Aug 18 1964
From The Space Library
NASA launched re-entry heating experiment aboard Scout booster at 2:06 a.m. EDT from Wallops Island, Va., in test of low-density charring ablator materials' ability to withstand intense heat during space-craft re-entry into earth's atmosphere. In addition to the four stages of the Scout launch vehicle, 17-in. spherical rocket was attached to the payload as velocity package. First two Scout stages lofted remainder of the vehicle to altitude of about 130 mi.; then the vehicle arced over in descending path and remaining stages fired the payload back into the atmosphere, attaining maximum speed of about 19,500 mph. Payload impacted about 1,265 mi. downrange after 11-min. flight. No attempt was made to recover it. Experiment was devised by NASA Langley Research Center scientists. (Wallops Release 64-62; NASA Release 64-202)
Results of five "Sammy" experiments sent aloft with NASA Nike-Apache sounding rockets were announced in Houston by Rice University team of experimenters, which assembled the Sammy payloads and interpreted the data. After studying data, scientists concluded that airglow and aurora were of different origin. Data from experiments probing aurora, launched last March from Fort Churchill, showed that aurora originated when electron particles from space bombarded oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the upper atmosphere. However, data from two experiments launched from Wallops Island, Va., to probe airglow showed "there weren't enough particles around to account for airglow" by electron bombardment. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 8/19/64, C20; Houston Post, 8/19/64)
U S.S.R . launched into orbit three earth satellites-COSMOS XXXVIII, COSMOS XXXIX, and COSMOS XL-with a single booster rocket "of a new type." Tass said the three satellites were orbiting in close orbits with initial parameters as follows: 876-km. (544-mi.) apogee, 210-km. (130-mi.) perigee, 95.2-min. period, and 56.16Ý angle of inclination to the equator. (Tass, Krasnaya Zvezda, 8/19/64, ATSS-T Trans.)
Addressing National Space Club in Washington, ARPA Director Dr. R. L. Sproull said the nuclear detection satellites orbited last month were operating "without a hitch." He described the satellites as "experimental", said they were being used "to determine the most appropriate sensors and the most attractive modes of processing information from them." He said the success of first launch (October 1963) enabled ARPA to revise the program with fewer launches. The satellites were still operating "excellently" and providing information on radiation. (SBD, 8/19/64, 246; NSC Release)
Thomas M. Canning, chief of Hypersonic Free-Flight Branch of NASA Ames Research Center, described aerodynamic shape being studied for spacecraft of the future, at Conference on the Role of Simulation in Space Technology, VPI, Blacksburg, Va. Canning said laboratory tests were being made of high-angle (wing-shaped craft) as possible optimum design for manned spacecraft entering atmosphere at speeds ranging from 50,000-55,000 fps returning from interplanetary journeys. (AP, Wash. Post, 8/19/64)
Professor Verner E. Suomi of Univ. of Wisconsin was appointed to the newly created post of Chief Scientist of the U.S. Weather Bureau. (Commerce Dept. Release WB 64-15)
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