix B, ‘?MajorNASA Launches, 1966,” were prepared by Frank W. Anderson, Jr. Appendix C, ‘Summary Chronology of Manned Space Flights, 1966,” was prepared by William D. Putnam, Assistant NASA Historian for Manned Space Flight. Mrs. Wells prepared Appendix D, “Abbreviations of References.” This preliminary chronicle is but a first step in the historical process of documenting the dynamic and complex events of space exploration and exploitation. Comments, additions, and criticism are welcomed. FRANKW. ANDERSON, JR. Deputy NASA Historian Ofice of Policy VI1 January 1966 January 1: MSFC Director Dr. Wernher von Braun named Dr. Jerry 6. McCall to organize and manage the Experiments and Applications Office-MSFC’S portion of Apollo Applications; Stan Reinartz would assist him. (MSFC Release 65-307) 0 The strongest nation will be the one that applies chemistry most effec- tively, wrote Science editor Philip Abelson in Saturday Review: “The long-range interests of this nation require a strong chemical profession and basic to it are strong chemistry departments in the universities. Yet, while NASA was receiving an annual $5 billion, a sum that repre- sented almost all the money asked by the agency, chemistry received only a small fraction of its requests. In my estimation, chemistry, for the long haul, is ten to 100 times as important as space, yet it receives only about one percent as much money.” (SR, 1/1/66, 102) January 2: Changes in organizational structure of NASA Hq. were effective this date. Most important change was establishment of an organizational unit called the Office of the Administrator, which included the Deputy Administrator and his staff, the Associate Administrator and his staff, and the Executive Secretariat. Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., newly ap- pointed Deputy Administrator, was continuing to serve as Associate Administrator. Willis H. Shapley, Associate Deputy Administrator, serving as the principal assistant to Administrator James E. Webb and to Dr. Seamans, was responsible for policy planning and for general supervision of the agency’s work processes. The Executive Secretariat, headed by Col. Lawrence W. Vogel (USA), was responsible for channeling and scheduling work within the Office of the Administrator. Earl D. Hilburn continued as Deputy Associate Administrator. Director of the Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition, Edmond C. Buckley, became Associate Administrator for Tracking and Data Acquisition. (Other Associate Administrators . were Dr. George E. Mueller, Manned Space Flight; Dr. Homer E. Newell, Space Science and Applications; and Dr. Mac C. Adams, Advanced Research and Technology.) Four Deputy Associate Administrators became Assistant Adminis- trators: William B. Rieke, Industry Affairs; D. D. Wyatt, Programming; Adm. W. Fred Boone, Defense Affairs; and John D. Young, Admin- istration. These were in addition to the four existing Assistant Admin- istrators : Richard L. Callaghan, Legislative Affairs ; Arnold W. Frutkin, 1 2 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1966 International Affairs; Julian W. Scheer, Public Affairs; and Breene M. Kerr, Technology Utilization. Kerr also was serving as Assistant Administrator for Policy Analysis (formerly Policy Planning). (NASA Release 66-3; Organ. Chart, 1/2/66; NN 1132) January 2: Dr. Clark Blanchard Millikan, director of Cal Tech Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories and pioneer in the development of multi- engine, high-altitude airplanes, jet propulsion, and guided missiles, died of a heart ailment. Millikan, chairman of the board of JPL in its early days, had been awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit for his work in wind tunnel research during World War I1 and had been given the British King’s Medal. (NYT, 1/3/66,27; AP, Balt. Sun, 1/3/66; M&R, 1/10/66, 13) January 3: NASA awarded two nine-month study contracts to determine the impact of a proposed improved J-2 rocket engine on the S-I1 and S-IVB stages of the Saturn V launch vehicle: (1) $148,000 contract to North American Aviation, Inc., developer of S-I1 stage; and (2) $225,000 modification to an existing contract with Douglas Aircraft Co. MSFC Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory was seeking to simplify the J-2 and give it, and the stages it powered, more flexibility. (MSFC Release 66-1) 0 COSMOS LXXX, LXXXI, LXXXII, LXXXIII, and LXXXIV, launched Sept. 3, 1965, by U.S.S.R., would orbit the earth for more than 1,000 yrs., reported Pruvdu. COSMOS c, launched Dec.