by NASA

“ CONCLUSION Scientific advances of the broadest import can result from substantially improved understanding of cosmic processes and their influence upon the environment, and therefor the inhabitants, of the earth. ”

“ Space Research - Instruments mounted in space vehicles can observe and measure "geophysical" and environmental phenomena in the solar system, the results of cosmic processes in outer space, and atmospheric phenomena, as well as the influence of space environment on materials and living organisms. A vigorous, coordinated attack upon the problems of maintaining the performance capabilities of man in the space environment is prerequisite to sophisticated space exploration. ”

“ The radiation that does reach the surface is so distorted by passage through the atmosphere that only incomplete observations can be made on the nature of other celestial bodies and the contents of interstellar space.
With the information derived from experiments and directed observations in the actual space environment, man will achieve a better understanding of the universe and of nature phenomena and life on the earth. ”

“ Furthermore, man is capable of voice communication for sending detailed descriptions and receiving information whereby the concerted judgment of others may be brought to bear on unforeseen problems that may arise during flight.
Although it is believed that a manned satellite is not necessary for the collection of environmental data in the vicinity of the earth, exploration of the solar system in a sophisticated way will require a human crew. ”

“ However, the reliability of the total vehicle and control system needs improvement in order to conduct much of the desired space program. Larger power plants, and new higher-energy fuels and the equipment to produce them must be developed. If orbits about the earth are to be expanded into practical interplanetary trajectories, new propulsion systems have very low fuel consumption and modest thrust will be required in order that the trajectory can be controlled to perform the mission.
A good start has been made on the development of instrumentation for observing the environment in space. ”

“ Vacuum chambers with assorted loading devices and radiation sources will be useful for both instrumental structural tests.
The capacity of a human crew to participate in the operation of a space vehicle is still an unknown quantity. As fast as such capabilities are demonstrated they should be utilized to the extent profitable in operation of the vehicle. Therefore, flight simulators should be designed and build in which the flight dynamics and internal environment of space vehicles can simulated as closely as possible. ”

“ Ground Simulation of Environment and Operational Problems The development and testing of a space vehicle, its components and, for a manned vehicle, its crew require ground simulation of the environment operating problems that will be encountered. ”

“ BASIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Space Research Geophysical observations from satellites and non-orbiting space probes enable the gravitational and magnetic fields in the vicinity of the earth to be mapped to altitudes limited only by the capabilities of the flight vehicle. ”

“ Upper Atmosphere Research Upper atmosphere experiments, utilizing both rocket-propelled and balloon-supported vehicles, can, at reasonable cost, give direct information on both the vertical and time-wise variations of various atmospheric parameters and cosmic radiations. Heat-transfer, ablation, vehicle-control dynamics, and pilot-vehicle interactions can be studied under approximately re-entry conditions. Limited-time biological studies and human physiological and psychological studies under almost space conditions, and with limited periods of weightlessness, can also be investigated. ”

“ Extensive human engineering developments are required in order for manned space flight to be successful. Because of the rigorous but largely unknown space environment, these developments will depend critically upon the information obtained in the early probing flights. ”

“ RESEARCH TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT Vehicle Instrumentation Vehicle instrumentation presents formidable development problems because of the conflicting requirements of minimum weight, adequate resistance to the accelerations and vibrations of launching and ability to operate correctly for extended periods of time under the conditions of space flight. for scientific observations, a complete range of instrumentation will be required for observing the external environment and recording or telemetering the data. ”

“ Many indirect benefits will also be derived from the technological developments that will made space flight practical. The necessarily high technological standards required for space flight will certainly accelerate improvement in transportation, communications and other contributions to human welfare. ”

“ Re-entry phenomena can be studied, and here for the first time, it is possible to investigate the effects of extended periods of weightlessness on instrumentation and living subjects.
Experiments with man and other living organisms, both plant and animal, during extended periods in the space environment may offer new insight to human physiology and psychology and into life processes generally. ”

“ In addition to scientific observations and environmental measurements, satellite experiments will enable evaluation of the effect of the space environment on all types of material and biological specimens and hardware components. ”

“ Instrumentation for controlling and navigating the vehicle and for communicating with the earth will require extensive development. Because for the server weight restrictions, all instrumentation must be severely miniaturized. Ground-based communications systems must be expanded to provide for the control of and communication with vehicles on lunar or planetary missions, and for properly controlled re-entry and recovery. ”

“ Heavy loads of steady acceleration, shock and vibration occur during boost, while weightlessness during unpowered space flight makes possible the use of nonconventional mechanical design principles. For vehicles which must re-enter the earth's atmosphere, problems of structural integrity under high re-entry heating rates, larger thermal gradients, and thermal shock are very important. ”

“ Ground-Based Supporting Research In addition to direct study of the space environment, much ground-based research must be conducted as a basis for the space flight program. This will include such factors as radiation effects on materials, instruments, and living organisms, and means of radiation protection. Other physical phenomena pertinent to space flight and re-entry include radio propagation ”

“ Real-Time Communication Certain projects will require real-time computation of orbits and communication of the data to other ground stations at large earth distances. A capability for communication with the satellite essential all the time may also be desirable, particularly for manned flights. ”

“ With the establishment of artificial earth satellites, space flight has become a reality, albeit on only a very limited scale. For more extended space villions, the long-time effects of the space environment on the vehicle and its contents must be known and designed for. This can best be studied in earth satellite vehicles Strong technological support should be provided for all phases of vehicular development. ”

“ Development - Flight vehicles and simulators should be used for space research and also for developmental testing and evaluation aimed at improved space flight and observational capabilities. Major developmental recommendations include sustained support of a comprehensive instrumentation development program, establishment of versatile dynamic flight simulators, and provision of a coordinated series of vehicles for testing components and sub-systems. ”

“ Space Surveillance It is not considered necessary for NASA to set up the ground equipment and to maintain current ephemerides of all passive satellites, although, of course, ephemerides will be required for all satellites during the course for their experiments and for all satellites intended for recovery. ”

“ Progress in the rocket engine field offers a high degree of confidence that multiple-barrel booster of one to one and a half million pounds total thrust could be ready for flight test in two to three years. ”

“ The low-drag, high-lift vehicle looks less attractive for application to manned space flight for the near future. The advantages of better range control and greater maneuverability after re-entry may eventually made this vehicle more desirable. Propulsion There has been much discussion of the relative merits of developing a large booster engine or of clustering small ones. ”

“ Flight Program - The first recovery vehicles will probably be ballistic, but the control and safety advantages of lifting re-entry vehicles warrant their development. [2] A million-pound-plus booster can be achieved about three years sooner by clustering engines than by developing a new single-barrel engine, but the cluster would not have the growth potential of the larger engine. Further growth potential requires the development of the single-barrel engine. ”

“ More than two centuries between Newton and Einstein were occupied by the observations, experiments and though that produced the background necessary for modern science. New scientific knowledge indicates that we are already working in a similar period preceding another long step forward in scientific theory. ”

“ Ground Facilities - Properly diversified space flight operations are impossible without adequate ground facilities. To this end serious study aimed toward providing an equatorial launching capability is recommended. ”

“ Furthermore, it is likely that early generation vehicles will continue to be used even after later generation vehicles are available. Therefor the NASA should make a through study of the capabilities of existing stages to determine whether there are any serious gaps in the spectrum, and to select particular combinations of further development and use in this early experiments. [15] With properly selective effort going into the early generations, a more vigorous development program for later generations of boosters and vehicles should be possible. ”

“ Specifically, a substantial fraction of space flight missions should be allocated to such technological projects as components tests, materials tests, engine-restart tests, solar power supply systems, et cetera. ”