S961 

a311Nn S31VlS S311nVNOtHV [INV 33VdS S3111A113V 
NOTE TO READERS: ALL PRINTED PAGES ARE INCLUDED, 

UNNUMBERED BLANK PAGES DURING SCANNING AND QUALITY 

CONTROL CHECK HAVE BEEN DELETED 
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE COUNCIL 

WASHING TON, D. C. 20j0 2 
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 

The record of American accomplishments in aeronautics and space during 1965 

shows it to have been the most successful year in our history. 

More spacecraft were orbited than in any previous year. 

flights were successfully launched. 

Five manned GEMINI 

Our astronauts spent more hours in space than were flown by all of our manned 

spacecraft until 1965. 

space. 

Ten astronauts logged a total of 1297 hours 42 minutes in 

The five manned flights successfully achieved included a walk in space, and the 

first rendezvous between two manned spacecrafts. 

A scientific spacecraft completed a 325-million-mile, 228 -day trip to Mars. 

MARINER 4 thereby gave mankind its first close-up view of another planet. 

The RANGER series, begun in 1961, reached its zenith with two trips to the moon 

that yielded 13, 000 close-up pictures of that planet. 

produced 17,000 photographs of the moon's surface which are being studied now by 

experts throughout the world. 

The entire RANGER series 

Equally important were the contributions of our space program to life here on earth. 

Launching of EARLY BIRD, the fir st commer cia1 communication satellite brought 

us measurably closer to the goal of instantaneous communication between all points 

on the globe. Research and development in our space program continued to speed 

progress in medicine, in weather prediction, in electronics -- and, indeed, in virtually every aspect of American science and technology. 

As our space program continues, the impact of its developments on everyday life 

becomes daily more evident. 

material well-being, and broaden the horizons of knowledge. 

force for peace. 

It continues to stimulate our education, improve our 

It is also a powerful 

The space program of the United States today is the largest effort ever undertaken 

by any nation to advance the frontiers of human knowledge. What we are discovering and building today will help solve many of the great problems which an increasingly complex and heavily-populated world will face tomor row. 

The year 1965 -- the year of GEMINI, RANGER, and MARINER -- is a brilliant 

preface to the coming years of APOLLO, stations in space, and voyages to the 

planets. I have great pride and pleasure in transmitting this remarkable record 

to the Congress that, through its enthusiastic support, has made possible. 

THE WHITE HOUSE 

January 31, 1966 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

Chapter 

I 

11 

I11 

IV 

V 

VI 

VI1 

VIII 

IX 

X 

XI 

XI1 

XI11 

XIV 

Appendix A-1 

Appendix A-2 

Appendix A-3 

Appendix B 

Appendix C 

Appendix D 

Appendix E-1 

Appendix E-2 

Appendix E-3 

Index 

U . S . Aeronautics and Space Activities .. 

1965 Summary ............. National Aeronautics and Space Coancil . . National Aeronautics and Space ....... 

Department of Defense ........... Atomic Energy Commission ........ Department of State ............. National Science Fo-indation ........ Department of Commerce .......... Space Science Board ............ Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory . . Federal Aviation Agency ......... Federal Communications Commission ... United States Information Agency ..... 

Ad mini s tr ati on ............. 

Arms Control and Disarmament Agancy . . 

U . S . Lalinching Record (Chart) ...... U.S. Launching Record (Table) ...... Successful U.S. Launches - 1965 ..... SXAP Radioisotopic Electric Power 

Units for Space ............ Listing of Major Space "Firsts" Achieved 

by the U . S . and the U . S . S.R. 

Historical Summary and FY 1966 Budget 

Recommendations (New Obligational 

Historical Summary and FY 1966 Budget 

Space Activities Budget ........... 

..... U . S . Space Launch Vehicles ........ 

Au th or it y ) 

Recommendations (Expenditures) ... 

............... 

1 

5 

9 

49 

69 

75 

81 

85 

97 

103 

107 

117 

121 

127 

129 

130 

131 

161 

162 

164 

166 

167 

168 

........................ 169 
CHAPTER 

I 

U. S. AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE ACTIVITIES 1965 

SUMMARY 

The record of 1965 revealed the highest point yet reached in this Nation's upward 

trend of space accomplishment over the past eight years. The largest number of 

spacecraft was successfully orbited; the Moon and Mars were photographed at close 

range; manned flight activities reached new peaks; space competence was increas - 

ingly devoted to providing immediate benefits for mankind; our national security was 

augmented; and the technological, scientific, and managerial capabilities of the 

Nation were enhanced. 

It will be indeed a challenge to guide the country during 1966 to levels of space 

progress which will exceed or even equal those attained in 1965. 

In manned space flight, the year was particularly impressive. 

GEMINI spacecraft were put into orbit by TITAN I1 launch vehicles, as the United 

States flew more manned hours in space than had been flown by Soviet spacecraft 

throughout the history of their program and by U.S. spacecraft up until 1965. In 

addition to these long-duration flights, highlights of the manned space flight program 

for the year were the extra-vehicular activity and the rendezvous of two GEMINI 

vehicies in space. Progress in the APOLLO project gave encouraging indications 

that the schedule for this major achievement would be met. Also, in 1965, the 

President announced the decision to move forward with the development, testing, 

and flight of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) and assigned the responsibility 

for that project to the Department of Defense. 

Five manned 

The record for the year shows important progress with a variety of unmanned 

scientific spacecraft flights. RANGER spacecraft televised to Earth some 13, 000 

photographs, which, when added to the pictures taken in 1964, gave this country 

more than 17,000 photographs of the Moon's surface and furnished significant new 

1 
knowledge of the lunar environment. 

during a 228-day journey to Mars and returned the first close-up photographs of its 

surface and provided much new scientific information on that planet. 

PEGASUS satellites were launched during the year and have returned useful information regarding the intensity and number of meteoroid impacts. The second Orbiting 

Solar Observatory (OSO) was orbited with six experiments operating successfully, 

the second Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) was orbited, and the PIONEER 

satellite reported new data from interplanetary space. 

MARINER completed a 325 million mile trip 

Three 

The first commercial satellite (EARLY BIRD) was put into synchronous orbit for 

the Communications Satellite Corporation. Also, effective application of space 

knowledge was continued with an expansion of our weather satellite system (TIROS), 

navigational satellite system, geodetic satellites and nuclear explosion detection 

satellite system (VELA). 

The program of the SATURN I, with its 1-1/2 million pounds of thrust, was completed with ten successful launches in ten attempts. Ground tests progressed for 

the more powerful SATURN IB and the SATURN V launch vehicles, while a major 

development took place on schedule with three successful launches of the 2.4 million pound thrust TITAN IIIC rocket. Encouraging progress in the testing of the 

NERVA nuclear reactors was made, and initial testing was successful for the more 

advanced PHOEBUS nuclear reactor. Another propulsion milestone was reached 

with the ground test firing of the world's largest solid propellant rocket motor when 

3. 5 million pounds of thrust was attained from the 260-inch engine. Also, the first 

nuclear space reactor (SNAP 10A) was orbited and produced practical evidence of 

the potential of atomic power as an energy source in space. 

Cooperation with other nations in space progress continued during the year. 

ALOUETTE was orbited for Canada and the FR-1 for the French. These were part 

of a growing program of international cooperation in space which includes mutually 

beneficial relations with about 70 nations. The space program became an even 

more effective arm of foreign policy when experienced astronauts were sent on 

educational and goodwill visits to a number of nations around the world. 

larly important was a decision announced by the President that efforts would be 

undertaken by high-level officials to expand cooperative space activities with 

nations in Europe. 

The 

ParticuThe past year saw the realization of efforts to accelerate research, development, 

and initial operational use of a variety of aircraft for both civil and military 

applications. 

speed and altitude records by the United States, as well as the accumulation of much 

useful data on hypersonic flight. 

through flights of the XB70s. 

brought the potential application of this very useful aircraft type much closer to 

fruition. 

through design refinement and wind-tunnel testing of the supersonic transport concept and the decision to build the huge new C-5A military transport aircraft. 

Parallel development of a civil version of the C-5A and the supersonic transports 

can form the basis for great advances in the large scale use of the airplane for the 

long-range transportation of peoples and goods. 

Advanced aeronautical research activities resulted in new world 

Valuable experience continued to accumulate 

An expanded effort in V/STOL aircraft development 

Significant advances took place in the field of large transport planes 

While the United States was building an impressive record as it orbited more spacecraft than any other nation, the U. s. s. R. was far from idle. In fact, during the 

2 
year, that nation almost doubled its earth-orbiting activities over the previous year 

compared with a 36% increase for the United States. The Soviets also showed their 

determination to speed their space program as they more than doubled the U. S. 

activity in lunar and planetary exploration during the year. 

Among the many major accomplishments by the United States during 1965 were the 

following: 

. . . The five successful manned GEMINI flights produced a number of major 

achievements, such as the first U. S. two-man mission; the first U. S. extravehicular activity; the world's first eight-day and subsequently 14-day manned 

space missions; and the world's first sustained rendezvous between two manned 

spacecraft, in which they came within one foot of each other and flew in formation 

for nearly five hours. 

. . . The Department of Defense was directed to proceed with the development of 

the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) at a development cost of about $1. 5 billion 

with manned launches possible in 1968. 

. . . The world's first commercial communications satellite (EARLY BIRD I) was 

succe s s fully orbited. 

. . . The TITAN IIIC, developing 2.4 million pounds of thrust, successfully accomplished its first flight test. 

. . . The final three SATURN I flights were successfully conducted. 

. . . All three stages of the 7. 5 million pound thrust SATURN V were successfully 

test -fired. 

. . . The decision was made to develop and produce 58 units of a revolutionary huge 

military transport aircraft C-5A) at a cost of about $2 billion over a period of 

about five years. 

. . . The RANGER lunar photographic missions provided more than 17,000 high 

resolution pictures of the Moon's surface. 

. . . MARINER IV flew past Mars, supplying 21 clear photographs and other data 

on that planet. 

. . . Experimental military communications satellites were placed into orbit. 

. . . The TIROS IX weather satellite was orbited with a cartwheel design, which 

will serve as the basis for the Weather Bureau's TIROS Operational Satellite System. 

. . . GEOS, an advanced satellite devoted to geodetic studies, was orbited, as were 

seve ral smaller geode tic satellite s . 

. . . Two more VELA satellites joined four VELAs already in orbit increasing the 

U. S. satellite based nuclear test detection capability for surface, high altitude, 

and deep space nuclear tests. 

3 
. . . A second Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO) and a second Orbiting Geophysical 

Observatory (OGO) were orbited. 

. . . The first of four new PIONEER spacecraft was orbited to transmit data on interplanetary space from as far away as 50 million miles. 

. . . Research was continued on earth-based anti-satellite systems. 

. . . The Navigation Satellite System continued to increase the accuracy of fixes given 

to U. S. Navy ships at sea, and lower-cost receiver developments were undertaken 

so as to make it possible to provide economical service to the merchant marine. 

. . . Investigations were conducted by GEMINI astronauts of the effects of outer 

space on living matter, and plans were formulated for launch of the first 

BIOSATELLITE late in 1966. 

. . . The effort to develop a Supersonic Transport reached the design and windtunnel test phase. 

. . . Work continued on the counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft and on the improve - 

me nt of he licopte r s . . . . The second XB-70 made its first flight and subsequently flew at Mach 3. 

. . . The three X-15 research rocket airplanes completed 32 flights, conducting 

studies providing new information about hypersonic flight. 

. . . Three PEGASUS satellites were launched furnishing significant information on 

the meteoroid hazards to spacecraft. 

. . . The first 260-inch diameter solid propellant motor was successfully ground 

test-fired, producing a peak thrust of 3. 5 million pounds. 

. . . Three NERVA reactor experiments were successfully conducted, accumulating 

a total of more than 60 minutes of operation. 

. . . A PHOEBUS nuclear propulsion reactor experiment was carried out, with the 

assembly operating at full power for about ten and one-half minutes. 

. . . A KIWI-Transient-Nuclear test was conducted, with the results demonstrating 

a high level of safety for personnel at the launch site and elsewhere. 

. . . The decision was made to proceed with the design of a 50-watt isotope generator (SNAP 27) for the APOLLO Lunar Surface Experiment Package, which will be 

left behind by astronauts after the first lunar landing. 

. . . The ALOUETTE II, a Canadian satellite, was launched into orbit. 

. . . The first satellite to be launched in cooperation with France (FR-1) was successfully orbited. 

. . . ATLAS-CENTAUR, the vehicle assigned to launch instrument packages 

(SURVEYOR) for soft-landing on the moon, delivered a dummy craft to an imaginary moon 240,000 miles out in space. 

. . . The U. S. launched 97 payloads into earth orbit and on lunar and solar trips. 

4 
CHAPTER 

I1 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE COUNCIL 

Nineteen sixty-five was a year of outstanding progress in both aeronautics and 

space. 

cooperation -- the latter both interagency and international. 

The record was particularly impressive in space flight and in space 

This Nation's space achievements during the year were so distinctive in quality 

and quantity as to cause people, at home and abroad, to conclude the United States 

had attained the space leadership of the world. In many respects, that conclusion 

is accurate, but it would be incorrect and unwise to minimize the vitality and size 

of the space program of the U. S. S. R. 

placed into earth orbit 94 spacecraft as compared with 66 by the U. S. S. R. This 

was an increase over last year of 36 percent for the U. S. and 83 percent for the 

U. S. S. R. In fact, the Soviets almost doubled their earth orbiting activity over the 

previous year and, with their seven escape mission flights, more than doubled the 

U. S. activity in lunar and planetary exploration for the year. It is apparent that the 

U. S. S. R. has determined as a matter of policy that the benefits from space activity 

are sufficiently great to justify expanded performance. 

During the year, the U. S. successfully 

In carrying out the responsibilities of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, 

attention was directed toward developing perspective so as to discourage complacency regarding international space competition and to encourage policies which 

would promote international space cooperation. In the latter respect, the space 

program can and does contribute importantly to peace and progress by extending 

cooperative international programs to about 70 nations around the world. Such 

relationships include but are not limited to the launching of payloads for other 

nations, the construction and operation of tracking facilities in other countries, 

the international exchange of scientific and engineering data, and the extension 

abroad of educational assistance. 

an expansion of this type of activity in the coming years. 

The mutual benefits of such cooperation prompt 

During 1965, the space program became an even more effective arm of foreign 

policy when experienced astronauts were sent on educational and good will visits 

to a number of nations around the world. 

who is also Chairman of the National Acxronautics and Space Council, was accompanied by several astronauts in an effective visit to the Paris Air Show. 

In one instance, the Vice President, 

Both nationally and internationally, the space program is dynamic and constructive in nature. Whether one looks at the actual construction of facilities, rockets, 

spacecraft, tracking stations, and other material assets, or whether one examines 

the output of new materials, the advances in electronics and other major skills, 

and the creation of new productive processes, the space program has matured into 

a positive force for economic and technical growth. Through direct applications of 

5 
technology in such fields as communications, meteorology, navigation, and biomedical instrumentation, space competence is contributing to the betterment of 

our life here on earth. 

It is a responsibility of those engaged in the space program to explore diligently 

the ways in which such activity can raise standards of living and advance understanding. In seeking benefits, it is necessary to look not only to the scientific, 

technical, educational, and military assets which flow directly from space per - 

formance itself, but also to the ways and means in which this growing technical 

competence can be effectively applied to the solution of the many other problems 

which confront this complex society. 

Those who look thoughtfully and carefully at the national space program recognize 

clearly that it is still in its infancy. It is reasonable to predict that much growth 

lies ahead. 

spacecraft was put into orbit. To date, the U.S. has orbited about the earth some 

342 payloads. This includes six joint efforts with other countries, i.e. two with 

Canada, two with the United Kingdom, one with Italy, and one with France. Another 

151 payloads have been launched successfully by the U. S. S. R. and one by France. 

In addition, the United States and U. S. S. R. have put 28 spacecraft (13 by the U. S. 

and 15 by the U. S. S. R. ) on the moon or in orbit about the sun. 

It has been only a little more than eight years since the very first 

In 1965, further advance was made toward greater competence in manned space 

flight, with the President's announcement of a decision to move forward with the 

development, testing, and flight of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory. This project 

is intended to broaden the scope of man's pursuit of greater security through the 

extension of his peaceful activities in space. 

not a weapons system; it is not a means by which aggressive actions can be perpetrated; and it is in no way in conflict with the established peaceful policies of the 

United States. 

The Manned Orbiting Laboratory is 

In the discharge of its responsibilities, the Council, directly and through its staff, 

engaged in a broad range of policy, coordinating, and informational activities. 

Among these were: 

a. supervised the preparation of the President's Annual Report to 

the Congress on Aeronautics and Space Activities for 1965. 

b. submitted regular reports to the President on significant space 

activities and plans. 

c. increased public understanding of the national space program 

through speeches, articles, correspondence, and other public 

contacts. 

d. participated in the analysis of various aspects of the FY 1967 

budget for space and aeronautics. 

e. examined the problems and alternative solutions regarding the 

development of space rescue capabilities. 

6 
f. 

gh. 

i. 

j. 

k. 

1. 

m. 

n. 

0. 

Pcoordinated on behalf of the President the decision to launch 

nuclear power satellites into space. 

participated in the 'formulation and development of communications satellite practices and policies. 

helped coordinate the necessary actions to make available 

international high frequency communications channels for 

GEMINI flights and recovery operations. 

reviewed plans and policies affecting the Manned Orbiting 

Laboratory pr oje ct. 

examined the status and potential of lifting body technology, 

recoverable and re -useable boosters, maneuverable logistic 

vehicles, and generally encouraged a closer marriage of 

aeronautics and astronautics . 

contributed to the planning for foreign visits of U. S. astronaut s . 

reviewed the status of meteorological satellite planning. 

examined the impact of the national space program upon 

our international relations. 

gave direct consideration to various proposals for improved 

cooperation with other nations in various aspects of the space 

program. 

visited space installations, examined facilities, and engaged 

in intera$ency as well as Government-industry meetings and 

briefings on new developments in aeronautics, space technology, and space benefits. 

maintained a current record of U. S. and Soviet space launches, 

developed comparisons between U. S. and U. S. S. R. space 

activities, and reviewed space accomplishments and potentials 

of other nations. 

A seedbed of advanced technological competence has been created by means of substantial investments, both public and private, in facilities, in experience, in 

organizations, in processes, in products, and in accumulated data. Taken together, 

this becomes one of our greatest national assets, which can be used at various 

rates and adjusted to other national requirements. 

use of such resources may be necessary from time to time, but such fluctuations 

should not be considered as a measure of uncertainty as to the essentiality of the 

space program or a deviation from this Nation's drive for preeminence in space. 

Variations in funding for the 

7 
The year 1965 was characterized by increased space activities at home and 

abroad, improved reliability in space equipment and space performance, and 

increased public awareness of the permanence and beneficial nature of the national 

space program. Coordination between U. S. Government agencies improved, and 

cooperation with other countries became a more characteristic element of space 

planning. While the actual and potential benefits of the space program are many, 

uppermost is the strong force which a viable space program can apply in the direction of world peace, as space activities become constructive substitutes for exploita 

tion of peoples and aggression against peoples. 

8 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE AD M l Nl STR AT IO W 

CHAPTER 

I11 

INTRODUCTION 

The year of 1965 was a period of significant operational accomplishments for the 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

In the GEMINI program, five successful trips furthered manned space flight competence and revealed project flexibili.ty to adjust to unforeseen events. 

achievements portended adherence to the "in this decade" lunar schedule. 

The GEMINI 

The space science and applications programs also moved forward as two RANGER 

spacecraft sent back highly detailed pictures of the moon's surface, MARINER IV 

supplied a series of clear photographs of Mars; and the development phase of the 

large observatory series of spacecraft neared completion. 

Advanced re search and technology programs continued to develop basic knowledge 

supporting aeronautics and space research. 

collected additional data on manned maneuverable flight at hyper sonic speeds, arrangements were completed for NASA to use the XB-70 in its research for the supersonic 

transport, and three PEGASUS satellites launched this year furnished new information on the meteoroid hazard to spacecraft. 

systems research. This included ground tests of an electric power generator using 

a nuclear reactor and the successful completion of three NERVA reactor experiments. 

The three X-15 research airplanes 

Progress was also made in nuclear 

Another milestone was reached with the firing of the world's largest solid propellant 

rocket motor when 3.5 million 

motor. 

pounds of thrust was attained from the 260-inch 

Other NASA programs continued to support Agency progress in these major areas. 

MANNED SPACE FLIGHT 

The past year was one of increased activity in all areas of the manned space flight 

effort. 

the United States to new levels of operational capability. 

manned flights were accomplished with notable success; these followed the second 

unmanned qualification flight. 

The accelerated GEMINI program of two-man earth orbital missions brought 

During 1965, five GEMINI 

Key milestones in the APOLLO program of research and development were reached 

in spacecraft and launch vehicle ground testing. 

or in progress for development of space hardware and for the increased requirements 

of APOLLO space flight launch operations and mission control. 

vehicle program was completed in 1965 with a perfect record of 10 successful flights 

Extensive facilities were completed 

The SATURN I 

9 
in 10 launch attempts. The APOLLO-SATURN IB was nearing the flight phase following final checkout of the two-stage SATURN IB launch vehicle and the APOLLO spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center. 

vehicle is scheduled for early 1966. 

continued and five selectees entered training as scientist-astronauts. 

The first flight of the AF'OLLO-SATURN IB space 

Training of astronauts for future missions 

GEMINI Program 

Following final qualification of the GEMINI system early in 1965, five successful 

manned flights advanced this country's capability in space to new levels as specific 

mission objectives were accomplished. Major objectives of the program are physiological and operational experience in long duration flight, development of the capability to rendezvous and dock in space, experience in astronaut extravehicular 

activity during orbital flight, controlled re-entry from orbit, and the conduct of 

scientific experiments. 

Management of the program was highlighted by two major accomplishments.. The 

first of these was an acceleration of the scheduled launches, enabling the program 

to recover from earlier delays in the launch schedule. 

sion of the entire GEMINI spacecraft and launch vehicle procurement to incentive 

contracts which, while contributing to the acceleration of program schedules and 

strengthening control of program costs, maintained the high level of GEMINI perf ormanc e. 

The second was the converThe flight and mission support capabilities achieved through GEMINI succe s se s 

provided a foundation for the upcoming three-man APOLLO flight operations. 

flights during the year began with the second and final unmanned mission (GEMINI II) 

to qualify all elements of the GEMINI system. 

GEMINI 

The first manned flight (GEMINI III) served as a successful flight test of the manned 

system. A new level of spacecraft control was demonstrated during the three-orbit 

flight as the GEMINI command pilot executed two orbital path changes and the first 

change of orbital plane by a manned spacecraft. 

The second manned flight (GEMINI IV) demonstrated that man can undergo prolonged 

exposure to weightlessness and safely endure the stress of re-entry following extended space flight. 

of the crew and the spacecraft systems in flights of this duration. 

The four-day mission also demonstrated the operational capability 

A secondary objective was successfully accomplished during the GEMINI IV mission 

as one of the Astronauts maneuvered in space outside the spacecraft for 23 minutes of 

extra-vehicular activity (EVA), making the first use of a hand-held propulsion unit. 

The next GEMINI flight (GEMINI V), the second of the three scheduled long duration 

flights in the program, further extended United States mastery of the space environment. 

3 million miles in 120 revolutions 

effectively on a flight lasting as long as a round trip to the moon. 

the GEMINI V, 190 hours and 55 minutes, exeeded the former record by more than 

7 1 hours. 

During the eight-day earth orbital flight the spacecraft traveled more than 

The duration of 

of the earth, assuring that man can perform 

10 
The eight-day mission also was a milestone in spacecraft performance. 

craft systems functioned highly satisfactorily during the flight, including the primary 

electrical power source, the fuel cell, used for the first time instead of batteries. 

The fuel cell operated successfully despite abnormal performance of its oxygen 

supply system. 

early in the flight and led to temporary modification of the flight plan. 

The spacePressure loss iri the oxygen supply feeding the fuel cell caused concern 

The principal modification was cancellation of the attempt to rendezvous with a radar 

evaluation pod which had been ejected previously from the orbiting spacecraft. 

sequently in the flight, GEMINI V proceeded as originally planned when it became 

evident that the oxygen pressure loss did not affect the fuel cell, other than to require 

operation at reduced electrical power until oxygen pressure increased and stabilized. 

The importance of man as an integral spacecraft system was clearly demonstrated by 

the judgment and actions of the crew in shutting down selected subsystems and equipment for various periods of time to reduce power requirements to the fuel cell until 

the oxygen supply had stabilized enough to allow normal operation of the fuel cell. 

SubFifteen experiments were successfully performed, including a number of visual 

sightings, test of the spacecraft rendezvous radar with a radar evaluation pod on 

the ground at Cape Kennedy, and successful performance of a simulated rendezvous. 

The simulation required four precise maneuvers of the spacecraft in which command 

pilot Cooper changed its apogee, perigee, and orbital plane in order to intercept a 

simulated target. 

The accelerated schedule of GEMINI launches during 1965 maintained by GEMINI 11, 

111, IV, and V was temporarily interrupted by cancellation of the GEMINI VI rendezvous and docking flight as originally planned. The flight plan called for GEMINI VI 

to fly to and link up with a separately launched, unmanned Air Force AGENA target 

vehicle, modified to meet NASA requirements. 

After normal launching by an ATLAS launch vehicle, the AGENA failed to function 

properly. 

and radar tracking indicated that the vehicle broke up in flight. 

GEMINI spacecraft was therefore postponed. 

Communication with it was lost shortly after successful stage separation, 

Launch of the 

The Air Force Space Systems Division investigated the incident and reported that 

the most probable cause of failure was a hard start of the AGENA'S primary propulsion system. 

mission until early 1966, the long duration GEMINI VI1 mission originally scheduled 

for the first quarter of 1966 was moved up into 1965 and the flight of GEMINI VI was 

rescheduled to take place during part of the two-week GEMINI VI1 flight. 

scheduling led to the accomplishment of rendezvous between two manned spacecraft 

in 1965. 

With another modified AGENA unavailable for a rendezvous and docking 

This reGEMINI VI1 demonstrated manned orbital flight for a period of 14 days. This mission, 

primarily a long duration medical mission, consisted of 20 experiments and numerous 

operational activities. In addition, 

the astronauts removed their pressure suits to allow an evaluation to be made of 

comparative freedom of operation and personal comfort. 

evaluation and data analysis indicated that there were no detrimental effects from 

exposing the crew to long periods of weightlessness. 

Nineteen of the 20 experiments were successful. 

Preliminary medical 

11 
GEMINI VI and GEMINI VI1 could accomplish rendezvous because the spacecraft and 

launch vehicle for GEMINI VI had been completely checked out and required a minimum of rechecking. 

launch was attempted eight days after GEMINI VI1 but was aborted because of minor 

problems. 

carried out three days later. 

GEMINI VI was erected on the pad and prepared for launch. The 

The problems were resolved, checkout was completed, and the launch was 

The rendezvous of the two spacecraft occurred five hours and 41 minutes after launch, 

during the fourth revolution of GEMINI VI. 

nearly five hours, under both night and day conditions, performing numerous maneuvers and taking photographs of each other's spacecraft and thruster plumes. 

maneuvered to within about one foot of the GEMINI VII spacecraft, and the astronauts 

reported that they could clearly see the facial expressions of the GEMINI VI1 crew. 

Following completion of the rendezvous activities, GEMINI VI separated to a distance 

of approximately thirty miles for the rest period. GEMINI VI performed three experiments in addition to the rendezvous activities. 

The two crews flew in formation for 

GEMINI VI 

The GEMINI VI and GEMINI VI1 spacecraft both executed controlled re-entries, 

with GEMINI VI landing less than 7 nautical miles from the planned launching point, 

and the GEMINI VII, about 6. 6 nautical miles from its planned landing point. The 

success of the GEMINI VI and VI1 missions has verified the operational concept of 

space rendezvous necessary for the APOLLO lunar mission. 

craft traveled more than five million miles in 206 revolutions of the earth during its 

330 hours in space, surpassing the record previously set by GEMINI V. 

The GEMINI VI1 spaceAPOLLO Program 

Significant strides were made in the APOLLO Program during 1965. 

were made in each of the program elements. 

and testing of the necessary large launch vehicles and engines, sophisticated space - 

craft, and comprehensive ground support equipment. 

Important gains 

It was a year of extensive development 

Key milestones in the APOLLO Program were being met on schedule, and the substantial progress made during 1965 provided a strong basis for confidence that 

APOLLO program objectives would be successfully fulfilled. These objectives are 

to build a broad-based manned space flight capability, and to land men on the moon 

and return them safely to earth within this decade. 

The major milestone in the APOLLO schedule for the rest of the decade are as 

follows: 

launch vehicle, the SATURN IB, in 1966; manned flights of this spacecraft on the 

SATURN IB, carrying three men, in 1967; also in 1967, the first unmanned flights 

of the APOLLO-SATURN V, the vehicle to be used for the actual lunar flights; and 

manned flights of the APOLLO-SATURN V in 1968. 

The first unmanned flights of the APOLLO spacecraft, using an intermediate 

SATURN I -- On July 30, the tenth and final flight of the SATURN I launch vehicle was 

successfully conducted at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The 1 1/2 million pound 

thrust SATURN I thereby achieved a perfect record of ten successes in ten launches, 

a record without parallel in the development of launch vehicles. 

flights, which took place during 1965, the SATURN I placed in orbit PEGASUS 

satellites for the measurement of micrometeoroids in space. 

these satellites indicate that the APOLLO spacecraft structure is adequate to resist 

meteoroid penetration. 

In its last three 

Preliminary data from 

12 
The SATURN I program provided the base on which U. S. large launch vehicle technology is built, and its results are being utilized in the preparation of flights of the 

SATURN IB and the SATURN V launch vehicles. It served as the basis for demonstrating this country's ability to develop and launch large space vehicles, and aided 

the nation in developing its broad manned space flight capability. 

The specific accomplishments of the SATURN I program were many. 

vital role in developing the first stage of the SATURN IB by verifying the effectiveness of cluster engine techniques and lead the way in the development of cryogenic 

upper stages using liquid hydrogen as fuel. 

of the SATURN IB and the SATURN V. 

system was developed for the SATURN IB and the SATURN V. 

It played a 

This fuel will be used in the upper stages 

In the SATURN I program, the guidance 

In addition, direct flight hardware support for the SATURN IB vehicle was achieved 

by the use of several major first stage components of the SATURN I for the first 

stage of the SATURN IB. 

NASA to move more quickly and at less cost into the APOLLO-SATURN IB Program. 

The SATURN I program facilities and hardware enabled 

Phase I of the APOLLO-SATURN launch vehicle flight program, the base upon which 

the rest is built, was thus completed in 1965. 

APOLLO-SATURN IB -- During 1965 the flight phase neared in the APOLLOSATURN Il3 program, the first of two major portions of the APOLLO program. 

jectives of this phase are to develop the second stage of the SATURN IB vehicle, which 

will also serve as the third stage of the SATURN V; to carry out development of the 

Block I series of Command and Service Modules (CSM); to carry out the initial development and verification testing of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) ; and to develop 

and flight test the Block 11 Command and Service Module with the LEM in manned 

earth orbital missions of up to 14 days. 

ObRapid progress was made throughout the year to support the first launch of the 

APOLLO-SATURN IB space vehicle (AS-20 1), an unmanned suborbital ballistic 

flight, now expected to be conducted in the first quarter of 1966. This flight is 

de signed to test the launch vehicle - spacecraft compatibility, and will mark the fir st 

time that flight model APOLLO Command Service Modules have been flown. 

A major milestone was met in December with the complete activation Launch Complex 

34 for the AS-201 flight test. 'Major modifications were necessary to convert the 

complex from the SATURN I configuration to accommodate the APOLLO-SATURN IB 

space vehicle. Similarly, conversion of Launch Complex 37B, the other APOLLOSATURN IB launch facility, was begun in 1965. 

Also in December, the AS-201 spacecraft and launch vehicle were mated on Pad 34, 

and pre-flight checkout was proceeding at year's end. 

Significant milestones were achieved in the SATURN IB launch vehicle program 

during the year. 

Formal qualifications of the first-stage engine, uprated in thrust from 188,000 to 

200,000 pounds, was accomplished in April, and the first static test of a flight 

vehicle using the 200,000-pound-thrust second stage engine was successfully 

completed. 

13 
The concept of the successful SATURN I Instrument Unit has been basically retained 

for the SATURN IB and SATURN V Instruments Units. Most of the Ground Development and Qualification Test Program was successfully completed. 

The first and second stages of the launch vehicle for the second APOLLO-SATURN IB 

mission (AS-202) were static-fired during 1965 and were scheduled to be delivered to 

Kennedy Space Center in early 1966. 

orbit was increased to 40,000 pounds, an increase of 5,000 pounds. 

The weight SATURN IB could place in earth 

Flight test and qualification of the APOLLO launch escape system (LES) under various 

abort conditions continued during 1965 at the White Sands Test Facility (WSTF). Other 

objectives of the program are to develop and flight test the parachute recovery system, 

the earth landing system, and to carry out structural tests of the spacecraft. 

In a flight test in May, designed to test the LES in a high altitude abort, the LITTLE 

JOE I1 launch vehicle developed a high spin during early powered flight and eventually 

disintegrated. 

the spacecraft from the booster without damage. 

successfully under the unexpected and unusual circumstances, and the Command 

Module made a safe landing. 

met, it will not be necessary to repeat the test, since sufficient data is expected to 

be gained from the intermediate abort flight in early 1966 to meet the unfulfilled 

objectives of the earlier flight. 

The launch e scape system sensed the wehicle malfunction and separated 

The earth landing system performed 

Although the high altitude abort objectives were not 

In February 1965 critical propulsion tests of the Service Module engines began at 

WSTF in New Mexico and continued throughout the year. Testing included system 

checkout runs; many engine starts, restarts, and shutdowns; and runs with varied 

engine mixture ratio, high and low chamber pressure, propellants conditioned hot or 

cold, and with the Service Module engine being gimballed. These are the engines 

that will enable the astronauts to make mid-course corrections on their way to and 

from the moon. 

In April, delivery was completed of the APOLLO boilerplate spacecraft for the 

comprehensive test program, and important spacecraft (airframe) structural tests 

were initiated in May. 

All development and essential ground qualification testing on the early model Block I 

Command Module Guidance and Navigation Systems was completed. 

In the area of Command and Service Module checkout, Ground Support Equipment 

(GSE) designs and test plans were verified, checkout procedures and associated 

hardware were corrected and refined, computer checkout programs and testing 

techniques were developed, the necessary equipment was procured, and all factory 

and KSC test sites for checkout of the first spacecraft were activated. 

At year's end, the spacecraft for the first manned APOLLO-SATURN IB flight was 

in the final stages of systems installation at the factory, and the spacecraft for the 

second manned flight was also undergoing systems installation. 

APOLLO-SATURN V -- The objectives of the APOLLO-SATURN V program are to 

develop the SATURN V launch vehicle and to complete the development and verification of the Block 11 Command and Service Modules and the Lunar Excursion Module, 

in preparation for the beginning of the manned exploration of the moon within this 

14 
decade. 

and of sending 95,000 pounds to the moon. 

The SATURN V will be capable of placing 285,000 pounds into earth orbit, 

During the year, all three stages of the SATURN V launch vehicle were test fired for 

full duration runs. 

A major milestone in the APOLLO-SATURN V Program and in rocket technology was 

accomplished in April with the successful test firing of the first stage of the 

SATURN V. 

five F-1 engines during the 6 1/2 second test. 

basic SATURN I. 

schedule. 

The full 7 1/2 million pounds of thrust was generated by the cluster of 

The firing was accomplished almost three months ahead of 

This is five times the thrust of the 

Later in the year, the first stage successfully underwent its first full duration test 

for a period of 2 1/2 minutes in August. The one million pound thrust second stage 

was also successfully test fired for its full duration of 6 1/2 minutes in August; and 

the 200,000-pound thrust third stage, with its single J-2 engine, was successfully test 

fired in April for its full duration of 8 1/2 minutes. 

The second stage, consisting of five 5-2 engines, each generating 200,000 pounds 

of thrust, is the pacing item in the development of the SATURN V launch vehicle 

and in the APOLLO-SATURN V Program. 

hydrogen a-s fuel, it is probably the most difficult of the stages to build, and some 

welding and insulation bonding problems were encountered which caused delays of 

two to five months in delivery schedules. 

failed while undergoing structural tests. 

failed at its ultimate design load and was destroyed. 

to be rephased. 

critical condition in terms of supporting APOLLO objectives. 

Because of its size and its use of liquid 

In addition, the structural/dynamic stage 

Although the test was a success, the stage 

This caused the test program 

Taken together, these problems placed the second stage in a 

The second stage did complete a substantial portion of its ground testing in 1965. 

Successful cluster firings were achieved and the common bulkhead was structurally 

certified. 

and is therefore probably the most critical component in the stage. 

year, the first four flight stages of the second stage were in manufacturing. 

The common bulkhead separates the liquid oxygen from the liquid hydrogen 

At the end of the 

Rapid progress was made during 1965 in the development of the SATURN V third 

stage, with its single J-2 engine. 

of the SATURN IB. 

stage restart capability was demonstrated. 

SATURN V were in manufacturing at year's end. 

This is essentially the same as the second stage 

Many test firings were completed, in some of which successful 

The first four flight stages for the 

Similar progress was made during 1965 in the development of the APOLLO spacecraft, a versatile three-man vehicle, with an extensive maneuvering capability. It 

is composed of the Command Module, the Service Module, and the Lunar Excursion 

Module, or LEM. The Command Module houses the astronauts in flight from earth 

to an orbit about the moon, and back to earth. The Service Module contains the 

power supply and the propulsion systems and fuel for maneuvering and making midcourse corrections during the lunar flight. The two-stage Lunar Excursion Module 

separates from the Command Module in lunar orbit and lowers two of the three 

astronauts to the surface of the moon. After the initial exploration is completed, it 

lifts off from the moon and reunites the two lunar explorers with the Command 

Module, carrying the third astronaut. 

15 
In August, fabrication was begun of the first Block I1 Command and Service Module 

of the type that will be used for the actual lunar landing missions. 

embody the basic Block I design along with modifications and improvements necessary 

for the APOLLO lunar mission. The principal modification is the incorporation of the 

docking structure on top of the Command Module to accommodate docking with the 

LEM and to permit astronaut passage between the Command Module and the LEM. 

These vehicles 

Design and development of the lighter Block I1 Guidance and Navigation system which 

will be used on both Command and Lunar Excursion Modules for lunar flights, were 

completed and a number of engineering models underwent extensive ground testing. 

The Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) development program follows the Command and 

Service Module by about one year, with 1965 a year of component development tests. 

The year 1966 will be a year of major ground tests, and 1967 will see the initial 

flight tests. 

The past year was one of progress in the LEM development program and also one in 

which the program was significantly realigned. 

effort on components was essentially completed, but subsystem development testing 

was behind schedule at year's end. 

flight vehicles, together with a weight increase that caused considerable concern. 

During 1965, the major development 

This created delays in ground test articles and 

Following a thorough review of these problems, a realignment of the program deleted 

certain hardware items and reduced the amount of testing on others. A program was 

initiated to reduce the weight of the hardware. 

During 1965, the LEM ascent and descent engines were subjected to considerable 

testing. 

a propulsion test rig at WSTF. 

A major milestone was reached with the first firing of the ascent engine in 

The environmental test program at Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) 

in Tennessee was started. 

deficiencies were discovered and corrected. At year's end, preparations were almost 

completed at White Sands to start altitude firing of the engine to prove engine-vehicle 

compatibility. 

Several firings were made in this phase and a few design 

Considerable testing of the LEM descent engine was accomplished at both sea level 

and altitude. 

Arnold Center. 

initial testing was started on this system. 

In addition, a number of environmental firings were made at the 

A descent engine propulsion rig was delivered to White Sands and 

The first two LEM Test Articles were delivered; these are to be used in the development program to verify subsystem and vehicle operational and performance requirements. Manufacturing was completed on one other, and the remaining three were in 

fabrication and assembly, and will be completed in 1966. 

three LEM flight vehicles were in fabrication and assembly, about four months behind 

schedule . 

At year's end, the first 

APO LLO Applications 

The definition of the APOLLO Applications Program was begun in 1965. 

role of this program is to provide a foundation for defining and understanding a 

follow-on major step in space. 

The overall 

This goal will be achieved through a series of flight 

16 
missions de signed to acquire scientific, technological, and operational data and experience in earth orbit, in lunar orbit, and on the lunar surface. 

The three broad objectives of the APOLLO Applications program are: to develop 

operational equipment and techniques; to obtain direct benefits to man; and to conduct 

further scientific exploration of space. 

The first objective, development of operational equipment and techniques, is a prerequisite to man's continuing exploration and utilization of the space environment, and 

to NASA's further support of the Department of Defense. 

orbiting manned space stations, manned lunar observatories, manned exploration of 

the near planets, or soime combination of all three. 

It may lead to future earth.. 

The APOLLO Applications Program, using the APOLLO-SATURN systems, can further remove barriers to man's ability to conduct manned activities in synchronous 

orbit and to transfer materials in space, with applicability to space refueling or space 

rescue activities. 

structures, manned orbital flights of up to four months duration by rendezvous resupply, land landing of manned spacecraft returning from orbit, and manned lunar 

surface operations of up to two weeks' duration. 

