Apr 17 1962
From The Space Library
NASA launched a Nike-Cajun sounding rocket from Wallops Station, Va., which detonated 12 grenades from 25 to 57 mi. altitude. Fifteen minutes later a Nike-Asp sounding rocket was launched. It released a cloud of sodium vapor from 26 to 144 mi. altitude in a study of wind velocities and upper-atmosphere densities.
USAF launched an unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., using a Thor-Agena B booster.
Subcommittee on Patents of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics released its report following three years of study of the operation of the patent provisions of the Space Act of 1958. The report of the subcommittee headed by Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario contended the patent provisions that gave the Government title to most inventions resulting from NASA-financed research were damaging to small business, cost the taxpayer money, diluted the national space effort, and made industry reluctant to market the products of such research. Recommended that patent ownership in most cases be turned over to industry, with Government retaining royalty-free use. A minority report by Rep. William F. Ryan pointed out that with almost 95% of Government research money "going to big business, retention of title by the contractors will inevitably bring about concentration of technology and economic power." Howard Simons reported that many U.S. space experts feel that the U.S.S.R. has reshaped its space program from a few, spreadout "spectaculars" to a more orderly scientific program. While spectaculars have not been abandoned, it was thought the bulk of the program would be conducted with smaller, cheaper rockets for more useful scientific objectives and with more international cooperation. This was considered to be a victory for Soviet scientists over military and political planners who had favored the spectaculars.
Reuters reported that the Tower of London had been asked by Airresearch Manufacturing Co., of Los Angeles, for information on the finely articulated joints in a suit of armor once worn by Henry VIII as a possible aid in spacesuit design. The 94-lb. suit of armor was designed for jousting tournaments with the wearer on foot; it covered the whole body and its joints permitted full mobility.
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