Dec 21 1956

From The Space Library

Maj. Arnold I. Beck (USAF) "soared" to a simulated altitude of 198,770 feet, the highest on record, ia an Air Research and Development Command altitude chamber at Dayton, Ohio.

First launching of a Nike-Recruit research vehicle at NACA's Wallops Island, which reached speed of 7,600 feet per second at 13.000-feet altitude for a record dynamic pressure of 45,700 pounds per square foot.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission initiated a development program at the request of the Department of Defense to provide nuclear-electric power sources for use in Air Force satellites. The projects are designated the SNAP (Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power) program. Both reactor and radioisotope heat sources were specified as approaches.