Other operations are the orbital assembly of large, complex 

The second objective, direct benefits to man, can be attained from missions in earth 

synchronous orbit and on extended space exploration. 

manned observations may be made of weather patterns and the influence of extraterrestrial phenomena Ion such patterns. 

long-range weather predictions and, possibly, to weather control techniques. 

From earth- synchronous orbits, 

This knowledge will lead to more accurate, 

Another benefit to be gained from earth orbit is synoptic data on the worldwide status 

of natural resources. 

deposits, water resources, crops and forests, geological and oceanographic phenomena, 

the utilization of the earth's resources, earthquake prediction, and other earth phenomena. 

'This data can reveal new information of value as to mineral 

The third objective, scientific exploration of space, would include the exploration 

of the moon. Exploration would also allow the acquisition of astronomical data on 

the sun, planets and stars which can far exceed the quality and quantity of such data 

achievable from earth--based or unmanned orbiting observatories. 

In testing and demonstrating man's ability to accomplish national space goals, APOLLO 

Applications is expected to produce results applicable to the unmanned, intermittently manned, or continuously manned space systems that the nation will be able to 

operate in the years after 1970. 

Experience and knowledge gained in this program will provide the basis for capabilities during the 1970's and 1980's for space stations in earth orbit, for lunar observatorie s, and for manned planetary explorations. 

Advanced Manned Missions 

In the area of advanced manned missions, NASA continued its studies of future 

programs needed to carry out manned space flight objectives in the national interest. 

These studies were directed toward operations in earth orbit, lunar orbit, on the 

lunar surface, and in deep space; they were being carried out in two distinct phases. 

17 
The first of these, aimed at exploiting manned space flight capabilities of the APOLLO 

program, considered potential missions which would make use of the GEMINI and 

APOLLO operational techniques and of the basic APOLLO hardware -- the APOLLO 

spacecraft and the SATURN IB and V launch vehicles. These studies of APOLLO 

applications reached the point of project definition midway in the year. 

The second and continuing study category of advanced manned missions considered 

potential missions requiring the development of new operational capability and advanced space vehicles. This broad group of studies comprises potential missions 

for extended lunar exploration, extended earth orbit missions using space stations, 

and deep space exploration. A comprehensive experiment program covering scientific, technological and earth-beneficial objectives is being developed for both APOLLO 

Applications and Advanced Manned Missions. 

launch vehicles required for such missions. 

Studies also were conducted on the future 

SCIENTIFIC INVEST IGA TIONS IN SPACE 

During 1965 NASA made substantial advances in its various space science and applications programs. 

high-resolution pictures of the moon's surface and the MARINER IV photographs of 

Mars. The Agency also launched its first satellite designed primarily for geodetic 

investigations. In meteorology, weather data collected by TIROS was relayed from 

the U. S. to France by EARLY BIRD -- the first commercial communications 

satellite launched by NASA for the Communications Satellite Corporation. 

Among noteworthy accomplishments were the RANGER spacecraft 

Bioscientists ushered in a new era of systematic investigations of the effects of the 

space environment on living matter when the Astronauts aboard GEMINI I11 activated 

two basic biological experiments. 

SATELLITE - - a recoverable orbiting biological laboratory de signed to study the 

effects of radiation, weightlessness, and other stresses of space on plants, animals, 

and other life forms. 

And the Agency prepared to launch its first BIOFLIGHT PROGRAMS 

Emphasizing the growing importance of large unmanned spacecraft for scientific 

studies in space, NASA orbited two observatories during the year, and launched 

several geophysical satellites in its EXPLORER series. Sounding rockets were used 

in increasing numbers for atmospheric research and airplanes provided scientists 

with flying laboratories to observe a solar eclipse in the south Pacific and the IkeyaSeki comet. 

Second Orbitinn Solar Observatorv 

OSO-11, the second Orbiting Solar Observatory, was launched on February 3 to 

continue observations begun by the first Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO-I) in 1962. 

The satellite was designed to make detailed measurements of ultraviolet, and x- and 

gamma ray radiations of solar energy and study the sun's corona and the zodiacal 

light. 

disk and can point toward the sun's center with greater accuracy. 

A more advanced observatory than OSO-I, it is able to scan across the solar 

After several weeks in orbit, the experiments on the pointing section ceased functioning. Late in November communications from the satellite were turned off after 

18 
OSO-I1 had exceeded its operational life expectancy by fifty percent and had depleted 

the gas supply needed for pitch stabilization. A third OS0 failed to achieve orbit on 

August 25 when a launch vehicle failed. 

Second Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 

OGO-11, an Orbiting Geophysical Observatory, was placed into a low polar orbit on 

October 14. 

an altitude of 92,000 miles, OGO-I1 orbits between 250 and 940 miles to enable it to 

make observations relatively close to the earth. 

made its apogee higher than planned, this polar orbit permits observations over 

practically the entire earth daily. 

coordinated to act as a single experiment involving the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, the magnetic field, the radiation belts, cosmic rays, micrometeorites, and 

solar emissions. 

locked at times on high cold clouds instead of on the earth's horizon. 

October its supply of control gas was depleted and the satellite lost stabilization and 

began tumbling. 

were acquired when power was available. 

Unlike the first Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO-I) which reached 

Although difficulties in the launch 

The satellite's 20 experiments were carefully 

Initially stabilized as planned, later OGO- -11's horizon sensors 

By late 

After that its power supply has varied and data from its experiments 

Other Geophysical Satellites 

NASA's first satellite devoted primarily to geodetic studies, EXPLORER XXVII was 

launched April 29 to chart irregularities in the gravitational field of the earth. 

secondary experiment of EXPLORER XXVII (the principal mission for EXPLORER 

XXII orbited in October 1964) is to make a worldwide survey of the atmosphere's 

electron content. This survey involves 86 ground stations in 36 countries and is 

limited to latitudes below 41 degrees. 

laser tracking to continue studies with lasers begun with EXPLORER XXII. 

A 

The satellite carries another experiment in 

EXPLORER XXVIII was orbited May 29 as the third Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP). 

gather data on interplanetary magnetic fields and study charged particles coming 

from the sun and elsewhere in the solar system. 

radiation hazards for astronauts in space, as bioscientists study methods of counteracting these radiation exposures. 

This EXPLORER ranges from 120 to 164,000 miles from the earth to 

Such information will help pinpoint 

EXPLORER XXIX - - NASA's fir st satellite devoted entirely to geodetic studies - - 

was launched on November 6 as part of a coordinated U. S. Geodetic Satellite Program involving the Agency and the Departments of Defense and Commerce. 

program is one of broad international cooperation in ground-based observations and 

data acquisition and analysis through integrated world-wide networks. 

systems of instruments carried by the satellite were designed to meet the needs for 

more precise data to be used in mapping long distances and an analyzing geophysical 

problems. EXPLORER XXIX is gravity-gradient stabilized to keep one face pointing 

toward the earth. 

The 

The five 

A Solar Radiation Satellite (EXPLORER XXX) developed by the Naval Research Laboratory was launched on November 19 to continue solar studies of the Laboratory's 

scientists. 

19 
ALOUETTE II, 

soundings begun by its ALOUETTE I and extend them to polar regions, and EXPLORER XXXI were placed in close orbits by a single launch vehicle on November 28. The EXPLORER satellite carries eight experiments correlated with the 

five of ALOUETTE 11. 

they orbit close together. 

A French-built satellite, FR-I, was orbited on December 6 by a SCOUT vehicle. 

Although the first launched in the French-American cooperative program, it was the 

second French satellite. 

a second satellite built by Canada to continue topside ionospheric 

The spacecraft will make related studies of the ionosphere as 

Also moving toward an expected early launch in 1966 was the Orbiting Astronomical 

Observatory (OAO). 

RANGER Se rie s 

The RANGER lunar photographic missions, begun August 23, 1961, were concluded 

with the launchings of the eighth and ninth in the series on February 17 and March 21. 

The last three RANGER spacecraft provided over 17,000 high-resolution pictures 

of the moon's surface to pave the way for the next unmanned lunar programs 

(SURVEYOR and LUNAR ORBITER) and indicated that some areas were smooth 

enough for astronauts to land on them. 

RANGER VI11 took more than 7, 100 photographs before it impacted in the southern 

portion of Mare Tranquillitatis. 

inches on the floor of the crater Alphonsus. 

pictures -- was televised live for millions of viewers. 

RANGER IX photographed features as small as 13 

Its crash landing -- after taking 5,814 

NASA has sent data supplied by the Ranger flights to scientists here and abroad for 

their studies which promise to lead to a better under standing of the solar system. 

MARINER Mars Flyby 

On July 14 MARINER IV flew by Mars and supplied 21 remarkably clear photographs 

of the planet and other data revealing that it has a heavily-cratered surface like the 

moon's, with no evidence of volcanic activity nor erosion caused by water. Also data 

transmitted failed to supply any evidence of a dust belt, magnetic field, or radiation 

belts as are found around the earth. Radio signals sent when the spacecraft passed 

behind Mars showed that the planet's atmosphere was extremely thin -- a vital discovery in planning unmanned and manned landings. 

as one more unlike our own than was expected. 

was the question of the existence of life. 

The Martian environment emerged 

Left to be answered by future missions, 

MARINER IV on October 1 set a new record by communicating from over 191 million 

miles away -- greater than twice the distance from the earth to the sun. 

307 days of operation it transmitted 46 million engineering and scientific measurements, and found the environment between the earth and Mars (except for reduced 

solar activity) not too different from that of the space between the earth and Venus 

as discovered by MARINER I1 in 1962. 

In more than 

The spacecraft continues to orbit the sun. 

it reaches a minimum distance of 29 million miles from the earth during 1967. 

Data may be received from it again when 

20 
SURVEYOR 

Development and testing of the SURVEYOR spacecraft to soft land a payload on the 

moon continued during 1965. The first flight spacecraft was subjected to extensive 

functional and environmental tests. Also special vehicles tested major subsystems 

and the fabrication and testing of hardware for more advanced SURVEYORS were 

underway. 

LUNAR ORBITER 

Initial launching of a LUNAR ORBITER spacecraft was scheduled for 1966. 

nation's first satellite of the moon, the spacecraft will photograph large areas of 

lunar surface to obtain topographic information needed for selecting landing sites. 

LUNAR ORBITER will also make environmental measurements of the moon and obtain 

data on its gravity field. 

The 

In 1965 the design of all elements of the spacecraft was completed as was flight 

acceptance testing for its major components. 

all systems design, and assembly of the spacecraft for use in flight missions was 

be gun. 

A prototype was tested to verify overPlans for the first mission were completed and sites to be photographed on the 

mission selected. 

integration commenced. 

tracking data supplied on each mission was underway. 

The necessary computer programs were also completed and their 

Planning for processing and analyzing photographic and 

PIONE E R 

The first of four PIONEER spacecraft was launched on December 16. 

spinning spacecraft should transmit data on interplanetary space when it is as far 

away from the earth as 50 million miles. 

solar plasma, energetic particles, and electron density. 

The 140-pound 

It will be able to measure magnetic fields, 

A second PIONEER was being assembled for a launch in mid-1966. 

of this spacecraft should carry it behind the earth and more than 20 million miles 

farther from the sun than the earth. Scientific payloads for the third and fourth in 

the PIONEER series were selected. They will include a cosmic dust detector, as 

well as experiments in magnetic. fields and energetic particles. 

provide a continuity in exploring interplanetary phenomena for the first time as solar 

activity moves toward its peak. 

The trajectory 

The series may 

VOYAGER 

NASA currently plans for unmanned VOYAGER spacecraft to orbit Mars during 1973 

when the Red Planet is relatively close to the earth. During 1965 the Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory was assigned the responsibility of managing the VOYAGER Project and 

the management of the spacecraft, capsule and mission operations systems. 

Marshall Space Flight Center will manage the launch vehicle system; NASA's Office 

of Space Science and Applications is responsible for the VOYAGER Program. 

The 

Three contractors were selected for preliminary design studies of the spacecraft 

system. And in-house studies of the capsule system were conducted to define 

21 
various modes and conceptual designs. 

a 1973 launch, with two spacecraft to be launched by a single SATURN V. VOYAGER 

will obtain data on the existence of extraterrestrial life on Mars and supply information on atmospheric and surface characteristics of the planet, and on the planetary 

environment. 

Plans now call for SATURN V to be used in 

BIOSCIENCE PROGRAMS 

Biosatellite s 

NASA plans to launch its first BIOSATELLITE late in 1966. During the past year 

experiments for these orbiting biological laboratories in the flight hardware stage 

were being tested under simulated flight conditions. De signed to pinpoint hazards 

for astronauts during prolonged trips in space, these experiments involve various 

plants, animals, and other life forms to be orbited by Thrust-augmented DELTA 

rockets for periods of three days to a month. 

Environmental B io10 gy 

An X-ray bone densitometry method was tested by volunteer patients during 15-and 

30-day bed rest studies to determine losses of calcium from the skeleton. Skeletal 

calcium losses of astronauts during weightlessness in the June and August GEMINI 

flights were determined by this method and it will be used in future GEMINI and 

APOLLO missions and in the BIOSATELLITE primate experiment. 

Exobiology 

Using a simulated primitive earth atmosphere NASA's bioscientists synthesized five 

nucleosides -- the chemical building blocks of living cells. 

prepared in "good yield" under non-biological conditions as they might have existed 

on the primitive earth. 

the chemical evolution of living matter and represents a major advance in explaining 

the origin of life, a key in detecting extraterrestiral life forms. 

The nucleosides were 

This synthesis scientists believe retraces a critical phase in 

Spacecraft Sterilization 

Research on sterilizing spacecraft for trips to the moon has shown that they may be 

decontaminated by holding them in clean rooms for the last 20 days before launch. 

Biological contamination of spacecraft to land on Mars may be reduced by ultraclean 

manufacture and assembly, sterilization with dry heat, and by protecting them from 

recontamination during launch and exit from earth's atmosphere. 

The improved methods resulting from this research will find practical applications in 

surgery and the protection of hospital patients, pharmaceutical and food preparation, 

tissue culture, and cancer research. 

Manned Space Science 

Space science investigations included on the two-man GEMINI flights have helped 

scientists find out how well man can work when away from the earth's atmosphere. 

Although there was little room aboard these spacecraft for experiments, the success 

of the 14 valuable investigations orbited during the first 4 manned flights marked a 

22 
milestone in the GEMINI program. 

efficiently in space at the same time that techniques of flying a new spacecraft system 

were being perfected. 

This experience proved that a man could perform 

Photographs taken in orbit by Project GEMINI astronauts supplied invaluable data on 

airglow, auroras, zodiacal light, and other celestial phenomena. Their synoptic 

terrain photography revealed certain geological features of parts of North America, 

Mexico, and Africa previously unrecognized and led to requests from oceanographers 

for additional photographs of oceanographic features during future flights. Synoptic 

weather photography provided pictures covering a broad range of meteorological phenomena which were being analyzed to obtain information on various cloud systems. 

Space science and applications investigations were selected and assigned to be carried 

out on early APOLLO earth-orbital and lunar missions. 

equipment to be left on the lunar surface by APOLLO astronauts was also being 

developed. 

Geophysical measuring 

SATELLITE APPLICATIONS PROGRAM 

Meteorological Systems 

TIROS -- Launched in January, TIROS IX successfully introduced a cartwheel design. 

The spacecraft's cameras, looking out through its side rather than through its base, 

provided earth-oriented pictures throughout the sunlit portion of each orbit. This is 

the basic de sign for the Weather Bureau's TIROS Operational Satellites (TOS) which 

will provide global and local pictures daily for operational use. 

under development, with a first launching scheduled for early in 1966. 

orbited in July, provided hurricane coverage during the second half of the year. 

TOS satellites are 

TIROS X, 

TIROS VI1 set new records for longevity, having provided over 100,000 useable 

pictures in 28 months of operation. 

satellites have supplied about half a million pictures and identified and tracked 30 

hurricanes and 93 typhoons. 

It continued to transmit useful data. TIROS 

NIMBUS 

launch early in 1966. 

System, an Advanced Vidicon Camera System, and a High Resolution Infrared Radiometer (HRIR) to augment data obtained from the NIMBUS I flight. 

HRIR will provide local nighttime cloud cover to certain ground stations modified to 

receive these data. Also a Medium Resolution Infrared Radiometer (an improved 

experiment previously flown on TIROS) will be orbited to continue observing the 

earth's heat balance. 

-- NIMBUS C (the second NIMBUS spacecraft) was being prepared for a 

The satellite will carry an Automatic Picture Transmission 

In addition, the 

During the early part of this year development of hardware for the third NIMBUS 

spacecraft (NLIVIBUS B) continued and the preliminary design of its flight experiments 

was completed. NIMBUS B, the basic spacecraft with a number of new sensors, will 

measure the earth's radiation including the ultraviolet and infrared regions. 

obtained will be used to determine atmospheric temperatures. The satellite will also 

have a meteorological data collection system to gather information on a global scale. 

Besides this meteorological data system NIMBUS B will carry a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (SNAP-19) to determine if this highly advanced power source may 

be used for meteorological satellites. 

Data 

23 
Meteorological Sounding Rockets 

meteorological sounding rockets to altitudes of from 20 to 40 miles in developing an 

inexpensive, self- sufficient, reliable rocket system for locations away from large 

national ranges. New instrumentation and packages, and rocket vehicles which do 

not present a falling mass hazard were under development. 

-- NASA successfully launched about 150 small 

Fifty large meteorological rockets reaching heights of 60 miles extended exploration 

of the atmosphere tonew regions of the globe. Rockets fired from Pt. Barrow, Alaska, 

provided data during the Arctic night for the first time. Rockets were also launched 

from a mobile shipboard facility off the west coast of South America near the Equator, 

as well as from several other locations as far as sixty degrees south. 

experiments were carried into the upper atmosphere -- acoustic grenade firings, 

sodium releases, Pitot-static tube measurements, and radar tracking of inflatable 

spheres released from the rocket payload. 

Four different 

Communications Satellite Systems 

First Commercial Communications Satellite -- EARLY BIRD I, the world's first 

commercial communications satellite, was launched by NASA in April for the 

Communications Satellite Corporation. 

craft was placed in commercial service in June. 

After successful preliminary tests the space - 

SYNCOM -- NASA completed its basic experimental program with SYNCOM I1 and III 

early in 1965 and transferred operation and use of the satellites to the Department of 

Defense the first of April. 

in space. 

1964, also continued to function successfully. 

SYNCOM 11, launched in July 1963, continued to operate 

SYNCOM 111, the world's first geostationary satellite orbited in August 

RELAY -- RELAY I1 has operated satisfactorily since its launching two years ago. 

The last remaining U. S. ground station for experimenting with RELAY was taken 

out of service for modification in September. Future communications experiments 

with this satellite will be conducted by foreign ground stations only. 

RELAY I ceased operating in February after 25 months of service. 

TELSTAR -- Ground stations used in experiments with TELSTAR I1 were converted 

for commercial service with the EARLY BIRD satellite. A few communications 

experiments with this TELSTAR (launched in May 1963) were conducted in 1965. 

ECHO -- ECHO I and 11, NASA's passive communications satellites, still orbit the 

earth. ECHO I is more than five years old and the second ECHO has orbited for 23 

months. 

tions experiments with them were completed. 

communications satellites, they have functioned well far beyond original estimates 

of their lifetime and helped pave the way for operational satellite systems. 

These spheres are occasionally studied by scientists but basic communicaFir st generation experimental 

Applications Technology Satellites (ATS) -- NASA completed structural mode:s crnd 

began final assembly of the prototype model of the spin-stabilized versiorL of the ATS 

satellites. 

experiments on several useful applications is late 1966. 

Expected launch date for the first of these large spacecraft to conduct 

24 
LIGHT AND MEDIUM LAUNCH VEHICLES 

During the year ATLAS-CENTAUR, SCOUT, THOR-DELTA, ATLAS-AGENA and 

THOR-AGENA launch vehicles were used for NASA's unmanned missions. 

Three ATLAS-CENTAUR vehicles were launched and two others were scheduled for 

development test flights in 1966. 

The fourth development vehicle, launched December 11, 1964, achieved all of its 

primary test objectives, but a secondary objective of restarting the CENTAUR 

engines was not fully realized. A fifth development flight on March 2, 1965 resulted 

in the destruction of the vehicle after two seconds of flight when a valve failed in the 

booster fuel supply line causing loss of thrust. All test objectives were achieved in 

the launch of the sixth development vehicle on August 11, 1965. 

An ATLAS-CENTAUR vehicle was scheduled to launch the first SURVEYOR spacecraft in 1966. 

The four - stage solid-propellant SCOUT launch vehicle orbited EXPLORER XXVII, a 

geodetic EXPLORER, EXPLORER XXX (a Navy solar experiment) , the SECOR 

satellite for the Department of the Army, and a French satellite, chalking up a 

record of 12 consecutive successful launche s. 

were successfully transported by air reducing field site and pad occupancy time. 

Completely as sembled SCOUT vehicles 

THOR-DELTA vehicles in addition to supporting NASA's space science and applications programs orbited the first commercial communications satellite for the Communications Satellite Corporation and a meteorological satellite for the Weather Bureau. 

An uprated version of the DELTA vehicle (Improved DELTA) was flown for the first 

time. DELTA vehicles have successfully achieved orbit in 31 of 34 launches. 

ATLAS-AGENA launched the lunar photographers RANGER VIII and RANGER IX, 

successfully ending this program. 

for flybys of Mars resulted in a success and a failure due to non-separation of a 

spacecraft's protective shroud. 

on a Thrust-Augmented THOR-AGENA vehicle and an international satellite for 

ionospheric studies was orbited by a THOR-AGENA vehicle. 

being made for launches of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory and Lunar Orbiter 

in 1966, as well as NIMBUS, PAGEOS, and Orbiting Geophysical Satellites. 

Two planetary launches of MARINER spacecraft 

An Orbiting Geophysical OSservatory was launched 

Preparations were 

ADVANCED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 

The year 1965 saw continuing advances in the acquisition of knowledge to support 

current aeronautics and space research and to provide a basis for future programs 

in these areas. 

BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH 

Fluid Physics 

water injection into a high temperature ionized plasma reduced the electron concentration associated with the communications blackout problem. 

quirements to maintain radio communication for GEMINI and higher velocity reentry 

conditions can now be predicted. 

-- A new theory was developed to describe the mechanism by which 

Water injection re25 
Research continued on basic chemical kinetics which occur in the combustion and flow 

processes of propulsion systems. 

that basic chemical reaction rate data can be applied to predict the recombination and 

chemical state of the dissociated exhaust gases, and that the fuel specific impulse, 

calculated from the best information on chemical rates, was close to the maximum 

value attainable. 

because of inefficient nozzle performance. 

Studies of airbreathing exhaust nozzle.flows showed 

This indicates that ramjet aircraft range will not be reduced 

Fundamental research in NASA resulted in the experimental proof of one of the most 

important theories regarding plasma stability. 

for space application but also for understanding the mechanism of thermonuclear 

fusion. 

a plasma, which prevents catastrophic amplitudes. 

The results are not only significant 

The theory predicts an extraordinary damping of the electric oscillations in 

Applied Mathematics -- Significant progress was made in research on trajectories 

which will keep the proposed LUNAR ORBITER in any sort of stable periodic motion 

around the moon. 

fields of both earth and sun are so much more powerful than that of the moon, except 

within a relatively small space close to the moon. 

periodicity of lunar orbits were established and 111 such orbits were described. A 

vehicle in one of these orbits would be safe from destruction by the earth's gravitation 

and could be counted on to revolve aromid the moon for a relatively long time. 

The problem is difficult because the neighboring gravitational 

Exact mathematical criteria for 

Electrophysics -- Re search was conducted to determine whether nuclear magnetic 

resonance (NMR) technique may reli-ibly detect the presence of water in lunar and 

planetary rocks and soils. 

method may be more sensitive thaa the standard method although it is not yet certain 

that it can infallibly and uniquely detect water in the presence of the other chemical 

constituents of rocks and soil. Investigations of the potentiality of the NMR method 

are being continued. 

Prelimhary results indicate that this nondestructive 

Materials -- A new class of stable polymers, called Pyronnes, was synthesized in 

research to achieve superior spacecraft materials. Pyronne s have unique properties: high resistance to heat and radiation, stability at temperatures over 900°F, and 

tensile strength which is not degraded by electron irradiation of up to 10,000 million 

rads. 

uses. 

In addition to space applications, Pyronnes may be adaptable to many industrial 

Preliminary research indicates that technetium -- a formerly rare element now 

available in moderate quantities in the wastes from nuclear reactors -- and its alloys 

have several useful applications. Technetium may have the ability to convert tungsten, 

a useful but brittle metal, into more pliable form, and several tungsten-technetium 

alloys are being made in sheet form. Technetium alloys are also among the best of 

"superconductors, " materials which lose all resistance to the flow of electricity 

when cooled to very low temperatures. Further improvements in superconductivity, 

if achieved, could advance the development of electric propulsion systems and also 

drastically reduce the cost of transmitting electrical power. 

Studies were in progress to determine why dry metal surfaces wear and seize when 

they rub against one another (such work could lead to the development of fail-safe or 

self-lubricating machinery). 

clean metal surfaces depend upon the pattern and the spacing of the metal atoms 

It was found that the frictional characteristics of dry 

26 
(a hexagonal arrangement, for example, allows much freer sliding than a cubic one) 

and that the change in atomic spacing caused by impurity atoms is also important. 

Since these arrangements can be changed by alloying and by thermal and mechanical 

treatments, the means may be .available to control dry friction. 

valuable advance since oils and other common lubricants may evaporate, decompose, 

or otherwise degrade in extreme aerospace environments. 

This would be a 

NASA is conducting research on materials to protect spacecraft from the meteoroids 

that will be encountered in varying concentration, size, and speed within the solar 

system. 

were shot at speeds of 19,000 feet per second into protective bumpers of mylar, 

magnesium, neoprene, steel, beryllium, and aluminum. For a given kind of spacecarft wall, the protection afforded by bumpers made of these materials was found to 

depend only on the mass per unit area, that is, it was independent of all the other 

material characteristics. 

structures of minimum weight. 

In experiments at the Langley Research Center, small aluminum projectiles 

This result is important for the design of spacecraft 

AERONAUTICS 

Air craft Ae rodynamic s 

In a continual effort to develop, improve, and simplify analytical techniques for the 

efficient de sign of hyper sonic aircraft, comparative performance and heat transfer 

measurements were obtained on a variety of simple wings, bodies, and wing-body 

combinations of high supersonic and hyper sonic speeds. The heat transfer coefficient 

distributions on the leading edge of delta wings for which the boundary layer remained 

laminar were in good agreement with laminar swept-cylinder theory for most angles 

of attack. 

Force tests were conducted at Mach 6 on nose-cylinder-flare bodies to determine the 

effect of nose shape, cylinder length, flare angle, and flare length on the longitudinal 

aerodynamic characteristics. 

effects were significant only with respect to the slope of the normal-force and pitching moment curve at low angles of attack. The variations of the aerodynamic characteristics with the various parameters were, in general, similar to those predicted by 

Newtonian theory under certain conditions. 

Results indicated that boundary layer separation 

Structures -- Wind tunnels studies of the effect of aerodynamic and structural factors 

in producing panel flutter were correlated with flight data by mounting highly instrumented structural panels on a fighter aircraft and subjecting them to supersonic 

flight conditions. 

structural materials, such as titanium and aluminum alloys, to establish the fatigue 

behavior under various environmental conditions, and cyclic loading tests were made 

on structural box beams representative of current super sonic aircraft structural 

de sign. 

Also, tests were conducted on simple specimens of various 

Air Breathing Propulsion -- Research efforts to improve engine component performance and reduce engine weight continued with special attention to the complex 

problems associated with the integration of engine-inlet-exhaust system controls. 

The program on the hydrogen-fueled, super sonic -burning, hyper sonic ramjet 

research engine was in the engine design concept phase. This research engine is 

expected to advance the technology of air breathing propulsion for hypersonic flight 

applications such as advanced global transportation systems. 

27 
Aircraft Operating Problems -- A three-day NASA Conference on Aircraft Operating 

Problems held at the Langley Research Center during May was attended by more than -. 

400 technical experts from industry and government. Progress was reported on an air 

jet technique to improve tire-runway traction, a criterion to define runway roughness 

includ.ing aircraft response, means of controlling aircraft in steep approaches to landing, a way to determine position on the runway during takeoff, laboratory studies of 

the use of a laser to measure clear air turbulence, the cues required to prevent aircraft from becoming locked in a deep-stall, methods for recovery of an aircraft 

after upset by turbulence, and the preliminary design concepts for a flight director 

to permit super sonic transport climb-out operations without exceeding sonic boom 

restrictions. 

NASA continued theoretical and experimental studies of the sonic boom and developed 

and checked by wind-tunnel and flight tests a new near-field theory useful in predicting 

the sonic boom characteristics of supersonic transport configurations during transonic 

climb-out. 

Modifications to the NASA variable stability JETSTAR aircraft, permitting it to simulate many different types of aircraft, were completed. 

pletes flight system checks, it will be used to study the proper techniques for flying 

aircraft in rough air and the potential flight problems of the supersonic transport. 

As soon as the aircraft comX-15 Research Aircraft 

The three X-15 research airplanes continued to provide data on manned, maneuverable 

flight at hypersonic speeds. As of the end of the year, 156 flights had been made by 

the three airplanes. During this year, they completed 32 flights, the greatest number of flights in any calendar year. Research programs underway during 1965 for the 

X- 15 included studies of boundary-layer skin friction and noise, horizontal tail loads, 

ultraviolet stellar photography, micrometeorite collection, aircraft stability and 

control, Project APOLLO-related horizon scanners and photometers, infrared earth 

and sky scanners, studies of atmospheric density at high altitudes, a reaction-control 

automatic stabilization system, and flight tests of various ablation coatings, to find 

one suitable for the X-15-2 Mach 8 flights scheduled for 1966. 

The Fourth Air Force-Navy-NASA Research Airplane Committee Conference on the 

Progress of the X-15 Research Airplane Program, was held in October. 

topics discussed were current status and future plans of the program, development of 

the X-15A-2 aircraft and thermal protection system, heat-transfer, controllability, 

reentry re search, scientific test bed experiments, and hyper sonic propulsion system 

testing. 

Among the 

Supersonic Transport -- In support of the National Super sonic Transport Program, 

NASA assigned research personnel to the Federal Aviation Agency SST Phase IIC - 

Performance Assessment. 

Models of the supersonic transport as conceived by two major aircraft companies 

were tested in the 40-by 80-foot and Unitary Plan Wind Tunnels. 

large-scale low- speed model tests indicated substantial improvement in lift/drag 

ratio and stability at the stall. 

refinements to bring these aircraft to the goal specified in the SST program objectives: 

landing and take-off performance superior to present subsonic jet transports. 

Results of the 

Research is continuing on further improvement and 

28 
Supersonic aerodynamics research included analytical studies to obtain optimum 

wing twist and camber. 

which avoid certain basic theory violations that existed with earlier theoretical 

programs. 

ized wing shapes is about eight percent. 

New revised analytical computer programs were developed 

The degree of improvement in aerodynamic efficiency of these generalV/STOL Aircraft - -NASA - sponso red feasibility studies by three air c raft manufac - 

turers were initiated to indicate the specific research work required to develop 

promising V/STOL concepts into useful aircraft for commercial short-haul transportation. The studies, to be completed early in 1966, emphasize aircraft design 

aspects, but also take into consideration economic and flight operations influences. 

Extensive wind-tunnel studies continued on the aerodynamics of several V/STOL 

concepts of current interest to the military services, particularly the tilt wing 

(SC-142A-type), tilt duct (X-22A-type), and lift-cruise fan. Using representative 

fighter -type models, general research investigations were also made of inlet and 

exit interference effects, including those resulting in hot gas reingestion. 

accelerate such research, a cooperative NASA-Army Materiel Command program was 

started early this year. Under this program, the Army will provide up to 30 professional and supporting personnel spaces to augment the effort of the NASA staff working in such areas as low-speed aerodynamics and handling qualities of advanced 

V/STOL aircraft, and will staff and operate a NASA low-speed wind-tunnel facility to 

satisfy more specific Army research and development needs. 

To 

NASA-USAF XB-70 Flight Research Program--In its research for the supersonic 

transport and for large supersonic aircraft in general, NASA is using the Air Force 

XB-70 airplane as a unique research facility for increasing knowledge required to 

achieve safe, efficient, cruise flight with large vehicles at higher supersonic speeds. 

From the XB-70 it is possible to obtain fundamental research information in aerodynamics, structures and loads, propulsion, and operations under true environmental 

conditions which cannot be duplicated in any existing or likely future ground facility. 

NASA installed special research instrumentation in the two XB-70 aircraft and began 

to acquire research data with the first XB-70 flight in 1964. 

accelerated with the concurrent flight test programs of both airplanes which began 

in July when the second airplane made its first flight. 

The flow of data 

A formal NASA-DOD Memorandum of Understanding regarding the NASA portion of 

the XB-70 program was signed on May 28, 1965. A Management Agreement, 

implementing the Memorandum of Understanding, was signed by the Air Force and 

the NASA on October 11. 

to begin at the end of April 1966. 

Full NASA participation in the XB-70 program is expected 

CHEMICAL PROPULSION 

Liquid Propulsion Systems 

Since there is no near term requirement for development of a post-SATURN class 

launch vehicle, work on the M-1 engine program will be terminated following tests 

of the large-scale components. During the phase-out period, the gas generator, the 

oxidizer and fuel turbopumps, and the uncooled thrust chamber are being tested on 

the component level. 

29 
Using the results and data obtained in the M-1 engine program together with other 

experimental tests and technology work, NASA's advanced launch vehicle engine 

effort will be concentrated upon the toroidal-plug configuration and the high chamber 

pressure engine. Tests of advanced bell nozzles and toroidal plug exit configurations 

indicate potential methods of improving overall engine system performance. 

pressure hydrogen pump tests were conducted, and a high pressure oxygen pump was 

designed and fabrication initiated. 

continued to correlate combustion instability phenomena and effects. 

technology and experimental work were being extended to provide a sound basis for 

development of advanced engines utilizing the concepts emerging from the current 

experimental and research effort. 

High 

Further studies and experimental research were 

Propulsion 

In the spacecraft propulsion area, the following propellant combinations were being 

studied: hydrogen-fluorine, hydrogen-oxygen, oxygendifluoride-monomethyl 

hydrazine, oxygen difluoride-hydrocarbon. Mixtures of fluorine and oxygen (FLOX) 

can be substituted for oxygen or oxygen difluoride. Each of these combinations was 

fired, performance and feasibility were demonstrated, and evaluation is being 

performed in order to develop system concepts, nozzle and chamber cooling capabilities, fluid system design criteria, and handling requirements. 

Particular problems associated with fuels or components were being investigated. 

For the problem of reducing hydrogen "boil off, 'I gellation techniques and sub-cooling 

of liquid hydrogen are considered promising. To cope with the high reactivity of 

fluorine and oxygen difluoride, effort was directed to developing adequate design 

criteria. 

and diborane (about 8000OF) cannot be contained by current flight weight combustion 

chambers and nozzles, research on high temperature components was continued for 

a practical design approach which would permit further investigation of oxygen 

difluoride and diborane and similar high energy propellant combinations. 

Also, since the high combustion temperature produced by oxygen difluoride 

In the liquid experimental engines work, kinetic losses associated with the nozzle 

expansion process were measured with the fluorine-hydrogen combination in the low 

pressure regime where these losses produce significant degradation of specific 

impulse. Higher pressure pump-fed engine system performance and operating 

characteristics were demonstrated with fluorine-hydrogen and FLOX-methane using 

the RL-10 engine (with modifications) as a test bed. Criteria for the design, fabrication, inspection, and servicing of flight weight fluorine feed system components 

are to be established as one of the objectives of a recently initiated program. 

auxiliary engine area, projects were started using monopropellant hydrazine and 

high energy LOX-hydrogen propellants. 

In the 

Solid Propulsion T e c hno lo gy 

NASA continued efforts to advance solid technology with studies of such areas as new 

higher energy propellants, metal combustion processes, instability mechanisms, and 

two-phase flow problems. 

restart and thrust variation in space, on the technology of hybrid systems, and on 

problems arising from the great size of present and projected solid motors. One 

such problem- -determining the structural integrity of these large solid grains by 

non-destructive testing techniques - -was being actively investigated. 

Research was conducted on motors capable of command 

In the large solid propellant motor program, which became a NASA funding and 

30 
management responsibility in fiscal 1965, a completely successful test firing was 

made in September of the first 22-foot-diameter, 80-foot-long motor. 

almost 1 -3/4 million pounds of propellant in a single charge and produced peak thrust 

of 3-1/2 million pounds during its two minutes of burning time--the highest known 

thrust ever attained by a single rocket motor. Studies indicate that such motors offer 

the potential of significant reduction in the cost of launching large payloads and in the 

time required to develop this capability. 

It contained 

In spacecraft applications, propulsion definition studies were in progress to delineate 

potential areas requiring the use of efficient new high energy solid and hybrid motors. 

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN RESEARCH 

Oxygen Toxicity Research 

On extended space missions, problems may arise from long-term exposure to 100 

percent oxygen at reduced pressures. 

way to determine the upper acute threshold level of oxygen pressure which an animal 

can tolerate. 

from 4. 8 psi to 14. 7 psi for periods of time up to 64 days. It was determined that 

8. 17 psi is the maximum oxygen pressure which a rat (Sprague Dawley Strain) can 

tolerate. Above this concentration, significant blood, metabolic, and histological 

changes were observed. 

dogs, and primates. 

At Ames Research Center a study was under 

Rats were continuously exposed to 100 percent oxygen at pressures 

Plans call for these experiments to be extended to rabbits, 

Bioassav Method for Measuring. Stress 

Ames Research Center conducted research to discover the hormone which stimulates 

the anterior pituitary gland and releases adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) which 

in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex in reaction to stress. 

determined that vasopressin or a vasopressin-like hormone apparently gives an 

indication of stress in an animal, and a precise bioassay method for measuring 

vasopressin in the blood was developed. 

A corollary effort 

Development of a Nephelometer 

In the weightless environment of spacecraft, dust particles in the cabin do not settle 

out but continue to float and in sizes from 0. 5 to 10 microns may be a hazard of 

biological significance. To measure the concentration of such dust particles, a 

prototype of an instrument, called a nephelometer, was built and successfully tested. 

A contract was placed for one such instrument, and plans were made to fly it on one 

of the early manned APOLLO vehicles. 

Spray-on Bioelectrodes for EKG 

The NASA Flight Research Center developed a spray-on method for applying bioelectrodes to sense EKG and other bio-potentials. These electrodes can be easily and 

rapidly applied by personnel with limited training, they maintain electrical contact 

consistently, they do not require shaving of the electrode area, they may be worn 

for several hours with no discomfort, and they are easily removed by an appropriate 

solvent. The spray-on electrodes, with their associated signal conditioners and 

tape recorders, are presently being used in a joint NASA/USAF project to obtain 

31 
biomedical data on students of the USAF Aerospace Test Pilot School. 

Space Bio-Medicine 

Regenerative Life Support Systems--NASA's advanced physical-chemical regenerative life support system, designed to operate for up to a year with expendables 

resupplied at 90-day intervals, was installed in a "boiler plate" space vehicle at the 

Langley Research Center. 

duration were scheduled. 

included such advanced items as solid and molten electrolyte oxygen recovery systems 

and a phase change--membrane water reclamation system. 

Preliminary manned tests were run and tests of extended 

Life support system components under investigation 

Development of Hard Suit- -A metal space suit which incorporates constant volume 

joints was being developed. 

to man's performance in extravehicular tasks, and leakage is less than one-half that 

of present soft suits which cannot operate over 3. 5 psi. 

a significant advance in that it provides the astronaut with considerable mobility, both 

in space and on the lunar surface, and also offers the potential for radiation, micrometeoroid, and thermal protection. Further research was being conducted on 

thermal control techniques and longer duration life support systems to be incorporated 

in the suit. 

It offers negligible resistance to movements necessary 

The hard suit represents 

Flight Experiment- -An experiment to provide basic physiological information on how 

the otolith, a part of the body balance system located in the inner ear, functions in 

the zero gravity environment was approved to be carried on an early APOLLO flight. 

For this flight experiment, nerve impulse signals from individual nerve fibers of a 

frog's otolith, which is similar to man's, will be tapped, and the action of the otolith 

under weightlessness will be measured by recording its nerve impulses. 

information will indicate the adaptiveness of the otolith to weightlessness. 

This 

Lunar Locomotion- -Locomotion on a simulated lunar surface was found to consume 

approximately one-third less energy than that required on earth. 

derived from oxygen consumption measurements made of men walking, running, 

jumping, and leaping under simulated lunar gravity conditions. 

can be used to determine logistic support requirements for life support systems and 

to collect data on the limitations on travel and work on the lunar surface for both 

shirtsleeve and pressure suited conditions. 

This finding was 

The same method 

SPACE VEHICLE SYSTEMS 

Aerothermodynamics 

Flight research programs continued to provide information required for manned and 

unmanned spacecraft designed for reentry into the atmosphere. The second Project 

FIRE experiment contributed highly accurate data on spacecraft radiative heating 

during the critical peak heating phase. In NASA's lifting body research program, one 

of the two vehicles, which are representative of vehicle shapes suitable for reent'ry 

at orbital speeds and for conventional landing at subsonic speeds, was delivered 

(the M-2) and the other (the HL-10) was nearing completion. Both will be used for 

flight testing of handling qualities and landing characteristics. Research continued 

on spacecraft recoverable by parachute. Means of providing a lift capability and of 

allowing the astronaut to steer the parachute were investigated, and several concepts 

32 
were developed which may result in lateral maneuverability and glide ranges of about 

15 to 20 miles after deployment. 

