Scrapbook 2: Jun 1962? — Astronauts, Gemini, Apollo

Around America To-day

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR MOON MEN

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS WASHINGTON, Monday.

PLANS are being studied for a base camp on the moon with oxygen and other supplies for astronauts in case they are marooned there. The lunar storage depot would be mobile and able to move by remote control towards the astronauts.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will let contracts within the next two or three weeks for a definitive six-month study of “unmanned support for the Apollo programme.” The base camp plan would be one of the concepts involved.

Present thinking is that spare food, water and oxygen would be loaded aboard heavy tracked vehicles known as lunar logistics carriers. Two or more would be “soft-landed” on the dusty lunar surface before the first manned expedition sets out.

If anything should go wrong with the lunar space-craft and the astronauts found themselves unable to take off, from the moon, the unmanned supply vehicles would be sent. The intention would be to provide emergency succour until another manned expedition arrived to rescue the astronauts.

U.S. Astronauts May Take Space Stroll After ’65

WASHINGTON (UPI) — Some time after 1965 an American astronaut may leave the confinement of his orbiting spacecraft for a ramble outside.

This possibility was suggested in an interview by D. Brainerd Holmes, chief of the U. S. manned space flight program. He said, “We are doing studies” on how astronauts might function in space outside the protection of their spacecraft.

He said he thought the first actual experiments might be conducted from a three-man Apollo cabin. Apollo is the project to land men on the moon and bring them back before 1970. The first Apollo training flights are scheduled for 1965.

Some space planners envision astronauts buzzing in and out of their orbital quarters — making repairs, assembling observatories, or performing docking operations — like hornets working around their nests.

The first man to emerge from the airlock of a spaceship hurtling in orbit at nearly 5 miles a second will have to wear a pressure suit to keep him from exploding in the near vacuum outside his craft.

If he takes his space walk by daylight, his suit will have to be coated with a light-reflecting material to keep him from cooking in the direct glare of the sun.

Undoubtedly, he will be connected with his orbiting base by a lifeline to keep him from drifting off past hope of recovery. The line may include a tube to supply him with oxygen.

He may carry on his shoulders a gas tank with a nozzle resembling a siphon bottle to enable him to move around. He may wear magnetic shoes to help him keep his footing on the spacecraft’s metal shell.

All these possibilities presumably will be thoroughly explored in the studies which Holmes said the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is now making.

Before shoving astronauts into space in nothing but their pressure suits, however, NASA intends to find out how they stand up to ever longer periods of weightlessness, the “zero gravity” condition of orbital flight.

WASHINGTON (UPI)—Ten Navy and two Marine Corps aviators have been chosen for training that could lead to selection as astronauts. They will attend the Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent, Md., beginning Oct. 30, the Defense Department announced.

The training fulfills one of the requirements for spacemen. Graduates of the school include Marine Lt Col John H. Glenn and Navy Lt Cmdr Scott Carpenter, who have orbited the earth, and Cmdr Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

Those chosen for the October class are:

Lt Cmdr George L. Page, Pecatonia, Ill.; Lt Cmdr Walter W. Stoval, San Benito, Tex.; Lt Cmdr Marland W. Townsend, Washington, D.C.; Lt John E. Batzler, San Diego, Calif.; Lt Donald E. Beck, Fremont, Neb.; Lt John D. Burns, Narbeth, Pa.; Lt John D. Peace, Hudson, Ohio; Lt Willard H. Salo, Swan River, Minn.: Lt Charles D. Schoonover, Indianapolis, Ind.; Lt Richard M. Weber, Orono, Me.; Maj Roger W. Peard, San Diego, Calif.; and Capt Richard P. Lee, Atlanta, Ga.

A PLAN to launch an American “Commando in Space”—a man in a satellite who could, if needed, destroy a hostile Spacecraft—was revealed here today.

This Space Patrol would be entirely defensive and would aim only at preventing Russia from gaining “military control” of Space, it was pointed out.

After a report of this project was published, the United States Defence Department immediately denied that the Government was going to put military “teeth” into the Space programme, which is civilian-run.

‘Leak’

But the “Commando” story—published in the influential New York Times—is still regarded as an “official leak” of a major policy change.

In a dispatch from Washington, the newspaper said the nation’s Space programme “is set to acquire a military tinge. . . .”

The dispatch went on: “As a result, the Defence Department has decided that the Air Force should develop the technology for a manned satellite capable of inspecting and destroying a hostile vehicle in Space.”

Later the Defence Department denied the “military tinge” report.

A spokesman said the Space programme would continue as a civilian project under the direction of the Space Agency.

It is no secret in Washington that America is about to change its attitude to Space activities.

Private

Vice-President Lyndon Johnson, chairman of the Space Agency, and Dr. Edward C. Welsh, executive secretary, have emphasised in private speeches and at committee meetings that Space programmes should embrace both civilian and military activities.

