Apr 11 1962
From The Space Library
NASA Administrator James E. Webb, testifying before the Senate Committee on Commerce, supported the President's bill setting up a communications satellite corporation and approved of the Senate amendments, except for a caution on the one that would direct the FCC to encourage communications common carriers to build and own their own ground stations. Mr. Webb summarized NASA's responsibilities under the bill: (1) to advise FCC on the technical characteristics of the system; (2) to advise FCC on the technical feasibility of attaining the desired technical characteristics; (3) to coordinate its space communications R&D work with that of the corporation; (4) to furnish launching facilities, vehicles, and services in connection with the development and operation of the system; (5) to furnish other services on a reimbursable basis; and (6) to advise the Secretary of State on technical feasibility of the system providing communications service to a particular point in the world.
USAF launched an Atlas missile from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., in a test flight down the Pacific Missile Range. A SAC combat missile crew launched the Atlas from a horizontal, semi-hard "coffin" launcher.
In a recent tightening of DOD policy on information about military satellite launchings, officials were reported to have stated that in future even the Discoverer flights would not be so identified. Any information beyond bare announcement of launch of an unidentified satellite would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Atlas-Centaur initial launch from AMR was again postponed by NASA, this time because of fueling problems.
Robert J. Lacklen, NASA’s Director of Personnel, said that the first part of NASA’s nationwide recruiting drive to hire 2,000 scientists and engineers had ended on March 15, with the completion of the field work. During this phase, teams of interviewers contacted 14,000 persons, interviewed 5,000. The second phase would involve setting up a national job register.
Dr. Ross A. McFarland of Harvard University was awarded the Walter Boothby Award by the Aerospace Medical Assn. for outstanding research directed at the promotion of health and prevention of disease in professional airline pilots.
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