Structures 

Studies of techniques for attenuating landing impacts of spacecraft led to a highly 

efficient concept involving cyclic material deformation. 

simplicity of operation, adjustment ability for various conditions, reusability, and 

light weight. In research on winds and turbulence affecting the structural design of 

space vehicles, the radar -balloon system was improved by incorporating conical 

projections, which optimize the accuracy of wind measurements used in predicting 

loads on space vehicles. 

structures as emergency shelters or extended stay modules on planetary surfaces. 

These structures, which can be compactly stowed and easily erected on the planetary 

surface, may be equipped with complete life support systems or use those aboard the 

spacecraft. 

propellant rocket motor grains where the motor is exposed to thermal and handling 

loads, in highly heated structures suc'h as entry vehicles, and in supersonic transport 

ai'rcraft. 

quantitative stress analysis on such materials, and equipment and techniques were 

being refined so they can be used routinely in engineering analysis and design. 

Its advantages include 

Studies demonstrated the feasibility of using expandable 

Structural problems involving viscoelastic materials are found in solid 

An experimental technique was developed which makes it possible to perform 

Environmental Factors 

In continued research on the meteoroid hazard to spacecraft, three large PEGASUS 

satellites were launched by SATURN I vehicles this year to count actual penetrations 

in large area, relatively thick structural skin samples. All these satellites were 

furnishing significant new data on the meteoroid hazard. 

launched EXPLORER XXIII (launched November 6, 1964) has continued to provide 

excellent statistical data on penetrations of thin materials. 

meteorite specimen undergoing simulated atmosphere entry heating showed a 

substantial change in shape and frontal area as a result of the heating. 

changes would affect the trajectories of meteoroids, deductions as to meteoroid 

densities made on the basis of such parameters could be in error, and meteor 

astronomers who deduce meteor properties from ground-based observations may 

have to revise their conclusions on the basis of these studies. 

The smaller SCOUTLaboratory studies of a 

Since these 

Research to improve thermal design and thermal-vacuum test procedures included 

a series of ground tests of a half-scale model of the MARINER Mars vehicle. Test 

results were compared with the actual thermal performance of the flight hardware; 

the data from the scale model tests under solar simulation agreed well with those 

obtained in flight. These results suggest that thermal scale modeling under steady 

state conditions can be effectively used as a design and testing tool to improve the 

thermal performance of spacecraft. 

Design Criteria--In accord with its aim of insuring flight worthiness of NASA space 

vehicles by incorporating the latest technical information into design criteria, NASA 

made five criteria monographs available to potential users in government and 

industry. Four monographs pertain to structural aspects of design, and one has to 

do with the solar electromagnetic radiation environment in which space vehicles 

must ope rat e. 

33 
ELECTRONICS AND CONTROL 

Previous Element Coding 

Research on methods of reducing the amount of redundant data transmitted from 

spacecraft resulted in the development of a technique known as Previous Element 

Coding. 

digital form so as to transmit only picture elements which differ from previously 

transmitted elements. 

the entire picture by generating the missing picture elements and inserting them in 

the proper location. 

In this system, electronic circuits operate on television pictures coded in 

A computer processes received information to reconstruct 

Ferrite Plate Memories 

Research on high capacity, radiation resistant, low power memory devices for 

computer and bulk data storage use in spacecraft produced a laboratory prototype 

memory composed of thin sheets of platinum conductors and ferrite material. 

packing density and relatively low cost were achieved by using batch fabricating 

methods. Research was continued on batch fabrication of microelectronic logic 

circuits for driving and sensing the memory. 

High 

Solid-state Imaging System 

The basic element of a "scanless" TV camera system using a solid-state imaging 

device instead of an electronic imaging tube was developed. The system employs 

molecular electronic circuitry to perform the opto-electronic transfer necessary to 

obtain a video signal output. 

low in power consumption, and ideally suited for space usage since it does not 

utilize beam scanning. 

A camera built on this principle is rugged, light weight, 

Communications and Tracking 

During entry of a spacecraft into a planetary atmosphere, there is a communications 

"blackout" due to ionization of the atmosphere enveloping the spacecraft. The 

GEMINI reentry communications experiment (T - 1) was flown on GEMINI I11 to 

investigate the feasibility of water injection as a technique for alleviating this problem 

at earth reentry speeds. 

successfully eliminated for UHF and C-band at a reentry velocity of 26, 000 feet per 

second. 

the communications blackout problem. 

During a portion of the water injection period, blackout was 

These results demonstrated that water injection can be used to overcome 

Electrostatic Gyro System 

Recent progress on the technology development of the electrostatic gyro led to the 

initiation of a joint effort with the U. S. Air Force Avionics Laboratory to incorporate 

the gyro in a strapped-down inertial navigation system. The strapped-down 

electrostatically-suspended gyro system eliminates complex gimbal structures, 

angle readout devices, and associated servos, making possible a true space reference 

platform. The gyros, which can be easily replaced in flight, offer still further 

advantages over conventional gimballed platforms in reliability and maintainability 

for long duration missions, 

34 
Electronic Techniques and Components - -This is a new program established to 

provide the necessary support research to ensure that electronic component technology will be available for future NASA missions. 

effort will be at the NASA Electronics Research Center. 

The principal activity in this 

Control Systems --Past research efforts emphasized the investigation and development 

of advanced concepts and components for future applications. Results of these efforts 

are being applied in the design of the Advanced Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 

(OAO) star tracker, the development of an all-axis, inertially coupled, gravity 

gradient stabilization system for the Advanced Technology Satellite (ATS), and 

development of a brushless DC momentum wheel torquer. 

resulted in the development of a simple sighting cross for use in spacecraft docking 

maneuvers. 

into ,the design of the APOLLO-LEM spacecraft configuration. 

Manual control studies 

This technique was carefully evaluated and is now being incorporated 

NUCLEAR SYSTEMS AND SPACE POWER 

During the year, NASA continued working to develop electric power generators 

employing nuclear reactors; the Agency also moved forward with its solar and 

chemical power and electric rocket engine programs. 

Nuclear Power Generation 

A 50-watt electrically-heated prototype isotope generator, the SNAP- 19 (Systems 

for Nuclear Auxiliary Power), was extensively tested at Goddard Space Flight Center. 

Though some performance deficiencies were noted, the required corrective actions 

were determined, and the changes were being incorporated. 

A decision was made to proceed with the design of a 50-watt isotope generator for 

the APOLLQ Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP), which is to be left behind 

by the astronauts after the first lunar landing. This power supply, designated the 

SNAP-27, will enable scientific information to be sent back to earth for about a year 

after the astronauts' departure. 

SNAP-8 is a project for development of a 35KWe electrical nuclear power system for 

use in advanced space missions. In 1965, the reactor completed a 12,000-hour test 

program and was undergoing post-test examination. 

first generation of power conversion hardware was completed and endurance testing 

was initiated. 

Performance testing of the 

The NASA advanced nuclear power program is concerned principally with three 

energy conversion concepts: thermionic direct conversion and both the Rankine and 

Brayton cycle turbogenerator systems. 

investigation into the efficiency and performance characteristics of radial and axial 

flow turbines and compressors and heat exchangers was expanded; aerodynamic 

efficiencies of small size radial-flow turbines (6-inch diameter and 4. 6-inch 

diameter) and radial-flow compressors (6-inch diameter and 3. 2-inch diameter) 

were obtained. The performance data obtained were, in general, quite encouraging. 

As part of the Brayton cycle work, 

The Rankine turbogenerator effort showed considerable progress in several important 

component areas. 

turbine was conducted, and an endurance run (exceeding 700 hours) of the test turbine 

"Dry" performance testing of a 200 kilowatt potassium vapor 

35 
was completed. This test is continuing with 2, 000 hours operation as its goal. 

Many of the materials programs began to yield important test data. 

liquid sodium corrosion loop constructed of an advanced columbium alloy finished a 

2, 500 hour test as part of one of the materials programs. 

was evaluation of the loop components for an advanced alloy boiling potassium 

corrosion loop. The latter loop, now in operation, completed over 1, 800 hours of 

testing. 

phase of the boiler and condenser experimental program. 

once-through boilers and condensers of acceptable weight and size can be constructed, 

at least from a heat transfer standpoint. 

A 20000F 

The objective of this test 

The two phase potassium heat transfer program completed the single tube 

The data indicates that 

The largest refractory alloy boiling alkali metal test facility in existence began test 

operation at NASA-Lewis during the year. 

multi-tube stability effects in 2000°F alkali metal boilers. 

This facility will be used in evaluating 

The thermionic conversion effort was mainly concerned with high temperature 

nuclear fuel and fuel-diode compatibility investigations. 

in-pile both at the NASA-Plum Brook Reactor and at an industry test reactor. 

addition, out-of -pile testing of fueled and unfueled converters continued. 

pile and out-of-pile converter performance and operating life showed improvement, 

but degradation of performance with time in both test modes remains a problem. 

Tests were performed 

In 

Both inSolar and Chemical Power 

Progress toward a better understanding of the reaction kinetics of battery and fuel 

cell electrodes was realized during the year. 

batteries are used extensively to supply electric power to launch vehicles and spacecraft; and fuel cell powerplants are programed for use on the GEMINI, APOLLO, 

and biosatellite space flights. 

Both primary and secondary alkaline 

Further improvements in performance and life were made on the capillary fuel cell. 

This low temperature system uses a potassium-hydroxide-water electrolyte held in 

place between two electrodes by a thin asbestos blotter. 

reaction of hydrogen and oxygen is taken from the cell by a static moisture removal 

design using vapor pressure difference as the driving force. The capillary fuel cell 

has shown excellent progress toward providing the long life (30 - 45 days) and 

performance needed for manned space flights beyond APOLLO. 

Water resulting from the 

A study and design analysis of a 50 Kilowatt photovoltaic solar cell array was 

completed during 1965. The use of thin silicon solar cells mounted on lightweight, 

folding array structures shows promise of providing the electric power that would 

be needed for such advanced missions as large orbiting space stations and unmanned 

interplanetary probes driven by electric propulsion systems. 

Electric Thrustors 

In the past year, the NASA program in electric rocket propulsion made considerable 

progress. As a result of this technology effort, plans were being made to flight test 

small electric thrustor systems on the initial NASA Application Technology Satellite 

(ATS). 

2, 600 hours. 

In addition, a long duration ion engine test was voluntarily terminated after 

The success of this test was the first concrete evidence that engine 

36 
lifetimes of 10, 000 hours may be within reach. 

such engines for mid-course propulsion were initiated, and system hardware tests 

begun. 

plasma and electrothermal. 

Studies evaluating the usefulness of 

Advanced efforts were continued on the three main classes of thrustor--ion, 

NUCLEAR ROCKET PROGRAM 

The major emphasis in the Nuclear Rocket Program was on the development of 

solid-core graphite reactor and engine system technology. 

this work was supplemented by a broad research program concerned with the 

development of non-reactor and engine system technology, the investigation of 

alternate and advanced reactor concepts, and safety. 

As in previous years, 

Progress in developing graphite reactor and engine system technology was marked 

by the successful completion of three NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle 

Application) reactor experiments (using the same reactor assembly) and the first 

reactor test under the PHOEBUS advanced graphite reactor program. 

used for this experiment was call the PHOEBUS IA. 

were made for conducting the first full-scale development test of an experimental 

nuclear rocket engine system (NRX/EST) under the NERVA program. 

The reactor 

In addition, final preparations 

The three NERVA reactor experiments were conducted on April 23, May 20, and 

May 28, respectively. The reactor used for all three tests, the NRX-A3, was an 

improved version of the NRX-A2 design tested last year. 

In the first two experiments, the NRX-A3 was run through two power cycles totaling 

approximately 25 minutes of operation. About 16. 5 minutes of this time were at full 

power. 

investigate the. effects of the liquid hydrogen propellant on reactor control in the lowto-medium power region. 

of operation had been accumulated. Operation of the NRX-A3 during each of the tests 

was very good and sound data was obtained. 

Following these experiments, the reactor was again restarted and used to 

By the close of this run, a total of more than 60 minutes 

The PHOEBUS IA experiment, utilizing a KIWI-sized assembly and conducted by the 

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, was completed June 25. 

series of reactor experiments designed to evaluate, in the KIWI-size reactor, the 

important elements associated with the development of a larger diameter reactor. 

The design of the PHOEBUS IA em-bodied many of the design innovations suggested 

by the results of earlier KIWI and NERVA reactor tests. 

power and the full power hold (about 10. 5 minutes), the PHOEBUS IA operated 

according to pre-test predictions. 

the liquid hydrogen supply in the facility was exhausted, resulting in overheating and 

subsequent reactor damage. This occurrence was not due to a reactor malfunction 

but rather to the failure of the facility liquid hydrogen Dewar level gauge which had 

been indicating a higher than actual residual of coolant. 

been taken to prevent recurrence of this problem. 

This was the first in a 

During the start to full 

During the shutdown from full power, however, 

The necessary action has 

In the advanced research and technology portion of the nuclear rocket program, work 

continued on the development of feed systems, nozzles, controls, and other critical 

components to support the current. graphite reactor and engine technology effort; on 

evaluating how these components would function in the heat and radiation environment 

of a nuclear rocket engine system; and on examining the operation of a reactor with 

37 
these components under cold flow engine test conditions. 

In addition to the work being conducted on graphite systems, work continued on a 

modest scale to explore the performance potential of the tungsten fast and thermal 

reactor concepts. 

element materials and fabrication processes, with the objective of establishing the 

feasibility and performance potential of these systems. 

The effort was concentrated primarily on the development of fuel 

In the area of advanced concepts, basic studies and research were continued at a low 

level on dust bed, liquid core, and gaseous core reactor systems. The primary 

emphasis was on the fluid flow and heat transfer aspects of these systems. 

The most significant activity in the safety program during 1965 was the completion 

of an experiment known as the KIWI-Transient-Nuclear Test. 

experiment was to determine, for a graphite nuclear rocket reactor, the accuracy 

of theoretical techniques developed for predicting the response of a reactor to very 

large and rapid insertions of reactivity. 

under launch accident conditions entailing a maximized power event, the safety of 

personnel at the launch site and off-site could readily be assured. 

The purpose of the 

The experiment demonstrated that even 

TRACKING AND DATA ACQUISITION 

Under the tracking and data acquisition program, NASA showed significant advance - 

ments in the capability to support manned and unmanned flight missions. Network 

facilities and equipment were modified and augmented to meet the requirements of 

forthcoming programs. 

Manned Space Flight Network 

The Manned Space Flight Network, used for the first time in March 1965 to support 

a GEMINI mission, supported all six GEMINI missions during the year. During the 

GEMINI 111 mission, the communications satellite, SYNCOM 11, was used for the 

first time, in conjunction with the network, as a link between the remote ship stations 

and the Mission Control Center. 

coverage of the extravehicular activity. 

Real-time communications also permitted excellent 

The SATURN and ATLAS-CENTAUR vehicle missions also were supported. 

addition to these NASA missions, some stations of the network supported the DOD 

TITAN 111-C development program. 

In 

Management of three stations (Kokee Park, Hawaii; Canton Island; and Corpus 

Christi, Tex. ) was transferred to NASA from DOD for support of GEMINI and future 

manned flights. 

While continuing to cover GEMIFI missions, the Manned Space Flight Network is 

being augmented in preparation for APOLLO support. 

modified and new facilities are being established which will provide, for support of 

manned lunar missions, a network consisting of ten fixed land stations with 30-foot 

antennas, three stations with 85-foot antennas, one transportable station, five 

instrumented ships, and eight instrumented aircraft. 

Existing stations are being 

Necessary agreements were reached for the establishment of new stations, and the 

38 
pace of station construction activity increased. 

continued and deliveries of completed units for installation at stations began. 

Modification of the ships continued on an accelerated basis. Definitive studies of 

aircraft instrumentation requirements were completed, and a contractor was selected 

by the Department of Defense to modify eight C-135 aircraft for communications with 

the APOLLO spacecraft during its injection into the translunar coast trajectory. 

Major procurements of equipment 

A comprehensive agreement concerning land-based tracking, data acquisition, and 

communications facilities was reached with DOD. 

improved planning coordination, single -agency management of support at co -located 

stations, and other measures to assure efficient utilization of the ground instrumentation facilities of both agencies in support of the national space program. 

This agreement provides for 

A determination was made that for lunar missions it would be necessary to improve 

communications to certain stations and ships through the use of communication 

satellites. NASA, as an agent for the National Communications System (NCS), is 

negotiating with the Communications Satellite Corporation for the necessary services. 

Also during the year, solid-state switching units for the NASA Operational Communications Network (NASCOM) were installed at communications centers in Australia 

and England to improve circuit capacity and reliability. 

Satellite Network 

The Satellite Network is composed of the electronic Space Tracking and Data 

Acquisition Network (STADAN) and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) 

optical camera tracking stations. 

Improvements in the Satellite Network were carried forward as planned to meet 

satellite program requirements. The second 85-foot antenna system at Rosman, 

N. C., is now operational, as is the 85-foot antenna facility at Canberra, Australia. 

These antenna systems, together with the Alaska 85-foot antenna facility and the 

40-foot medium gain antenna facilities in South America and South Africa, now 

provide the network with capability for handling the large data requirements of the 

observatory satellite program. 

NASA and the Australian government joined in selecting a site (near Toowoomba, 

Australia) for a transportable ground station to support the Application Technology 

Satellite (ATS), and an agency-to -agency agreement was reached. 

Work was started to modify the STADAN station at Goldstone, Calif., for ATS support. 

An 85-foot antenna facility at Fairbanks, Alaska, constructed by NASA for the U. S. 

Weather Bureau, became operational and was transferred to that Bureau for 

meteorological work. A similar facility is being installed at Wallops Island, Va., 

for support of the Weather Bureau's TIROS Operational Satellite (TOS) project. 

The control center complex at the Coddard Space Flight Center was expanded to 

provide for greater data handling, command, and control capacity. Such capacity is 

required for the larger observatory satellites that carry a greater number of onboard 

experiments operating over longer periods in space. 

The network was further improved to provide increased accuracy in tracking of 

39 
highly eccentric orbiting satellites. 

became operational at the Tananarive, Malagasy, station. 

An additional Range and Range Rate system 

During the year, this network supported a total of 82 flight missions. 

DeeD %ace Network 

The Deep Space Network is a highly precise system which provides communications 

with, and control of, spacecraft orbiting at lunar and planetary distances. It 

consists of ground tracking stations spaced at intervals of approximately 1200 

longitude around the world in California, Australia, Spain, and South Africa, and a 

control center located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 

During the year, the major flight programs supported were RANGER VIII, RANGER 

IX, the MARINER IV Mars Fly-by mission, and the early phase of the PIONEER A 

flight mission (scheduled later this year). 

MARINER IV and RANGER, were supported simultaneously by the network. 

For the first time, two missions, 

Photographs of the lunar surface taken by RANGER IX and televised nationwide in 

near -real-time were a major accomplishment. Photographs of the Martian surface 

accomplished by the Mars Fly-by mission were hailed by many as the outstanding 

scientific achievement made during the year. As the MARINER IV passed by Mars, 

the occultation experiment, made possible by very precise tracking accuracy, gave 

the experimenters excellent data for determining the density of the Martian atmosphere. 

After encounter, the Deep Space Network continued to track and acquire data to 

establish a new communications range record of 191 million miles between network 

stations and the spacecraft. 

The MARINER was 135 million miles from earth at the time of encounter. 

The stations in Canberra, Australia, and Madrid, Spain, were operational for the 

first time in supporting the MARINER IV project. 

of the first 210-foot diameter advanced antenna system was completed and final 

checkout was under way. 

Construction at Mojave, Calif., 

UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS 

NASA's Sustaining University Program augments the Agency's extramural research 

efforts and broadens the base of university participation in the national space program. 

Its major elements are concerned with predoctoral training, special purpose 

multidisciplinary research, and the construction of research laboratory facilities. 

Under the predoctoral program this year, 1, 275 students entered training in science 

and engineering at 142 universities in 50 states, bringing the total number of 

trainees to 3, 132. 

1, 000 Ph. D. Is. ) 

(The continued aim of the program is an annual yield of about 

The special purpose research element provided 59 grants to 53 institutions for 

cross-disciplinary research and the stimulation of new research capabilities. 

Significant progress was also made in expanding laboratory space at universities as 

nine facilities begun under previous grants were completed and occupied, and seven 

new facilities grants were allotted to institutions conducting research and training in 

40 
support of the national space program. 

over 280,000 sq. ft. of new laboratory area for space related research. 

The newly completed structures provide 

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 

Cooperative international flight projects and support activities were extended and new 

projects negotiated. 

Satellite Projects 

NASA launched the Canadian satellite ALOUETTE I1 from the Western Test Range 

on November 28. 

purpose of which is to provide information on the ionosphere throughout an eleven 

year period from solar minimum to solar maximum. 

completed its third year of trouble-free operation in orbit. 

technical papers and a number of scientific "firsts" have resulted from the operation 

of this spacecraft. 

launched by NASA in 1967, 1968, and 1969. 

This launch was the second in a five-satellite series, the overall 

In September, ALOUETTE I 

Over 120 scientific and 

The last three satellites in this series are scheduled to be 

The first satellite launched in cooperation with France, FR-1, was placed in orbit on 

December 6 and is providing data on very low frequency radio wave propagation. 

NASA and the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES) have agreed in 

principle upon a second French satellite proposal. 

employ a satellite to locate and receive meteorological data from constant-level 

balloons. 

This experimental project will 

On July 17, NASA and the German Federal Ministry for Scientific Research signed 

a Memorandum of Understanding providing for the launching of a German satellite to 

measure the spectra and flux of protons and electrons in the earth's inner radiation 

belt. 

launch the satellite from the Western Test Range in 1968. 

Subject to preliminary tests of spacecraft instrumentation, it is planned to 

Progress continues on previously-agreed joint satellite projects with the European 

Space Research Organization (ESRO), Italy, and the United Kingdom. Two ESRO 

satellites are scheduled for launch on NASA vehicles in 1967; the second Italian 

(SAN MARCO) satellite in late 1966 or 1967, and the third NASA/U. K. satellite 

early in 1967. 

During 1965, the total of foreign experiments contributed and selected for flight on 

NASA satellites rose to 16. 

from the U. K. and the first proposal from Italy to be accepted by NASA. 

to reach flight stage was launched on the OGO-I1 spacecraft in October. 

instrumented by NASA and French scientists, it is observing airglow and aurora at 

visible and ultraviolet wave-lengths. 

British scientists were launched on the Direct Measurement EXPLORER spacecraft 

in November. 

These experiments include the tenth experiment proposal 

The second 

Jointly 

Two additional experiments contributed by 

Nine proposals for experiments to be included on the unmanned VOYAGER mission 

to Mars were received in response to a NASA "Announcement of Flight Opportunity" 

distributed widely within the international scientific community. These proposals, 

from scientists in Canada, France, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, 

Switzerland and the United Kingdom, were being evaluated along with proposals 

41 
submitted by U. S. scientists. 

Fifty-eight foreign ground stations in 28 countries plus Antarctica and Hong Kong 

have been receiving radio signals from the two BEACON EXPLORER satellites 

launched by NASA in October of last year and April of this year. 

at next summer's COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) Symposium will be 

devoted to consideration of the results of these experiments. 

A special session 

Suwwort of Manned Swace Fliehts 

Arrangements were made with a number of governments to permit the staging of 

contingency recovery aircraft at airfields in their countries, as required for 

GEMINI missions. 

U.S. - Soviet Cooperation 

The reciprocal exchange of conventional meteorological data between the U. S. and 

the U. S. S. R. continued over a special shared-cost communications link, pursuant to 

the Bilateral Space Agreement of June 8, 1962, and the implementing Memorandum 

of Understanding of November 5, 1964. These agreements provide for such exchange 

prior to and, on a secondary basis, during the exchange of satellite data. In 

New York in October, spokesmen for the Soviet side stated their expectation to have 

satellite meteorological data available on a continuing basis within "a few months. I' 

On October 8, NASA and the Academy of Sciences of the U. S. S. R. signed an agreement for the preparation and publication of a joint review of research in space 

biology and medicine. This agreement provides for a joint Editorial Board and for 

full cooperation by both sides in the preparation of materials, the selection of 

authors, and the publication of their work. 

Sounding Rockets 

Cooperative sounding rocket launchings were conducted for the first time with the 

Netherlands and Brazil to obtain datz on upper atmosphere winds and the effects of 

cosmic radiation on the ionosphere. 

New sounding rocket projects were negotiated with Argentina, Brazil, India, 

New Zealand, Norway and Denmark, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom: 

a. the agreements with Argentina and Brazil provide for the establishment 

of an inter-American experimental meteorological sounding rocket network 

(EXAMETNET), with launching stations in a north/south chain through the 

Western Hemisphere. 

b. the agreement with the Indian Space Commission provides for the launching 

of twelve aeronomy, ionospheric physics, and magnetic field experiments 

from the international range at Thumba, India. 

c. under the New Zealand agreement, NASA payloads were launched there to 

study the solar eclipse of May, 1965. 

d. in Norway, ionospheric studies are to be conducted from the Andoya range, 

42 
where the Norway/Denmark payloads will be launched. 

e. Pakistan and the U. K. are cooperating with NASA in launching atmospheric 

research payloads frorn the Pakistani range at Sonmiani Beach. 

Other cooperative international sounding rocket projects continued under existing 

agreements with France, India, Norway and Denmark, Pakistan, Sweden, and the 

United Kingdom. For example, synoptic meteorological rocket launchings in India 

and Pakistan continued from last year, and scientific papers prepared by meteorologists of both countries were presented at a COSPAR Symposium in the early 

summer. 

In a rriultilateral sounding rocket project, scientists from France, Germany, Israel, 

Sweden, and the U. K. prepared special sampling surfaces to collect extraterrestrial 

dust for laboratory analysis. These surfaces were flown along with others prepared 

by U. S. scientists on a NASA AEROBEE sounding rocket from the White Sands 

Proving Ground in November. 

The Canadian and the U. S. Governments signed an agreement for the continued 

operation of the Churchill Research Range, Fort Churchill, Manitoba. Under the 

terms of the agreement, the Canadian National Research Council (NRC) will take 

over operation of the range from the USAF and NASA will become the U. S. cooperating agency. 

high-latitude sounding rocket launching facility, results in reduced costs for the 

U. S. Government. 

The agreement, besides providing for the continued operation of this 

As part of the International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) program, a series of sounding 

rockets was launched from a converted aircraft carrier, the USNS CROATAN, in 

the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America. 

probe the upper atmosphere and ionosphere strata in areas which cannot be reached 

by launchings from land. Scientists from Brazil, Chile, and Peru were observers 

on board the CROATAN. 

The rockets were designed to 

Additional International Projects 

Four experiments operated by Belgian, Dutch, Italian, and Swiss scientists were 

included in the NASA expedition observing the solar eclipse on May 30, 1965, from 

a jet aircraft flying in the vicinity of the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific. 

In February, diplomatic notes were exchanged with the Government of Mexico looking 

toward cooperation in a meteorological sounding rocket program, in the establishment 

of an automatic picture transmission (APT) station in Mexico, and in the testing of 

remote sensing devices from aircraft. 

NASA continued to provide to the export control offices of the Departments of State 

and Commerce technical advice concerning the propriety of licensing the export 

of equipment and technology in the aerospace field. 

Also during the year, letters were exchanged between NASA and the European Space 

Research Organization (ESRO) providing for the implementation of an earlier 

arrangement between the two agencies regarding exchange of scientific and technical 

information. NASA and ESRO will exchange bibliographies and documents in the open 

43 
literature, microfiche copies of open reports, and material for bibliographic computer 

searches of the documents exchanged. 

Tracking Network Stations 

Agreement was reached with the United Kingdom for establishment of a NASA facility 

on Ascension Island to support Project APOLLO and the lunar and planetary program. 

An agreement with Australia was amended to provide for two new facilities - -an 

85-foot antenna for APOLLO support near Canberra and a station at Toowoomba to 

provide coverage for Advanced Technological Satellite. 

tracking and data acquisition stations in Ecuador, and Mexico, were renewed. 

The existing agreements for 

Arrangements were in progress with Spain for expansion of the Madrid and Canary 

Island stations to accommodate APOLLO facilities. Arrangements were made for 

an additional facility at the Madrid station to support the increasing workload in the 

lunar and planetary program. 

station near Tananarive was granted by the Malagasy Republic. 

available a site in Western Australia for use in astronaut visual acuity experiments 

during the flight of GEMINI V. 

Additional land needed for expansion of the NASA 

Australia made 

Planned ESRO/Alaska Station 

The European Space Research Organization (ESRO) is taking preliminary steps to 

establish a telemetry/command station near Fairbanks, Alaska, to receive data 

from ESRO scientific satellites. 

would make ESRO eligible for benefits accorded other international agencies under 

the International Organizations Immunities Act. 

Legislation was introduced into the Congress which 

Personnel Exchanges 

Eighty-five scientists from 22 countries participated in the post-doctoral theoretical 

and experimental research program at NASA centers. 

year 1964 and spring semester 1965 there were 52 NASA International University 

fellows enrolled in U. S. Universities. 

were 26 fellows newly enrolled with 24 fellows continuing their studies. 

students were co-sponsored and supported by their national or regional space 

committees. 

In the second half of academic 

In the first half of academic year 1965 there 

These 

Some 71 technicians from six countries and ESRO were trained at NASA centers in 

payload engineering, telemetry, tracking, radar, meteorology, launch procedures 

and range safety operations. Ten foreign students, sponsored by their national or 

regional space committees, attended a Summer Institute in Space Physics at 

Columbia University. And during the year about 5, 000 foreign visitors--representing scientific and technical organizations, governments and overseas news media-- 

toured NASA Headquarters and the Agency's field installations. 

NASA-DOD COOPERATION 

NASA transferred control of its two synchronous communications satellites (SYNCOM 

I1 and SYNCOM 111) to the DOD, retaining only responsibility for coordinating all 

public demonstrations using the satellites and for handling requests by foreign 

countries to use the satellites. 

44 
NASA and the DOD consummated an agreement covering the acquisition and manage - 

ment of instrumentation aircraft for the APOLLO program. The Air Force Systems 

Command/National Range Division will manage the instrumentation of the aircraft. 

NASA will provide the specifications for the APOLLO equipment, and the National 

Range Division will provide the specifications for general-purpose range equipment. 

Scheduling of aircraft services will be accomplished by a joint NASA/DOD group. 

NASA and the Army completed arrangements for the Corps of Engineers to perform 

certain real estate management services for NASA. 

Corps of Engineers will lease to third parties NASA real estate not required for 

NASA missions. 

Under these arrangements, the 

NASA and the DOD completed arrangements for the joint conduct of a gravity gradient 

test satellite experiment. 

experiment, and NASA will provide funding and technical guidance. 

The Air Force Space Systems Division will manage the 

NASA and the Army completed arrangements for the Army to assign certain technical 

administrative personnel to the Ames Research Center to participate in supersonic 

and VTOL aeronautical research of special interest to the Army. 

NASA and the Defense Supply Agency agreed on procedures whereby the Defense 

Supply Agency will furnish logistical support to NASA for certain Federal supply 

classes. 

NASA and the DOD agreed to certain principles concerning the management of NASA 

and DOD tracking and instrumentation facilities located at single or adjacent sites. 

This agreement established a policy of administrative management and logistic 

support of collocated facilities by a single agency. 

NASA and the DOD established guidelines for the use and operation of the Churchill 

Research Range in Canada. The National Research Council of Canada will manage 

the range, and the U. S. operating costs of the range will be shared by NASA and the 

DOD. 

NASA ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGERIAL CHANGES 

A number of changes were made in NASA's organizational structure: 

An organizational unit to be called the Office of the Administrator was established. 

It will include the Deputy Administrator and his assistants, the Associate Administrator and his assistants, and the Executive Secretariat. 

The Executive Secretariat will be responsible for channeling, expediting, and 

scheduling the flow of work in the Office of the Administrator and for related supporting functions. 

The Civilian-Military Liaison Committee, established by Section 204 of the National 

Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, was abolished and its functions transferred to the 

President under terms of the President's Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1965 as enacted 

into law. 

All NASA launch operations activities were consolidated under the Director of the 

45 
John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The consolidation was achieved by transferring responsibility for a Goddard Space Flight Center division already at KSC 

and for the Pacific Launch Operations Office, Lompoc, Calif., to the Director of 

KS C. 

Phased project planning- -a system of sequential phases in the approval and execution 

of major research and development projects--was formally established as NASA 

policy in October. In this system, each phase (Advanced Studies, Project Definition, 

Design, and Development/Operations) involves a combination of competitive industrial 

participation and complementary government in-house effort. 

ed to produce a maximum number of options for management decisions and to keep 

the options available as long as possible. 

management to react favorably to technological breakthroughs and significant changes 

in Agency or national policy and requirements. Phased project planning is not an end 

in itself, but represents a major step in evolving a management pattern of maximum 

effectiveness . 

The approach is designThe system increases flexibility for 

NASA's Office of Advanced Research and Technology established a Mission Analysis 

Division at the Ames Research Center. 

research and technology requirements of possible future NASA missions. 

The new Division is responsible for studying 

INDUSTRY AFFAIRS 

During 1965, NASA continued to expand the use of incentive contracting, increasing 

the total value of outstanding incentive contracts from $500 million at the close of 

1964 to over $2 billion at the end of this year. 

its incentive contracting procedures by awarding a contract to a management research 

firm to evaluate the effectiveness of major NASA incentive contracts. 

The Agency sought to further improve 

Also, a NASA office was established within the Offices of the Deputy Director for 

Contract Administration Services, Defense Supply Agency (DSA), and NASA field 

offices were established at each of the 11 Defense Contract Administration Services 

Regions. This NASA/DSA organization provides a means for direct and efficient 

coordination (both at the field and headquarters levels) of matters related to the 

delegated administration of NASA contracts by the Defense Supply Agency. 

In addition a NASA Office of Industry Affairs (Pentagon) was established within the 

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics) for direct 

coordination and communication between NASA and the Department of Defense on 

such industry affairs matters as procurement, contract administration, quality 

assurance, and related subjects. 

During 1965, NASA projects continued to experience a high frequency of work 

stoppages due to labor disputes between contractors and unions representing their 

employees. The NASA Office of LaboriRelations, which carried out Agency 

responsibilities in this area, actively sought the cooperation of labor unions, contractors, and government agencies related to labor relations problems. The Agency 

received particularly great assistance from the members and staff of the President's 

Missile Sites Labor Commission, which has functioned since 1961 as the custodian 

of labor's pledge to the President to eliminate work stoppages on missile and space 

sites. 

46 
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION 

During the year 1965, NASA stressed contractor reporting of new technology and 

arranged a pilot project with a major contractor to enlarge and emphasize its new 

technology reporting effort within the framework of existing contracts. 

were also held with other NASA contractors for similar new technology reporting 

programs. 

Discussions 

Three hundred and fifteen Tech Briefs--one or two page bulletins to acquaint industry 

quickly with promising technological innovations generated by NASA's R&D effort- - 

were published this year. 

bringing the total published to 535. 

This was a 50 percent increase over the previous year, 

The program to develop more comprehensive special Technology Utilization 

publications, including booklength Technology Surveys (on topics such as inorganic 

coatings, valve technology, plasma jet technology) and selected bibliographies, 

increased 70 percent this year, and more than two dozen special Technology Utilization publications are now available to the public. 

In the pilot dissemination effort, one new regional dissemination center was added 

at the University of New Mexico, bringing the total number of centers to eight. 

year, 29 companies were helping support the dissemination center program; this year 

the numbe: has grown to over 100. More than 550 companies have received extensive 

service from the dissemination centers and more than 3, 000 firms have been in 

contact with them for some degree of service. 

Last 

47 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

INTRODUCTION 

CHAPTER 

IV 

Department of Defense space and aeronautic activity during 1965 was paced by three 

significant events. 

successfully inaugurated its flight test program by placing 21,000 pounds of ballast 

payload into near-earth orbit; (2) The President directed the Department to proceed 

with the development of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory at development cost of about 

$1.5 billion; and (3) The Air Force was directed to proceed immediately to develop 

and produce a revolutionary new transport aircraft designated the C-5A at a cost of 

about $2 billion for development and the initial production of 58 units. 

(1) The TITAN IIIC, developing 2,400, 000 pounds of thrust, 

The Defense space program continues to mesh closely with the NASA effort and the 

efforts of the other government agencies whose activities are reported in this 

document. The DOD program continues to be a major contributor to the National 

Space Program. Technical, scientific and operational experience and informational 

interchange between DOD and other agencies of the government continue to insure 

that the space program of the United States is truly national in operation as well as 

in policy. 

recognized objectives of the military space program. 

The implementation of this stated national space policy is one of the 

SPACE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 

Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) 

On 25 August 1965, approval was granted the Department of Defense to proceed with 

the development of a Manned Orbiting Laboratory. This program was initiated in 

December 1963 to determine the military usefulness of man in space. During the 

succeeding year, intensive study by the Air Force and Navy, with industrial support, 

resulted in broader program goals and a wider definition of the areas of principal 

intere s t. 

The objectives of the approved MOL program are to: 

a. learn more about what man is able to do in space and how that 

ability can be used for military purposes. 

b. develop technology and equipment which will help advance manned 

and unmanned space flight, and 

c. experiment with this technology and equipment. 

49 
The laboratory will be equipped to accommodate two men in orbit for about 30 days 

and to provide them with pressurized and unpressurized experimental working space 

adequate for the planned activities. The orbital vehicle will be ten feet in diameter 

and about 50 feet long. 

A modified GEMINI capsule, GEMINI B, will be used to house the men during 

transport to orbit and to return them to earth following the orbital mission. 

to the laboratory in orbit, from the capsule, will be through a hatch in the heat shield 

and a pressurized tunnel. 

Access 

The planned launch vehicle is the TITAN IIIC. The manned launches will be floNn 

out of the Western Test Range and will be accomplished with the assistance of seven 

segment solid rocket motors rather than the five segment motors employed in the 

early vehicle development flights. 

increase in low orbit payload capability. 

These larger motors will provide about 2070 

The ground network for tracking and orbital control will be based on the best choices 

of existing DOD and NASA facilities. 

participation, during the current Contract Definition period. 

This network will be determined, with NASA 

There will be at leact five manned launches in the presently conceived program 

extending into CY 1970. 

vehicles from the current vehicle development program. 

begin late next year or early 1967 out of the Eastern Test Range. 

unmanned launch of a fully-equipped MOL will test critical elements of the system 

including the modified GEMINI and the laboratory module. 

There will be early unmanned launches using TITAN IIIC 

These launches are due to 

The initial 

NASA will examine the MOL to determine the feasibility of executing experiments of 

a general scientific and technological interest. 

these experiments on a minimum interference basis. 

The Air Force will accommodate 

As in the past, NASA and DOD will continue to work closely together to insure that 

the manned space flight effort of both agencies is fully coordinated. 

MOL will primarily have defense objectives, the continued close relationship between 

DOD and NASA will insure that the program remains integrated with the national 

effort. 

Although the 

Astronaut candidates are military test pilots and graduates of the Aerospace Research 

Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. 

The MOL program advanced into the Contract Definition Phase in the latter half of 

1965. The purpose of this phase is to complete the engineering definition, to 

establish the base line configuration and to initiate developmental hardware procure - 

me nt . 

TITAN 111 Program 

The flight test program of TITAN I11 initiated in 1964, continued with a high degree of 

success during 1965. 

IIIC'S. 

Five flights were flown--two TITAN ILIA'S and three TITAN 

50 
The third TITAN IIIA of the program was launched February 1965, and injected a 

communication research satellite into orbit. 

TITAN IIIA was launched from Cape Kennedy. 

this flight and successfully injected into planned orbits. 

mental communication satellite (LES-2) and a radar calibration sphere. 

On May 6, 1965, the next and fourth 

Two payloads were carried aboard 

Payloads were an experiThe highly successful TITAN IIIA flights resulted in a decision to cancel the one 

remaining planned TITAN IIIA flight and convert the vehicle to a TITAN IIIC 

configuration. 

first TITAN IIIC configured vehicle. 

occurred on June 18, 1965. 

course of its first flight: 

Flight test planning and activity then centered on the launch of the 

The initial flight of the first TITAN IIIC 

Three notable space records were achieved in the 

a. most powerful vehicle ever launched with the booster solid rocket 

motors developing 2,400,000 pounds of thrust at lift-off. 

b. most powerful rocket engine ever ignited in flight. 

developed 470,000 pounds of thrust when started at altitude. 

These engines 

c. one of the heaviest payloads ever orbited by a vehicle (TITAN IIIC's 

Transtage, which propelled the 21,000 pound ballast payload into 

orbit, is not included as part of payload weight). 

The second and third TITAN IIIC's were launched in October and December and 

both further contributed to the progress of the R&D program. After achieving 

orbit, some difficulties were encountered in the Transtage on both the October 

and December TITAN IIIC flights which resulted in only partial mission successes. 

However, in the latter case the scheduled payloads were placed in orbit. 

At Cape Kennedy the Integrated Transfer Launch (ITL) facilities were completed for 

the TITAN 111. 

capability. 

