Dec 1 1964
From The Space Library
First full-power static firing of the hydrogen-fueled Saturn S-IVB stage was achieved at the Douglas Missile and Space Systems Div., Sacramento, Calif., Test Center. The J-2 engines were operated at full 200,000-lb. thrust for ten seconds as planned. This marked the first use of the new NASA Test Complex Beta, consisting of two 150-ft.-high steel and concrete stands capable of holding down rockets with more than a million pounds thrust. Primary objectives of the ten-second test were to achieve engine start, advance to full thrust, stabilize main-stage operation for the duration, and shut down on schedule. (Marshall Star, 12/9/64, 9; M&R, 12/7/64, 9; DMSSD Apogee, 12/64)
USAF launched a new Advanced Ballistic Re-entry System experimental nose-cone (Abres) from Vandenberg AFB 5,000 mi. down the WTR on an Atlas-D ICBM. The nosecone tests were being conducted to develop more effective re-entry systems for America's intercontinental ballistic missiles. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/1/64; Houston Chron., 12/1/64)
Nike-Cajun sounding rocket successfully launched from the Argentine launch range at Chamical to study the ionosphere. Payload contained continuous wave propagation, electron temperature, and ion density experiments. This was first rocket launched by a South American country under a cooperative arrangement with NASA. Project was administered jointly by the Argentine National Commission of Space Re-search (CNIE) and NASA. Argentina built the payloads and part of the ground station, while NASA trained Argentine technicians and engineers and provided some ground support equipment. Argentina purchased two Nike-Cajun sounding rockets in the U.S. No exchange of funds took place between the two agencies. (NASA Release 64-304; NASA Rpt. SRL)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket reached 124-mi. altitude in U.S.-Pakistan experiment from Sonmiani. Sodium vapor trail from the rocket was photographed by ground cameras to measure direction and speeds of upper atmospheric winds. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
Soviet Union announced that the spacecraft, ZOND headed for Mars in an apparent race With MARINER IV, had run into difficulties. The Soviet report said that in the first few radio contacts between ZOND II and the ground "the power supply on board the space station was about half of the expected level." Position information indicated the probe was 25,000 mi. from earth. (Witkin, NYT, 12/2/64, 1; Simons, Wash. Post, 12/2/64)
Robert G. Deissler, NASA Lewis Research Center, received the Heat Transfer Division Memorial Award of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in New York City. (LaRC Release 64-108)
Dr. J. E. Geake of the Manchester College of Science and Technology said that undamaged material on the moon brought to the surface by the impact of a meteorite or by possible volcanic activity could account for patches of red light observed there. He suggested that if the impact were in a region of luminescent material, the rocks would emit light When hit by charged particles. The impact could have occurred 10,000 or even 100,000 years before the luminescence was observed. (Sci. Serv., NYT, 12/1/64, 19)
Former NASA astronaut Col. John H. Glenn, Jr. (USMC) , completed 15-day assignment at El Toro, Calif., MCAS, where he was on TDY for flight refresher training. (J /Armed Armed Forces, 11/28/64, 5)
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