As the story was first officially mentioned in today’s issue of the New York Times—and sent out by all American news agencies—it is generally regarded as being “an official leak.”

President Kennedy and some previous Presidents have used this way of “trying out” public opinion.

The method is to call in a trusted correspondent from the Times, and give him a report “not for attribution.”

Waits

Then the Administration waits to hear public reaction—and usually the Press officers of the particular Department concerned deny any knowledge of the event.

Nonetheless, a few weeks later it proves to be correct.

The “official” denials from Government spokesmen today mean either that the men on duty have not been told, or that minor details may be inaccurate.

But everybody in America belleves the essential facts remain and that America intends to have more aggressive astronauts—Spacemen capable of Commando-like operations high above the Earth.

From DONALD LUDLOW, Washington, Monday

A RUMPUS is boiling up over whether America is being too cautious in the race against Russia to the moon.

The critics, who have the support of astronauts Glenn and Scott Carpenter, say American Space capsules are too complicated and overloaded with safety gadgets, and American astronauts are too old and over-trained.

What, they ask, is the need for fifteen separate radio sets and a periscope weighing 300lb. when the astronaut can see all he needs from a simple porthole?

Russian capsules are stripped to the bone, Russian cosmonauts are years younger than the American team. They are not so experienced as test pilots, but Space flying is a brand new art.

Wasted

Glenn and Scott Carpenter said they wasted hours training for emergencies that never arose.

But they had to improvise to deal with those that DID happen.

Another major issue is over the way the race to the moon should be run.

A round trip is out of the question for years, but both American and Russian scientists agree that they can put men on the moon and take them off again.

The moonship could be sent on its way from a mothership already orbiting the earth—or the moon itself.

Such a launching would be safer in the Earth orbit, and this is the method now being worked on by the Americans. Launching a Moonship in the lunar orbit rules out all hope of rescue in case of mishap—but is easier to achieve.

Typically, this is the method the Russians favour.

Those in charge of the US moon project say that any tragedy caused by taking a risk might so shock public opinion it would set American Space exploration back years.

• But I predict that when the controversy reaches President Kennedy he will speak out in favour of a few more risks.

NASA to Pick 5 to 10 New Astronauts in 62

WASHINGTON (UPI) — The space agency said it is looking over more than 25 applications from persons who want to fly to the moon.

From this list, after careful screening, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) next fall will pick a new crop of five to 10 astronauts to join the original seven.

The applications were in response to an April 18 NASA announcement listing five basic qualifications. The application deadline was June 1.

Of the total being studied, 53 applications were supplied by the armed services after preliminary screening of a larger group of jet test pilots.

200 Applications

More than 200 applications came from civilians. A NASA spokesman said this group, which included many persons obviously not qualified, will be cut to 15 or 20.

He said the agency will “take a hard look” at about 70 applications in all, military and civilian, before whittling the list down further.

Applicants left after preliminary screening will be interviewed and given written examinations next month on their engineering and scientific knowledge. Those still in the running after that will be given rigorous physical examinations by medical specialists.

Selection of the new astronauts will be made, probably in September or October, by Robert R. Gilruth, director of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center at Houston.

Intensive Training

They will be subjected to intensive training similar to that given the Mercury astronauts and join the present astronauts in the both — Mercury Gemini and Apollo manned flight programs.

In Gemini, astronauts will fly in two-man spacecraft in orbital flights around the earth lasting up to a week. In Apollo, the project to land men on the moon before 1970, they will work out in three-man craft for up to two weeks.

The first Gemini flights, which will include training in coupling spacecraft and rockets in orbit, will get under way late next year. The first Apollo training flights, in orbit around the earth, are expected in 1965.

A NASA spokesman said Gemini pilots probably will be picked from the original seven astronauts, with members of the new group serving as co-pilots.

Some to Leave

Many of the pioneer group are expected to leave the manned flight program after Gemini, but some may continue on into Apollo, it was said.

Some of the new astronauts, NASA said, may serve as spacecraft commanders on Apollo missions in the late stages of Apollo spacecraft development, the agency said, a third group of astronauts will be added to the pool.

The astronauts to be picked next fall will average some years younger than the Mercury crew. The specifications and the new applicants must be under 35 at the time of selection.

Applicants for the Mercury program were limited to military jet test pilots. NASA widened the field for the new selection by including civilian test pilots from government and industry.

CONSORTIUM TO MAKE BULLPUP

By Our Air Staff

Several thousand Bullpup missiles are to be manufactured by a consortium of firms in Britain, Norway, Denmark and Turkey. Bullpup is an American air-to-surface weapon with a range of a few miles. It will be fitted to RAF Canberra strike aircraft.

Production will be distributed among the four countries and final assembly will be at Kongsberg Vappenfabrikk, Norway. America will contribute technical services.