This is a dual launch pad facility and provides a high launch rate 

Recognizing the need to be responsive to all payloads and mission requirements, 

effort has been initiated to achieve an initial launch capability at the Western Test 

Range. 

requirements that would be degraded if flown from Cape Kennedy. 

This capability will provide support for polar or near polar mission 

Early in the year, an examination of requirements for the TITAN 111 led to an adjustment of the R&D program schedule. 

ibility between the completion date of the R&D program and the time period when 

operational use of the TITAN 111 is anticipated. Thus, the remaining TITAN IIIC 

vehicles will be flown at regular intervals over the next eighteen months, and will 

be assigned useful engineering payloads. 

This step was taken to insure better compatDOD Satellite Communications Activities 

The present satellite communications activities within DOD reflect, in the broadest 

sense, four important factors: 

51 
a. 

b. 

C. 

d. 

the continued vital United States need for prompt, reliable, secure 

and flexible communications to support its global responsibilities, 

command its global forces, and control its weapons. 

the demonstrated ability of orbiting satellite repeaters, when used 

with appropriate surface terminals and transmission techniques and 

incorporated into proper overall system designs, to provide communications channels which are much more survivable , reliable, flexible 

and secure than those generally available through the use of high 

frequency radio, undersea cable, and similar conventional schemes, 

the growing reliability of powerful boosters and sophisticated satellites 

which promise to provide novel and economic means of meeting very 

difficult tactical-mobile communications needs; and 

the emergence of the Communications Satellite Corporation as an 

important element in national commer cia1 and military communications planning. 

Defense Communications Satellite Program (DCSP) 

The objective of the Defense Communications Satellite Program is "to develop the 

technolagy required for an operational system in a timely manner. I' With the Defense 

Communications Agency acting as the focal point, the Army has the responsibility for 

the surface environment comprised of fixed and transportable ground stations, the 

Navy has the responsibility for shipborne stations and the Air Force is responsible 

for the satellites, and launch vehicles. 

responsible for the operation of the Satellite Communications Control Facility. 

The Defense Communications Agency is 

To accomplish the DCSP objective, the program has been divided into three projects 

as follows: 

a. SYNCOM 

b. Initial Defense Communications Satellite Project (IDCSP) 

c. Advance Defense Communications Satellite Project (ADCSP) 

SYNCOM was a joint effort between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

and the Department of Defense to demonstrate the feasibility of communication via 

synchronous satellite. 

In March 1965 NASA completed the maneuvering of SYNCOM I1 over the Indian Ocean 

to stop its westward movement and to allow the satellite to stabilize its position at 

the triaxial nodal point near 77OE longitude. 

cations life of SYNCOM 11 is two years. 

The estimated remaining communiComplete control of the SYNCOM Satellites (11 and 111) was transferred from NASA to 

DOD on 1 April 1965. 

tations, commanding and telemetry readout and analysis was assumed on that date 

by the USAF. 

Army continues to operate and maintain the associated ground communication stations 

Control of the satellites, i. e. , tracking, ephemeris compuSatellite usage and scheduling control was retained by DCA. The U.S. 

52 
and to conduct the various R&D tests. 

During the past year DOD has conducted a number of technical and operational R&D 

tests. The basic engineering tests conducted by DOD for NASA were completed in 

March 1965. Tests to determine the effect of satellite communications on various 

types of data transmission have continued since DOD assumed control of the satellites. 

A terminal located at Camp Roberts, California, was in use until September 1965 

when its modification for use with the LDCSP began. 

the USNS Kingsport has participated in numerous tests, its use to support the 

GEMINI flights being the most important during 1965. 

Ground communications stations are at various locations throughout the world. 

Another terminal, installed on 

SYNCOM 111 was kept on station between 170' and 174OE longitude until October 1965. 

Since then the satellite was given a westward drift. 

the satellite between 1350 and 1620E longitude if sufficient control gas remains to 

stop the satellite when it reaches 1350E longitude in approximately three years. The 

SYNCOM 111 communications life remaining is estimated to be no less than five years. 

It is currently planned to keep 

Initial De f en s e Communi cations Satellite Pro j e c t (ID CSP) 

The basic objectives of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program are 

as follows: 

a. perform research, development, test, and evaluation to demonstrate 

s y s tem oper ational f e as ibili ty . 

b. obtain an emergency capability as early as possible to supplement 

the Defense Communications System for essential command and 

c ontr 01. 

c. establish a research and development system in being, convertible 

and expandable to an operational system. 

The IDCSP is divided into two phases. 

opment assets will be deployed to provide a number of earth terminals and randomly 

dispersed satellites for system test and evaluation. 

consist of two terminals in CONUS, two in West Europe, two in Africa, two in the 

Western Pacific, and two in Hawaii. 

TITAN IIIC R&D launches, carrying eight communications satellites each, to be 

injected into a near-synchronous equatorial orbit. Each satellite will be given a 

different drift rate to achieve random dispersion. 

During the first phase, research and develThe initial ground system will 

The space system will be established by three 

Following the test and evaluation phase, the IDCSP will provide a limited communications capability to satisfy certain unique and vital requirements of the DOD. 

Additional terminals will be acquired and deployed to establish communications 

links in accordance with military requirements validated by the Joint Chiefs of 

Staff. 

able. 

failures; a replenishment launch is planned approximately two years after the 

initial launch. 

Most of these additional terminals will be lightweight and highly transportThe satellite population will gradually degrade due to normal satellite 

53 
Advanced Defense Communications Satellite Project (ADCSP) 

The Defense Communications Agency conducted operational and technical require - 

ments definition and system definition studies which would define an Advanced Defense 

Communications Satellite Project (ADCSP). The objective of this ADCSP is to provide 

the Department of Defense with an operational communications satellite capability 

late in this decade and beyond to more fully satisfy unique and vital national security 

needs. 

services are being obtained. The composite system design will incorporate the best 

elements of each. 

Six funded contractual approaches and specific inputs from each of the 

Tactical Sate llite Communications Pro gram (TS CPI 

Tactical/MoSile satellite communications studies were inaugurated in 1965 with an 

initial analytical study being conducted by R&D and operational personnel of the three 

Services. 

The first DOD effort in the tactical-mobile field will involve an experiment primarily 

addressed toward improving the long range communications of the Air Force's 

Strategic Air Command. A satellite repeater will be placed into a high orbit as a 

piggyback payload from a TITAN IIIC development launch late next year. Several 

SAC aircraft as well as Army and Navy mobile terminals will be employed, under 

operating conditions, to study methods of utilizing such a satellite repeater and 

observing the specific value of having available secure teletype channels of extremely 

high reliability and great range. 

Experimental Communications Satellites 

Two experimental satellites were placed in orbit on 6 May 1965 as a "bonus" payload 

on the fourth TITAN IIIA launch. One satellite, designated LES-2, is a communications transponder and the second of a series of experimental satellites designed 

to test realistically, in a 1500 and 8000 nautical mile elliptical orbit, a number of 

devices and techniques being developed for possible use in future military communication satellites and satellite communication systems. 

a 44-1/2 inch diameter aluminum sphere weighing about 75 pounds placed in a 1500 

nautical mile orbit for use as a test target to calibrate powerful radar and radio 

systems. 

The second payload was 

The LES-2 satellite is being used to test such devices and techniques as an all solid 

state communications transponder , an earth sensing and antenna switching system to 

attain antenna gain from a spinning spacecraft, a magnetic spinning spacecraft, and 

a magnetic spin axis control system to increase power output. 

Proiect WEST FORD 

In 1965, orbital decay measurements of 480 million fibers 1.8 centimeters long and 

.0018 centimeters in diameter placed into orbit for Project WEST FORD, confirmed 

predictions that the first particles will reenter the earth's atmosphere in February 

1968 and be consumed in the process. 

Technological advances in active space communication satellites have resulted in 

decreased interest in passive reflectors. 

reflective dipoles are contemplated at this time. 

As a result, no further launches of 

54 
Spaceborne Nuclear Detection (VELA) 

The VELA Satellite Program is designed to develop a satellite-based nuclear 

detection capability for events occurring on the earth's surface to the outer reaches 

of deep space. It is a research and development program of the Advanced Research 

Projects Agency, and is conducted jointly by the USAF and AEC. 

Two more VELA satellites were launched into orbit in July 1965. The first four, 

which were orbited in 1963 and 1964 are still operating. 

providing useful information on radiation background and the operation of nuclear 

test detection sensors in space. 

for detecting clandestine nuclear explosions'at high altitude and in space, which is 

particularly significant because of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. 

satellites have been launched from Cape Kennedy into near-circular orbits about 

60,000 nautical miles from the earth. With each launching, they have contained 

improved and additional sensors to investigate nuclear test detection capabilities 

and to establish a better baseline of space background radiations. The radiation 

background data is also of general interest to the scientific community for studies 

of particles trapped in the earth's magnetosphere and solar and galactic radiation. 

The test data is being used by the DOD in cost and capability studies of various 

concepts of worldwide operational nuclear detection systems. 

These satellites are 

They also provide an interim monitoring capability 

All of these 

Space Surveillance 

The Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Air Force, and the Navy are conducting 

research in space object identification to determine the extent and best means by 

which the physical characteristics of uncooperating objects in earth orbit can be 

determined through observations by ground-based radar. In addition to providing a 

possible source of diagnostic information on our own satellites in orbit, such advanced 

radar techniques should make available continuing technology for updating the capabilities of the Space Surveillance and Detection Tracking System (SPADATS) in support 

of anti-satellite systems. 

Geodetic Satellite 

The Department of Defense continued its active participation in the National Satellite 

Geodetic Program during 1965. The NASA's EXPLORER XXIX satellite, (GEOS I) 

launched November 6, 1965, is being observed and tracked on a worldwide basis by 

DOD as well as other participating Government agencies. 

an Army SECOR transponder, a NASA Range-Range Rate transponder and LASER 

reflector, an Air Force optical beacon, and a Navy Doppler beacon. The project 

will continue to provide more precise information about the earth's size, shape, 

mass and variations in gravity and precise determinations of locations for accurate 

mapping and charting. 

EXPLORER XXIX carries 

Two additional geodetic SE COR (Sequential Collation of Range) satellites were 

successfully orbited in 1965. These spacecraft are being used, as part of the 

Department of Defense effort, in the Army Corps of Engineers geodetic satellite 

program to locate the positions of certain Pacific Islands and the North American 

datum. 

been initiated as the first step in a project to locate points in an around-the-world 

belt. 

Tests of techniques for using SECOR satellites at higher altitudes have 

The objective of this program is to improve our knowledge of the earth's 

55 
diameter and to connect all major geodetic datums. 

accuracies of one part in two hundred thousand. 

The SECOR system is producing 

The Navy is routinely determining the positions of tracking stations anywhere on 

earth to an accuracy of about 25 meters with respect to the earth's center of mass. 

The same Doppler data is used to determine the harmonic coefficients of the earth's 

gravity field. 

accuracy is sufficient to allow the prediction of a satellite's position changes due to 

gravity field variations to an accuracy of better than 75 meters over a 24-hour period. 

This figure compares with a probable error of well over a mile, five years ago. The 

Doppler beacons in the Navy Navigation Satellites, as well as those in the NASA 

Beacon Explorer Satellites, are being used for this purpose. 

Coefficients through the eighth order have been published. This 

Navigation Satellite Program 

The Navy Navigation Satellite System, which was declared operational by the Department of Defense in July 1964, has continued to operate satisfactorily during the past 

year. 

to submarines and selected surface ships. 

capability has been expanded by installing receiver equipment aboard attack aircraft 

carriers operating in Southeast Asia. 

accurate navigation capability has proven to be extremely valuable to the attack 

carrier migsion. 

receiver equipment, the Navy, during 1965, began an investigation into the feasibility 

of long term orbital predictions that would make possible the publishing of an 

ephemeris almanac for use aboard ship. The Navy is also seeking to increase the 

cost effectiveness of this system by developing a family of receiver equipment that 

could be used in differential positioning in aircraft and in smaller ships. 

is continuing to stress the development of satellite reliability and mean-time between 

failure in order to achieve a five-year satellite lifetime in orbit. 

The system at the present time is providing accurate navigation information 

During 1965, the satellite navigation 

This addition of worldwide all-weather 

In an effort to simplify navigation satellites and the navigation 

The Navy 

SPACE GROUND SUPPORT 

DOD National Ranges 

The 1964 realignment of the National Range Complex to provide centralized planning 

and management of this $3 billion capital plant resulted in cost savings and a better 

response to NASA and DOD programs. A decision to provide a national fleet of 

instrumented range aircraft to meet both DOD and NASA needs deleted the requirement for six additional jet aircraft, thereby avoiding a heavy capital investment and 

an annual operation cost of approximately $3.9 million. 

agreement on the division of responsibilities in management and operation of 

collocated ground-tracking stations. 

sibilities for mutual support, operation and management, and is expected to result 

in significant economies at these statisrrs. 

was transferred to NASA and on 1 June 1965 the Kokee Park, Hawaii Station was 

transferred to NASA. 

30 September 1965 and its workload transferred to the NASA Kokee Park and Air 

Force Kaena Point Stations. 

DOD and NASA reached 

The agreement covers policies and responOn 1 May 1965, the Canton Island Station 

The South Point, Hawaii Tracking Station was deactivated on 

Under the concept of a combined range instrumented ship fleet to support all programs 

anywhere in the world, the USS H.H. Arnold and the USS H.S. Vandenberg were 

56 
re-deployed from the Atlantic to the Pacific to support penetration aid and modified 

and instrumented reentry systems testing. The first of five range ships being built 

in support of the APOLLO program by joint Navy-Air Force-NASA efforts was 

launched on 9 September 1965. 

On 1 February 1965, the Air Force Western Test Range assumed responsibility from 

the Navy's Pacific Missile Range for range functions in support of missile and space 

system launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base. 

with a DOD decision to establish a Pacific area ICBM and space vehicle range. 

This action was in compliance 

Space Detection and Tracking System ($PADATS) 

I 

The Air Force SPACETRACK System together with the Navy Space Surveillance 

System (SPASUR) make up the principal elements of the North American Air Defense 

Command SPADATS. 

objects in earth orbit. 

tracking system, but performs important functions in assisting our national manned 

space flight program. 

experiment, SPADATS provided the astronauts with frequently updated traffic forecasts, i. e., positions of other space objects relative to the GEMINI 5 spacecraft. 

During those periods of flight when the spacecraft beacon was ineffective because of 

spacecraft electrical power problems, SPADATS provided NASA with the primary 

tracking data. 

concerning separation distance between GEMINI 5 and the radar evaluation pod which 

was co-orbiting with the GEMINI vehicle. 

This global system detects, tracks and catalogues all space 

SPADATS functions not only as a defensive detection and 

During the NASA GEMINI 5 rendezvous and docking radar pod 

Additionally, SPADATS provided the only source of information 

AERONAUTICS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY 

C-5A Transport Aircraft 

The Air Force, in October 1965, was directed to proceed immediately to develop and 

to produce a revolutionary new transport aircraft, the C-5A. 

this airplane will be more than 700,000 pounds or 350 tons at take-off. This is more 

than twice the weight of the largest military cargo plane today. 

will be able to carry loads of 220,000 pounds over distances of 3200 miles. For 

nonstop hauls across such large distances as the Pacific, the plane will have a 

capability of carrying 100,000 pounds as payload. It will be more than 230 feet long, 

63 feet high and have a wing span of about 220 feet. 

initial production order for 58 airplanes, including the engines, will be about $2 

billion. 

The gross weight of 

This new aircraft 

The development cost and the 

The aircraft and its engines will be bought under a new purchasing concept within 

which both the airframe and the engine manufacturers will receive contracts to cover 

not only the research and development of the aircraft but also its production. 

This should assure that this large and complex program will be carried out at the 

lowest possible cost. 

approximately 4,000 feet in length, which is a short landing distance for an aircraft 

of this size. 

The C-5A will be able to land on support area air fields 

The C-5A will greatly extend the capability of support over large distances. 

plane will carry almost any piece of military equipment, including tanks , trucks, and 

The 

57 
helicopters. 

aircraft or two M-60 Main Battle Tanks. Ten C-5A's could have handled the entire 

Berlin Airlift, an operation which at its peak utilized 308 different aircraft. 

new aircraft will greatly improve our military transport capabilities. 

For example, sixteen three-quarter ton trucks can be carried by the 

This 

C- 141A Transport Aircraft 

The new C-141A cargo transport aircraft received its FAA certification on schedule 

in January 1965. 

port Service was fully equipped on schedule in July 1965, and a rapid buildup in 

production delivery rate was accomplished during the year. 

a significant improvement in speed and delivery capability for the nation's airlift. 

The first C-141A operational squadron for the Military Air TransThe C-141A is providing 

F-111 

During 1965, seven F-111A and three F-111B RDT&E aircraft were delivered on 

schedule. The F-111A demonstrated its wing sweep features and achieved a maximum 

sustained speed of Mach 2.2. The flight test program of the Air Force and Navy 

aircraft proceeded basically on schedule and accumulated more than 400 hours of 

flight experience. 

maintenance characteristics as a result of flight test activity. 

The aircraft performance indicated high reliability and excellent 

A multi-year production contract was issued in April 1965 for 431 F-111A (AF) and 

F-111B (Navy) aircraft. 

F-111B, RF-111A and FB-111 aircraft. 

F- 11 1A. 

greater navigation accuracy and higher gross takeoff weights. 

A total program is currently planned which includes F-111A, 

The FB-111 will be a bomber version of the 

Minimum configuration changes will be incorporated in the FB 11 1 to permit 

A reconnaissance configuration of the F-111A was also approved for development in 

1965. 

modifications and retain maximum commonality with the basic F-ll1A. 

The RF-111A configuration, like the FB-111 will require only minimum 

Australia is the first foreign government to order F-111A aircraft. 

also indicated interest in the F-111A and negotiations are continuing. The British 

tentatively selected a desired configuration for the UK F-111 and will make a final 

decision in early 1966 on the option to buy. 

The British have 

A-7 Light Attack Aircraft 

The Navy program to develop an improved light attack aircraft (a major modification 

of the F-8 fighter aircraft) progressed very satisfactorily. The first flight was made 

in September 1965, nearly a month ahead of schedule. 

powered visual attack aircraft with significantly improved payload-range capability 

and cost-effectiveness over the current light attack aircraft it will replace. 

The A-7A is a turbo-fan 

XB-70 Flight Test Program 

The second of the two XB-70 aircraft made its first flight on 17 July 1965. The two 

aircraft since then have been involved in a flight test program aimed at establishing 

their airworthiness, opening up the flight envelope to Mach 3 (2000 mph), and finally 

demonstrating 30 minutes sustained flight at Mach 3 in the 5000tF temperature 

environment. The first Mach 3 flight was on 14 October 1965. 

58 
While attaining these objectives the XB-70's are making important contributions in 

design verification, flight dynamics, structures, heat transfer, engine-air inlet 

optimization, and sonic boom measurements. 

Negotiations are underway to develop a follow-on joint USAF/NASA Flight Research 

Program beyond the current program which is scheduled to be completed in April 

1966. 

Coin Aircraft 

An accelerated flight test program of the OV-1OA Light Armed Reconnaissance Air - 

craft (LARA) progressed well during 1965. 

be favorable, a version of this aircraft, the OV-10, will begin to enter the USAF and 

Navy-Marine operational inventories by early 1967. 

Assuming the outcome of these tests to 

The aircraft first flew on July 16, 1965, and is proceeding satisfactorily through the 

Navy-Contractor Test Program. An All-Service Evaluation Group based at the Naval 

Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, will thoroughly develop all operational 

concepts and tactics commencing in May 1966. 

LARA is basically a twin engine turboprop aircraft, with short takeoff and landing 

performance from unimproved fields, roads and aircraft carriers without the use of 

arresting gear. 

light logistic duty carrying five paratroopers or 3000 pounds of cargo. 

In addition to weapon delivery missions, the aircraft is designed for 

This aircraft (or variants thereof) if accepted for production, will provide replacements for USAF 0-lls, T-Z8Is, A-lE's, B-Z6's, C-46's and C-47's. The Marines 

will use the OV-10 as a replacement for the 0-1 and the armed HU-1 in the helicopter 

escort and reconnaissance role. 

ance Program at an early date is also a possibility. 

Introduction of this aircraft into the Military AssistHelicopter Development 

DOD is continuing a development program oriented toward improving helicopter 

performance and handling qualities which will be fully responsive to the requirements 

of a ground commander in a combat environment. 

During 1965, the Army awarded the initial production multi-year contract for 714 of 

the Army's newly developed Light Observation Helicopters (LOH) designated the 

OH-6A (PAWNEE). 

art for light helicopters. 

drag area, half the maintenance man hours per flight hour ratio, and approximately 

twice the useful load to empty weight ratio of the aircraft that it will replace. 

This aircraft represents significant advances in the state-of-theFor example, it has less than half the equivalent flat plate 

A high speed helicopter research program was completed by the Army during 1965. 

Several helicopters with different rotor and control systems were modified to a 

compound configuration by the installation of wings to unload the rotors at high speeds 

and auxiliary power systems for additional horizontal thrust. Three of the compound 

helicopters demonstrated a high speed capability by flying in the ZOO-knot class. 

A program for engineering development of prototypes for the Advanced Aerial Fire 

Support System (AAFSS) for the Army has been approved. This system will utilize 

59 
a winged compound helicopter designed for use in providing organic aerial gunfire 

support for Army Units. 

During the first half of 1965 the conceptual and the military potential evaluation of the 

CH-54A continued. The crane version of the CH-54A completed the FAA certification 

program and an FAA type certificate, Restricted Category, was issued 30 July 1965. 

The aircraft was type classified Limited Production in August 1965 and four of the 

CH-54A's were deployed to Viet Nam with the 1st Cavalry Division, Air Mobile, in 

September 1965. 

The XV-SA advanced research helicopter completed a flight test program. 

XV-9A incorporates the hot cycle propulsion system which employs the principle of 

piping hot gases through the rotor hub and rotor blades and exhausting the gases out 

at the blade tips. 

drives. 

competitive with other propulsion systems for heavy lift helicopters. 

The 

This system eliminates the need for heavy and expensive gear 

This program has demonstrated that the hot cycle propulsion system can be 

Vertical and Short Take -Off and Landing Program (V/STOL) 

The XV-5A (fan-in-wing) has completed both the contractor and the military flight 

evaluation. 

continue and to provide the Army with some limited operational data. 

will also be used to train the pilots from the other Services and NASA to fly a fan-inwing V/STOL aircraft. 

One of the two aircraft is being modified to enable the program to 

The aircraft 

The XV-6A (P-1127), a diverted thrust aircraft built in the United Kingdom, was used 

in a tripartite tri -Service V/STOL operational concept evaluation in England between 

April and November 1965. 

employing a 15, 200 pound diverted thrust engine. An international squadron composed 

of pilots and technical personnel from the three participating countries (US, UK, FRG) 

conducted this evaluation. 

of the overall program to determine the feasibility of employing V/STOL aircraft in 

operations from both prepared and unprepared sites. During the early part of 1966, 

all hardware developed during this program will be divided equally among the three 

countries, in order that each may conduct national trials according to their own 

desires. This tri-Service program was managed by the U. S. Army. It is anticipated 

that each of the three Services will conduct operational trials during the Spring and 

Summer of 1966. 

A total of nine operational evaluation aircraft were built 

A total of approximately 1,000 sorties were flown as part 

The Army, Navy and Air Force entered the operational evaluation phase of the triService V/STOL program in 1965. 

The development and flight test of V/STOL transport type aircraft following three 

different V/STOL concepts was continued by the three military services. The tilt 

wing XC-142A V/STOL transport program produced more than 150 hours of flight 

test time on four of the five aircraft in this program. 

demonstration program completion, the aircraft was transitioned through all modes 

of flight on January 11, 1965. 

flight consisting of a vertical takeoff 

converting back to hover flight for a vertical landing. 

routime for the XC-142A since that time. 

After successful hover 

On that date the XC-142A made its first complete 

transition to full conventional flight and 

This maneuver has become 

60 
The X-19A, a tandem tilt-propeller design, suffered a setback on 25 August 1965 

when the No. 1 aircraft in the two-aircraft program was destroyed during a test 

flight at Atlantic City, New Jersey. The No. 2 X-19A has not yet reached the flight 

test phase. 

The first of two X-22A aircraft, a rotating ducted-propeller design, was delivered in 

May 1965 and flight testing will begin early in 1966 after extensive ground testing. 

X-15 Research Aircraft 

The primary role of the X-15 in 1965 was support of advanced aerospace sciences 

experiments. The joint Air Force/NASA X-15 test team used the aircraft as a test 

bed for a series of experimental payloads supporting environmental studies, development of improved components for future aerospace vehicles, and basic aerothermodynamic research. The X-15 is ideally suited to this mission because it can achieve 

test conditions in the hypersonic speed range and space equivalent altitudes, with 

excellent reliability and bring the test equipment back for laboratory examination and 

reuse. There have been twenty-seven approved experiments sponsored by the Air 

Force, NASA, DOD and FAA. 

cancelled, two combined with other tests, and six await delivery of test hardware. 

Fourteen experiments were in active flight test during 1965. 

Of the twenty-seven, three have been completed, two 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 

Over -the -Horizon Radar 

The Department of Defense has developed a family of Over-the-Horizon radars 

capable of detecting aircraft and missiles far beyond the radar or line of sight 

horizon. These new systems will bounce radar signals off the ionosphere and send 

them to the surface of the earth several thousand miles beyond the horizon. 

ously, radar capability had been limited to detection of objects within line of sight. 

Fabrication of the first Over-the-Horizon operational radar was completed in 1965 

and the installation was nearing completion at the close of the year. This radar is 

designed to detect missiles during the launch phase and will provide a capability for 

earlier warning than before of hostile missile launches. 

PreviLaboratory and field evaluation of advanced techniques continues at a rapid pace and 

results are being assessed in terms of Air Force, Army, and Navy requirements. 

Spacecraft Technology and Advanced Re -entry (START) 

The DOD lifting re -entry technology efforts are contained within a single advanced 

development program element entitled Spacecraft Technology and Advanced Re -entry 

Tests (START). The programs are spread across the spectrum of the lifting body 

re -entry flight regime. 

The ASSET program was based on flight tests of a simple radiatively cooled glide 

vehicle without aerodynamic controls and was essentially finished in 1965. 

of six flights from the Eastern Test Range was successfully completed on 23 February 

1965. 

of these data consumed the remainder of 1965. 

The last 

Data were obtained in large volume from five of the six flights and reduction 

61 
The second portion of the START program consists of ablatively cooled SV-5 vehicles 

equipped with aerodynamic controls. 

designed for the purpose of returning data capsules from orbit. 

1965 was in the initial stages of hyper sonic re -entry vehicle fabrication, component 

selection, and proof testing of those components. 

This particular re -entry vehicle is being 

The program in 

Space Power Equipment 0 

The DOD continued to examine various Concepts for meeting anticipated electrical 

power requirements of future satellites. The 500-watt SNAP 10A nuclear reactor 

power unit, a major development effort in the AEC funded SNAPSHOT program, was 

successfully placed in orbit on April 3, 1965. 

43 days following the launch. 

The SNAP 10A produced power for 

Another Space Power development of interest to DOD is the Advanced Solar Turbo 

Electric Concept which uses the sun as the energy source. Solar radiation heats a 

working fluid which transmits energy to a turbine. The turbine, in turn, drives an 

alternator resulting in the production of electrical power from solar energy. 

1965, candidate sample materials for a petal type solar collector were evaluated in 

ground laboratories to determine degradation under simulated space environmental 

conditions. 

During 

Rocket Propulsion Technology 

The DOD maintains a broad gauged research and technology program in chemical 

rocket propulsion, including propellant systems, solid motors, liquid engines, 

hybrid systems, air augmented rockets, nozzles, cases, and controls. 

this technology is directly applicable to space boosters and spacecraft propulsion. 

The following items illustrate the nature of the space-related activity in 1965. 

Much of 

The Air Force has undertaken a program to demonstrate an advanced storable liquid 

propellant engine which consolidates many exploratory development advances in 

turbopumps, combustion chambers, and nozzles. This engine will improve performance with proven propellants to such a degree that single stage vehicles for ICBM 

and possibly low orbit missions become practical. This program is based on the 

modular engine concept which greatly reduces the time and cost traditionally 

associated with the development of large liquid engines, while enhancing the reliability 

and versatility of the product. 

The Air Force and NASA are cooperating in an advanced technology program which 

has for its objective the demonstration of a high performance, high pressure 

hydrogen-oxygen engine affording very substantial improvements in thrust-to-weight 

ratio and delivered specific impalse. 

restart, long-duration, variable -thrust operation. 

the new engine can serve both in a high energy upper-stage, and, in a variety of 

clustered configurations in a versatile space booster. This technology is considered 

to be prerequisite to the development of a reusable space launch vehicle. 

This engine will also be capable of multipleDeveloped on the modular concept, 

Significant effort is being placed under exploratory and advanced development 

programs on supersonic combustion ramjet systems. 

combustion under laboratory conditions simulating hyper sonic flight has been demonstrated, but the design of efficient aerodynamic structures and inlets for high dynamic 

The feasibility of supersonic 

62 
pressure trajectories represents a development challenge. In the development of the 

supersonic ramjet or scramjet engine, DOD and NASA are again pursuing complementary programs. NASA, for example, is planning to employ the x-15 rocket plane 

as a hypersonic test bed for scramjet experimentation and evaluation. The Air Force 

and the Navy are both pursuing extensive experimental programs as well as sponsoring 

analytical studies on the application of scramjet propulsion to hypersonic vehicles and 

possible integration with rocket powerplants. 

In the field of solid propellants, the principal space interest centers on the 156-inch 

solid propellant motor. 

successfully fired at thrust levels ranging from one million to three million pounds. 

Two were equipped with jet tabs for thrust vector control and one with a single large 

movable nozzle. 

scheduled for July 1966. 

following: Motor quench, nozzle materials, submerged nozzle, hot gas valve thrust 

vector control, and integrated nozzle closure. The use of large solid motors as 

space boosters has been impressively demonstrated in the TITAN IIIC program. 

Thus far, five complete segmented motors have been 

The test loading and firing of a 156-inch fiberglass case motor is 

Other objectives of this technology program include the 

Flexible-Wine Svstems 

The Advanced Research Projects Agency's flexible-wing program continues toward 

the devel.opment of low-cost, high performance aerial delivery devices for use in 

remote areas. Irrrproved prototypes of the unique precision drop glider are being 

developed for military acceptability tests, while studies and tests on a mannedpowered glider and a towed glider continue to provide information necessary to 

assess their utility and value in performing a variety of counterinsurgency and 

civil action missions for indigenous forces in remote areas. Tests and studies 

to date indicate the drop glider can perform precise, all-weather delivery of 

personnel and cargo from aircraft at safe stand-off distances, while the manned, 

powered glider shows good potential as a simple, inexpensive and rugged utility 

aircraft for use by indigenous forces. 

Gravity Gradient Stabilization for Satellites 

During 1965, the Navy conducted two significant gravity gradient experiments. 

March 9, 1965, two satellites were launched as secondary payloads aboard an Air 

Force THOR AGENA booster. 

gradient stabilization experiments to be performed. 

On 

These were the first two-axis and three-axis gravity 

Two other gravity gradient stabilization experiments were being designed during 

1965 in support of the Defense Communications Satellite Program. 

is sponsoring a two-axis stabilization experiment at near synchronous altitude. The 

Navy, also in support of the DCSP, is fabricating a spacecraft experiment to 

demonstrate three -axis stabilization at near synchronous orbital altitude. The 

results of these experiments are intended to assess the applicability of utilizing this 

stabilization technique at near synchronous altitudes for improving the communication 

system capability. 

The Air Force 

De spun Satellite Antenna (DATS) 

Application studies of phased array antennas to communication satellites was 

requested of the USAF by DCA in September 1963. At the completion of the initial 

63 
study contract the results will permit a planned space test of an electronically despun 

antenna. 

launch in late 1966 or ea.rly 1967. This antenna will enable the satellite to perform 

more efficiently and achieve fuP earth coverage. 

means to the gravity gradient oriented antenna for increasing satellite antenna gain. 

This will be done as a part of a research and technology TITAN IIIC satellite 

Thus the DATS is an alternative 

General Support, Research and Development 

During 1965, under Project HARP, the U.S. Department of the Army and the Canadian 

Department of Defence Production continued research and development of high altitude 

research probes utilizing a 16-inch, smooth bore gun emplaced on Barbados, British 

West Indies. 

elevation of 455,000 feet. Wind direction and speed were obtained by radar tracking 

of chaff and aluminized parachutes. 

lites tracking the luminescent trails created by release of tri-methylaluminum in the 

upper atmosphere. Solid-state, electronic telemetry components were developed to 

transmit atmospheric temperatures to receivers on the ground; these were fired 

successfully from 5-inch, 7-inch, and 16-inch guns, where acceleration forces from 

8,000 to 50,000 g's existed. 

Passive and active atmospheric sensors were fired to a maximum 

Wind shears were acquired by camera theodoThe Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) supported a research satellite named 

"AURORA. 

both day _and night aurora, simultaneously measure particle fluxes in and about the 

magnetosphere, and then to correlate the particle and spectral data with each other, 

with solar phenomena, and with terrestrial phenomena such as magnetic storms. 

The objectives were to make spectrophotometric measurements on 

NRL also supported Professor J. A. Van Allen at the State University of Iowa in his 

research to extend knowledge of (1) radiation in outer space: galactic and solar 

cosmic rays; solar wind; particles trapped in the earth's magnetic field; and (2) solar 

terrestrial phenomena associated with these radiations. 

extended to include studies of solar and galactic X-rays; VLF radio propagation in 

the magnetosphere; RF emissions of various objects in the solar system; and 

investigations of the interaction of the moon with the solar system; and investigation 

of the interaction of the moon with the solar wind. 

EXPLORER XII, EXPLORER XIV, RELAY I, RELAY LI, and MARINER I1 were 

s tudie d . 

The research effort was 

Data from INJUN I, INJUN 11, 

A Solar Radiation Monitoring Satellite, designed and fabricated by the Naval Research 

Laboratory (NRL) was successfully launched as a secondary payload aboard an Air 

Force THOR AGENA from the Western Test Range during the week of 7 March 1965. 

The solar monitoring satellite was injected into a nominal 500 nautical mile circular 

orbit inclined 70 degrees to the earth's equator. Tracking and data acquisition 

services are being provided by ten NASA and two NRL ground stations. 

is the latest in a series of Navy satellites, beginning with the first solar X-ray 

monitor in 1960. 

This satellite 

The spin stabilized satellite was designed to measure solar X-rav emissions in six 

wavelength bands between 0.5 and 60 angstroms inclusive. Enhanced radiation in this 

range disrupts radio short-wave communications on the earth by changing the characteristics of the ionosphere. 

64 
Currently, communications forecasting efforts depend on indices of solar activity 

such as sunspot, flares, and solar radio noise. Since the solar X-ray outburst is 

the direct cause of the communication disturbance, the Solar Radiation Monitoring 

Satellite will provide a more reliable index of solar activity for communications 

predictions than any of the indirect observations made from the ground. 

The Air Force Materials Development Program in 1965 placed special emphasis on 

glass fibers and developing new fibers such as carbon, carbides, boron, borides, 

beryllium, beryllides, nitrides and oxides. Composites of boron fibers reinforced 

epoxy systems were extensively evaluated because of the appreciable weight reductions possible. 

A wide variety of polymers and ceramics were evaluated for ablative use. 

able effort went into improving the oxidation resistance of the main four refractory 

metals - columbium, tantalum, molybdenum and tungsten. 

these metals, unusual techniques were developed for high speed extrusion using a 

uniquely instrumented 700-ton extrusion press. 

CoxiderIn the field of processing 

Research and development effort in turbojet engines was expanded considerably 

during the year, placing four new aircraft engines into the initial stages of development. Thn C-5A engine development program bsnefited greatly from advanced 

engines which were started three years ago by two contractors. 

design resulted in superior performance and was selected for the final engine 

development. 

One competitive 

A Memorandum of Understanding between the U. S. and the United Kingdom was 

agreed to on October 20, 1965, initiating a joint development program for a vertical 

takeoff aircraft lift engine. 

Three competitive approaches were initiated in December 1965 for the development 

of a vectored thrust aircraft cruise engine. 

vectoring device so that the thrust may be used for either lift or cruise. 

This advanced engine will have a 

The Advanced Strategic Aircraft Engine was in a design study phase during 1965. 

This engine will be designed to operate more efficiently over a wide range of s.peeds 

and altitudes . 

COOPERATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 

General 

Cooperation and program coordination with other governmental agencies, particularly 

NASA, in the space program continues to increase. 

research programs, the procurement of launch vehicles, the use of ranges and instrumentation facilities, the conduct of studies on technology and their potential appli - 

cation, and the assignment of highly trained personnel. 

Such efforts include joint 

Aeronautics 

An agreement was made in January 1965 that formalized the established practice 

between NASA and DOD for mutual support in aeronautical research and development. 

A current example of this practice is the XB-70 program. In May 1965 a Memor65 
andum of Understanding established principles to utilize the Air Force XB-70 aircraft 

in support of the national supersonic transport program. Based on such principles, 

it is planned to conduct a joint USAF-NASA research program which will utilize the 

two XB-7Oaircraft. The joint program will commence after the completion of the 

current Air Force program, expected to be completed by April 1966. 

time, under the joint effort, first priority will be given to the support of the NASA 

XB-70 flight research program. 

After that 

Provisions are made for mutual fiscal support. 

In February 1965 the Army and NASA entered into an agreement for use and support 

of certain facilities owned by NASA and located at Ames Research Center. 

this agreement NASA is making available its 7x10 foot wind tunnel for use by the 

Army. 

Research at that facility. 

Under 

In addition, the Army is participating in NASA’s Low-Speed Aeronautical 

Secondarv Pavloads for Launch Vehicles 

It is not unusual for a particular primary space experiment not to require the full 

space or weight carrying capacity of its assigned launch vehicle. 

are available to accommodate additional or secondary payloads. 

to utilize the full capacity of NASA and DOD launch vehicles, particularly the large 

launch vehicles now becoming available , parallel procedures are being developed for 

this purpose and are being coordinated by NASA and DOD. 

Thus, opportunities 

Recognizing the need 

Reusable Launch Vehicle Technologv 

For the past several years consideration has been given to the desirability of a launch 

vehicle that could be recovered and reused. Although the advantages of such a vehicle 

have not been fully analyzed, it is necessary to support technologies that could 

contribute to such capability. 

being undertaken by an ad hoc subpanel of the Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board. 

operational applicability, and the advantages or limitations of the reusable launch 

vehicle concept. 

A review and assessment of these technologies is 

This study will assist in evaluating the technical feasibility, potential 

Facilities Coordination 

NASA and DOD are engaged in the construction of new facilities to meet their 

respective needs. 

that would unnecessarily duplicate existing or planned new construction of the other 

agency, a formal procedure of coordination is conducted each year. 

procedures, the proposed construction of facilities by each agency in FY 1967 have 

been jointly reviewed, compared, and coordinated. 

In order to assure that neither agency constructs new facilities 

Under these 

Coordinated USAF/NASA Advanced Hydrogen-Oxygen Rocket Engine Program - 

The Air Force and NASA have throughout the year conducted exploratory development 

in this area of mutual interest to examine the problems associated with the program. 

The success of component investigations on two high pressure engine concepts has 

encouraged the USAF and NASA to consider the integration of these components into 

mockup engine demonstration programs. 

In order to prevent duplication of efforts between DOD and NASA in this area, a 
joint Memorandum of Agreement was worked out. This agreement was a stepping 

stone from which a national program plan evolved. 

planned activities in advanced hydrogen-oxygen rocket engine development through 

calendar year 1969. 

The plan contains each agency's 

DOD Participation in the GEMINI Program 

The objective of the DOD interest in the GEMINI program is to raise the DOD 

experience level by evaluating techniques and equipment on NASA GEMINI flights. 

Results of the DOD experiments are expected to be important inputs to the Manned 

Orbiting Laboratory program. DOD participation also provided a mechanism for 

the timely flow of data from the NASA manned space flight activities to DOD agencies 

in 1965. 

During 1965 DOD continued to refine thirteen Air Force and three Navy experiments. 

The need for one Air Force experiment requiring an astronaut to leave his space 

capsule was eliminated, but two DOD experiments were flown on GEMINI 4 and six 

on GEMINI 5. Action for flight hardware design, fabrication and integration into 

the GEMINI spacecraft on the remaining experiments proceeded on schedule. 

Joint Navigation Satellite Committee 

With the agreement of NASA, DOD, Department of Commerce, Department of 

Interior, Department of Treasury, and FAA, an interagency committee was established for the purpose of evaluating possible requirements and costs for alternative 

systems, including a new satellite system "to meet future needs in air and sea 

navigation, air and sea traffic control or coordination, air -sea emergency rescue, 

and related data transmission. 

General Range Support by DOD for NASA Programs 

The Defense Department is continuing to provide extensive service to NASA programs 

in the launch area at Cape Kennedy, Vandenburg Air Force Base, and at Eastern 

Test Range stations through the Caribbean and into the South Atlantic Ocean as far 

as South Africa. Worldwide Defense Department resources for range and network 

support and for planned and emergency recovery of astronauts are marshalled under 

the control of the DOD Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations in 

connection with GEMINI missions. 

type of support to the APOLLO program. 

