Aug 2 1963
From The Space Library
Second Shotput suborbital sounding rocket flight in U.S. Italian San Marco project was launched from NASA Wallops Station, the 177.5-lb. payload reaching 183-mi. altitude in flight to test instrumentation for San Marco satellite. Another purpose of launching was to determine whether Shotput. despite difficulties of first San Marco launching had been corrected, and flight officials indicated the vehicle performed satisfactorily. Shortly after the Shotput launch, a related experiment was launched from Wallops Island using Nike-Cajun sounding rocket. Three mylar balloons were ejected from Nike-Cajun and tracked by radar, to provide air density data to aid in evaluating San Marco experiment. A third Shotput launching later this year would continue testing instrumentation performance and launch techniques for San Marco project, which would culminate in launching of satellite into equatorial orbit from platform off east coast of Africa. San Marco is cooperative project of Italian National Research Council and NASA. (NASA Release 63-172; Wallops Release 63-75; NASA Rpt. of Sounding Rkt. Launching)
After 10 months of satisfactory operation in orbit, EXPLORER XIV scientific satellite, with its six experiments to measure energetic particles and magnetic fields in space, was still functioning. During the 10 months, data acquisition stations received 6,003 hrs. of data from EXPLORER XIV, of which more than 4,500 hrs. were digitized and 3,200 hrs. were sent to the six experimenters. (NASA EXPLORER XIV Prog. Rpt. No. 5 )
Joint U.S.-U.K.-Australian Project Dazzle to study behavior of objects re-entering atmosphere would be conducted at Woomera Rocket Range in Australia, DOD announced. U.K. would provide Black Knight rockets and re-entry payloads; U.S. would provide instrumentation for test. (DOD Release 1088-63)
Sweden successfully launched U.S. Army Nike-Cajun rocket from Kronogard rocket range in test to explore "bright night clouds." (M&R, 8/12/63,11)
USN Sparoair research rocket launched from F-3B jet at 30,000-ft. altitude, the two-stage rocket climbing to 350,000ft. altitude while its instrumented payload measured ultraviolet radiation of the stars above 99% of earth's atmosphere. Payload impacted Pacific Ocean 70 mi. west of Pt. Mugu and no recovery was attempted. (AP, NYT, 8/7/63)
In response to inquiries about rumors that Astronauts M. Scott Carpenter and Walter M. Schirra were ill with space-flight aftereffects, unnamed NASA Hq. spokesman quoted Dr. Charles A. Berry, Chief of MSC Medical Operations Office, as saying "Neither Carpenter nor Schirra has any difficulties at all, and they are in excellent health. "In fact, none of the astronauts who have made space flights has suffered any ill effects, and the entire group is in top physical condition." (UPI, Houston Chronicle, 8/3/63, 9)
Atlas booster, first stage of Centaur space launch vehicle, arrived at Plum Brook Station to begin series of structural tests in E-Stand. (LRC Release 63-64, Lewis Chronology, 7)
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