Research, Manpower, and Engineering 



Lockheed's Deep Quest; General Motors' Deep Ocean Work Boat; and 

 Grumman's Benjamin Franklin, which is scheduled to explore the Gulf 

 Stream in 1969. 



2. Power for Underwater Tasks. — EfTective, reliable power sources tailored 

 to the mission involved are essential to all ocean systems; requirements will 

 range from microwatt to multikilowatt capacities, from days to years of 

 service life, and from use in fixed installations to submersibles. 



The AEC program to develop radioisotope power sources continued in 

 1968 with emphasis on radioisotope power sources in a range of 10 to 100 

 watts capable of 5 to 10 year unattended operation. Several 10-watt deep 

 ocean prototype devices (SNAP-21 ) were fueled and are being prepared for 

 environmental testing. These units incorporate high performance static 

 thermoelectric converters which have demonstrated stable operation under 

 laboratory conditions for periods approaching 10,000 hours. Important 

 progress was also made in the design and development of similar radio- 

 isotope devices in the 50 to 100 watt range (SNAP-23) which are intended 

 for use in ocean buoys and in remote terrestrial environments. In regard 

 to high powered multikilowatt power requirements associated with fixed 

 underwater laboratory stations and active ASW sonar networks, AEC has 

 initiated preliminary design studies and program planning relating to the 

 development of strontium-90 or cobalt-60 radioisotope power plants and 

 small pressurized water reactors. 



Testing hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and hydrazine-hydrogen peroxide fuel 

 cells under deep ocean conditions continued in Navy laboratories, and con- 

 tracts were let to two companies leading to design and development of a 

 fuel cell power system for deep submergence vehicles. 



3. A National Instrumentation Facility. — The Council recognized that 

 there is no central oceanographic instrumentation facility to serve Federal 

 and non-Federal interests. Basic standards for instrument measuring do 

 not exist; calibration of instruments is not uniform; information on instru- 

 ment design and performance is not readily available ; the general reliability 

 level of instruments is low; and there is a need for a stronger national focal 

 point for participating in development of international standards. While 

 the Naval Oceanographic Instrumentation Center has attempted to meet 

 national needs, this service has been limited by uncertain interagency use, 

 possible pre-emption by priority Navy needs, and lack of capability to meet 

 expanding demands for services. 



The Council has approved recommendations to strengthen instrumenta- 

 tion capabilities by establishing a National Oceanographic Instrumentation 

 Center, on an interim basis, composed of the following elements : 



— The National Bureau of Standards will begin to establish a capability 

 to perform primary oceanographic instrumentation standards 

 functions. 



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