Plans are being made for extension of the same 

National Range Ships for APOLLO Support 

Contracts have been let and modifications are under way to augment the National 

Range Ship Fleet to provide instrumented ship support of APOLLO. Three ships 

will cover insertion of the APOLLO spacecraft into earth orbit and injection of the 

spacecraft into a lunar trajectory. 

in recovery of the spacecraft upon its return to earth. 

Two additional ships are being outfitted to assist 

Instrumented Aircraft Support for APOLLO 

Eight C-135 aircraft are being modified to collect data and to provide communication 

with the APOLLO spacecraft during the critical period of departure from earth orbit 

67 
in its journey toward the moon. 

Department resources. 

managed by the Air Force. 

The aircraft have been provided from Defense 

The modification and operation of the aircraft will be 

Lunar Mapping 

The DOD is currently engaged in 88 man years of work in support of Project APOLLO 

for NASA in the form of lunar maps, charts and other materials. 

The work currently in progress is devoted in part to 1:2,000,000, 1:1, 000, 000 and 

1:500,000 series maps and charts. 

from RANGER Photography is under way. 

being produced, such as orbital simulators, photometric studies, selenodetic control 

point generation, and earth landmark point identification data sheets (to check 

APOLLO navigation procedures in earth orbit). 

In addition, work on larger scale maps and charts 

Other special map materials or data are 

Network Stations 

Agreements have been made to transfer from the DOD to NASA the management 

responsibility for network stations at Kokee Park, Kauai, Hawaii; at Canton Island 

in the Pacific Ocean; and at Corpus Christi, Texas. 

recognition of the predominant use of these stations in support of NASA programs. 

This realignment was made in 

General SuDDort of NASA bv Armv 

The Army performs a great variety of tasks for the support of NASA. 

Engineers, in particular, has been responsible for the design and construction of 

NASA facilities at many locations. 

specific tasks for NASA; examples are (1) development of an Omnidirectional 

Accellerometer by the Harry Diamond Laboratory, (2) Space Vehicle Destruction 

System at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, (3) Qualification and reliability testing of 

three additional GEMINI space suits at the Natick Laboratory, (4) Thermal control 

of spacecraft at Ft. Belvoir, (5) Extension of the state-of-the-art on foods for use 

in space at the Natick Laboratory. 

The Corps of 

Other commands of the Army perform many 

Personnel SuDDort of NASA 

The practice of supporting NASA through the assignment of particularly qualified 

military officers was continued during this past year. A total of 237 officers are 

currently assigned throughout NASA; of these, 128 are Air Force, 80 are Army, 

23 are Navy, and 6 are Marine officers. An additional 128 Air Force officers, with 

experience in planning and conduct of ballistic missile operations are to be 

for further training to NASA's Mission Control Center at Houston, Texas. 

completion of their training they will be available for reassignment back to 

Air Force for the MOL program. 

DOD Support of FAA Programs 

as signed 

At the 

the 

The Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Agency joined efforts in the 

development of a single aircraft control radar system in the United States to be used 

for air defense as well as air traffic control. 

cations agreement was reached and common radar data processors were put on 

procurement order in 1965. 

A cost-sharing and technical specifi68 
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION 

INTR 0 DU C TION 

CHAPTER 

V 

In June, 1965, the Atomic Energy Commission placed all of its space-related research 

and development activities under one Director in a newly established Division of Space 

Nuclear Systems. This Division divides into two main elements: the joint AEC-NASA 

office responsible for space nuclear rocket propulsion and isotopic thruster propulsion 

(Space Nuclear Propulsion Office -- SNPO), and the AEC office responsible for space 

nuclear electric propulsion and power (Space Electric Power Office -- SEPO). 

A major advantage of the new organizational alignment is its establishment along lines 

similar to those of NASA, thus providing for improved communication and ease of 

coordination between the agencies in the power area. 

NUCLEAR ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEMS (ROVER PROGRAM) 

Substantial progress was made in 1965 in developing the technology for using a 

nuclear rocket propulsion system for advanced space missions. 

series of NERVA Reactor Experimental (NRX) power reactors -- the NRX-A3 -- 

was successfully operated through three complete power cycles. 

experiment on April 23, the reactor was operated for approximately eight minutes, 

three and one-half minutes of which were at full power of 1, 100 thermal megawatts. 

On May 20, the same reactor was restarted and run for about 16 minutes, some 13 

minutes of which were at full power. Following these two full-power experiments, 

the NRX-A3 was restarted for a second time on May 28 and operated in the low-tomedium power range for about 46 minutes. 

formance was good, all test objectives were met, and excellent operational data were 

obtained. 

The second of the 

During the first 

In each of the three tests, reactor perIn December, preparations for conducting the first NERVA Reactor Engine System 

Test (NRX/EST) planned in the NERVA technology development program were 

completed. The NRX/EST will be used to obtain information indicative of, and 

applicable to, an actual flight engine system. 

reactor (the NRX-A4) mounted in an up-firing position on a test car modified to 

accommodate a close-coupled turbopump, and a regeneratively-cooled nozzle with a 

bleed port through which hot exhaust gas will be ducted to drive the turbine. The 

Engine System Test series will be followed in 1966 by groundbased experimental 

engine power tests in a down-firing engine test stand. 

for the first of these experimental engines was initiated during 1965. 

The NRX/EST comprises a flight-type 

Fabrication of the components 

To advance the KIWI-developed graphite reactor technology, which is also being 

utilized under Project NERVA, toward higher power and temperatures and longer 

operating durations, a series of KIWI- sized but higher-powered reactors, designated 

PHOEBUS, are being fabricated for ground testing. In June 1965, the first in the 

69 
series of PHOEBUS reactor experiments was conducted on a reactor designated the 

PHOEBUS-1A. 

for about 10 - 1 /2 minutes. 

was smooth and stable. 

however, the liquid hydrogen coolant-propellant supply in the test facility was exhausted and as a consequence the reactor core was damaged from overheating. 

occurrence was not due to a reactor malfunction, but to the failure of the facility 

dewar level gauge which had been indicating a higher than actual residual of propellant. 

Steps to prevent the recurrence of this problem have been taken. 

In the experiment, the reactor was run at full power and temperature 

During startup and full power operation, reactor operation 

During the normal programmed shutdown from full power, 

This 

Work also progressed during 1965 on developing fuel elements, materials, hardware, 

and facilities which will permit the development and testing of a series of largerdiameter, higher-powered PHOEBUS-2 reactors. These ultimately will lead to the 

definition of a high-performance reactor de sign suitable for inclusion in a high-thrust 

engine system. 

In addition to the reactor experiments conducted during 1965 to advance the state of 

graphite reactor and engine system technology, a safety experiment known as the 

KIWI-Transient-Nuclear-Test also was conducted (January 12, 1965) to determine 

the accuracy of theoretical techniques developed for predicting the response of a 

graphite reactor to very large and rapid insertions 

a KIWI-sized reactor (1,000 thermal megawatts) was deliberately destroyed by subjecting it to a very fast power increase. The results of the test were in good agreement with predictions. 

extreme launch accident conditions, the safety of personnel both on and off-site could 

be readily assured. 

of reactivity. In the experiment, 

The experiment demonstrated that even under the most 

ISOTOPIC THRUSTERS 

The Isotopic Thruster Systems are low-thrust rocket engines using the thermal 

energy generated by isotope decay to heat hydrogen or other propellants to high 

temperatures prior to expulsion through a nozzle to produce thrust. These small 

rocket engines would have total thermal powers ranging from a few watts to on the 

order of five kilowatts and would be capable of producing thrusts ranging from a 

few millipounds to a quarter of a pound at a specific impulse of up to 700-800 seconds 

with hydrogen. 

Systems appear to be attractive as an upper stage for missions such as deep space 

probes, propelling payloads from low earth orbit to high earth orbits, for low thrust 

orbital operations, and for space vehicle attitude control systems. 

Based upon these performance capabilities, Isotopic Thruster 

Effort is presently concentrated on the development of high-temperature radioisotope 

fuel forms, fuel encapsulating techniques, and thruster technology. 

SPACE REACTOR POWER SYSTEMS 

SNAP- 10A Flight Test (SNAPSHOT -I) 

The nation's space and atomic energy program made history with the successful 

launch (on April 3, 1965) and operation of SNAPSHOT-I -- the flight test of the 

SNAP-1OA reactor -- into greater than a 4,000-year, 800-mile high Polar orbit. 

The 500-watt reactor was started up after it was in a stable orbit, and operated for 

43 days -- until May 16 -- producing more than 500,000 watt-hours of electricity. 

70 
All systems operated satisfactorily throughout the critical early stages of the flight, 

and all performance data recorded during the test confirmed de sign predictions and 

ground test experience. 

To determine the cause of the reactor's premature cessation of operation, various 

ground tests were made in an attempt to simulate the failure, and telemetry data 

acquired from the satellite during the reactor's operation were re-analyzed. 

most probable cause is the sequential failure of electronic components in the spacecarft which generated spurious signals which, in turn, initiated the reactor shutdown. 

The 

SNAP-1OA Ground Tests 

The SNAP-1OA nuclear ground test system (the FS-3) -- a flight-qualified copy of the 

SNAPSHOT-I orbital test system -- was put into operation on the ground, under 

simulated space conditions, on January 22, 1965. By the end of the year, this "twin" 

of the flight system had operated continuously for more than 340 days at design conditions. 

SNAP - 8 

As a result of budgetary decisions, the NASA portion of the joint AEC-NASA SNAP-8 

program entered a phase-out program early in 1965. 

ment work on the power conversion system (PCS) to obtain as much test time as 

possible within the FY 1965 funds available, and SNAP-8 reactor work is continuing 

to be pursued by the AEC. 

NASA is continuing its developOn April 15, the SNAP-8 Experimental Reactor -- the first power reactor of the 

SNAP-8 series -- completed its scheduled program of test operation and was shut 

down. 

watts and 1, 300°F coolant outlet temperature for 366 days, 100 days of which were 

at 600 thermal kilowatts and 1, 300°F. From September 18, 1964 until final shutdown 209 days later, the reactor demonstrated uninterrupted operation. 

During this program, the reactor was operated at or above 400 thermal kiloTesting of a non-nuclear version of the second power reactoi- in the SNAP-8 series -- 

the SNAP-8 Developmental Reactor Mockup -- was completed in July 1965. 

nuclear version -- the SNAP-8 Developmental Reactor -- is now being fabricated and 

is scheduled to achieve initial criticality in the Spring of 1966. 

The 

RADIOISOTOPE GENERATORS FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS 

The 25-watt SNAP-1 1 thermoelectric generator will be fueled with the Curium-242 

isotope in mid- 1966. 

Propulsion Laboratory and Houston Manned Spacecraft Center for environmental and 

compatibility testing. 

ly developed does not now plan on using such a device since the present solar panels 

power system appears suitable for meeting all mission needs. 

Electrically-heated models will be delivered to NASA's Jet 

The SURVEYOR program for which the generator was orginalIn February 1965, two electrically-heated 30-watt SNAP- 19 generators were delivered 

to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center where they are undergoing tests based on 

NIMBUS -B advanced experimental we ather satellite specifications. 

71 
At NASA's request, the AEC in 1965 selected an industrial contractor to initiate the 

development of a 50 -watt Plutonium-238 fueled SNAP-27 thermoelectric power supply, 

designed for intact re-entry into the earth's atmosphere from orbit, for a number 

of lunar surface applications, including powering a package of experiments left on the 

moon by the astronauts. 

The AEC also initiated studies during 1965: (1) to provide a higher power capability 

in a single 250-300 watt Plutonium-238 fueled power supply for use in orbital and 

deep space missions for NASA; (2) to prepare the preliminary engineering design of 

a polonium-fueled thermoelectric generator for the Department of Defense; (3) to 

prepare preliminary engineering de signs of a kilowatt- sized plutonium- or poloniumfueled thermoelectric power system for Apollo Applications Systems (AAS) for NASA; 

and (4) to investigate the use of Curium-244, Polonium-210, and Plutonium-238 as 

heat sources for subsystems of manned space electric power systems which can 

provide 1 - 10 kilowatts of electricity and employ either thermoelectric, thermionic, or 

dynamic power conversion systems. 

SPACE-DIRECTED ADVANCED REACTOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 

SNAP-50 

The SNAP-50/SPUR (Space Power Unit Reactor) program to develop a 300 to 1,000 

electrical kilotwatt nuclear-electric space power plant was terminated in June 1965. 

That work has been redirected to a longer-range advanced technology development 

effort rather than a major hardware development effort. 

where the SNAP-50 reactor and power plant integration work has been centered was 

shut down, and over-all system design, reactor design, and materials research work 

in conjunction with high power systems were transferred to an AEC laboratory. Two 

industrial contractors are continuing developmental work on turboalternator s, condenser s, boiler s, and other boiling -pota s sium power conversion equipment. 

The industrial laboratory 

Compact Thermoelectric Converter 

Competitive first-phase programs were initiated in June with two undustrial contractors on two concepts of a compact space thermoelectric power converter of 

modular form which could be used to develop from 1 to 20 electrical kilowatts and 

can be mated with either zirconium-uranium hydride reactors or radioisotopes as 

the heat source. Phase I, an engineering study, of the 3-5 year over-all program is 

scheduled for completion in early 1966. 

module qualification, and prototype fabrication and qualification. 

Later phases will cover module development, 

Advanced Space Reactor Concepts 

Two of the advanced reactor concepts presently under investigation which have 

potential space applications and thus are now aligned under the management of other 

AEC space-related research and development activities, are the Medium Power Re - 

actor Experiment (MPRE) and the Advanced High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor 

(710) project. The MPRE at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is exploring the feasibility of a 

direct cycle, boiling potassium, fast reactor to develop large amounts of electrical 

power for possible use on space missions. In 1965, mockup experiments were conducted to obtain data necessary for the design of the reactor experiment and its 

facility, and in-pile (in-reactor) and out-of-pile testing of uranium dioxide fuel 

72 
pellets was initiated to determine their integrity and stability under irradiation. 

710 reactor program being carried out for the AEC by an industrial contractor is 

aimed at developing and demonstrating refractory metal reactor technology for use 

in an inert gas-cooled reactor system capable of generating electric power in space. 

During 1965, effort was concentrated on developing and testing gas-cooled fuel 

element samples and such non-nuclear reactor components as actuators and pumps. 

The 

SPACE NUCLEAR SAFETY ACTIVITIES 

Two major series of safety experiments were carried out in 1965 on a modified 

SNAP-1OA type reactor to obtain data on temperature, peak power, and energy 

release in regions previously unexplored. 

SATELLITE-BASED DETECTION OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN SPACE 

A third new and improved pair of AEC-instrumented nuclear test detection satellites 

were launched in tandem from one ATLAS-AGENA rocket in mid-July to join the 

four other orbiting and still functioning systems which were launched in pairs in 

October 1963 and July 1964. 

for detecting radiations from nuclear explosions in space and improved sensors 

and information processing equipment which are better able than their predecessors 

to discriminate between natural radiation and man-made radiation in space. 

The new twin detection satellites contain instruments 

In addition to watching for nuclear explosions in space, the satellites are measuring 

X-ray emissions from the sun as solar activity builds toward a new maximum in 1968. 

Measurements of solar particles, including their interaction with the earth's magnetic field, are also being made. 

expected to make an important contribution to information on the sun's activity 

cycle, in addition to performing their detection role. 

The new satellites and the four still operating are 

The AEC is now preparing instrumentation that incorporates improvements based on 

past experience for a satellite launch in 1966. 

73 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

INTRODUCTION 

The Department welcomed the President's decision in 1965 to make greater use of 

our astronauts in telling abroad the story of the U. S. space effort. These brave 

and forthright men have done more in a few months to strengthen bonds of friendship 

between the United States and the many countries they have visited than could have 

been achieved in as many years by more conventional diplomacy. 

The President's decision to send a top-level commission to Europe early in 1966 to 

consult with governments of Europe "wishing to participate in the joint exploration of 

space'' promises to open a new chapter in United States space cooperation with 

other nations. The President's initiative, and the transatlantic consultations during 

the first months of 1966 resulting therefrom, are expected to stimulate governmental, 

scientific, and industrial experts in Europe to think about ways in which their space 

aspirations can be better realized through closer collaboration with the United 

States, for the benefit of all mankind. This type of cooperation among the European 

nations themselves is very much in line with U. S. foreign policy objectives. 

The Committee reaffirmed the recommendations contained in its 1964 report, on 

which the General Assembly had not yet taken action, and recommended that the 

Legal Subcommittee resume its work in the first part of 1966. The Committee also 

decided that a working group established to study the desirability, organization, 

and objectives of a 1967 international conference or meeting on the exploration and 

peaceful uses of outer space should meet in January 1966. 

with appreciation the reportsof the International Telecommunication Union and the 

World Meteorological Organization in the field of outer space. 

The Committee noted 

At the Twentieth Session of the General Assembly, the U.S. Ambassador to the 

United Nations opened the First (Political) Committee's discussion of international 

cooperation in the peaceful uses 

18. He emphasized cooperative activities of direct interest to the developing 

countries and the Member States which do not have large space programs, such 

as weather and communications satellite programs, the U. S. invitation to foreign 

scientists to propose experiments for inclusion on NASA satellites, joint soundingrocket and satellite-launching programs, distribution of Ranger photographs of the 

moon to scientists in other countries for professional analysis, and educational opportunities in the United States. The Ambassador stressed the need to carry out 

space programs in an open and generous manner and invited his colleagues to inform 

him if they wished to visit Cape Kennedy or other NASA centers. He specifically 

invited all nations represented in the U. N. 

for projects, interesting to them as well as to the United States, which could be 

carried out cooperatively on a realistic and manageable basis. 

of outer space with a major address on December 

to examine the American space program 

Recalling his 

75 
suggestion of September 23 that the United Nations begin work on a comprehensive 

treaty on the exploration of celestial bodies, he said that the United States plans to 

present a definite proposal as to the contents of such a treaty. 

On December 20, the First Committee adopted a resolution based on the report of 

the Space Committee and co-sponsored by thirteen members of that Committee, including the United States. The resolution was adopted unanimously in a plenary 

session of the Assembly on December 21. It recognized that the benefits of space 

exploration can be most widely enjoyed if Member States support the widest possible 

exchange of information and promote international cooperation; asked member 

States to cooperate with the Space Committee's program; urged the Space Committee 

to continue work on the assistance and return and liability agreements; endorsed 

the Space Committee's recommendations on scientific and technical cooperation; 

accorded U. N. sponsorship to the International Equatorial Sounding-Rocket Launching Facility at Thumba, India; and requested the Committee to consider suggestions 

for programs of education and training in the peaceful uses of outer space to assist 

the developing countries. 

The Department, through its scientific attaches and scientific affairs officers at 

embassies abroad, was pleased to forward promptly for ,foreign scientific appraisal the historic television photographs of the Martian surface taken in July 

1965 by the MARINER IV spacecraft. Copies of selected photographs were also 

forwarded to our ambassadors for presentation purposes as soon as they were 

available. Activities such as these help make clear our genuine desire to share 

with the world the knowledge we gain from space exploration. 

ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS 

On September 23, 1965, in his speech during the general debate of the U.N. General 

Assembly, Ambassador Goldberg stated that in accordance with ground rules laid 

down by the General Assembly, U. S. space activities had be en, and would continue 

to be, non-aggressive, peaceful, and beneficial in character. He suggested that 

the United Nations, in order to keep pace with technical progress in space, begin 

work on a comprehensive treaty on the exploration of celestial bodies. 

The Legal Subcommittee of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer 

Space met in New York from September 20 to October 1, 1965. The purpose of the 

meeting was to continue consideration of draft international agreements on: (1) 

assistance to and return of astronauts and space objects, and (2) liability for 

damage caused by objects launched into outer space. On the question of liability, 

the United States and Hungary introduced revised texts, and some area of agreement 

evolved among members of the Committee. Due to the complexity of the subject, 

however, much work remains to be done. On the question of assistance to and 

return of astronauts and space objects, the Subcommittee regrettably failed to 

reach an agreed text. 

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space met in New York from 

October 5 to 8, 1965. Most of the session was devoted to a general debate in 

which new light was cast on the space programs and activities of member states. 

In his general statement, the United States Representative concentrated on various 

U. S. cooperative space efforts. 

76 
TRACKING NETWORKS 

NASA Facilities 

Government-to-Government agreements by exchange of notes are in existence with 

the following countries covering the foreign portion of NASA's global tracking network: Australia, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Malagasy Republic, Mexico, Nigeria, 

Peru, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom. These facilities consist of nine 

stations in support of the manned space flight program, an eight-station tracking and 

telemetry network for scientific satellites, and deep-space antennae at four locations 

around the world. These are in addition to the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Test Range 

facilities, with installations as far away as the Canary Islands and South Africa, 

which are used by NASA as well. 

During the past year the United States, through its embassies abroad, negotiated 

extensions of agreements with Ecuador, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. In 

addition, modifications of existing agreements have been or are being negotiated 

with Australia, Malagasy Republic, Spain, and the United Kingdom in preparation 

both for Project APOLLO and for new or expanding scientific satellite programs. 

Ontical Tracking Stations 

An exchange of letters between the American Ambassador at Addis Ababa, on behalf 

of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Mass., and the Haile 

Selassie I University was effected October 13, 1965, covering the establishment and 

operation of an optical (Baker-Nunn) tracking station near Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. 

This agreement was reached after protracted negotiations commencing in July, 1964. 

The need for the Ethiopian station arose because of the necessity to relocate for 

technical reasons the camera now at Shiraz, Iran. It will be one of nine SA0 BakerNunn installations outside the United States. 

Cooperation with ESRO 

In October 1965 the House of Representatives approved a bill (H.R. 8210) which 

would enable the President to apply the provisions of the International Organizations 

Immunities Act to the European Space Research Organization (ESRO). The significance of this action lies in the fact that ESRO is seeking to establish a satellite 

telemetry/command station near Fairbanks, Alaska, as a part of its planned network in support of ESRO scientific satellites. 

marily by U. S. contractor personnel, ESRO desires to obtain for its non-American 

personnel privileges and immunities on the same order as those customarily extended abroad to NASA station personnel, as well as duty-free entry privileges with 

regard to station equipment and supplies. An amendment of the International Organizations Immunities Act, as contemplated by H. R. 8210, would satisfy ESRO's 

request. 

While the station will be manned priThe ESRO station in Alaska should be in operation by the end of 1966 in order to be 

available for the first of two launchings of ESRO satellites which are scheduled for 

1967 under the terms of a cooperative agreement bemeen ESRO and NASA. The 

Administration therefore urges the early consideration of S. 2130 (the companion 

bill now before the Senate) in order that action on this legislation may be completed 

during the current session of Congress. 

77 
CONTINGENCY RECOVERY OF ASTRONAUTS 

The Department of State and its overseas posts maintained a state of alert throughout each of the manned GEMINI flights -- the three-orbital GEMINI 3 flight in March, 

the "space walk" flight (GEMINI 4) in June, the eight-day GEMINI 5 flight in August, 

and rendezvous and fourteen-day flights (GEMINI 6 and 7) in December. 

each mission a GEMINI Task Force, consisting of watch officers from each regional 

bureau, as well as senior representatives of the Office of Legal Adviser, International Scientific and Technological Affairs, and the Office of Politico-Military 

Affairs, was assembled under the direction of a Senior Control Officer, normally 

the Deputy Under Secretary for Political Affairs. The principal purpose of the 

Task Force is to enable the Department, on a moment's notice in event of a premature landing or other emergency, to call upon the appropriate posts abroad to 

arrange through the respective host governments for such assistance as is indicated by the nature of the emergency. Another important task is to assist in the 

maintenance of clear communications channels between the space capsule and 

ground stations by alerting posts whenever interference on GEMINI frequencies was 

reported in any part of the world. When necessary, posts were instructed to request through their host governments the silencing of potentially harmful interference. To date there has been no instance of radio interference harmful to a 

GEMINI mission, thanks to excellent cooperation of governments on both sides of 

the Iron Curtain. 

Prior to 

Similarly, principal Foreign Service posts between 32 degrees north and 32 degrees 

south latitudes are under instruction to maintain an increased alert during manned 

space missions. Each such post has an officer whose duty it is to keep abreast of 

space flight planning for every mission as it evolves. To reduce communications 

delays between the Department and the field to an absolute minimum the Communications Watch Officer has on hand during each mission a number of perforated tapes 

containing various types of emergency messages, so that only the blanks need be 

completed. 

Prior to each GEMINI mission the Department through embassies abroad facilitates 

the positioning of Air Force SAR (Search and Rescue) Units at strategic locations 

around the globe. To the maximum extent possible overflight clearances are obtained in advance from countries through which SAR Units might have to fly in event 

of emergency. 

ASTRONAUT TRAVEL ABROAD 

Now that the United States has passed through the early, critical stages of its manned 

space flight program, the President has decided to make use of our astronauts from 

time to time to carry abroad the message that the U.S. space program is devoted 

solely to the cause of peace. 

On June 18, 1965 a premier showing of the NASA color film of the GEMINI 4 flight, 

"Walk in Space, was held in the Department of State auditorium for members of 

the Diplomatic Corps and their families. Following narration of the film by 

GEMINI 4 Astronauts McDivitt and White, the President announced his plan to send 

the Vice President, accompanied by the two astronauts to the Paris Air Show then 

in progress. Within eight hours, the Vice President and his party were aboard a 

Presidential aircraft bound for Paris. 

78 
The party was greeted by large crowds upon arrival at Le Bourget Airport. 

first day's activities included a large press conference for the astronauts at the 

airport and a reception that evening for 3, 000 persons hosted by the American 

Ambassador. The Vice President and the astronauts visited the Air Show and 

accompanied by the Ambassador called on President de Gaulle. 

The 

Encouraged by the overwhelming success of the McDivitt-White visit to Paris, the 

President immediately following the safe completion of the eight-day GEMINI 5 

mission asked Astronauts Cooper and Conrad, and their wives, to undertake a more 

ambitious good-will trip abroad. The two-week itinerary (September 15-29) was 

worked out with the assistance of the Department of State and included visits to 

Athens, Thessaloniki, Izmir, Istanbul, Ankara, Addis Ababa, Tananarive, Nairobi, 

Lagos, four cities in the interior of Nigeria, and Las Palmas, Canary Islands. 

Again, transportatation was via Presidential aircraft. 

The entire trip was successful in presenting, through the astronauts, our country's 

willingness to share with the world our knowledge gained from space exploration. 

The first major item on the astronauts' schedule was a presentation at the International Astronautical Federation Congress, Athens, where eminent scientists and 

engineers from all over the world were in attendance. Other highlights of the trip 

included meetings with the Soviet cosmonauts at Athens and a visit to the NASA 

tracking station at Kano, Nigeria. At Addis Ababa the astronauts met with the 

U. N. Economic Commission on Africa and the Organization of African Unity. 

The astronauts were received by the respective chiefs of state in five of the seven 

countries visited. In Nigeria they were received by the Prime Minister in the 

absence of the President. At Las Palmas they were received by the Spanish 

Governor. The astronauts were welcomed by large and enthusiastic crowds. In 

addition to numerous television appearances and crowded press conferences, the 

astronauts spoke before countless audiences which included scientists, teachers, 

high government officials, and ranking diplomats. Press, radio and television 

coverage was excellent throughout the trip. 

During the first three weeks of October 1965, former Astronaut John W. Glenn, Jr. 

visited the following European cities as special emissary of the President: 

Frankfurt, Munich, Bonn, Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg, London, Amsterdam, The 

Hague, Rotterdam, Genoa, Rome, Naples, Madrid, and Lisbon. The Glenn party 

traveled by commercial aircraft. Plans and arrangements for the trip were 

worked out jointly by NASA, the Department of State, and USIA, on the basis of 

recommendations received from the American embassies in the six countries 

visited. 

and technical groups. However, it included extensive public exposure as well as 

calls on government dignitaries at each stop. Col. Glenn carried special words 

of greeting from the President to Chancellor Erhard (Bonn) and Mayor Brandt 

(Berlin). An unqualified success from beginning to end, the Glenn trip gave a real 

boost to public and official support in Western Europe for the U.S. space effort. 

A full schedule was built around lectures and appearances before scientific 

These trips have demonstrated beyond question that the United States possesses in 

its astronauts a foreign policy asset of the first order. 

globe should have the opportunity of meeting them, to the extent this can be done 

without interfering with their primary mission of space exploration and experimentation. 

Peoples in all parts of the 

79 
KOREAN PRESIDENT VISITS CAPE KENNEDY 

On May 22, during his State Visit to the United States, his Excellency Chung Hee 

Park, President of Korea, visited Cape Kennedy and made a four-hour tour of NASA 

facilities here. 

dence, a down-range firing of an APOLLO "boilerplate" for the purpose of testing 

the heat shield at reentry velocity. 

The tour included a briefing on Project APOLLO and, by coinciCOOPERATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

The Department of State worked closely with the Department of Defense during 1965 

on international aspects of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program 

(IDCSP) and the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Project. 

COMMUNICATIONS VIA SATELLITES 

An important milestone was achieved by the international communications satellite 

consortium with the successful launching of its first earth satellite on April 6, 1965. 

The EARLY BIRD satellite, which is in a synchronous equatorial orbit over the 

Atlantic Ocean, is equipped with 240 telephone channels. Since June 28, 1965, the 

satellite has been used to provide public services between Europe and North America 

Commercial operations to date through EARLY BIRD gave a high degree of assurance that plans for the provision of global coverage can be achieved. 

In meeting certain telecommunications requirements of Project APOLLO, the consortium will have excess space segment capacity available which can be used to 

serve other areas of the world a year in advance of the original objective of having 

a global system in being by the end of 1967. The launching in 1966 of two synchronous satellites for Project APOLLO will permit service to be extended to some 

countries in Latin America, Africa, and the Far East by the latter part of the year. 

The Department of State, with the assistance of the Communications Satellite Corporation, was active in 1965 in encouraging states members of the International Telecommunication Union to become parties to the Agreement Establishing Interim 

Arrangements for a Global Commercial Communication Satellite System. On 

August 20, 1964, eleven countries initially signed the Agreement, including the 

United States, and by the end of 1964, this membership had grown to 19. During 

1965, participation was further increased from 19 to 48. Most of the geographic 

areas of the world are now represented in the consortium, and it is anticipated that 

several additional countries will decide to participate in this unique international 

organization in the coming months. All of the countries party to the main intergovernmental Agreement have also designated an entity, either private or public, 

to participate in the consortium and have signed the Special Agreement. Furthermore, pursuant to Article 14 of the Special Agreement, a Supplementary Agreement 

on Arbitration, was negotiated and opened for signature on June 4, 1965. To date, 

37 countries have signed the Supplementary Agreement which will enter into force 

when all parties to the intergovernmental Agreement have signed it. 

The Intergovernmental Agreement established an Interim Communications Satellite 

Committee having responsibility for the design, development, construction, es - 

tablishment, maintenance and operation of the space segment for a global communications satellite system. This Committee meets regularly every month on matters 

involving the affairs of the consortium. 

80 
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

INTRODUCTION 

CHAPTER 

VI1 

The National Science Foundation supports basic research in the sciences, promotes 

improved science education in the United States, provides assistance in facilitating 

better exchange of scientific information, and carries out associated activities. 

of the work supported by the National Science Foundation is carried on at colleges, 

universities, and nonprofit institutions in the United States. 

Most 

The Foundation also has special responsibilities with respect to certain national 

research centers and national research programs. It is in the latter areas that 

National Science Foundation activities are more closely associated with those of the 

overall national space effort. 

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (West Virginia) 

The 140-foot precision radio telescope, which has been under construction for several years, was dedicated on October 13. It has been in full operation since July. 

A new emission line in the spectrum of hydrogen gas was discovered with it soon 

after it was completed. 

The 300-foot telescope, the world's largest movable parabolic radio antenna, was 

used regularly during 1965 by staff and visitors for various research programs, 

including observations of the distribution of hydrogen in our own galaxy as well as in 

other galaxies. Many measurements were also made of the polarization of radiation 

from discrete sources. 

A 36-foot high-precision radio telescope designed to operate at millimeter wavelengths is nearing completion. 

in Arizona, where the altitude and the dry climate are favorable for observation of 

these short wavelengths. 

It will be located at the Kitt Peak National Observatory 

The Kitt Peak National Obs ervatorv (Arizona) 

Designs for a 150-inch reflecting telescope at the Kitt Peak site are nearing completion. 

General Electric Company. 

it is a 50-inch highly automated reflector, which can be operated either by manual 

control from the site or by remote control from Tucson headquarters. 

A fused quartz blank for the telescope mirror is being manufactured by the 

One new telescope went into operation during the year: 

The 84-inch stellar telescope was used throughout the year by staff and visitors, as 

were several smaller telescopes. An additional 36-inch reflector is being built to 

81 
fill the ever-increasing demand by visitors for observing time on telescopes of moderate aperture. 

The 60-inch solar telescope continued in demand for both daytime and night observations. It was used for a wide range of studies including a determination of the abundance of the chemical elements lithium and boron in the sun's atmosphere. During 

the appearance in October of the unexpected bright comet Ikeya-Seki about 60 spectrographic plates were obtained by this instrument at the highest dispersion ever 

used for cometary spectra; these spectrograms showed that the comet contained 

gases of sodium, iron, and calcium. 

In the Space Division the Aerobee rocket program continued with three successful 

launchings during the year, one of which carried a camera which photographed the 

light of the sun in X-rays being emitted by it. 

planetary atmospheres are also being carried out. 

Several theoretical investigations of 

Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (Chile) 

A 60-inch and a 36-inch telescope for this new observatory are under construction 

and are expected to be delivered in Chile in January 1966. 

domes to house these instruments are under construction. Photoelectric observations with an existing 16-inch telescope have continued. 

In the meantime the 

The E. 0. Hulburt Center for Space Research (Washington, D. C.) 

Participation of university faculty members and graduate students in rocket and 

satellite astronomy at the Naval Research Laboratory is made possible by continued 

NSF support. 

The International Years of the Quiet Sun (IQSY) 

The second half of IQSY occurred in 1965. 

geophysical and interplanetary environment of the earth during the period of sunspot 

minimum. 

Science Foundation. 

It is a coordinated effort to study the 

Federal coordinator for this national research program is the National 

The program for IQSY consists of projects in meteorology, geomagnetism, 

aurora, airglow, ionospheric physics, solar radio astronomy, solar activity, the 

interplanetary medium, .cosmic rays, trapped particles, and aeronomy. 

It has been established in retrospect that solar minimum actually occurred during 

the first part of 1964. The minimum of the sunspot cycle is in reality the low point 

between two overlapping cycles which can be distinguished by the magnetic polarity 

of the spots and their latitude on the sun. 

new cycle was already observed in August 1963, while spots of the old cycle were 

still evident during the spring of 1965. 

optical and radio astronomy indices also indicated a minimum in late spring of 1964. 

During this interval, the sun was also extremely quiet as observed in the X-ray 

region from satellites. 

Thus, for example, the first spot of the 

In addition to the number of sunspots, other 

Activity on the earth that is presumably solar-related has not been in exact phase 

with the solar activity indices just described. Geomagnetically disturbed days can 

82 
exist without any obvious signs of solar activity, although the general level of geomagnetic activity is now rising as the sun becomes more active following the minimum. Records of cosmic rays, ionospheric structure, and whistlers which travel 

through the magnetosphere, have in general responded as expected to the decline and 

subsequent rise in solar activity. However, the interaction is a complex one and not 

all indices move in unison. Detailed studies of data acquired during intervals of 

especially high or especially low activity during the IQSY are still to be undertaken. 

Two special IQSY expeditions were undertaken during the year. 

Balloon Expedition involved launching high altitude balloons in India for about ten 

universities, primarily for cosmic ray studies near the geomagnetic equator. 

expedition was managed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. 

second expedition was to observe the solar eclipse of May 30, 1965, both from the 

astronomical and atmospheric sciences point of view. The ground-based activities 

of this expedition were coordinated by the Kitt Peak National Observatory and were 

centered on two islands in the South Pacific--the atoll of Manuae in the Cook Islands 

and the island of Bellingshausen in the Society Island group. Although the group on 

Manuae was clouded out, those on Bellingshausen were able to make useful observations. In addition to these ground-based groups, four jet aircraft equipped with 

optical windows and loaded with spectrographs and other optical instruments flew at 

altitudes up to 42, 000 feet, rising above the clouds and extending the duration of 

totality by chasing the shadow. For the observers in one of these aircraft, totality 

lasted more than nine minutes, the longest interval of total eclipse ever achieved. 

While the data secured from these expeditions have not yet been completely evaluated, it is clear that we now have an exciting new approach to use for such observations. 

The Equatorial 

The 

The 

83 
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE CHAPTER 

VI11 

INTRODUCTION 

A significant number of the activities of the Department of Commerce contribute to 

the Nation's space program. 

National Bureau of Standards, the Environmental Science Services Administration, 

and the Office of the Under Secretary for Transportation. 

Organizationally, the major contributors are the 

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 

Pursuant to the President's Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1965, the Weather Bureau, 

the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory of the 

National Bureau of Standards were merged into the Environmental Science Services 

Administration (ESSA). The establishment of ESSA, accomplished during the latter 

part of 1965, has brought all Department of Commerce activity in the environmental 

sciences under a single office. The Administration serves as the focus of the 

Department's efforts to describe, understand, and predict the size and shape of the 

earth, the state of the oceans, the atmosphere, and the space environment. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1965 

The TIROS IX meteorological satellite provided the first daily weather observations 

of the entire sunlit globe, thereby achieving a goal that has spurred meteorologists 

for 300 years. Meanwhile, TIROS VI1 and VIII completed two and one-half and two 

years of useful operational life, respectively, far exceeding the lifetime of any 

previous meteorological satellite. 

nificant ionospheric sounding data throughout 1965. 

satellites provided a higher degree of geodetic control for the country. A field 

evaluation of the Navy Satellite Navigation System demonstrated that this system is 

the best available operational means for navigational control of oceanographic sur - 

vey work. 

EXPLORER XX continued to provide highly sigTriangulation with the ECHO 

Very extensive ground-based experiments and observatories provided data on the 

ionosphere, the outer atmosphere, and beyond, to support and complement experiments from space vehicles. 

A mathematical model was developed which permits estimates of the geomagnetic 

field to the limits of the magnetosphere. 

Met e or0 loe ical Satellite s 

The year 1965 saw an historic fulfillment of the meteorologist's oldest dream: observation of the weather over the entire world, each day. Beginning with a 

85 
cooperative effort by 10 observing stations in central Europe more than 300 years 

ago, a succession of technological advances and international agreements has brought 

this dream steadily closer to reality. The last step --bringing the weather of remote 

oceans and inaccessible land areas under daily observation- -could be achieved only 

with the development of artificial earth satellites. 

On January 22, 1965, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched 

TIROS IX, the tenth in its series of experimental meteorological satellites. 

next two months, the satellite had the capability for producing television pictures 

which, during the course of each day, could show the entire sunlit portion of the 

earth (omitting only the darkened north polar region). Meteorologists of the National 

Weather Satellite Center (now the NESC) assembled and analyzed each group of pictures, and transmitted schematic cloud maps to weather forecasting stations throughout the United States and overseas. 

For the 

The daily worldwide coverage was made possible by the new wheel design of TIROS IX, 

and its launch into a near-polar orbit. As the cylindrical satellite rolls along its path, 

the cameras, mounted in its rim and looking downward once during each revolution, 

can photograph the earth from any part of the orbit. The special launch maneuvers 

required to rotate the satellite into operational attitude were executed flawlessly. 

The horizon sensors used to trigger the cameras have worked perfectly, as have the 

magnetic orientation coils which control the attitude and spin rate of the satellite. 

The successful operation of these previously untested components confirmed the 

feasibility of the wheel design, and allowed the Satellite Center to proceed rapidly 

with its plans for developing the TIROS Operational Satellite (TOS) system. 

system, scheduled to be established and operating in early 1966, will carry further 

the promise of TIROS IX by providing daily, worldwide weather observations on a 

con tinuin g year - round operational ba si s . 

The TOS 

TLROS X 

TIROS X, the first meteorological satellite to be completely funded by the Department 

of Commerce, was launched by NASA into a near-polar sun-synchronous orbit on 

July 2, 1965. 

.TIROS orbit in which it could have acquired photographs of only 20 percent of the 

earth's surface every 24 hours. By changing to a near-polar orbit with its cameras 

viewing parallel to the spin axis, it has been possible to obtain three times the photographic coverage without modifying the spacecraft or the launch vehicle. 

has been used extensively for tropical storm watch and numerous other projects. 

This standard TIROS satellite was originally scheduled for a normal 

TIROS X 

TIROS VI1 and TIROS VI11 

On December 31, 1965, TIROS VI1 completed more than two and one-half years of 

successful operation. 

cameras in operation until October 19, 1965, when one camera failed. 

ing camera is still providing excellent data. 

radiometer was deactivated on June 18. TIROS VIII, launched December 21, 1963, 

also passed the two-year mark with its single recording vidicon camera furnishing 

good-to-excellent photographs. 

successful operation of TIROS IX, confirm the dependability of the TIROS spacecraft 

as the basic satellite for the TOS system. 

This satellite, launched on June 19, 1963, had two vidicon 

The remainThe medium-resolution infrared 

These records of long-term operation, and the 

86 
TIROS IX and X, in near-polar orbits, furnished the main support to operational and 

research projects during 1965. 

to the other satellites. All were programmed as necessary to take cloud pictures of 

specific areas at specified times to furnish the weather information requested. 

