Aug 23 1963
From The Space Library
SYNCOM II communications satellite relayed its first live telephone conversations, a transmission between President Kennedy and Nigerian Prime Minister Sir Abubaker Tafawa Balewa and other messages between U.S., Nigerian, and U.N. officials. Arranged by USIA, the demonstration program originated from the White House and Voice of America studios in Washington and from ground station aboard USNS Kingsport in Lagos Harbor, Nigeria. (Goddard News, 8/26/63, 3; Av. Week, 9/2/63, 24)
U.S.-Canada agreement for cooperative testing of communications satellites launched by NASA was announced by NASA and Canada's Dept. of Transport. Each cooperating national agency would provide a ground station to receive and transmit television and multichannel telephone and telegraphic signals via communications satellites. according to Memorandum of Understanding signed in April and made operative by exchange of notes today. - (NASA Release 63-194)
Senate-Horse conference committee on NASA FY 1964 authorization bill (H.R. 7500), meeting in executive session, agreed to file conference report on differences between Senate-passed and House-passed versions of the bill. Conference committee's bill would authorize total of $5,350,820,400 for NASA in FY 1964. (NASA Leg. Act. Rpt.11/132)
USAF awarded two contracts in its program to develop technology for large solid-fueled rocket motors: (1) $5 million contract to Thiokol Chemical Corp. for demonstration static firing of half-length 260-in.-diameter motor of approximately 3 million lbs. thrust and for demonstration static-firing of 156-in.diameter, two-segment motor of 3 million lbs. thrust; and (2) $3 million contract to Aerojet General Corp. for demonstration static-firing of half-length 260-in.-diameter motor of approximately 3 million lbs. thrust. Based on results of these contracts, USAF will select one contractor to continue development of "full length" 260-in.-diameter motor. (Wall Street Journal, 8/26/63; Space Bus. Daily, 8/28/63, 307)
Rep. George P. Miller, Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, announced formation of nine-man Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development. Chaired by Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D.-Conn.), Subcommittee would have following objectives: overall evaluation of scientific research and development throughout the country; strengthening of Congressional sources of information and advice on science and technology; achievement of most effective utilization of scientific and engineering resources of U.S. to accomplish national goals; and Congressional overseeing of the National Science Foundation. (NASA Leg. Act. Rpt.11/133) )
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center announced the 271 applicants for astronauts had been screened to 30. Of these, 10-15 would be selected in late October. (AP, Wash. Post, 8/29/63)
Request for proposals to provide services and materials necessary for operating and maintaining X-15 "High Range" issued by NASA Flight Research Center. Range consisted of terminal station at Edwards AFB and two up-range stations at Beatty and Ely, Nev. (Space Bus. Daily, 8/22/63,280)
German Ministry of Defense ordered 140 Areas sounding rockets from Atlantic Research Corp., through Bureau of Naval Weapons, to be used for meteorological soundings during IQSY. This same week Atlantic Research Corp. was issued patent for the seven foot-long, solid-fueled Areas. (NYT, 8/24/63; M&R, 8/26/63, 9)
Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric, in letter to Sen. Richard B. Russell, Chairman of Senate Committee on Armed Services, detailed the four safeguards to maintain national security in connection with test ban treaty: "The conduct of comprehensive, aggressive, and continuing underground nuclear test programs ... ; The maintenance of modern nuclear laboratory facilities and programs in theoretical and exploratory nuclear technology . : .; The maintenance of the facilities and resources necessary to institute promptly nuclear tests in the atmosphere should they be deemed essential to our national security . . . ; The improvement of our capability . . . to monitor the terms of the treaty . . . ." (Letter)
Balloon flight with instrumented payload to study oxygen conditions in stratosphere was conducted successfully from Palestine, Tex., John Sparkman, manager of National Center for Atmospheric Research's Balloon Flight Station, announced. Balloon rose to 108,000 ft.; its 680-lb. instrument package was recovered in good condition 40 mi. north of San Angelo, Tex. Three similar attempts had failed when balloon split on two occasions and weather forced postponement on a third. Project was sponsored by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Houston Post, 8/24/63)
Donald T. Gregory, Technical Assistant to Director of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, addressed nearly 1,000 Dade County educators at workshop for new teachers in Miami, Fla. Noting U.S. requires about 60,000 engineers yearly-while only 33,700 graduated in 1963--Gregory emphasized the importance of teaching all children about scientific and technological events of the space age and stimulating their interest and knowledge in science and engineering at an early age. (MSC Release 63-139)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