TIROS VI1 and VIII were used primarily as back-up 

Keeping a watch on tropical storms was one of the main operational projects of the 

year. 

of areas of tropical storm formation. 

tracked day-by-day until it dissipated. 

language messages were sent to the weather services of all countries likely to be 

affected by the storm. 

storms known to have occurred in the tropics during 1965. 

All of the TLROS satellites were programmed to assure continuous surveillance 

When such a storm was identified, it was 

Meteorologically-coded advisories or plainThe satellites were instrumental in the initial discovery of 

In addition to the above, many special projects, operations, and organizations requested and received direct support from TIROS satellites in 1965, including U. s. - 

Canadian ice reconnaissance studies, the International Indian Ocean Expedition, 

ice reconnaissance studies of northern Japan, and launch and recovery support for 

GEMINI ope rations. 

Centralized Receipt and Processing of Satellite Data 

Satellite data are now processed centrally at the NESC in Suitland, Md. The picture 

signals received at the two Command and Data Acquisition (CDA) stations near 

Fairbanks, Alaska, and Wallops Station, Va. , are now retransmitted directly to the 

processing center at NESC. Here the signals are reconstituted on kinescopes and 

photographed. The photographs are then analyzed, and nephanalyses (cloud maps) 

are prepared. These are the nephanalyses transmitted by radiofacsimile in pictorial 

form, and by radioteletypewriter in weather code form to users all over the world. 

Processing of all pictures at the Suitland Center instead of at the CDA stations has 

decreased by 50 to 60 percent the average lapse between the time the signals are received on the ground and the time the final product is ready for transmission to the 

users. The preparation time will be decreased further when the nephanalyses are 

prepared directly from the analog signals by high speed computer. 

puter processing of the picture signals is planned for implementation during 1966. 

Operational comResearch and Development Programs 

The Meteorological Satellite Laboratory, as the research aim of NESC, seeks: (1) to 

extract from the satellite data the maximum possible amount of weather information; 

and (2) to find new or improved ways to obtain by satellites information which will 

contribute toward improvement of the various services provided by the Weather 

Bureau and by ESSA. The Laboratory carries out analytical studies, research investigations, and experimental programs to achieve these goals. 

Work continued during 1965 on the interpretation and analysis of the cloud pictures 

and infrared data received from the satellites. 

used to study atmospheric motions, the heat balance of the atmosphere, and the 

structure and development of storms. 

Meteorological Satellite Laboratory are expected to lead to increased understanding 

of atmospheric processes, and to improved methods for forecasting weather. Among 

the more than 50 individual investigations of the laboratory, several are of particular 

inte re s t : 

These data observed from space are 

The results of the studies carried on by the 

87 
a. a method developed for estimating maximum wind speeds in hurricanes using the satellite photographs as the sole source of data. 

method was tested in 1964 and used throughout 1965 with excellent results. 

This 

b. a method for improving numerical weather prediction models by the use 

of satellite data was tested during 1965. The overall reduction of error 

between numerical forecasts made without satellite data input and those 

made with satellite data was 5.4 percent for the six cases tested. 

c. the satellite infrared spectrometer, an instrument designed to measure 

the vertical temperature structure of the atmosphere from satellite 

altitudes, was successfully tested in 1964 on a balloon flying at 100,000 

feet. 

struction. 

A flight model to be tested on NIMBUS B in 1967 is under cond. a special spectrograph designed to measure cloud heights from satellites 

was successfully tested on the GEMINI 5 spaceflight. This spectrograph 

determines the depth of the atmosphere above the clouds by measuring 

the intensity of solar radiation reflected from the cloud tops. Measurements are made in the 7621h: oxygen "A" s pe ctr a1 band. 

e. special studies have provided a method for using satellite cloud photographs to determine the location of the jet stream. 

location of this phenomenon is especially important to aircraft operations because of the close association between clear air turbulence and 

the jet stream winds. 

Public Law 480 counterpart funds are being used to continue support to 

a research project at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. This 

project is providing interpretation of data obtained over the Middle East 

by meteorological satellites. 

Knowledge of the 

f. 

Other Progress in 1965 

The first TIROS Operational Satellite (TOS) System spacecraft to be launched early 

in 1966 will be identical with TIROS IX. This satellite will be followed by a satellite 

equipped with Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) system cameras. 

cameras, already tested on TLROS VIII and NIMBUS I, will transmit local area cloud 

pictures directly to ground stations within telemetry range of the satellite. The 

necessary receiving equipment, although relatively simple, was still sufficiently 

costly that only 11 foreign countries could participate in the APT experiments of 

TLROS VI11 and NIMBUS I. 

ground stations of various configurations and reliabilities have been developed and 

distributed to member nations of the World Meteorological Organization. 

some 30 nations will be equipped to receive transmissions from the first APT satellite of the TOS system. A number of other nations have expressed interest, and are 

expected to join this phase of the World Weather Watch shortly after the TOS system 

is established. 

These 

Since then engineering descriptions of less expensive APT 

As a result 

In connection with the APT program, NESC conducted a training session for representatives of other countries on APT tracking procedures and picture interpretation. 

88 
The direct communications link established in October, 1964, to facilitate exchange 

of meteorological satellite data between the World Weather Centers in Washington 

and Moscow continued in operation throughout 1965. Although no satellite data have 

yet been exchanged, the transmission of conventional weather data has resulted in an 

average saving of one and one-half hours in the twice-daily receipt of conventional 

data for operational numerical weather prediction. 

ment that data from USSR meteorological satellites would be forthcoming by year's 

end, extension of the basic agreement for maintenance of this data link was agreed 

upon in October, 1965, at a meeting of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful 

Uses of Outer Space. 

Because of the Soviet announceIonospheric Satellites 

EXPLORER XX, the fixed-frequency topside ionospheric sounder launched by NASA 

in 1964, is now yielding major scientific results. 

Sciences and Aeronomy (of ESSA) has developed new information on the existence of 

thin sheets of ionization irregularities extending from about 200 km up to thousands 

of kilometers over certain parts of the globe. The experiments have also provided 

new insights into the propagation of radio waves in the outer ionosphere in ducts 

along the earth's magnetic field lines. The sounding experiment is also contributing 

to understanding the basic physics of plasmas in the collisionless, wall-less laboratory of the ionized upper atmosphere. Plasmas previously had been studies largely 

in the laboratory. The structure of the plasma resonances observed is unexpectedly 

complicated and calls for extension of existing theory. 

the bonuses from the basic experiment of satellite global mapping of the ionosphere 

and its fine scale irregularities. 

The Lnstitute of Telecommunication 

These results are some of 

ITSA scientists participated in planning the ion0 spheric beacon satellite, ultimately 

launched as EXPLORER XXII by NASA in 1964. 

search on the structure and irregularities of the ionosphere by specialized ground 

observations of the radio transmissions from the satellite. 

others, are contributing to plans for a contemplated operational ionospheric mapping 

satellite. 

Subsequently they conducted reThese studies, with 

Satellite Geodesy 

Earth Geodesy--Extensive theoretical studies were performed in the field of geometric satellite triangulation as part of- the continuing effort to improve and refine 

data acquisition and reduction methods. The goal is to obtain worldwide geodetic 

reference data with accuracies approaching one part in a million. 

The effort in satellite triangulation has concentrated on improving the connections 

between, and the internal consistency of, geodetic control throughout North America, 

north of Mexico. Two recent cooperative agreements, one between the Governments 

of the United States and Canada and the other between the Departments of Commerce 

and Defense, made possible an intensified program to complete the geodetic network 

in Canada and Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands. 

Coast and Geodetic Survey to activate eight camera systems and to expand measuring 

and processing capabilities. 

The agreements enabled the 

Additionally, observations were completed along the arc of satellite triangulation 

extending from Antigua, through stations at Bermuda and within the United States, to 

stations in northern Canada. 

89 
The launch of PAGEOS in June, 1966, will begin the worldwide geodetic satellite 

program which has the objective of establishing a global network of 69 spherical 

triangles, obtained from observations taken at 38 ground stations. 

Lunar Geodesy (Se1enodesy)--A systems concept study was prepared for the APOLLO 

program, and a proposed experiment to be conducted in lunar orbit was approved. 

The objectives of the experiment are: (1) to establish a selenocentric (mooncentered) coordinate system related unambiguously to the equator system of coordinates; (2) to derive a reference figure for the moon with respect to a point which is 

representative of the moon's center of mass; (3) to create a three-dimensional 

selenodetic control system over the entire surface of the moon--in terms of latitude, 

longitude, and height above the derived reference figure- -in support of contemplated 

data collection systems for the compilation of topographic maps at various scales; 

(4) to provide a detailed description of the gravitational field of the moon; and (5) to 

develop a data acquisition system and data reduction methods applicable to similar 

experiments in earth orbit and to the scientific exploration of the planets. Results 

of the experiment will contribute to the solution of geophysical and geological problems associated with the exploration of the moon and those concerned with the origin 

of the earth-moon system. 

Navigational Satellites 

An evaluation of the Navy Satellite Navigation System for possible use in oceanographic survey work was made by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 

evaluated on tracklines connecting Oakland, Calif., with positions in Alaska and 

Hawaii. 

visual control at each location. 

visual, radar, Loran C, Loran A, and astronomic fixes while underway. Two orbiting satellites were used during the entire evaluation period. 

The System was 

Comparisons were made with dockside or at-anchor fixes, using precise 

Satellite navigational fixes were also collated with 

It was concluded that the Navy Satellite Navigation System is the best available operational system for navigational control of oceanographic survey work. 

application of the system to future oceanic surveys will continue. The limited number of usable satellites in orbit makes possible only a small number of fixes in any 

24-hour period. Additional satellites will be needed to provide more frequent positions for the oceanographic survey program. 

Active 

Geomagnetic Activities 

A study of the worldwide secular change of the magnetic elements over recent 

decades, employing available observatory and repeat data, was completed by the 

Coast and Geodetic Survey. 

secular-change patterns, obtained values for 1965 at all available field observation 

points (more than 200,000 in all). 

matical model of this geomagnetic field from the reduced data. This technique involves an analytic presmoothing by overlapping quadrangles, a provisional spherical 

harmonic analysis for filling gaps and weak areas, and a final analysis with a 

degree of fineness not attempted previously. The model is adapted for extrapolation 

upward to form estimates of the field at various altitudes--up to the limits of the 

magneto sphere. 

A machine-reduction program, using the resultant 

A new technique was used to develop a mathe90 
Spa ce Environment Inve s tig ation s 

Rocket and satellite studies as well as space research by ground-based techniques 

and supporting laboratory investigations form part of the program of ITSA, which is 

located at Boulder, Colo., (formerly the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory of 

the National Bureau of Standards). 

includes theoretical, observational, and laboratory studies of the nature of the ionosphere, the magnetosphere, interplanetary space, and the sun. 

Supporting research undertaken by ITSA staff 

ITSA scientists have participated in two rocket launchings to probe the variation of 

electron density of the lower ionosphere. Scientific results continue to come from the 

large Jicamarca (Peru) ionospheric radar, which has a range of 10,000 km and more. 

Laboratory measurements at Boulder have provided positive-ion coefficients for re - 

actions of importance in the ionosphere, many for the first time. This is enabling 

the theory of the production and maintenance of the ionosphere to be put on a much 

sounder basis than heretofore. 

absorption events" attributed to bombardment of the earth's atmosphere by energetic 

protons from the sun. The ground-based radio techniques (riometer and ionospheric 

forward scatter) in networks in both hemispheres and some at magnetically conjugate 

points, provide for a measure of the energy spectrum of incoming particles, in effect 

using the earth as a giant mass spectrometer. 

attributed to the precipitation into the lower ionosphere of relativistic electrons from 

the outer zone of the trapped radiation belts. 

light on the outer bovmdary of the earth's magnetosphere and the changes during disturban c e s . 

Extensive studies are being conducted on "polar cap 

A new phenomenon has been identified, 

These and other studies are throwing 

Increased emphasis has been placed on readying a space -environment forecasting 

service which will be of increasing practical importance to man's activities in space. 

These studies involve disturbances in the upper atmosphere, in space, and on the sun. 

Systematic forecasts of some parameters are now being made. 

The radio propagation and telecommunications activities of ITSA include several 

programs specifically directed towards aeronautic and space applications. Studies 

for the communications satellite program have concerned the practicability from a 

propagation standpoint of sharing frequencies between satellite and earth-bound 

communication services. 

interference to space communications arising from thunderstorm cells, aircraft, or 

the unwanted signals from other services using the same frequencies. ITSA scientists have also investigated for NASA the limitations on the accuracy of spacecraft 

and aircraft radio tracking systems imposed by the spatial and time variability of 

the refractive index of the atmosphere. 

design of such tracking systems. 

been made to assist the development of the U.S. position on plans for sharing the use 

of radio frequencies for aircraft communications. Typical flight paths and reporting 

locations have been selected in all the major world air route areas, and computations 

have been made of the theoretical reliability of each frequency band at various times, 

seasons, and solar activity levels. 

Other studies have been made of the degree and nature of 

The results will be useful in optimizing the 

Special propagation studies and calculations have 

Support for NASA Space Operations 

Telecommunications and Aeronomy Support- - In the role of consultants to NASA , 

ITSA scientists have helped plan experiments to be carried out on manned satellites 
including the briefing and debriefing of the astronauts. 

airglow layers in the high atmosphere, the twilight bands, and the zodiacal light due 

to sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust. 

The experiments concern the 

Services to the space program include special advance predictions of radio frequencies for communication among the ground control stations of the GEMINI program. 

These are supplemented by special and up-to-the-minute forecasts of propagation 

conditions and disturbances during the course of each mission. 

flare forecasts are also provided. Ionospheric sounding observatories at several 

rocket and satellite launching sites contribute both to operations and research. 

Under an international arrangement with COSPAR, the radio and geophysical forecast 

center operated by ITSA assigns the international designations to all satellites and 

space probes launched, and serves as the Western Hemisphere center for notifying 

the scientific community of launchings and relevant orbital information. 

Experimental solar 

Seismic Support 

The seismic energy induced by three SATURN (SA-7, SA-8, and SA-10) launches 

was monitored with seismic instruments to obtain ground vibration measurements. 

Based on these measurements, the C&GS derived prediction equations to permit 

extrapolation to the anticipated vibration levels that would be generated by more advanced missile-launch systems. 

rocket engine was also monitored to provide additional data for ground-motion 

prediction studies pertinent to missile launches. 

The static firing of 1. 5 million-pound thrust F-1 

Using seismic techniques, rocket propellant-TNT equivalence studies were conducted 

during the intentional destruction of a 91,670-pound liquid propellant SATURN IV engine and a 28,000-pound solid propellant MINUTEMAN missile. 

Meteorological Support 

The Weather Bureau continued to provide meteorological services to the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration in support of the manned spaceflight program. 

Noteworthy among the types of support provided were the operational forecasting 

services furnished for the several GEMINI missions. In the GEMINI 5 mission 

where adverse weather conditions were expected in the planned landing area as a result of Hurricane Betsy, the flight was terminated one revolution earlier than scheduled, in an area where excellent recovery conditions existed. 

support consisted of developmental and environmental studies, such as toxic fuel 

dispersion, wave slope characteristics in the open oceans, and climatological conditions near the ocean surface. Such support was utilized by the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center in the design, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems and components 

in the GEMINI and APOLLO programs and in facilities planning and maintenance at 

the NASA Kennedy Space Center. 

Other significant 

The Bureau also conducted an extensive program of meteorological observations and 

forecasting services in direct operational support of NASA and Department of 

Defense range activities. 

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS 

Much of the National Bureau of Standards measurement and standards research 

92 
supports the capability of American industry to meet the needs of the Nation's space 

and aeronautics programs. For example, during the year, the Bureau: (1) put into 

operation new facilities for calibrating the devices used to measure rocket thrust 

(the more accurate measurements possible with the new facilities can reduce the 

number of test firings needed in the development of a rocket); (2) developed a new 

method for producing "slush hydrogen, I' a material which looks promising as a 

rocket fuel; (3) announced an industry-government cooperative research program on 

the techniques for handling liquefied gases such as those used in rocket fuel systems; 

and (4) began preparation of new spectrochemical standard materials which will aid 

in the detection of metal in the oil of conventional aircraft, and thus detect incipient 

failure of metal parts. 

Introduction 

The programs of the National Bureau of Standards in measurement, materials research, and engineering standards, are important in a variety of ways to the national 

effort in space and aeronautics. The host of experimental measurements made by 

space probes depend for meaning and interpretation on the standards of measurement 

maintained by NBS. 

developed by the Bureau, enable the Government to specify hardware and systems, 

and enable industry to bid intelligently on contracts and sub-contracts. 

Bureau's materials research contributes to the development of materials for demanding space applications. 

These measurement standards, along with engineering standards 

The 

Basic Measurements and Standards 

The provision of measurement services to the space program was extended and improved through new facilities and services. Three new deadweight machines with 

112,000, 300,000, and 1,000,000 pounds-of-force capability were placed in operation at the NBS installation in Gaithersburg, Md. 

nine times its previous force capability, are used to calibrate devices which measure 

rocket and jet engine thrusts. The greater the force provided by such machines, the 

more accurate the calibrations possible. Since more accurate measurement reduces 

the number of costly test firings required, these machines promise economies for 

the Government in engine development activities. 

These machines, providing NBS 

The Bureau extended its vacuum calibration service over a wider vacuum range. 

Initially, this extended service covers 1 to 1000 millitorr (1/760, 000 to 1/760 atmospheric pressure). This pressure range is important in the development of 

aerospace equipment, since it corresponds to an altitude range of approximately 

150,000 to 300,000 feet. 

Another space- related measurement development is the radiometric standard for 

calibrating radiation detectors used for ultra-violet measurements in space. 

For NASA's Orbiting Astronomical Observatory satellite, NBS developed a star 

simulator. 

a visual second-magnitude star and will be used to calibrate star-tracking equipment. 

Light from this simulator has the illumination and color temperature of 

The specific needs for measurement techniques and data for the investigation of 

space, the planets, and the stars are reflected in NBS work. 

has provided the unusual opportunity to observe the light given off by stars from 

The space program 

93 
orbiting satellites, free from the interference of the atmosphere. 

data requires understanding of the atomic and molecular reactions which produce the 

light. 

Interpretation of 

Among NBS accomplishments in investigating these processes are: 

a. determination of more 'accurate atomic transition probabilities --neon, 

argon, carbon, nitrogen, and nickel. Resulting experimental figures 

in many cases replaced questionable theoretical values or conflicting 

experimental data. 

b. better data on the contributions of negative ions to the light from both 

stars and planetary atmospheres. 

value to plasma physics and atmospheric physics. 

These data will be of particular 

Other projects in atomic physics contributed to specific areas of space technology: 

a. data on light given off by compounds of aluminum, beryllium, lithium, 

and other light elements were developed. 

investigation of rocket fuel combustion and the hot gases surrounding 

a re-entering space vehicle. 

These data will aid in the 

b. calculating techniques were developed to better understand the penetration of high-energy electrons through matter. These techniques will 

aid in solving spacecraft shielding problems and will facilitate interpreting radiation data obtained in satellites. 

c. data developed on the light-absorbing and reflecting properties of plant 

and animal materials will be invaluable to future searches for extraterrestrial life, particularly on Mars. 

In another project, NBS developed a new lighting system for use on helicopter rotors. 

These lights will increase safety of helicopter operations in both civilian and military operations. 

can be set during installation so that they are visible only in selected directions. 

A significant feature from the military standpoint is that the lights 

Materials Research 

The use of liquefied gases as fuel in rockets has been advanced in many ways by NBS 

research. 

a potential advanced rocket fuel--consisting of a mixture of solid and liquid hydrogen. 

used liquid hydrogen--it requires less storage space and has a considerably longer 

storage time. 

be extended to quantity production. 

During the year, the Bureau continued its study of the characteristics of 

This mixture, called slush hydrogen, would have two advantages over presently 

NBS developed a new method of producing slush hydrogen which could 

Also, the Bureau announced a joint program of industry-government research which 

should contribute to improvement of systems handling low-temperature liquids. 

Under the NBS Research Associate program, a specialist was obtained from industry 

to study fundamental properties of low-temperature fluids, and how they act while 

flowing and as they are subjected to heat. 

A number of studies were done on the effects of the outer space environment on 

materials which might be used in building space vehicles and components. 

94 
Studies were made of the effects of radiation on the mechanical properties of metals 

and plastics. The knowledge gained will be invaluable in selecting materials for use 

in outer space, and in predicting its performance. 

to be expected in the behavior of optical glass subjected to intense radiation. 

scopes, tracking systems, and other optical devices for use in outer space can be 

better and more reliably designed when these factors are taken into account. 

Another study showed the changes 

TeleRadiation is not the only extreme factor in space vehicle and aircraft operation. 

NBS study developed information on the high-temperature stability of the refractory 

metals. 

must survive extremely high temperatures. 

demanding. 

alloy being considered for the wings of the 2,000 mph aircraft. 

One 

These data play an important role in the design of metal structures which 

Chemical environments are also often 

A study was initiated on the effects of stress-corrosion on a titanium 

Corrosion is a problem on the ground, too. At NASA's request, NBS began providing 

technical assistance in protecting the gantries and other equipment at Cape Kennedy 

from corrosion in the marine atmosphere. 

NBS standard materials are used in many space and aeronautical applications. 

the year, the Bureau began preparation of three new beryllium-copper alloys. 

dustry stated that analytical standards for these alloys are required for both production control and consumer acceptance. 

are used each year, and they are particularly important in electrical and electronics 

space hardware. 

During 

InPerhaps $50 million worth of these alloys 

The Bureau also agreed to prepare metal-in-oil standard reference materials for 

calibration of spectrochemical equipment used to analyze lubricating oils in military 

aircraft. Such analysis prevents failures and monitors overhaul programs for all 

types of equipment. 

year at MacDill Air Force Base through this means. 

The Air Force alone claims 31 aircraft saved during the first 

Engine erine Mea sur ement s and Standards 

In order to evaluate and utilize most efficiently the many complex devices used in 

space and aeronautic applications, the engineer must have reliable ways of measur - 

ing their behavior. 

ment of a program on solid state nuclear radiation detectors, such as are used in 

satellites. The program provides the measurement basis for the improvement of 

reliability and operational lifetime of these devices, and guidance to other agencies 

in selection and use. 

facility to supply special-purpose detectors not commercially available. 

An example of the NBS contribution to this work is the establishAt the same time, NBS operates a small-scale fabrication 

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORTATION 

Development of a Supersonic Transport 

The parametric cost-benefit analysis completed in mid- 1965, by the Department of 

Commerce at the direction of the President, was directed at the impact of new aircraft types in the supersonic and subsonic regimes on the aircraft manufacturing industry, on U.S. exports, on U.S. airlines, and on the quality and cost of air 

transport a ti on. 

95 
The Department, in conducting this study, had assistance and cooperation from the 

Civil Aeronautics Board, Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Agency, National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Treasury, the Air Transport 

Association, Airport Operators Council, the aircraft and engine manufacturing industries and the airline industry. The report upon completion was submitted to the 

President and to the President's Advisory Committee on Supersonic Transport. 

It is expected that the Department, due to its broad policy responsibilities, will maintain a continued interest and activity in the development program of the supersonic 

transport. 

96 
SPACE SCIENCE BOARD CHAPTER 

IX 

IN T RO DU CT ION 

The National Academy of Sciences, a private organization of scientists and engineers 

that serves as an official adviser to the Federal Government, is called upon to 

advise the government on scientific aspects of the space program. These advisory 

services are carried out on behalf of the Academy by its Space Science Board. 

addition, the Board furthers space research generally by promoting the discussion 

of advances and opportunities in the field. Internationally, the Board, on behalf of 

the Academy, represents the United States scientific community on the Committee on 

Space Research (COSPAR) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), 

and has collaborated closely with that committee. 

encourage and guide international cooperation in space research, to facilitate the 

exchange of information, and to elicit the interest and participation of scientists 

throughout the world. 

In 

The committee serves to 

Committees 

To accomplish its work the Board with an Executive Committee and a small number 

of standing committees holds regular meetings. The Committees are: Surfaces 

and Interiors of the Moon and Planets, Life Sciences, Geodetic Uses of Navigational 

Satellites, High Altitude Rocket and Balloon Research, Potential Contamination and 

Interference from Space Experiments, and several ad hoc groups. 

maintains continuous and close liaison with the scientific subcommittees of the NASA 

Space Sciences Steering Committee. In its relations with the international scientific 

community, the Board works through its Committee on International Relations, which 

maintains liaison with NASA, the Department of State, the FCC, the DOD and other 

interested government departments and agencies. 

The Board 

THE NATIONAL PROGRAM 

Cong r e s sional T es timony 

In response to an invitation from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on 

Aeronautical and Space Sciences to the President of the Academy, the Chairman of 

the Space Science Board and two of its members presented testimony before the 

Senate Committee in August 1965 about the post-APOLLO goals of the immediate 

future (before 1975) and for the period after 1975. 

recognized as a major contribution to planetary exploration, and the exploration of 

Mars was reaffirmed as one of this country’s primary goals in space. 

The MARINER IV mission was 

97 
Woods Hole Summer Study of Space Research 

In the Fall of 1964 discussions between members of the Space Science Board and the 

National Aeronautics and Spate Administration suggested that it was timely for the 

Board to undertake a study of certain principal areas of space research. 

made accordingly, and specialists from several scientific disciplines were convened 

Plans were 

in a Summer Study at Woods Hole during June and July, 1965. 

Directions for the Future is the report of that study (in press). 

Space Research: 

For convenience the 

report is presented in three parts. Part I is devoted to planetary and lunar exploration. 

physics and geophysics. Part 111 discusses several subjects--in particular, rocket 

and satellite research, university programs, medicine and physiology, and biology. 

Part I1 takes up four branches of astronomy and some special topics in 

In contrast to the general review of space research in the 1962 study, the objectives 

in 1965 were limited: 

recommend priority within it; second, to determine the needs of astronomy in space; 

and, third, to consider the role of man in space research. 

to be regarded in the light of the post-APOLLO period, extending through about 1985. 

first, to develop a program of planetary exploration and to 

All of these tasks were 

The study itself divided naturally into two two-week sessions: (a) June 20-July 3: 

Working Groups on Optical Astronomy, Solar Astronomy, Radio and Radar Astronomy, 

X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Astronomy, Physical Sciences, Medicine and Physiology, 

and Biology and (b) July 5-July 16: Working Group on Planetary and Lunar Exploration. 

study. 

study convened in reporting sessions to discuss findings and recommendations. 

Related topics were covered in shorter sessions during the course of the 

On July 5 for the first session and on July 16 for the second session, the 

Space Research: Directions for the Future contains detailed recommendations in 

each of the selected subjects and looks forward in the post-APOLLO period to 

systematic investigation of the planets; to large orbital astronomical observatories; 

to the extension of the contributions of manned flight to space research; to a balanced 

program concerned with near space and the interplanetary medium using groundbased observations, observations from balloons, sounding rockets, satellites and 

space probes in complementary fashion. 

Life Sciences 

During the past year, the Life Sciences Committee of the Board examined the 

following subjects: 

Radiation and Manned Spaceflight 

a. radiation-protection guides for manned space flight operations; 

b. biological responses of man to radiation that are of most importance 

in affecting the success or failure of a given space mission; and 

c. dose-response relationships for radiation effects of most importance 

in missions of less than two years' duration. 

A report of this study is in the final stages of preparation. 

98 
Space Nutrition 

The Panel on Space Nutrition began a review of current research programs in 

flight nutrition and waste handling for space missions of long duration. 

Medical Experiments 

An -- ad hoc working group has reviewed the bio-medical experiments planned 

for the GEMINI and APOLLO space flights. 

Gaseous Environment of Manned Spacecraft 

The gaseous environment of the U. S. manned spacecraft has been 100 percent 

oxygen at five psi; approximately one-third the normal Earth pressure. 

the success of MERCURY and GEMINI manned flights with a 100 percent oxygen 

cabin atmosphere, the physiological effects of this kind of atmosphere for 

prolonged flight are essentially unknown and the danger of explosion and fire 

remains. 

in 1965 and reported its recommendations to NASA for additional simulated 

flight experiments with different gases and pressures, more extensive physiological studies and thorough investigation of fire hazards. 

Despite 

A working group of the Life Sciences Committee studied this problem 

Treatment of Extraterrestrial Samples 

In January 1965 the Board, at the request of the NASA, appointed a committee to 

study the problem of handling lunar samples returned to Earth. 

recommended the designation of a special facility to receive returned samples and 

hold them for quarantine for a period of time yet to be determined. 

measurements and a general inspection by Public Health authorities for potentially 

harmful biological properties should be made as soon as practicable after samples 

are returned to Earth. 

measurements and analyses can be performed at any suitable laboratory. 

this study had primary reference to handling samples of the Moon, the recommendations would also apply generally to samples brought back by any spacecraft. 

The committee 

Radioactivity 

Once a sample has been released from quarantine, other 

While 

Exo biolopv 

The 1964 Report to Congress noted progress in a Board-sponsored Study of Exobiology. 

Exploration of Mars) was published in April 1965. 

Study Group was reconvened to consider the results of studies of photographs of Mars 

and of other scientific data obtained from the MARINER IV mission, and other recent 

data on Mars. The full report with a postscript taking into account the MARINER IV 

data, will be published in early 1966, with a companion volume containing a bibliography of approximately 2000 entries and an anthology of 33 papers. 

Report notes that scientists consider that the likelihood of finding living matter is 

greater on Mars than on any of the other planets in the solar system. The report 

advocates the exploration of Mars as a systematic scientific study to learn whether 

life has ever existed there or not, and to investigate the Marine environment in 

order to obtain a better understanding of planetary development and of the circumstances that may have permitted or prevented the development of life. 

MARINER IV mission confirmed the long-predicted craters on the Martian surface, 

The study was completed in 1964, and a Summary Report (Biology and the 

In October 1965, the Exobiology 

The Summary 

The 

99 
and allowed refinement of estimates of the physical properties of the planet and its 

environment. 

environment as extremely harsh, the results indicate that the surface features now 

seen may be of quite recent origin in terms of geological time. 

milder conditions early in the planet's history (at a time corresponding to that 

during which life arose on the Earth) is therefore not excluded. 

the present evidence indicates must have occurred on Mars encourage the view that 

conditions permitting the survival of evidence of biological activity may exist in 

particular localities. 

While confirming the contemporary assessment of the Martian surface 

The existence of 

The changes that 

The NASA asked the Space Science Board for advice on the potential for planetary 

contamination represented by microorganisms contained inside spacecraft components, the contamination that might result from landings hard enough to fracture 

such components, and the means and standards for component sterilization. The 

Life Sciences Committee held a conference on the subject in July 1964, and their 

report, dated March 1, 1965, recognizes that terminal sterilization of the entire 

spacecraft by dry heat is the preferred method. 

dry heat is not possible, new methods and techniques should be developed to achieve 

the desired levels of sterility. 

The report recommends that, where 

An International Conference on Contamination and Sterilization was recommended by 

COSPAR at its 1964 and 1965 meetings. 

scheduled for 1966. 

problems of sterilization was held by NASA in November 1965. ) 

This conference is now tentatively 

(A national conference designed to acquaint industry with the 

Contamination of Earth with extraterrestrial organisms (back contamination) 

returned with or on spacecraft poses problems of unknown scope but of potentially 

catastrophic significance. 

origin have already been discussed. 

applies to deliberately acquired specimens of the planets. However, astronauts 

and returned spacecraft are potential sources of contamination that must be dealt 

with in a different manner. 

The handling of deliberately acquired specimens of lunar 

With additional considerations, the same plan 

NASA and the Sustaining University Program 

The universities contribute substantially to the quality of the space research program, 

both by participation and as a source of scientifically trained people. 

committee of the Board was convened to review the support of the universities that 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides and reported its findings 

on April 21, 1965. 

An ad 

-- 

hoc 

The committee commended NASA for its initiative and constructive efforts toward 

developing a healthy relationship with academic institutions of higher learning. 

Sustaining University Program was endorsed in all its elements and recommendations for a modest increase in level of funding were offered. These recommendations were also adopted by the Working Group on NASA-University Relationships 

of the Woods Hole Summer Study and its findings incorporated in the report of 

that Study. 

The 

100 
Selection of Scientist-Astronauts 

In 1965, the Space Science Board reported to the NASA the results of the work of an 

ad hoc committee on the selection of scientist-astronauts. The committee's work 

was conducted by two groups: 

backgrounds, and the other considered applicants with training in the biological 

sciences. 

among those recommended by the Board. 

-- one group considered applicants with physical sciences 

The NASA selected six of the applicants as scientist-astronauts from 

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES 

Eighth Meeting of COSPAR 

The Board provided organizational direction for participation of U. S. 

the Eighth Plenary Meeting of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) of the 

International Council of Scientific Unions, held jointly with the Sixth International 

Space Science Symposium, at Mar del Plata, Argentina, May 11-21, 1965. 

Scientific presentations were made by scientists from several countries, notably the 

U. S. and the U. S. S. R. ; there were 310 attendees in all. 

held on Tracking, Telemetry, and Dynamics; the Program of the International Years 

of the Quiet Sun (IQSY); Space Data Exchange; the International Reference Atmosphere; 

and Space Biology. to foster international exchange 

of science; to encourage additional nations to participate in international space 

activities; and, consistent with continued exploration of space, to take measures to 

insure that early missions do not contaminate planetary environments with terrestrial 

organisms. As is customary, the scientific papers presented at the meeting are 

being collected and published. 

scientists in 

Separate sessions were 

The themes of the meeting were: 

World Data Centers 

The World Data Centers, established under the auspices of the International Council 

of Scientific Unions, collect data from many geophysical sources, especially 

ionospheric physics, solar activity, aurora, airglow, geomagnetism, and meteor - 

ology, and from a great variety of experiments on board rockets, satellites, and 

spacecraft. There are three World Data Centers: World Data Center A, in the 

United States; World Data Center B, in the U. S. S. R. and Czechoslovakia; and 

World Data Center C, in Western Europe and Japan. 

into a number of Subcenters representing the major disciplines of geophysics and 

space research. 

continues to function under the aegis of the Space Science Board. 

collects and exchanges results of research conducted with spacecraft and sounding 

rockets. A bibliography of reports and papers published in 1964 was submitted to 

COSPAR in early 1965, as is customary. 

Each Data Center is divided 

The Rocket and Satellite Subcenter of the World Data Center 

The Subcenter 

10 1 
SMITHSONIAN ASTROPHYSICAL 

OBSERVATORY 

INTRODUCTION 

CHAPTER 

X 

This year, the Smithskan Institution Astrophysical Observatory's 75th anniversary 

was a time for researching its origins as well as for evaluating its achievements. 

The Observatory was established in 1890 as a center for studies of solar radiation 

and its effects on the earth. 

of the solar constant from data derived from a network of observing stations, and 

carried out other astrophysical projects. 

During the next 65 years it made significant estimates 

During this last decade the Observatory has played an increasingly significant role 

in the space program of the United States. Today, data are obtained from a worldwide network of astrophysical observing stations. An unmanned network of 16 

camera stations in the Midwestern United States is used for photographing bright 

meteors; a system of radar and optical tracking stations on the Virginia coast 

observes simulated meteors; a radar system in Illinois detects ionized trails from 

meteors; and space science laboratory work is conducted. 

OPTICAL SATELLITE TRACKING PROGRAM 

The Observatory operates a network of 12 Baker-Nunn camera stations around the 

world for the precise optical tracking of satellites. 

and affiliates of volunteers make visual sightings of satellites; the observation and 

possible recovery of re-entering satellites is also one of their important objectives. 

One hundred Moonwatch teams 

The re-entry and disintegration of the Gemini 5 second-stage rocket body was photographed by the Smithsonian station in South Africa. 

a special Baker-Nunn satellite tracking camera, are thought to be among the first 

made of a re-entering satellite. 

the earth's atmosphere after the 50th revolution in space the body broke into at 

least 47 individual pieces. 

These photographs, made with 

They indicate that upon hitting the denser air of 

The Observatory also supplied tracking support for the three PEGASUS meteoroidpenetration satellites, and for the GEOS (EXPLORER) satellite. 

During the year a cooperative program was initiated with the Air Force to use its 

Baker-Nunn cameras, particularly at Oslo, Norway and at Cold Lake, Canada to 

gain more precise geodetic information. 

cooperative observing programs with the British government operating instruments 

at Malvern, England, and with the Coast and Geodetic Survey cameras operating 

in northern North America. 

The Observatory has also carried out 

103 
Satellite tracking data continue to yield significant advances in our knowledge about 

the upper atmosphere. 

starting with a fixed set of boundary conditions at 120 kilometers and following 

empirical temperature profile s defined by exponential functions of height. 

models have been adopted by the U. S. Committee on the Extension of the Standard 

Atmosphere for inclusion in the U. S. Supplemental Atmospheres, together with 

the appended formulas that give the variations of temperature with solar, geomagnetic, 

and geographic parameters. 

high latitudes at all heights up to 600 kilometers. At any given height above 200 

kilometers, the atmosphere has a maximum density in winter and a minimum in 

summer. 

Densities have been computed for the neutral atmosphere 

These 

A seasonal effect has been found to exist at middle and 

Geodetic studies from observations of satellites, both by the intervisible (geometric) 

and by the orbital (dynamic) method, continue to make possible more accurate determinations of the coordinates of the astrophysical observing stations. 

combine the results of these two methods shows that in the determinations of the 

coordinates, the results are in good agreement. 

A program to 

From precisely reduced observations of nine satellites of different inclinations, new 

values for the coefficients of the zonal harmonics of the geopotential have been 

derived. 

new set of tesseral harmonics has been determined. 

And from 26,000 observations of 11 satellites of differing inclinations, a 

Analysis of zonal harmonics has suggested that the load of the last continental ice 

sheets, which persisted some 50,000 years near the end of the Pleistocene period, 

may have deformed the earth, flattening it near the poles and causing a bulge near 

the equator. Since the ice sheets retreated only some 11,000 to 15,000 years ago, 

there has been too little time for the earth to completely recover from the effects 

of this deformation, and the residual of this deformation therefore remains in the 

earth's ellipticity. 

Simultaneous photoelectric and photographic observations of an artificial satellite 

were made by combining a laser system with a satellite-tracking camera. 

laser-camera experiment demonstrates the feasibility of using the laser system to 

increase the utility of Baker-Nunn photographic tracking. The simultaneous laser 

observation aids the calculation of precise ranging, or line-of- sight distance 

measurements from the satellite to the ground tracking unit. 

The 

METEORITIC STUDIES 

Ground-based photographic and radar instruments provide data on the meteor process 

as they record the trails of fragments of matter plunging through the earth's atmosphere from space. 

During the year, the Prairie Network photographed 99 bright meteors from more 

than one station, with resultant films of adequate quality for reduction to orbits. 

additional objective of the Network is to locate and study in the laboratory those 

bodies surviving to the earth. 

the radiation exposure to which they were subjected, information that can be of 

value to scientists planning space projects. 

An 

Freshly fallen meteorites provide valuable data on 

In Illinois, a radar installation jointly operated with the Harvard College Observatory 

has yielded observations of some 10,000 ionized meteor trails. When reduced and 

104 
analyzed, these observations will provide a substantial body of data for research 

into the astronomy and physics of meteor particles as well as for the study of other 

upper -atmo sphe r e phenomena. 

To complement the study of natural meteors, a radar system has been set up near 

Wallops Island, Virginia, to detect the re-entry of manmade meteors. This work 

is correlated with that of a network of three cameras for photographing the artificial meteors. During this year the first simultaneous radar and optical photographs 

were taken of an artificial meteor. 

The Observatory continues to derive fruitful results from its analysis of meteorites 

and micrometeorites. 

Greenland ice sheet revealed the presence of cobalt-60, the characteristics of 

which have been tentatively ascribed to iron-60 produced by cosmic rays. 

spectrometer studies of rare gases extracted from sea sediments and from the 

Greenland materials confirmed the anomalous argon isotope ratios previously 

reported. 

Study of particles collected from melted snow within the 

MassInvestigations of meteoritic minerals by the method using the tracks left by fission 

fragments indicate that uranium is not dispersed in meteorites, as was previously 

believed, but rather is concentrated in certain minor accessory materials, notably 

whitlockite and zircon. 

The electron-beam microanalyzer has been used to establish the probability that 

nearly 300 dust particles collected from Arctic ice deposits are primarily extraterrestrial in origin. 

COMETARY STUDIES 

The Astrophysical Observing Stations gather data for the study of comets. Photometric observations of four comets, including Ikeya-Seki and Everhart, have been 

obtained. These films are analyzed for correlations with solar phenomena and for 

indications of the physical behavior of comets. 

All of the Baker-Nunn cameras have been equipped with a plastic defocusing device; 

measurements of the image density of photographs made through these optics reveal 

the total brightness of a comet. 

for correlations with solar phenomena and for indications of the physical behavior 

of comets. 

These photometric observations have been analyzed 

It has now been determined that streams of solar particles reaching a comet play 

a significant role in its activity; the apparent motion of bright streamers in comet 

tails has been under study, using Baker-Nunn photographs. 

The discovery of the Comet Ikeya-Seki on September 18, 1965 was immediately 

confirmed by the Baker-Nunn camera of the Observatory. 

the comet -- the largest, longest, and brightest in many decades -- was observed 

and photographed every 15 minutes it was visible to individual stations in the 

Baker-Nunn system. The photographic data -- besides providing immediate information for thousands of positional astronomers and interested amateurs around the 

world -- would later be used in the Observatory's continuing studies of cometary 

physics, including comet photometry and studies of the relationship between solar 

activity and tail motion, 

picture documenting the growth and movement of the comet's tail. 

In the weeks that followed, 

Sequences of photos may also be used to produce a motion 

105 
The Astrophysical Observing Stations provide the only known global system of identical 

optical instruments capable of photographing a comet continuously throughout its 

orbital lifetime. 

From time to time a comet nucleus is observed to break into several pieces. 

times two or more comets are thus formed which subsequently follow nearly identical 

orbits. 

that its nucleus fragmented. 

comets. 

to the suggestion that early in its life, each of these fragmented comets was a large 

dirty snowball containing a source of heat in radioactive atoms. 

eject the comet far out of the solar system and into interstellar space where sublimation of the more volatile materials depletes the core over a long-time interval. 

Diffusing outward through the nucleus, the gases recrystallize in the extreme cold 

near its surface to form an external shell that is brittle and a structurally weakened 

core. During its long stay in interstellar space, the comet is affected by virtually 

no external physical forces. Thus on its first close approach to the sun, exposure 

to strong external radiation may result in the formation of heat shock that causes 

the comet to split. Substantiation of this theory came when Comet Ikeya-Seki after 

its passage close to the sun split into two and possibly three fragments. 

SomeOther times the original comet simply vanishes, leaving only the suspicion 

The Director conducted a study of twelve such split 

The fact that these appear to be "new" rather than periodic comets leads 

Planetary encounters 

OTHER SPACE STUDIES 

Using improved instruments and technique s, the astrophysical observing stations 

are measuring the earth's albedo -- the amount of sunlight reflected from the earth to 

the dark portion of the moon and back to earth again. 

portion of the moon can indicate how reflective the earth is. 

The faint illumination of this 

Other studies deal with the astrophysical implications of autoionization in atomic 

spectra. 

have been found in the solar spectrum. 

the sun every 88 days. 

the next it presents its other side to the sun. 

accomplish this maneuver, the planet rotates about its axis in exactly two-thirds of 

the time required to orbit the sun. 

days per year. 

recognized as an astronomical "locking-in process" never before observed. 

A considerable number of previously unobserved and unidentified features 

In its oval path, Mercury swings close to 

On one dose approach, the planet "faces" the sun, and on 

An analysis has shown that to 

Hence Mercury has precisely one and one-half 

The new rotational period of Mercury at exactly 58.65 days was 

106 
FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY CHAPTER 

XI 

INTRODUCTION 

Nearly all major measures of U. S. air activity in 1965 topped previous 12-month 

totals. Significant advances continued to be made in aeronautical technology, and 

commercial aviation recorded an exceptional year of economic growth. 

The Federal Aviation Agency's activities during the year reflected these forces for 

growth and technological change in air transportation; they also mirrored substantial 

achievement towards insuring the continued progress of U. S. aviation. 

The Agency worked to advance the Nation's aviation through its major missions of 

assuring the safe and efficient use of the national airspace for commerce and defense, 

fostering-civil aeronautics and air commerce at home and abroad, and promoting air 

safety. 

ADVANCES IN AIRSPACE USE AND CONTROL 

National AirsDace Svstem 

The present and projected growth of flight activity, coupled with the prospect of civil 

supersonic aircraft, gave special urgency to Agency efforts to evolve a National 

Airspace System (NAS) responsive to tomorrow's aviation needs. For the air traffic 

control subsystem of NAS, the Agency plans the use of new computerized equipment 

to give controllers a constant three -dimensional radar picture of air traffic along 

the Nation's airways. Greater automation throughout the system is designed to 

relieve the controller of most routine duties, enabling him to concentrate on the 

continuous monitoring of air traffic and freeing him for making critical control 

decisions. Progress was made during the year in the following major programs 

aiming to bring modern technology to bear on air traffic control problems and to 

put the tools of automation into the hands of the controller. 

ARTS and SPAN 

Year -long field tests began in 1965 of computerized equipment which electronically 

tags aircraft target "blips" on the controller's radarscope with luminous letters and 

numerals (alphanumerics). The alphanumerics identify the aircraft and indicate its 

altitude and other selected flight data. 

terminal served by a single airport surveillance radar, the advanced radar traffic 

control system (ARTS) is being tested at the Atlanta airport control tower. A test 

of stored program alphanumerics (SPAN), the en route application, is underway in 

the high-altitude sectors of the Indianapolis air route control center, which is served 

by multiple long-range radars. 

Designed for a medium-density air traffic 

At year's end FAA announced plans to install the 

107 
alphanumeric system of semi-automated air traffic control in the congested New York 

area within two years - a year ahead of the original schedule. 

NAS: En Route and Metroplex Stages A 

ARTS and SPAN are trial applications of control techniques and procedures using 

equipment similar to the devices being developed for the more highly automated air 

traffic control subsystem of the national airspace system. During the year FAA let 

contracts for major components of the En Route Stage A portion of this highly 

automated system. 

National Aviation Facilities Expzrimental Center (NAFEC) is scheduled for mid-1967 

and the start of field tests at the Jacksonville air route traffic control center for 

early 1968. 

Initial installation of an engineering model at the Agency's 

Much of the En Route Stage A hardware will be used in the NAS Metroplex (Metropolitan complex) Stage A, the first stage of a two-stage effort to develop advanced 

equipment and control techniques for high-use terminal areas. 

requirements - -computer programs , procedures , and the like - -differ markedly , however, because of the different operational practices in terminal and en route 

areas. 

operation were drafted during the year. 

terminal system are phased to follow coxnterpart stages of en route development by 

approximately one year. 

The "software" 

A Metroplex Stage A system description and general specifications for its 

Further major steps toward this advanced 

- In- Ser vice Improvements 

Advances toward a more modern airspace system resulted also from improvements 

to the Nation's present air traffic control and air navigation system. 

the year included: 

Highlights of 

a. 

b. 

C. 

d. 

completion of the program started in 1959 to consolidate and reduce 

the number of air route traffic control centers (ARTCC's) in the 

contiguous 48 States from 29 to 21. 

installation of computer updating equipment (CUE) at four additional 

ARTCC's. At five high-activity centers, controllers are now able to 

update flight movement data stored in the compter and receive revised 

information without leaving their operating position. 

development of trailer-type air navigation aids and radar units that 

are mobile or readily relocatable to assure reliable and continuous 

services at reduced costs. 

use at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport of the first of seven 

scheduled distance-measuring equipments (DME) to be combined 

with instrument landing systems (ILS). 

appropriately equipped air craft with continuous information on his 

distance to touchdown, the new ILS-DME combination thus contributes 

to safety and operational efficiency during instrument approaches. 

Pro-Jiding the pilot of 

Field tests of FAA's proposed flight service station (FSS) modernization plan were 

completed in mid-1965. Results indicated that although aeronautical needs can be 

108 
met at some such stations with less than 24 hours a day operation, extensive consolidation of existing stations is not warranted at this time. The "do-it-yourself" airport 

information desks are valuable aids in flight planning. 

service , criteria for their establishment are being developed. 

Based on the need for this 

In carrying out its mandate to establish and operate a common airspace system to 

serve both civil and military users, FAA continued to work with the Department of 

Defense in a number of cooperative activities. To avoid costly duplication of 

personnel and equipment, FAA and DOD share the use of certain facilities when both 

air traffic control and air defense requirements can bB met by such joint use. As 

1965 end'.?d there were 39 FAA-military terminnl radars and 56 long range radars 

(LRR's) in the common surveillance system, and 23 more LLR's are programed to 

serve in this dual capacity. 

An FAA-USAF program to modernize or replace outmoded airport surveillance 

radars progressed on schedule during the year. 

In May FAA and USAF reached an agreement covering temporary exchanges of 

mobile flight facilities, equipment, and services when required to meet special or 

emergency common-system needs. 

and ultimately consolidate the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) facilities and systems of 

the two agencies. 

accordingly co -located at the FAA headquarters building with the National Flight 

Data Center, the central source for flight information issued by FAA. 

Another FAA-USAF agreement was to co-locate 

The Air Force-operated USAF-USN Central NOTAM Facility was 

Testing of new control concepts for military air traffic continued at FAA's air 

traffic simulation facilities at NAFEC. 

helicopter movements in forward battle areas were developed from one of these 

dynamic simulator studies. 

Procedures for handling high density 

Ae r onautical Communications 

With faster and growing numbers of aircraft operating along the Nation's airways, 

safe and efficient airspace use hinges increasingly on rapid and reliable communications. To meet present, and prepare for future, aeronautical communications 

needs , the Agency during 1965: 

a. installed the first units in a radio equipment modernization program. 

In addition to enhancing air -ground communications, the new transistorized equipments are expected to yield substantial savings in 

operating and maintenance costs. 

b. began operating at Point Barrow, Alaska, its first single -sideband 

(SSB) facility on the high-frequency channels used for long-distance 

air -ground communications. 

doubles the number of available channels and improves signal 

intelligibility . 

Use of the SSB technique effectively 

c. participated in a joint Government-industry experiment using 

SYNCOM III which demonstrated the technical feasibility of satellite 

relay stations for long-range aeronautical communications. 

is also exploring the possible use of such stations for navigation and 

data-acquisition functions in the air traffic control system. 

FAA 

109 
d. 

e. 

f. 

g. 

continued work, in concert with other Government agencies, on a long-range 

program to define characteristics of an advanced air -ground communications 

system which could eventually replace pilot-controller voice communications 

with digital data links between aircraft and ground networks. 

updated the air traffic control frequency assignment plan to provide for 

50- instead of 100-kilocycle spacing, thereby increasing the number of 

available channels. 

made further progress in carrying out an earlier FAA-DOD agreement 

to consolidate worldwide the operational communications services of the 

two agencies . 

expanded Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS). 

magnetic-tape recordings, these continuous broadcasts of wind, weather, 

runways in use, and other routine noncontrol information ease pilotcontroller workload and reduce radiofrequency congestion. 

now operating at 14 of the Nation's busiest airports and will be extended 

to another 59. 

Using 

ATIS is 

AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT 

U. S. SuDersonic TransDort (SSTI 

In mid-1965, the SST program entered a stepped-up 18-month design and test phase. 

Supporting research was carried forward in the areas of sonic boom, SST economics, 

fuels, and materials. Related studies focused on airworthiness standards, flight and 

air traffic simulation, man-machine relationships, and the physical environment in 

which the SST will operate. All of these efforts are pointed toward certificating by 

1974, or earlier, a safe, commercially profitable SST and maintaining U.S. world 

leadership in the field of large transport aircraft. 

On December 3, 1964, President Johnson directed the FAA Administrator to extend 

the contract design efforts of two airframe companies and two engine manufacturers. 

This Presidential action followed in the wake of a second Government-industry 

evaluation of the design proposals submitted by the four design contractors. 

ment evaluation of the design proposals was conducted by a 129-member Supersonic 

Transport Evaluation Group, comprised of FAA, Air Force, CAB, NASA and Navy 

personnel. Nine U. S. airlines performed independent evaluations. 

Go-/ernIn February 1965 a study of sonic-boom effects on typical structures at high overpressures was completed at White Sands Missile Range. 

overpressures generated by Air Force jets ranged from 2.0 to 20.0 pounds. Overpressure levels and responses throughout 7 of the 16 structures, mostly residential 

in type, were measured by over 100 channels of instrumentation. Preliminary data 

on the tests were published in March. 

public reaction to the sonic-boom tests at Oklahoma City in 1964 also became available in the spring of 1965. 

Nearly 1,500 sonic-boom 

A comprehensive report of FAA's study of 

A Sonic Boom Committee named by the National Academy of Sciences at the 

President's request continued to provide guidance to the Government on SST sonicboom research. 

requirements, planning for future studies, and evaluation of findings. 

The Academy's role addresses itself to definition of research 

Economic 

110 
analysis of the SST was spearheaded by the Department of Commerce, with contract 

studies conducted by four research organizations. 

As design and research work continued, the President's Advisory Committee on 

Super sonic Transport proceeded with a detailed analysis of the program. 

members of this advisory committee are the Secretaries of Defense (chairman), 

Treasury, and Commerce, and the Administrators of FAA and NASA. 

Principal 

In its review of the program the committee gave prime consideration to the three 

major areas of SST work--aircraft design, sonic-boom research, and economic 

analysis. 

considered it highly probable that future work on basic technological problems could 

lead to a commercially profitable SST. 

underlying the program were to be minimized, much work remained to be done before 

undertaking the construction of a prototype aircraft. 

Because of encouraging recent progress in the program, the committee 

But if the financial and development risks 

After receiving the recommendations of his committee, the President announced 

on July 1, 1965, his determination that the SST program should move into an 

18-month phase of accelerated design work aimed at starting prototype construction 

by the end of 1966. 

requested and Congress appropriated $140 million, increasing threefold the level of 

funds available. 

To initiate this phase of the development program, the President 

Primary objectives of the l8-month design phase are to: 

a. build a sound foundation for realistic estimates of operating performance 

and development costs. 

b. reduce development risks and costs while keeping open the option to 

accelerate the program in its later phases if warranted by technological 

progress of the contractors. 

c. take advantage of the extensive flight experience programed for several 

advanced super sonic aircraft during the 18 -month period. 

d. provide a basis for determining with greater knowledge and precision 

what work should be done and how to proceed in succeeding phases of 

the program. 

An assessment of the two potential SST contractors' progress toward optimizing 

their SST designs got underway in mid-November and was completed at year's end. 

As pdrt of the assessment, models were used in wind-tunnel tests. 

study--conducted by 85 Government experts from NASA, FAA, Air Force, and 

Navy--considered only airframe designs. 

since each engine company will each build three prototype engines during the 

accelerated design phase. 

Assessment Group is in preparation. 

The intensive 

Engines were not included in the study 

A report of findings by the Interim Aircraft Design 

- Subsonic Air craft Development 

FAA continued efforts to improve the efficiency and flexibility of the Nation's air 

transportation system through participation with the Armed Services in development 

projects for military air craft having potential civil applications. Civil certification, 

in January, of the C-141A STARLIFTER--the first large jet cargo aircraft ever 

111 
developed for the dual roles of military airlifter and civil airfreighter --climaxed a 

unique USAF-FAA effort extending from initial design to production. 

provisional type -certificate was issued for the Army's CV-7A BUFFALO turboprop 

transport. 

In April, a 

A program to fully qualify the BUFFALO for civil use is continuing. 

Developments in the field of helicopters and other vertical or short takeoff and 

landing (V/STOL) aircraft were particularly noteworthy. 

civil-military task group was formed under the chairmanship of the FAA Administrator to assess the potential of such aircraft for city center to city center operations 

between major metropolitan areas. (1) review the status of 

V/STOL technology; (2) identify problems related to the use of such aircraft in the 

national airspace system; (3) analyze short-haul transportation needs; and (4) make 

recommendations for strengthening the national transportation system by exploiting 

the intrinsic advantages of ground and air vehicles. A report is scheduled for early 

1966. 

In January an interagency 

Studies were begun to: 

In related actions, FAA participated in the Army's Advanced Aerial Fire Support 

System development program, furnishing technical assitance on standards necessary 

for civil certification of the primary component of the system, a compound helicopter 

(wings as well as rotor blades). 

vehicle is used as a high -speed (200 -knot) executive transport or utility helicopter. 

The Army's Flying Crane helicopter (YCH-54A) moved a step nearer civil certification, a prerequisite for Army procurement, with FAA's authorizing a "type 

inspection'' in May. 

A potential civil application of this new-type air 

All three entries, in the Army's closely contested light observation helicopter 

competition, received FAA civil airworthiness certificates during 1964. 

a winner was named in May 1965, two manufacturers had announced plans to offer 

their models to civil buyers. On the basis of Army estimates, indicating a fourfold increase in productivity over previously available light helicopters, civil use 

of these new turbine-powered helicopters will be greatly expanded. 

Before 

AIRCRAFT SAFETY PROGRAMS 

To make the airways safer, FAA conducts programs to put more safety into both the 

man and the machine. Notable 1965 developments in programs concerned primarily 

with the human factor include: 

a. 

b. 

C. 

new and higher certification standards for flight instructors, plus 

a requirement for biennial requalification on the basis of demonstrated 

currency and competence or satisfactory performance in the rating. 

establishment of new standards of medical fitness to govern recruitment 

and continued employment of FAA's air traffic control specialists, who 

constitute the Agency's largest employment group by specialty. 

new pilot-rating regulations, effective in December 1965, designed to 

match pilot skills more precisely to the complexities of modern highperformance aircraft. 

112 
d. continued FAA encouragement of voluntary refresher training for 

certificated pilots through Agency collaboration with national 

organizations and educational institutions. 

e. launch of Project GAPE (General Aviation Pilot Education) under 

a contract award. 

announced in July, is to persuade the general aviation segment of 

the aviation community to upgrade its flight proficiency and 

knowledge. 

industry personnel were contacted and requested to cooperate in 

supporting a nationwide program of accident prewention through a 

vigorous publicity campaign, displays, meetings, seminars, special 

conferences, personal contacts, and similar educational activities. 

Progress reports will be submitted to FAA. 

Object of this year-long project, which was 

Some 11,500 different organizations and aviation 

f. successful completion of the second year of FU's Aviation Mechanic 

Safety Awards Program, which, through awards to State, regional, 

and national winners, provides increased recognition to the aviation 

mechanic and emphasizes his vital role in the safety of flight. 

Notable developments in other safety programs include: 

a. 

b. 

C. 

d. 

e. 

tests involving natural lightning strikes on protected aircraft 

equipped with instruments to register intensity and effect. 

sored by FAA, these tests were also supported by the Weather 

Bureau, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the U.S. Air Force. 

Results are under evaluation. 

Sponfire tests on jet engines for aircraft. 

year's end on a JT3D engine mounted in a 720B nacelle, a powerplant installation widely used in air transport service; these tests 

will provide a basis for improved fire detectors and better in-flight 

fire protection. 

tests were being conducted on a JT-12 engine pod from a JETSTAR. 

Tests were continuing at 

For better fire protection of small jet engines, 

tests on flammability limits of fuel and air mixtures under actual 

environmental conditions, undertaken in cooperation with the U. S. 

Navy at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. 

development of a specially modified truck incorporating frictionmeasuring equipment, for studying surface -friction characteristics 

of selected runways at major airports throughout the country. The 

vehicle was being tested at year's end. 

continued research on air turbulence by both the Government and 

the aviation industry- -particularly clear -air turbulence. 

significant finding thus far correlates turbulence -caused aircraft 

upsets with night or instrument flying. Attention was thus focused 

on improving aircraft -attitude instruments and the cockpit display 

presented to the pilot. Improvements of this kind have been made 

by 17 of the 18 Air Transport Association members. 

The most 

113 
f. 

g* 

h. 

i. 

continued research and development effort on both airborne and 

ground techniques for identifying and displaying clear -air and 

storm-produced turbulence. Now under study is a considerable 

fund of data amassed with an airborne temperature -recording 

device. 

route traffic control center are two ground equipments developed 

under contract for presenting "weather" on air traffic control 

radarscopes. 

development for use with more advanced radar remoting equipment 

than that now in use. 

Being evaluated under operating conditions at an air 

A third ground equipment is under contractual 

start of FAA-Weather Bureau tests to evaluate the potential advantages 

of computerized weather -forecasting techniques. In the tests, the 

compilter makes its forecasts on the basis of data from hourly observations at 73 selected airports, nationwide, plus prestored information 

on the last decade of climatic history at each of the eight airpDrts 

receiving these automated probability forecasts. 

continued efforts to combat the aircraft sabotage problem. 

began on a chemosensing device to develop a practical passive 

system for detecting concealed explosives. 

Work 

survivable-accident research, or research aimed at eliminating 

fatalities in the type of accident in which the frame of the aircraft 

remains intact. Outstanding in this area during the year was the 

determination of impact data of value to aircraft design engineers 

in making aircraft interiors safer. Tests showed that the human 

head, in collision with such objects as instrument panels or seats, 

can tolerate an impact force of 50 G's, and the nose before fracture, 

30 G's; to complement this information, impact data were obtained 

with special equipment on a variety of aircraft-interior components. 

OTHER A CTIVIT JES FOSTERING AERONAUTICS 

All -Weather Landing 

An important milestone toward the ultimate goal of all-weather flying was passed 

in October 1965 when FAA approved one of the major trunk air carriers for landing 

operations under weather minimums of 150-foot decision height and 1,6OO-f00t 

runway visual range (RVR). 

for six months, the carrier will be approved for the category I1 minimums of 

100-foot decision height and 1, 200-foot RVR. 

approved in December and two others are still in the process of qualifying for 

operations under the minimums of 150 and 1,600. 

After satisfactory operation under these minimums 

Another major trunk carrier was 

Since fewer flights will have to be diverted or delayed because of weather conditions, 

the category 11 minimums will enable qualifying airlines to maintain greater schedule 

regularity than is possible under the present landing minimums of 200-foot decision 

height and 1,800-foot RVR (2,000-foot RVR for four-engine jets). Maintenance of 

safety standards is being assured by the rigorous requirements the carriers must 

meet before receiving FAA approval for category I1 operations --requirements in 

performance quality of equipment and in the training and proficiency of pilots. 

114 
Further, category 11 operations can take place only at airports that meet the safety 

standards required. At present, five airports have been approved: Washington's 

Dulles International, and the airports at Pittsburgh, Oakland, Atlanta, and Lo-Jisville. 

Achieving the feasibility of category III operations --with landing minimums of zerozero--continued to be the goal of research and development efforts. 

tests have been conducted toward this end with a piston-powered Agency aircraft that 

has made well over a thousand automatic landings. 

contract for the design of an all-weather fully automatic landing system to be tested 

in a four -engine jet transport. 

improved ILS components, is being installed at the Agency's National Aviation 

Facilities Experimental Center, Atlantic City, N. J. 

Since 1961, 

In November 1665, FAA let a 

A complete category 111 ground system, utilizing 

Long -Range Navigation 

FAA continued its close work with commercial air carriers in the evaluation of 

advanced long-range navigation equipment. 

carriers operating over the North Atlantic and the Pacific in refining Doppler radar 

navigation techniques. 

self-contained navigation in all parts of the world without any need for periodic 

updating, is being tested by two U. S. air carriers. 

Cooperation continued with three U. S. 

An inertial navigation system, which offers the prospect of 

International Aviation Re search and Development Symposium 

FAA's Third International Aviation Re search and Development Symposium took place 

at Atlantic City, N. J., in November 1965, attended by representatives of some 30 

countries. Taking as its theme "Automation in Air Traffic Control,'' the symposium 

heard technical papers from representatives of leading countries in aeronautical 

development, and held panel discussions devoted to research and development achieve - 

ments in the theme area. 

115 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

INTRODUCTION 

CHAPTER 

XI1 

This year marked the beginning of commercial communications satellite service. 

EARLY BIRD, a synchronous communication satellite, was launched on April 6, 

1965, and regular commercial service between United States and Canada and 

Western Europe involving telephone, record communications and television programs 

began on June 28, 1965. The International Telecommunication Satellite Consortium 

(Intelsat) which owns the space segment of the international global system has shown 

steady growth and progress. As of December 31, 1965, 48 countries had become 

members. 

The Commission has granted authorization for construction of earth stations in 

Washington State and Hawaii. NASA and the Communications Satellite Corporation 

have signed a preliminary agreement under which ComSat would provide needed 

communications service via satellites for the APOLLO (man to the moon program). 

These satellites would be owned by the International Consortium. The Commission 

has authorized the construction of additional advanced satellites and has under 

consideration an application for construction of three transportable earth stations 

for use in connection with the APOLLO Space Program. 

The Commission is engaged in a number of proceedings to determine questions 

relating to: (a) the ownership, operation and control of earth terminals; (b) the 

extent that entities other than communications common carriers should be permitted 

to contract directly with ComSat for satellite communication services; and (c) the 

reasonableness of rates established for satellite communication services. The 

Commission adopted Rules relating to use of radio frequencies to conform to agreements reached by the Extraordinary Administrative Radio Conference (Geneva, 1963) 

and is continuing to explore means of establishing better communications for aero - 

nautical use, including the possible use of communication satellites. A television 

network has tendered an application for authority to launch and operate a communication satellite to distribute television programs to its affiliated stations in this 

country. 

The Commission has established an inter-bureau study group to consider and 

coordinate the various activities of the Commission which relate to satellite communications. 

REGU LAT ORY A CTIVITIES 

The Commission authorized ComSat to launch into synchronous orbit a satellite, 

EARLY BIRD, which would make possible the relaying of communications between 

the United States earth station at Andover, Maine, and European earth stations 

117 
located in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. The satellite was 

launched April 6, 1965, on June 23 commercial service on a regular basis was 

authorized for the transmission of voice, record, data, telephoto, facsimile, and 

television, pursuant to tariffs filed with the Commission, and on June 28 regular 

commercial service was begun. 

ComSat for service to United States entities to go into effect, but in order to insure 

that any economies made possible by the communication satellite system would be 

reflected in rates charged to the public, the Commission ordered an investigation 

into the reasonableness of the rates. It further ordered that all revenues obtained 

by ComSat under the tariff be placed in a deferred credit account until the conclusion of the investigation. 

The Commission permitted the tariffs filed by 

The investigation is continuing. 

Later in the year the Commission authorized the construction of another satellite, 

similar in all respects to EARLY BIRD and to be used in case of failure of that 

satellite. Construction is scheduled to be completed early in 1966. 

The Commission also authorized the construction by ComSat of two additional earth 

stations--one in the State of Washington and the other in Hawaii--in order that communication satellite service could be provided in the Pacific areas. The authorization 

was granted pursuant to an interim policy adopted by the Commission and is limited 

to the early years of the basic system. The Commission also has approved an 

application for four additional satellites and has under consideration an application 

for three transportable earth stations which will be used in connection with the 

APOLLO Space Program. 

The APOLLO network is to be composed of earth stations located at Andover, Maine; 

Brewster Flat, Washington; Paumalu, Hawaii; Carnarvon, Australia; Gran Canaria 

Islands; Ascension Island; and aboard three ships provided by the United States 

Government. One of the four satellites is to be positioned over the Atlantic Ocean, 

another over the Pacific Ocean. 

of failure of one of the operating spacecraft. 

International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium which will provide the communication facilities for the APOLLO Program. The communications capacity of the 

system will be such that the requirements of the National Communications System, 

which is responsible for the communications needs for the APOLLO Program, can be 

met, as well as providing approximately 100 voice grade circuits for other commercial uses. 

The remaining two satellites are to be used in case 

The satellites will be owned by the 

The Commission adopted a Notice of Inquiry in June of 1965 inviting comments of 

all interested parties in regard to the question of who in addition to communications 

common carriers could or should be authorized to obtain telecommunications 

services directly from ComSat. The Commission is now considering the comments 

and expects to make a determination shortly. 

effects on the structure, economics and operations of the telecommunications 

system of the United States. 

The determination can have significant 

Procurement Actions 

The Communications Satellite Act of 1962 requires the Commission to maintain 

maximum competition in the procurement of equipment and services by ComSat for 

the global commercial communications satellite system, including satellite terminal 

stations. The Commission's Rules and Regulations, which establish procedures to 

carry out its statutory responsibilities, have been in effect for nearly two years. 

118 
Since January 1, 1965, the Commission has reviewed procurement procedures 

including nine prime contracts aggregating in value approximately sixteen million 

dollars and one major subcontract of $52, 500, all of which were awarded after 

competitive negotiation and bidding. Approximately 165 different U. S. firms including 

small business concerns, in all major areas of the country, were solicited before 

the awards were made. In addition, 74 foreign firms were invited to submit bids. 

The contracts awarded involved various aspects of the Global Commercial Communications Satellite System including satellite terminal stations; a launch trajectory 

simulation program; architectural and engineering services for the Northwest 

United States and Ha.waiian satellite terminal stations; high power amplifiers for the 

Andover, Maine, satellite terminal station; general research and study programs; 

and spacecraft and other equipment for the APOLLO Program. 

ALLOCATION OF FREQUENCIES FOR SPACE 

COMMUNICATIONS AND RADIO ASTRONOMY 

In May 1965, the Commission adopted a Report and Order in Docket 15722 amending 

Part 2 of its Rules so as to conform, to the extent practicable, with the Geneva (1959) 

International Radio Regulations, as revised by the Geneva (1 963) Extraordinary 

Administrative Radio Conference on frequency allocations for space radiocommunication purposes and radio astronomy. 

another Report and Order in Docket 15723 amending Parts 21 and 25 of its Rules so 

as to provide for the shared use of the frequency bands 3700-4200, 5925-6425, 

7250-7750 and 7900-8400 Mc/s by the Fixed, Mobile and Communication-Satellite 

Services. These rule parts govern the Domestic Public Radio Services (other than 

maritime mobile) and Satellite Communication, respectively. Notices of Proposed 

Rule Making in both of these Dockets had been issued for public comments in 

December 1964, after appropriate inter-agency coordination. 

At the same time the Commission adopted 

More specifically, the Rule amendments effected in Docket 15722 consisted primarily 

of modification to the Table of Frequency Allocations contained in Part 2 of the 

Commission's Rules within the framework of internationally adopted allocation 

changes. Also included were revised definitions for use in the field of space radiocommunication and provisions for the domestic implementation of an internationally 

adopted notification procedure whereby international recognition could be afforded 

individual radio astronomy operations. Docket 15723 resulted in the adoption of 

sharing criteria and technical limitations intended to provide adequate protection 

against mutual interference so as to permit the shared use of certain microwave 

bands by the Fixed, Mobile and Communication-Satellite Services. Such protection 

is based primarily on power limitations, limitations on minimum angle of elevation 

for earth stations, appropriate geographic separation distance and advance coordina 

tion of assignments, where required, and is consistent with internationally agreed 

criteria. 

Work is continuing both nationally and internationally on technical and operational 

questions relating to space systems and radio astronomy. 

representatives participated in this work as members of the U. S. Delegation to the 

Interim Meeting of Study Group IV of the International Radio Consultative Committee 

(CCIR) of the ITU convened in Monaco in February 1965. 

will be further refined in preparation for the XIth Plenary Assembly of CCIR scheduled to convene in Oslo, Norway, in June 1966. 

Commission staff 

The results of that meeting 

119 
EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS 

The Commission authorized the construction of an experimental earth station in 

Arkansas for the purpose of pgrforming experimental operations relating to satellite 

communications, developing "multiple access" capability, and testing new system 

concepts and modulation schemes. 

The progress to date in the implementation of the Communications Satellite Act of 

1962 has reached the point where the establishment of a global commercial communications satellite system in the near future is assured. The Commission believes 

it appropriate now to focus attention on possible future developments in the field of 

communication satellite technology. 

its Rules and Regulations to establish procedures for the filing and processing of 

applications which seek authorization to engage in developing new techniques, and 

in the development and testing of new equipment intended for use in communication 

satellite service. 

To this end the Commission proposes to amend 

AERONAUTICAL DEVELOPMENTS 

The Commission, in discharging its statutory responsibilities with respect to nongovernment uses of radio for aviation, prescribes the manner and conditions under 

which frequencies may be assigned for aeronautical telecommunications purposes. 

Such purposes include flight test telecommunications and telemetry functions used 

in the development and production of missiles, rockets and satellites as well as 

aircraft. Additionally, the Commission assigns frequencies to aircraft radio 

stations, aeronautical enroute, radionavigation,, aeronautical advisory and other 

stations comprising the aviation radio services. 

The Commission has continued actively working with other government agencies and 

the aviation industry toward transition from the present double sidebands to a single 

sideband voice communications in the aeronautical high frequency. 

use of high frequency air ground communications in the 48 contiguous states was 

discontinued January 1, 1965. It is expected, however, that both HF and VHF will 

be required for the next several years in Alaska, Hawaii and the U. S. island possessions and on the international air routes. The use of satellites is now under 

consideration as one possible method of relieving loading on existing high frequency 

facilities particularly on the long over-water air routes. 

Regular domestic 

Development of the use of VHF aeronautical enroute system utilizing satellite relay 

techniques began during 1964. 

authority for developmental operation to test aeronautical communication on the 

Pacific air route by relay through satellite SYNCOM 111. 

tical industry conducted under this authorization have demonstrated the feasibility 

of this type of communication. The Commission is presently working with industry, 

NASA, and other government agencies toward further testing of aviation telecommunications utilizing the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) and as part of the 

ATS/VHF program. The Second Session of the two part Aeronautical Extraordinary 

Administrative Radio Conference (EARC) of the International Telecommunication 

Union (ITU) to consider revision of the high frequency allotment plan for aeronautical 

mobile service and related provisions of the Radio Regulations, is scheduled to 

convene March 14, 1966. 

will include the results of studies and tests and planning toward the utilization of 

space radiocommunication techniques by the Aeronautical Mobile (R) Service. 

An application was granted for special temporary 

The tests by the aeronauThe United States recommendations to the Second Session 

120 
INTRODUCTION 

For USIA, which tells America's space story to the world as part of its mission, 

1965 was a busy year. 

Voice of America and its wireless, pictures, and feature services reported it swiftly 

and widely. 

pictures , television, exhibits, libraries , pamphlets , book translations, and cartoon 

strips. 

As the space record of the year unfolded, USIA through the 

This vital story was carried abroad in other forms through motion 

In the same year, APOLLO hardware for a manned landing on the moon began reaching test stations; international television transmission on EARLY BIRD, inaugurated 

by ComSat, became commonplace; NASA's international space programs were expanded, and the United States sent its astronauts abroad to tell other people first 

hand about the discoveries in space. 

103 countries worked throughout the year to carry this story to media offices and 

youth groups, and to the scientific , educational, and governmental communities. 

U.S. Information Service staffs at 214 posts in 

GUIDELINES 

These precepts served to guide USIA in treating space activities during the year: 

a. 

b. 

C. 

d. 

the U. S. space program is broadly based, follows long-range objectives, seeks to develop proficiency in all key areas, and 

evidences U. S. world leadership in science and technology. 

it is U. S. policy to use outer space for peaceful purposes, to put 

space to practical use for the benefit of mankind through space 

applications, and through international programs to assist other 

countries in the development of space technology. 

the United States cooperates with other nations in space. 

objective the United States in 1965 concluded new agreements with 

Argentina and Brazil for an experimental inter -American weather research network; agreed to launch a West German-designed-andengineered scientific satellite, and to jointly publish research in space 

medicine and biology with the Soviet Academy of Sciences. 

agreement was also signed with India, and Canadian and French earthorbiting satellites were launched by NASA. 

Towards this 

A new 

it is U. S. policy to conduct manned space operations openly for all 

communications media, and when the data obtained has been 

121 
analyzed to make it available to the public, including the press and 

the scientific community. 

PROBLEM AREA NEUTRALIZED 

The fact that the Soviets launch larger manned spacecraft than the United States 

ceased to be the inhibiting factor conditioning foreign opinion of the United States in 

space. 

plished the first walk in space. 

the successive GEMINIS, and the extra-vehicular performance, the U. S. space program had hit its own high level of performance. A USLA report on world press reaction to GEMINI 5 commented: "Few (editorialists) doubted that the U. s. had now 

moved into a position of formidable challenge to, if it had not actually overtaken or 

surpassed, the U. S. S. R. in space. " 

The Soviets again launched a two-man flight with VOSKHOD 2 and accomBut with the flights of RANGER 8 and 9, MARINER IVY 

TREATMENT 

Manned Flight 

The GEMINI flights are portrayed as the second phase of a three-part program 

(MERCURY, GEMINI, and APOLLO) to land U. S. astronauts on the moon by 1970. 

As the most ambitious and dramatic part of the space program, and that with the 

greatest impact abroad, manned flight receives across -the-board attention from 

USLA media. 

Thus the Agency's resources were mobilized to tell the story of GEMINI 3, 4, 5, 6, 

and 7. Voice of America's 

worldwide network transmitted detailed coverage in English for seven and one-half 

hours before launch and three hours during descent and recovery. Simultaneously, 

transmissions in Spanish and Portuguese were beamed to 400 stations in 18 Latin 

American countries, while 35 other language services carried bulletins and regular 

accounts. Special teams at Cape Kennedy, Houston, and Washington kept audiences 

up to date, and backgrounded the flight by 19 special stories about equipment carried 

aboard the spacecraft such as space foods, suits, and oxygen guns and six 30-minute 

special programs. 

Treatment of GEMINI 4, here related, tells the story. 

USIA's wireless service carried 18 pre-launch stories, including by-liners by astronauts and wives, and 42 post-launch stories, from lift-off to splash-down. 

elaborate pre-flight package with photographs explaining the GEMINI program was in 

the hands of posts in time for lift-off. 

transparencies covering pre-flight and lift-off, and 42 pictures and 5 color photographs of recovery, to be reproduced and placed in the local press. 

got 5 plastic engravings ready for printing, and 5 more in stencil for mimeographed 

bulletins. 

given world distribution. As further education on GEMINI in advance of the flight, 

2,000 copies of a 4-color, 4-panel exhibit, "Man Maneuvers Moonward, " was distributed to all posts, as was a standard lecture on the GEMINI program with 36 color 

slides, for use by non-Americans in schools, clubs, and local groups. 

An 

Posts also received 24 pictures and 5 color 

African posts 

A 6-picture color poster showing the blast-off and walk-in-space was 

The GEMINI 4 story was carried to television audiences in 47 countries in two pictures, a 10-minute feature, "The Walk in Space,'' and a half-hour program, 

"Conversation with Astronauts White and McDivitt, " prepared in English, Spanish, 

122 
French, and Arabic. A USIA color film, "The Flight of GEMINI 4, 'I was seen in 110 

countries, having been prepared in 21 languages. A black-and-white newsreel of the 

same event, "U. S. Astronaut 'Walks' in Space, 'I was prepared in 23 languages with 

663 prints exhibited in 109 countries. 

RANGER 8 and 9 

The extraordinary success of the RANGER 8 and 9 spacecraft in photographing the 

moon's surface was a high point of USLA coverage of the year in space. 

of pictures returned by the two RANGERS were portrayed as a remarkable achievement for U. S. space technology providing space scientists with the best information 

to date for planning the manned lunar landing. 

The thousands 

Voice of America kept the "moon shots" alive from launch to impact, while the 

Agency's photo service put the RANGER pictures into the hands of posts within two 

to three days of their release. The wireless service sent 18 stories totaling 8,340 

words on both RANGERS. 

and press coverage on the NASA RANGER picture folios, given to key scientists and 

governmental officials in many countries. "Moonshot, I' a pamphlet covering the two 

RANGER flights, was sent out first on the wireless file for newspaper use, and, 

combined with pictures, printed in five languages for 350,000 copies. 

USLA Public Affairs Officers arranged for presentation 

MARINER 4 

During a year marked by major achievements, only the walk in space of GEMINI 4 

equaled in impact MARINER 4 and its pictures of the Martian surface. The reporting of the environment of Mars by MARINER 4's sensors was hailed widely through 

the world's press. A Paris daily, L'Aurora, struck a common chord when it commented: "A dazzling scientific feat. 

pride of the Americans. 'I MARINER IV was presented to world audiences as perhaps 

the most successful experiment in space so far, and one of the outstanding scientific 

feats of all time. 

All men of our time are entitled to share the 

TITAN 3-C and MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY (MOL) 

The first test of the Air Force's TITAN 3-C, the world's most powerful known space 

booster to date, came early in the year, and the decision to develop the MANNED 

ORBITING LABORATORY (MOL), which the TITAN will put into space, came later. 

World audiences were told that the TITAN 3-C is the first military booster designed 

from the outset for space missions, and that by strengthening the free world it will 

help to keep the peace. MOL is to be neither a weapon nor a weapon's carrier and 

in no way contradicts America's peaceful purposes in space. Rather, it aims to 

increase knowledge of man's usefulness in space and to relate this ability to free 

world defense. 

U. S. Astronauts Abroad 

U.S. astronauts, sent abroad for the first time when President Johnson dispatched 

astronauts McDivitt and White to the Paris Air Show, proved to be an effective 

foreign policy resource. 

51 hours after it began, changed the whole atmosphere of the Air Show. 

the U. S. image and generated a wave of good feeling toward the United States. 'I 

An observer on the scene reported: "The visit, completed 

It reversed 

123 
So that other countries could learn from the astronauts themselves what the United 

States had learned in space, the President dispatched astronauts Cooper and Conrad 

to the International Astronautical Congress in Athens, Greece. The astronauts carried their Presidential missim from there to Turkey, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Malagasy 

Republic, Nigeria, and the Canary Islands, visiting NASA tracking stations in the 

latter three areas. 

African audiences , while U. S. Information Service staffs prepared local arrangements and press coverage. 

Voice of America carried details of the astronauts' reception to 

Press and Publications 

For the Press Service space science has been a major theme for affirming U.S. 

scientific and technological leadership. 

totaling over 137,000 words on MARINER IV, TIROS IX and X, the ORBITING SOLAR 

OBSERVATORY, RANGER VI1 and IX, SATURN-PEGASUS, GEMINI 2 through 7, 

SNAP 10-A, EARLY BIRD, EXPLORER, TITAN I1 and 111, ComSat System, and 

other space projects--or an average of over one a day. Seven special advance 

packets were produced, the GEMINI 5 packet containing 10 stories, 5 pictures, 

orbital pass charts and visibility predictions. 

The wire service in 1965 moved 411 stories 

Space science accounted for a good part of the Agency's pamphlet production, an advance pamphlet, "Mariner to Mars, '' being printed in 5 languages for 163,000 copies, 

and "Journey to Mars, I' covering photos and data from the flight, being printed in 

Englishfor 10,000 copies, with vernacular orders to follow as the posts place them. 

Six other space pamphlets included "Destination the Moon, I' telling the story of 

PROJECT APOLLO, "GEMINI 6 and 7, I' in preparation at the year's end, and "Walk 

in Space, I' supplied by NASA, which has already run to 45,000 copies in four languages with more to follow. 

Photo service on space science was very wide. 

instance, involves 187 prints and 87 negatives spread among 151 posts according to 

their needs. 

in addition to color photographs and plastic engravings, which have a somewhat 

similar distribution. Additionally, the Photo Bulletin, a monthly offset sheet from 

which posts order, carried 23 photos on APOLLO, 4 on GEMINI 2, and 15 on various 

other space science items. A new product specially designed for African posts carried 5 stencils on GEMINI 4 and 5, for reproduction on mimeograph bulletins. 

4-color poster on Astronaut White's walk in space was printed in 60, 000 copies in 7 

languages. 

Each black and white subject, for 

Thus the MARINER 4 flight was covered in 32 black and white subjects, 

A 

Amerika Illustrated in both Polish and Russian editions carried stories on 

MARINER IV, RANGER IX, GEMINI 4 (including a 10-page color spread), and 

EARLY BIRD. 

ried a wrap-around cover on space science stations tied to a story on "Getting Ready 

for the Leap to the Moon, I' among other features. 

series were carried on all the GEMINI flights, on MARINER IV, astronauts' gear 

and garb, EARLY BIRD satellite, and other projects; so did "True Tales, 'I a comic 

strip series. 

hundreds of newspapers overseas. 

A1 Hayat fi Amerika, the Agency's Arabic-language magazine, carCartoons in the "It's a Fact" 

These are reproduced in offset and in plastic plates and appear in 

Television 

The Agency produced a number of features to tell the space story abroad. 

124 
"RANGER IX, 'I in English only, was a 20-minute recap of the flight, climaxing with 

the pictures transmitted directly to U. S. television screens. 

a 30-minute feature examining the Cape Kennedy moonport through the eyes of a 

project engineer and his young son. 

Cape Kennedy through the working press and nearby onlookers, stressing the openness of U.S. space operations. A half-hour feature, "Eight Months to Mars, " reported extensively on the MARINER IV mission. "GEMINI VI: Halfway Point" was 

in the hands of posts abroad before the flight and explained the rendezvous and docking mission. All of these pictures were sent out in three or four language versions. 

Space events were topically covered throughout the year in "Science Report, 'I a 

fortnightly 15-minute review of events in American science distributed in 53 countries in more than three language versions. 

"Moonport USA" was 

"A Day in March" viewed a GEMINI flight at 

Radio 

The Voice of America, through its regular and special topical coverage of space, 

plus special reports that treat of space events in detail, is one of the Agency's chief 

links with foreign audiences in this area. 

Motion Pictures 

"Above the Earth and to the Moon, 'I an original Agency production that treated of 

both the walk in space of GEMINI 4 and the RANGER 9 moon reconnaissance was 

released in 26 languages in 113 countries, and in Mexico alone was seen by an 

audience of 4 million. 

limits of man's adaptability to space, won an award at a Belgrade festival of scientific films and was distributed in 101 countries. 

and "Project GEMINI: Mission Concept, 'I also were used, the latter film being 

booked heavily, for instance, by German observatories and scientific organizations. 

"Destination Man, 'I another Agency production exploring the 

Two NASA films, "Lunar Bridgehead" 

Exhibits 

An estimate of the Agency's worldwide viewers of its 19,600 printed exhibits on the 

U. S. space program and 70 travelling exhibits this year is conservatively placed at 

18,000,000. These were seen in locations ranging from Moscow to Kathmandu, from 

Helsinki to Mogadiscio, from Saigon to Buenos Aires, from Ankara to Tokyo. Three 

hundred USIA outlets around the world showed or arranged showings by local organizations of 1965's production of four printed exhibits issued in 6,100 copies and 37 

sets of more imposing travelling exhibits, and kept previous years' production in 

circulation as well. 

Information Centers 

Under the Book Translations Program, more than 300,000 copies of 27 books dealing with space have been published in 9 languages. More than 1,000 copies of books 

offered posts on "The U. S. In Space" have been requested for library, presentation, 

and for translation. Eight titles on space offered in various Current Recommended 

Reading Lists resulted in 1 , 107 requests from posts. Posts also requested and received 33 government publications on space and a lecture packet on GEMINI complete 

with color slides, while an English-Teaching Conversation Packet on practical 

benefits of the U.S. space program is in preparation. 

125 
INTR 0 DUCT ION 

Spac considerations are v ry important in the pursuit of United States arms control 

and disarmament objectives. 

The most urgent immediate objective of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency 

(ACDA) is preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. 

objective applies not only to the face of the earth but also to the dimension of space. 

It is United States policy to oppose extension of the nuclear arms race to outer space. 

The implementation of this 

In promoting our national security through balanced and safeguarded arms control 

and reduction agreements, space also affords a medium which could be utilized in 

verifying compliance with such agreements. 

The efforts of ACDA, both in the negotiating and research fields, involve these goals. 

DISARMAMENT PROGRAMS 

Preventing the Extension of the Arms Race to %ace 

The Resolution of the UN General Assembly on October 17, 1963, which was adopted 

unanimously, expressed the intention of all parties to refrain from stationing weapons 

of mass destruction in outer space. ACDA research played a part in the formulation 

of the U. S. position on this Resolution. 

Additional measures aimed at strengthening this Resolution and at increasing its 

credibility as space technology improves. are also under investigation. 

Through its research program, the Agency has contracted for continuing studies of 

the technical aspects of a prohibition of weapons of mass destruction in orbit. 

fication que stions based on unilateral monitoring capability opposed to the continually 

improving capability of adversary nations are being examined in detail to assure 

that existing and planned space-tracking systems will be able to detect and identify 

deployment of any significant space weapons system in violation of the UN Resolution. 

VeriImplications for Space Programs of a Freeze on Strategic Weapons 

The U. S. has proposed, at the Eighteen Nation Disarmament Conference and other 

forums, that major powers explore the possibility of a freeze of strategic aircraft 

and missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. 

could provide a first step in halting and possibly turning downward the present 

strategic weapons race. Under such an agreement, production and deployment of 

Some type of freeze agreement 

127 
these delivery vehicles would be strictly controlled. 

has been the requirement to devise inspection means which would guard against violations of prohibitions on improved weapon system characteristics without interfering 

with varied and active peaceful space programs. 

A particular issue for study 

I Although the Soviet reaction to date to this freeze proposal has been negative, the 

Agency continues to study variations of this proposal and the verification systems 

required to protect our national security interests. 

the potential advantages of inspection satellites for verifying the more conspicuous 

aspects of strategic weapon operations are under continuing investigation. 

In addition to ground inspection, 

In particular, the following areas have been investigated: the re striction and control 

of flight testing for military space programs; the implications of future weapons 

technology; and the possible*conversion of space boosters to ballistic missiles. 

Use of Space Vehicles for Inspection and Verification 

During the past year additional VELA satellite launchings by DOD augmented the 

operation, underway since 1963, for creating a system of satellites designed to 

detect nuclear test violations in space of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. 

ACDA cooperated in this and other ARPA-developed programs aimed at increasing 

U. S. verification capabilities associated with this treaty. 

Looking to the future, ACDA is investigating the potential contributions which 

inspection satellites might make to inspection and verification systems associated 

with various arms control measures. 

capabilities of various possible inspection vehicles and the manner in which these 

vehicles might be used. 

Studies have been carried out on technical 

In addition, ACDA is working cooperatively with NASA, using the talent residing in 

NASA centers, to explore the inter-relationship of non-military space programs 

with arms control measures and their verification. These studies have also looked 

at how-developing space technology might be influenced by arms control measures, 

and at identifying any potential conflicts. 

significance of re strictions intended to control weapon developments will not hamper 

in any way peaceful space programs. 

In this way it is hoped that the full 

128 
r 

c 

c 

3 

e 

c 

- 

Y 

- 

e 

c 

c 

E 

e 

c 

c*, 

I 

I= 

0 0 0 00 - Y) 

0 

129 

m 

Lc, 

d 

0 

m 

0 

I 

cy 

0 0 

Appendix A-1 
UNITED STATES LAUNCHING RECORD 

Earth Satellite Attempts Escape Payload Attempts 

Year Success Failure Success Failure 

1957 ................... 0 1 0 0 

1958 ................... 5 8 0 4 

1959 ................... 9 9 1 2 

1960 ................... 16 12 1 2 

1961 ................... 35 12 

1962 ................... 54 12 4 1 

1963 ................... 60 11 0 0 

1964 ................... 69 8 4 0 

1965 ................... 94 8 3 0 

Total .......... 342 81 13 11 

0 2::: 

~ ~~ ~~~ 

Notes: 

1. Information contained in this table is drawn from unclassified sources and is 

believed to be complete and accurate in keeping with the definitions given below. 

2. 

or sent to the Moon or into solar orbit. 

payload. 

are counted individually even though in a limited number of cases such separation 

failed to occur. A payload is defined as an object put into orbit or sent away from the 

Earth to accomplish some specific research or application purpose and to return data 

to Earth. Typically, a payload transmits telemetry, but not always (e.g. ECHO 

which carried only a radio beacon). 

but limited data return incidental to putting up a payload does not classify these as 

payloads in their own right. 

Numbers are given in terms of identified separate payloads placed in Earth orbit 

A few launchings have put up more than one 

If these payloads were intended to separate from each other in flight, they 

Some rocket casings may carry radio beacons, 

3. 

of attaining Earth orbit, or escape to the Moon or solar orbit as appropriate to the 

column indicated. 

data as planned; other payloads failed to reach orbit or escape, yet returned useful 

data at least briefly. 

The sole criterion of success or failure used for the purpose of this table is that 

Some payloads reached orbit or escaped without returning as much 

4. The corresponding data for number of launchings attempted (the count without 

reference to multiple payloads) are the same as given above except in the Earth orbital category for 1959 (8 failures), 1960 (15 successes and 11 failures), 1961 (29 

successes), 1962 (48 successes and 6 failures), 1963 (38 successes and 8 failures), 

1964 (53 successes and 7 failures), 1965 (60 successes and 7 failures), making totals 

of 257 orbital launch successes, 13 escape launch successes, 68 orbital launch 

failures, and 11 escape launch failures, for a grand total of 347 launch attempts 

(2 escape failures were orbital successes). 

5. Data quoted include 2 U. S. payloads with British experiments, two Canadian 

payloads launched by the United States, one French payload launched by the United 

States, and one Italian payload launched by an Italian crew from U. S. territory. 

::These failed to go to escape as intended, but did attain Earth orbit and are in those 

totals. 

NASC Staff 

Appendix A-2 130 
a 

a, 

V 

u 

a, 

a 

m 

.rl c, 

4 

d 

t1% 

_- 

aru 

a, 

x I 

(I) 

c, 

-F( 

+la, 

131 Appendix A-3 
n+ 

:g 

0 

x 

om 

V 

a, a 

a, 9 

n 

h 

k 

132 
5. 

v

ln 

Q4 

rc) 

or- 

*rc) 

lnoom 

mcor-4 

a, 

'. 

.. 

133 
134 
x 

.rl 

-‘ 

- 

; 

V 

d 

-‘ 

- 

x 

.rl 

d 

;; 

d .r( 

-‘ 

P 9 O‘o mo Q 

mo co d co mo m-’ mo 

co90P coQ0P mQoP mm-’ mln-l mm-l 

.. .. me4d mmmo memo 

c 

M 

.rl 

ak .rl 

z I 

.A 

gG 

d 

u 

d) 

M 

n n n 

rd 

=:a 

UE: 

M 

135 
.d 

m 

.d c, 

4 

4 

.d 

.d 

.d 

a 

a, 

u 

d 

x 

m 

.d c, 

4 

4 

* 

* 

* * rr) 

rr)Q lno d) d) 

lno mo m 

mm 

us u 

a, u a, u 

a, u a, 

k 

d 

n n CI 

136 
I 

137 
a 

a“ 

u 

cd 

H 

H I4 

k 

+J 

a 

cd 

138 
ff 

25 

ib 

rr) 

*-4 

-4 

*N 

.. .. f-03-40 moa0 -4a)-40\ mom 

cOtc-4 

NN 

N-4-4 

sf-* 

....e 

V 

a, E: 

139 
c, -i 

0" 

.d c, a 

eoc 

.d 

a, 

a, 

A " 

I 

h 

k 

2 

e 

z 

* H 

* * 0 0 a do ON 00- 

d k 

0 

a, 

Q 

2; 

d 

u 

a, 

M 

w 0- 

o-s! 

Q 

140 
iz 

.rl 

rl 

rl 

.rl 

iz 

4 .rl 

4 

.rl 

0 90 rl 

94 

a, 

9 

d 

.. 

g 

"E 

0 

P 

rd 

c, 

c, 

a, 

h 

.rl 

a, 

m 

.9 

.. 

"3 

a, 

V 

a, 

V 

a, 

n 

b 

k 

14 1 
a .... 

N 

it 

09 

V 

a, 

* a 

a, 

a 

h 

a, 

V 

0 

2 

a, 

k 

M 

142 
W 

al 

a 

143 
9 

dco 

9 

mco 

- 

.d 

a," 

144 
a" 

V 

"4 

% 

cd 

d 

P 

a, 

Id 

V 

0 

d 

a 

.. 

m 

.rl 

0 

5 

m 

b 

h 

* 4" CI 

N" "4 

V 

a, 

x 

.rl 

d 

m 

Q 

r-9 

u 

a, V 

a, 

n 

145 
a" 

u 

u 

a, 

n 

? 

Na, 

cc)o 

p: 

m 

it 

r-9 

_- 

% 

.. 

M 

E 

" 

F: 

u 

a, 

CI 

cd 

146 
a 

a, 

cn 

.rl c, 

4 

V 

a, 

n 

;; 

d .rl 

d 

m 

... ... 

147 
n 

E: mal 

... 

148 
w 0- o-' 

&& 

Id 

V 

a, 

d 

n n 

0 

c: 

* 

UI 

ri 

k 

149 
N 

>h 

>A 

coo 

3:- 

-lo & 

1c 

Q 2c 

3:- 0 N NO 40 -lo 3 

a, 

al 

vw V 

m 

c, 

fd 

k 

150 
w 

wo 

26 

d 

V 

a, 

I ... 

i? 

rn 

c, 

a, 

E 

... 

k 

a, 

V 

0 

> 

a, 

k 

x 

d 

El 

a 

k 

a, 

a, 

F: 

r 

k 

x 

rn 

x 

rn 

c, 

a, 

; 

;; 

d .d 

0 

99 

4 H N 

u 

a, 

151 
a" 

u 

ld 

ld Id 

a" 

u 

VI mo 

* 

9 

Fm (v 

90 9 

mm 

V 

a, u a, u 

a, 

152 
.. 

ii 

U 

[I) 

4 

.rl 

I 

0 

k 

(\1 

P 

3 

c, 

.. 

z 

c, 

c, 

2 

5l 

.. 

c, 

111 

rd 

.rl 

a, 

cn* 

.. 

j 5 :i 

w 

25 

rd 

V 

a, 

n 

rd 

c, 

d 

c 

153 
... 

E2 

V 

a, V 

a, 

X 

X 

X 

N 

vco 

154 
k 

a, 

a, 

F: 

c, 

.. 

(I) 

155 
5 

h 

156 
.. 

0040 

rr) 

d 

a2 

r-m 

N 

0 

m4ln 

rndc0N 

r-o(3\.Ll .. 

I 

. 

; 

c, 

m 

c, 

rd 

P c, 

e 

3 

c, 

0 

> 

N 

I 

rr) 

a 

0 

k 

157 
0 

99 

N 

0 

U 

d 

a, 

a 

0 

$ 

a, 

k 

2 

a 

a 

4 

$ 

Q 

4 

a, 

or', 

+Id 

d 

U 

158 
cx 

A .r(

-l 

0 

4 

PO 

159 
E 

a, 

2 

1 

E: 

G 

a 

rd 

+l 

a, 

.rl 

10 

P 

rd 

(0 

a, 

a 

0 

E: 

c3 

k 

a, 

a, 

E: 

2 

G 

E 

a, 

d 

E: 

.rl c, 

E: 

w 

V 

d 

0 

d 

.rl 

rn 

9 

a, 

a 

rd 

x 

4 

0 

rd 

a 

2 

a, 

c, 

.rl 

.rl 

.rl c, 

2 

2 

E 

P 

a, 

k 

0 

w 

0 

2 

c, 

d 

4 

0 

B 

a, 

u 

c, 

m 

-4 

V 

rd 

A 4 (0 

.rl 

c 

.rl 

m 

B 

a, 

.rl 

E: 

c, 

a, 

E 

rd 

.rl c, 

0 

c 

rd 

4 

u 

0 

ti 

4 

P; 

d 

m 

c, 

k 

0 

F: 

.rl c, 

m 

s 

a, 

4 

2 

E: 

G 

V 

k 

rd 

w 

c, 

c, 

x 

a 

a, 

.rl 

V 

a, 

2 

% 

.rl 

-4 

E: 

a 

rd 

k 

a, 

10 

a, 

w 4 

I 

a, 

x 

a 

d 

Id 

E: 

ld 

0 c,

k 

G 

P; 

a, 

E 

rd 

* 

m 

cd 

k 

a, 

m 

a, 

4 

w 

I 

a, 

x 

a 

4 

rd 

F: 

rd 

c, 

0 

k 

2 
N 

0 

cn 

I 

rl 

c, 

g 

.d i 

CI] 

rr) 

cn 

c, 

Q) 

Y 

z 

2 

b 

- 

PI 

5 

c, 

rl 

.r( d 

5 

m 

Id 

Q) 

.r( 

M 

Id 

.r( c, 

m 

c, 

k 

0 

d 

c, 

.d i 

m 

0 

N 

* 

N 

I 

rl 

2 

a 

.d rl

V 

Id 

.r( c, 

0 

d 

2 

e, 

3 

k 

.rl 5 

PI 

rl 

.d 

0 

Q) 

m 

c, 

e, 

c, 

rl d 

.d 

s 

m 

Id 

Q) 

m 

3 

F9 

Y 

z 

4 

m 

4 

c 

m 

I 

c, 

d 

E 

e, 

E: 

Id 

.d 

w" 

a 

e, 

k 

.rr 

z 

2 

.r( 

M 

(d 

c, 

z 

E 

V 

0 

E 

0 

n; 

IC 

m 

z 

2 

m m 

In 

0 

m 

N 

In 

N 

In 

rr) 

0 rr) 

0 

m 

2 

PI 

x 

d 

Q\ 

4 

l-4 

l-4 

161 Appendix B 
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE COUNCIL 

WASH I NQTON 

December 31, 1965 

LISTING OF MAJOR SPACE "FIRSTS" 

ACHLEVED BY THE U. S. AND THE U. S. S. R. 

One of the indexes used to compare the space programs of the 

United States and the Soviet Union are the "firstst1 achieved by 

each nation. 

the quality of achievement, such compilation can be misleading. 

However, a compilation of "firsts" broken down into meaningful 

areas can help in judging emphasis and even relative progress if 

coupled with other evidence. 

Like all indexes which measure the quantity but not 

Regardless of whether a llfirstlt gives either country a significant 

lead in a particular area of space technology, the fact of being first 

is not insignificant in the formation of public opinion. In fact, 

regardless of actual technological competence, the relative position 

of the U. S. and the U. S. S. R. in space is often judged by the I1firsts" 

achieved by each. 

A list of all of the "firsts" scored by each side would be long and 

meaningless. An effort has been made to select those actions or 

accomplishments which seemed to be of major importance. Moreover, because of the closed nature of some aspects of both nations' 

space programs, the list of "firsts" is even less complete. 

In order to establish some measure of perspective, the list of 

"firsts'' on the opposite page, is divided into major categories 

of space interest. 

Most important to note is that this is not a comparison of space 

competence but rather is primarily a cataloging based upon the 

timing of events. 

Other breakdowns could have been employed. 

Appendix C 162 
LISTING OF MAJOR SPACE "FIRSTS" 

ACHIEVED BY THE US. AND THE U.S.S.R. 

UNITED STATES JNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS 

Event Satellite Launch 

Date Event Satellite 

hunch 

Date 

Discovery of Van Allen 

Radiation Belt 

Discovery that the Earth 

is "pear shaped" 

First orbiting solar 

observatory 

First successful probe 

of Venus 

First geodetic satellite 

First close-up pictures 

of the lunar surface 

First satellite to communicate over 100 

million miles 

First space pictures of 

Mars 

First comprehensive micrometeroid satellite 

Explorer I 

Vanguard I 

os0 I 

Mariner 11 

Anna IB 

Ranger M 

Mariner N 

Mariner IV 

Pegasus I 

2/1/58 

3/17/58 

3/7/62 

8/27/62 

10/31/62 

7/28/64 

11/28/64 

11/28/64 

2/16/65 

First orbiting geophysical laboratory 

First photos of the 

moon's far side 

First comprehensive 

cosmic ray space 

station 

i/15/58 

1/12/59 

r/16/65 

sputnik n 

Luna m 

Proton t 

SCIENCE 

First active communicaFirst TV pictures from 

First weather satellite 

First navigation 

satellite 

First missile detection 

satellite 

Fpst passive communications satellite 

First nuclear explosion 

detection satellite 

tions 'satellite 

space 

Score 

Explorer VI 

Tiros I 

Transit IB 

Midas II 

Echo I 

Vela Hotel 

12/18/58 

8/7/59 

4/1/60 

4/13/60 

5/24/60 

8/12/60 

10/17/63 

APPLICATIONS 

First manned orbital 

maneuver 

First propulsion by "Space 

Gun" outside orbiting 

spacecraft 

First effective 

and sustained 

rendezvous of 

two manned ships 

3/23/65 

6/3/65 

12/4/65 

12/15/65 

?irst biosatellite 

First animals orbited 

and recovered 

First human orbited 

and recovered 

First approximate 

rendezvous of two 

manned ships 

First multi-manned 

ship in orbit 

?irst man to leave 

capsule in space 

Sputnik II 

SputnikCosmic I 

Vostok I 

Vostok 

m & IV 

voskhod I 

voskhod 

II 

11/3/57 

1/19/60 

1/12/61 

1/13/62 

10/12/64 

1/18/65 

Gemini III 

Gemini IV 

Gemini VI 

and VII 

BIOASTRONAUTICS 

AN0 MANNEB SPACI 

fLI6HT 

First satellite 

?irst escape payload 

?irst lunar impact 

?irst orbital launch 

platform 

?irst flight-by Venus 

?irst flight -by Mars 

First ion engine test 

First plasma rocket 

in orbit 

tested in orbit 

Sputnik I 

Luna I 

Luna II 

Sputnik V 

Venus I 

Mars I 

Voskhod I 

Zond II 

10/4/57 

1/2/57 

1/12/59 

1/12/61 

1/12/61 

11/1/62 

10/12/64 

11/30/64 

First orbiting of two spacecraft by same 

launch vehicle 

First recovered payload 

First air snatch 

First synchronous 

First to place two 

recovery of payload 

satellite 

satellites in different 

orbits 

rocket to orbit 

satellite 

First sub-orbital test of an ion engine 

First hydrogen-fueled 

First solar cells operating on spacecraft 

First spacecraft with 

isotope nuclear power 

First spacecraft powered 

exclusively by nuclear 

energy 

in orbit 

fuel cell 

First nuclear reactor 

First space use of 

Transit IIA 

&Greb I 

Discoverer 

m 

Discoverer 

XN 

Syncom II 

Vela Hotel 

I&II 

Centaur II 

SERT I 

Vanguard I 

Transit IVA 

Transit V 

SMpShOt I 

Gemini V 

6/22/60 

8/11/60 

8/19/62 

7/26/62 

10/17/63 

11/27/63 

7/20/64 

SPACE FLIGHT 

AN0 PROPULSION 

3/17/58 

6/29/61 

9/28/63 

4/3/65 

8/21/65 

AUXILIARY POWER 

SY ST1 MS 

December 31, 1965 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE COUNCIL STAFF 

163 
W 

In 

g 

U 

o\ 

N 

a 

-4 

9 N 

r( N a In 

o\ 

In 

0 

m 

0 o\ 0 9 9 I- IC -4 O o\ rn & 

-4 

0 

c) 

r) 

W 

b 

(d 

d 

a 

A 

0 

X 

\ 

d 

PI 

m 

00 

W 

4 

0 4 

0 

00 

r( 

0 

-co 

9 

mICm .. 

-4 

W 

?39N 

nmNIn 

-+- 

mo-4 

009 

n 

$4 

z 

rn 

-4 

rl 

c 

I 

ow 

Ok 

02 

al 44 

W 

I- 

&J 

4; m 

Bd 

012 

A$ 

k 

,'Am' 

EAE 

.... 

+Nm* ... 

dNW ,' Am' .. 

-4N 

.. 

-IN 

al c, 

a 

E 

0 

F-l 

Appendix D 
co 

m 

0 

0 0 0 0 

PP0 

.. 

0 

0 

-4 

4 

0 

N 

m 

0 

0 

v1 

0 

4 

2 

N 

d: 

0 

0 

4 

0 

x 

4 

In 

0 

0 

Ni 0 m N 

In 

4 

4 

N 

-4 

4 

N 

4 

N 

0 N 

co 

4 

2 N 

N 

4 

9 9 

4 

0 4 

0 4 m N m 

v-4 

mo-4 

009 

0 

4 

0 

X 

\ 

4 

X 

m 

0 

E 

B 

44 

00 

xx 

\\ 

d4 

PIX 

-4 

In 

oo' 

00 

r( 

0 

- 

1 

24 

Id 

HH 

-+ 

co9- 

X 

I1 

rnrn 

.. 

-IN 

44 

00 

xx 

\\ 

d4 

PIX 

4 

9N 

00 

00 

c 

-N 

Ir, 

22 

-a 

cox4 

-41 

I1 

rnrn 

.. 

4N 

mON 

000 

000 

a 

4 

0 

X 

\ 

d 

PI 

m 

co 

co 

m 

o 

k 

ld 

d 

.... 

444 

000 

xxx 

\\\ 

P-4 

1 

5 

a, 

k 

m 

k 

0 

0 

k 

m 

m 

.4 

I 

I 

s 

4 

$ 

m 

E 

Id 

: 

a 

... 

4~m .. 

-4N 

G 

o 

9 

8 

4 

Q) 

d 

ld 

3 

4 

ld 

m 

u 

2 

c, 

ld 

1 

k 

U 

165 
SPACE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 

Historical Summary and 1967 Budget Recommendations January 24, 1966 

NEW OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY 

(In millions of dollars) 

NASA Dept. of Weather 

Total %ace 1/ Defense AEC Bureau 

Historical 

1955 56.9 

1956 72.7 

1957 78.2 

1958 117.3 

1959 305.4 

1960 523.6 

196 1 964.0 

1962 1,824.9 

1963 3,673.0 

1964 5,099.7 

1965 5,249.7 

1967 Budget 

1966 5, 174.9 

1967 5,012.0 

56.9 3.0 

72. 7 30. 3 

78.2 71.0 

117.3 205.6 

235.4 489.5 

461.5 560.9 

926.0 813.9 

1,796.8 1,298. 2 

3,626.0 1,549.9 

5,046.3 1,599. 3 

5, 167.6 1, 579.4 

5,087.9 1,693, 5 

4,908.3 1,620. 7 

- 

- 

7.0 

21.3 

21.3 

34.3 

43.3 

67. 7 

147.8 

213.9 

210.0 

228.6 

195.6 

173.5 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

50. 7 

43.2 

2.8 

12.2 

27. 3 

35. 8 

Total 

- NSF Space 

- 59.9 

7.3 117.3 

8.4 178.9 

3.3 347.5 

- 759.2 

. 1 1,065.8 

.6 1,808.2 

1. 3 3,294.8 

1.5 5,434.5 

3.0 6, 861.4 

3.2 6,991.0 

3.6 7,007, 9 

2.9 6,741.2 

1/ Ekcludes amounts for aircraft technology in 1959 and succeeding years. 

Am:unts for NASA-NACA aircraft and space activities not separately identifiable 

prior to 1959. 

Source: Bureau of the Budget 

U.S. SPACE BUDGET - NEW OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY ElLLlONS OF DOLLARS 

8. 0 

7. 0 

6. 0 

5. 0 

4. 0 

3. 0 

2. 0 

1. 0 

1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 

REQUEST 

JAN. 24, 1966 

NASC STAFF 

Appendix E - I 166 
SPACE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 

Historical Summary and 1967 Budget Recommendations January 24, 1966 

EXPENDITURES 

(In*millions of dollars) 

Historical 

1955 

1956 

1957 

1958 

1959 

1960 

1961 

1962 

1963 

1964 

1965 

NASA 

Total Space 1 I 

73. 8 73.8 

71. 1 71. 1 

76. 1 76. 1 

89. 2 89. 2 

145.6 58. 8 

401.0 329.2 

744.3 693.6 

1, 257.0 1, 225.9 

2, 552.3 2, 516. 8 

4, 171.0 4, 131. 3 

5,092.9 5,035. o 

1967 Budget 

1966 5,600.0 5, 521.0 

1967 5, 300. 0 5, 211. 0 

Dept. of 

Defens e 

1.5 

16.5 

47.5 

135.5 

341.0 

518.1 

710.0 

1, 028.8 

1, 367.5 

1, 563. 5 

1, 591. 8 

1, 640.0 

1, 650. 0 

Total 

AEC Bureau NSF Space 

Weather 

- 

- - 

6.3 - 

19.2 - 

20.2 - 

32.6 - 

41. 1 - 

64. 3 - 

130.0 1.0 

181.0 12.2 

220.1 12.3 

232.2 24. 1 

- 75.3 

6.2 100.1 

7. 3 150.1 

4.0 248.9 

1.5 433.9 

- 888.4 

- 1,467.9 

.9 2,386.6 

1. 1 4,078.6 

2.6 5,929.8 

3.0 6,886. 1 

201.0 19.2 3. 5 7, 384. 1 

173.7 27.0 2.8 7, 064. 5 

1/ 

Source: Bureau of the Budget 

Excludes amounts for aircraft technology in 1959 and succeeding years. Amounts 

for NASA-NACA aircraft and space activities not separately identifiable prior to 1959. 

U.S. SPACE BUDGET - EXPENDITURES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS 

8. 0 

7. 0 

6.0 

5.0 

4.0 

3. 0 

2.0 

1.0 

167 Appendix E-2 
SPACE ACTIVITIES BUDGET 

1967 Budget Document 

January 24, 1966 

(In millions of dollars) 

New Obligational Authority Ekpenditures 

1965 1966 1967 1965 1966 1967 

(Actual) (Estimated) (Actual) (Estimated) 

Federal Space Programs 

NASA::: ................... 5167.6 5087.9 4908.3 5035.0 5521.0 5211.0 

Department of Defense.. ... 1579.4 1693. 5 1620. 7 1591.8 1640.0 1650.0 

Atomic Energy Commission. 228.6 195.6 173.5 232.2 201.0 173.7 

Department of Commerce: 

Weather Bureau.. ....... 12.2 27. 3 35. 8 24. 1 19. 2 27. 0 

National Science Foundation. 3.2 3.6 2.9 3.0 3.5 2.8 

TOTAL 6991.0 7007.9 

NASA 

Manned space flight.. .. 3452.4 3518.4 

Scientific investigations. 692. 7 727. 1 

Space technology.. ..... 498.6 431.4 

Aircraft technology.. ... 82. 1 87. 0 

Supporting operations.. . 357.4 324.0 

Space applications. ..... 83. 2 95.1 

Adjusted to appropriation-t 83.4 - 8. 1 

6741. 2 6886. 1 

3387. 5 3538. 5 

605.3 661.6 

100.6 89.0 

450.7 484.0 

103.7 57.9 

364.3 261.6 

7384.7 

3810.0 

735.0 

101.0 

465.0 

79.0 

410.0 

7064.5 

3600.0 

656.0 

100.0 

470.0 

89. 0 

385.0 

Total ................. 5249.7 5174.9 5012.0 5092.9 5600.0 5300.0 

~~ 

:::Excludes amounts for aircraft technology, 

Source: Bureau of the Budget 

Appendix E-3 168 
INDEX 

A-7 58 

Advanced Aerial Fire Support 

Advanced Manned Missions 17, 18 

Advanced Defense Communications 

Satellite Project (ADSC) 54 

Advanced Res earch Projects 

Agency (ARPA) 55,63, 128 

Aeronautics 57 

Aeronautics, Astronautics Coo r - 

dinating Board (AACB) 66 

Aeronautical Extraordinary Administrative Radio Conference (EARC) 120 

AGENA 11, 25,64 

Air Force, U.S. 11, 28, 29, 34, 43,49-69, 

All Weather Landing 114 

ALOUETTE 2,4,20,41 

Ames Research Center 31, 66 

Andover, Maine, Ground Station 117 

Anti-Satellite System 4, 55 

System (AAFSS) 59 

77, 78 

APOLLO 1,4, 9, 10, 12-18, 22, 23, 28, 32 

35, 36, 39,44,45, 57, 67, 68, 77, 80, 90, 

92, 97, 98, 118, 121, 124 

APOLLO Aplications 16 - 18 

Applications Technology Satellites 24, 

Applied Mathematics 26 

Argentina 12 1 

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency 

ASSET 61 

Astronauts 10, 50, 75-79, 101 

Astronomy 83, 98, 101, 103 

ATLAS 11,25, 38 

Atomic Energy Commission 55, 69-73 

Auroras 64,82, 101 

Automatic Picture Transmission 

36,39 

127-128 

(APT) 43,88 

BEACON 42, 55 

Bioastronautics 22, 98, 99, 101 

Biosatellites 4, 22 

Brazil 42, 43, 121 

C-5A 2, 3,49, 57-58 

C-135 39 

C-141A 58, 111 

Canada 2,4,41,43, 64,77, 103,121 

CENTAUR 4,25,38 

Central Radio Propagation 

Cerro Tololo Inter American 

Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) 96 

Coast and Geodetic Survey 85,90, 

Commerce, Dept. of 19,67,85-96 

Command Service Module (CSM) 13- 16 

Communications and Tracking 34 

Communications, Defense 

Satellite Program 51-54 

Communications Satellites 3, 24, 80, 

Communications Satellite Act of 

Communications Satellite Corp. 2, 

Counterinsurgency Aircraft 

Laboratory 91 

Observatory (Chile) 82 

92, 103 

117-119 

1962 118, 120 

24, 39, 52, 80, 117, 118, 121, 124 

(COIN) 4, 59 

CV-7A 111 

Deep Space Network 40 

Defense, Dept. of 4, 17, 19, 29, 38, 39, 

Defense Supply Agency 46 

DELTA 22,25 

Denmark 42,43 

Disarmament Conference 127 

44,45,49-69, 80, 89, 92, 96, 97, 108 

EARLYBIRD 

Eastern Test Range 50, 61 

ECHO 24,85 

Ecuador 77 

Electronics and Control 34 

Ethiopia 71 

European Space Research Org. 

Exobiology 22, 99 

EXPLORER 18, 19,24,25,41, 55, 

2, 3, 18,24,80, 117, 118, 

121, 124 

(ESRO) 2,41,43,44 

85, 89, 103 

169 
Ext rao r dinar y Admini s t r a tiv e 

Radio Conference on Space 

Communications 1 17, 1 19 

F-I Engine 15 

Federal Aviation Agency 28, 58-61, 

Federal Communications Commis - 

FIRE 32 

France 20,41,43 

French National Center for Space 

Studies 41 

Fuel Cells 11 

F-IllA 58 

97, 107-115 

sion 97, 117-120 

FR-1 20 

GEMINI 1, 3, 4, 9, 10-12, 18, 22, 23, 34, 

38,42, 50, 57, 67, 68, 78, 79, 87, 92, 99, 

103, 122, 124,125 

Geodetic Satellite Program 19, 55-56, 

90, 103 

GEOS 3,103 

Germany 41,79 

Global Commercial Communications 

Satellite System 118, 11 9 

Goddard Space Flight Center 35, 39, 

46,71 

Gravity Gradient Stabilization 63 

Harry Diamond Laboratory 68 

Helicopters 59-60 

Hungary 76 

Hurlburt, E.O. Center for Space 

Research 82 

ICSU 97-101 

Ikeya Seki (Comet) 105 

IMP 19 

India 87 

International Year of the Quiet Sun 

Iran 77 

Israel 41 

Italy 41, 79 

(IQSY) 82, 83, 87 

Japan 101 

Jet Propulsion Lab0 rat0 ry 

(JPL) 21,40, 71 

Kennedy, Cape 10, 11,12,14,46, 

Kitt Peak National Observatory 81, 

KIWI 4, 38, 69-70 

51, 55, 75, 80, 92 

83 

Langley Research Center 27, 28 

Lasers 104 

LES 14 

Lewis Research Center 36 

LITTLE JOE 14 

Lunar Excursion Model (LEM) 13, 

Lunar Geodesy 90 

Lunar Orbiter 20, 21, 25,26 

Lunar Surface Experimental 

15, 16 

Package 35 

Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) 

Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) 71, 

MARINER 2, 3, 9, 20, 25, 40, 64, 76, 97, 

99, 122-125 

MARS 

99 

Marshall Space Flight Center 21 

Materials 26, 65, 94, 95 

Medicine, Space 98 

Mercury, Planet 106 

MERCURY, Project 99, 122 

Moon 1, 3,99 

1, 3, 6, 7,49-50, 67, 68, 80, 123 

92 

1, 2, 3, 9, 20, 21, 22, 25, 76, 97, 

National Academy of Sciences 97 - 10 1, 

National Aeronautics and Space 

110 

Administration 9-48, 97-101, 75, 77, 

80, 128 

Council 5-9 

National Aeronautics and Space 

National Airspace System 107 

170 
National Aviation Facilities 

Experimental Center 108, 115 

National Bureau of Standards 85, 

National Meteorological Center 85, 

National Radio Astronomy ObservNational Science Foundation 81 -83 

National Environmental Satellite 

Naval Research Laboratory 19, 64,82 

Navy, U.S. 25,28 

Navigational Satellites 

Netherlands 41 

New Zealand 42 

NIMBUS 23,25, 71,80 

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 55 

Nuclear Detection Satellites (VELA) 55 

92-95 

92-95 

atory 81 

Center (NESC) 85,87 

4, 56, 85, 90 

NERVA 2,4, 69-70 

Orbiting Astronautical Observatory 

(OAO) 20, 25, 35, 93, 98 

Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 

(OGO) 2,4, 19,25,41 

Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO) 2, 

4, 18, 124 

ov-10 59 

Pacific Missile Range (PMR) 

Paris Air Show 

Pakistan 42, 43 

PAGEOS 25,90 

PAGASUS 1, 2,4,9, 12, 103 

Peru 77 

PIONEER 2,4,2 1 

Plumb Brook Reactor 36 

Propulsion, chemical 29, 30, 62 

Propulsion, solid 2, 4, 30, 63 

5, 7 

5, 78, 79 

PHOEBUS 2,4, 9, 12,69-70 

Radiation Calibration Sphere 

Satellite 5 1, 52 

SECOR 25,66 

Smithsonian Institution 77, 103-106 

Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory 77, 103 

SNAP 2,4,23, 35, 62, 70-72, I24 

Sounding Rockets 98 

Space Detection and Tracking 

System (SPADATS) 55, 57 

Space Power Equipment 62, 69, 72 

Space Suit 32 

Space Science Board 97-101 

SPACETRACK 57 

SPASUR 57 

START 61, 62 

State, Dept. of 97, 78-80 

Sterilization 22 

Structures 27, 33 

SURVEYOR 4, 20,21,25 

Supersonic Transport (SST) 2,4, 28, 

SYNCOM 

95,96, 110, 111 

24, 38,44, 52, 105, 109 

TELSTAR 24 

THOR 25,64 

TITAN I1 1, 124 

TITAN IIIA 50, 5 1, 124 

TITAN IIIC 2, 3, 38, 49-51, 64, 123 

TIROS 2, 3, 23, 85, 87, 88, 124 

TIROS Operational Satellite System 

Tracking and Data Acquisition 38, 67, 

2, 39, 86, 88 

68,77,101, 103,104 

United Nations 

United States Information Agency 79, 

USSR 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7,42, 79, 101, 128 

United Kingdom 

75, 76, 79, 89 

121 -125 

6,41-44, 77, 79, 103 

Vandenberg, USS 56 

Vandenberg AFB 57 

VELA 

Voice of America 

VOSKHOD 122 

VOYAGER 21, 22,41 

V/STOL 

2, 3, 55, 73, 128 

121, 122, 128 

2, 29, 60, 65, 112 

Weather Bureau 23,85-96 

171 
WEST FORD 54 

White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) 

World Meteorological Organization 

14, 16, 110 

(WMO) 75,88 

X-15 4, 9, 28, 61, 73 

X-19~ 61 

X-22A 29,61 

XB-70 2,4,9,29, 58-59,65, 66 

XC-142A 60 

XV-5A 60 

SV-6A 60 

XV-98 60 

YCH-54A 112 

GSA DC 66- 11665 172