Dec 3 1963
From The Space Library
M-2 experimental wingless glider tested at Edwards AFB, Calif., with Col. Charles Yeager (USAF) as pilot. The craft was towed to 9,000-ft. altitude, where Col. Yeager cut loose from the tow plane and glided down at rate of 4,000 ft. per min. Shortly before landing, Yeager tilted up the M-2's nose to reduce its 135-mph descent speed to 80 mph. The craft landed on its three-wheel gear and rolled to a stop in about 300 ft. This was Col. Yeager's first flight in the NASA-developed M-2 ; he remarked : "She handles great." (Wash.. Post, 12/4/63; Chic. Trib., 12/4/63)
NASA scheduled the first Syncom communications satellite to be launched into orbit in which the satellite would truly remain stationary with respect to the earth in orbit-synchronous, equatorial, and circular-in the second quarter of 1964. Thrust-Augmented Delta (TAD) launch vehicle would boost the spacecraft into 22,300-mi. eccentric orbit from Cape Kennedy, and at apogee Syncom's onboard kick motor would place the satellite in circular orbit. Equatorial position would be achieved by change of orbital plane-once as third stage fires and again as kick motor fires at equatorial injection point. The spacecraft would then move to on-station position at 180° longitude over the Pacific Ocean, where it would be stopped by onboard gas jets. The satellite will provide the first continuous communications link between Asia and North America. (NASA Release 63-263)
A second disturbance on the moon has been observed by USAF lunar mappers at Lowell Observatory, USAF Aeronautical Chart and Information Center announced. Sighting was made by Observatory Director Dr. John A. Hall and four other observers Nov. 27 and lasted an hour and a half (first sighting Oct. 29 lasted 20 min.). Both sightings were near crater Aristarchus, both were ruby red, and both were seen when moon was in the same phase (sunlight returning to this surface area). Previous sighting was of three red spots, but this sighting was of single red area 12 mi. long and 11/2 mi. wide, inside crater's rim where one of first spots had been seen. Observation was confirmed by astronomy graduate student Peter A. Boyce, at Ohio State Univ.'s Perkins Observatory. Dr. Hall believed spots may be gases released from lunar interior by intense heat of the returning sunlight. (AP, San Diego Union, 12/4/63; Time, 12/27/63, 54-55)
AFSC announced recent three-clay manned test of device to control the atmosphere in manned spacecraft was successfully conducted at AFSC Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories, Wright-Patterson AFB and the evaluation proved the automatic device was feasible for aerospace applications. Developed by Northrop Space Laboratories, the "nitrogen and oxygen indicator-controller assembly" senses percentage of oxygen, as well as total air pressure, inside simulated space capsule, automatically regulating flow of gases required to maintain desired nitrogen-oxygen ratio. If controller fails, warning lights and buzzer alert crewmen to make necessary adjustments in oxygen or nitrogen manually. Volunteers for the test were S/Sgt Elvin H. Engle and A/2C Frank O. Thornton. (AFSC Release 310-23-105)
Presidential Press Secretary Pierre Salinger announced President Johnson, in his review of the FY 1965 budget estimate, was attempting to arrive at a spending estimate "between $98 billion and $103 billion." (Kenworthy, NYT, 12/4/63,1)
Less than 24 hours after U.N. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson's reaffirmation of U.S. proposal for negotiations leading to U.S.-U.S.S.R. cooperation in lunar exploration, U.S.S.R. promised privately to Ambassador Stevenson it would conduct a "detailed scientific study" of the U.S. proposals. Soviet sources disclosed two "stages" were being planned: first, "careful scrutiny by the Soviet scientific community of possible areas of moon-flight co-operation; thereafter, if conclusions are 'positive,' a joint study by Soviet-American scientists." (Frye, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/4/63)
Addressing the Kokomo (Ind.) Chamber of Commerce, NASA Administrator James E. Webb remarked : "We are in a continuing competition for world leadership, and leadership in space has become an important element in this struggle . . . . "It is logical that aggressive elements in the Soviet Union may hope to enter a new period of forward thrust by some startling breakthrough in space technology. The only way we can make sure that this does not happen-the only way to safeguard our technological frontiers-is to pursue an active program of research and development over the entire range of space technology. This includes manned space flight, the development of nuclear-powered rockets, electric propulsion for spacecraft, advanced communications, satellite observations of the global weather picture, lunar and planetary exploration, and acquisition of new understanding of the basic forces operating in our solar system and the universe. The space frontier has many salients, many different points of activity. We must not lag behind in any area of space technology or our ability to deter aggression, in space and on earth, may be jeopardized . . . . "Most of those who question the value of the lunar program fail to appreciate that it involves much more than a single expedition to the moon before 1970. Although the moon is the ultimate objective of the Apollo program, its main purpose is to develop our space competence-our space muscle and space skills -at the most rapid pace consistent with good management, crew safety, and the efficient use of funds . . . . "Do we conclude that a vigorous effort to develop knowledge and capability in space science and technology, particularly given the long lead times involved in this development, is fruitless and extravagant until military requirements are clearly defined? Do we fly in the face of history and assert that the enormous economic potential of space research and exploration does not exist simply because we cannot pinpoint all of the precise benefits which such research will produce and which all the lessons of history tell us are there? Or do we, in the tradition which has made this country great, grasp the opportunity to cross a challenging new frontier and insure that the nation will not sacrifice the opportunity or risk the hazards which lie beyond?" (Text)
Deputy Secretary of Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric discussed management of military R&D at Chemical Engineering Achievement Awards Dinner, New York City : "Ten years ago, expenditures for defense research and development were at a level of about $2 billion or about 5% of the U.S. military budget. Today the comparable figure is over $7 billion, or nearly 14% of the current Defense budget. Half of this total is for system development, a good deal of which represents prototype hardware. The other half represents the dollars that buy brain power at the drawing board and in the labs-and nowadays I should add computer time . . . . "There are indications that we are seeing the beginning of a period of increasing Congressional concern and interest that may lead to even tighter controls over R&D expenditures. This change in Congressional attitude is more than an expression of growing concern over deficit spending. It reflects an increased awareness of the national importance of R&D . . . . "Today, fortunately, there can be no question about the sufficiency of American military power, either now or for the foreseeable future. The 100% increase of strategic alert force mega-tonnage in the past three years and the large and unquestioned U.S. lead in both bombers and missiles provide us with the kind of strength that permits us to go forward with our R&D effort in a more orderly way . . . (Text, DOD Release 1527-63)
New York Times editorialized: "... A singularly fitting international tribute to President Kennedy's memory would be the realization soon of the dream of Soviet-American cooperation in space he voiced so eloquently in what we now know was his last formal statement to all the world's peoples." (NYT, 12/3/63)
Soviet Premier Khrushchev was quoted as saying U.S.S.R. had an ICBM that can fly around the globe in any direction. "You wait for it at the door but it climbs through the window," Khrushchev was quoted as saying of the missile. (UPI, Wash. Post, 12/4/63)
Article from Washington Post's Parade magazine written by Parade editor Jess Gorkin was inserted in Congressional Record by Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D.-W.Va.). Gorkin declared : "The conquest of space has come to mean more to the Kremlin than a mere matter of national pride; it has become part of the Communist dogma. The Soviets are fanatically committed to outdoing the United States in this race. Having declared that nuclear war isn't necessary to achieve world domination, they hope to accomplish the same end by dominating space. Make no mistake, it is powerful fuel, this mixture of national pride, political ambition and doctrinal zeal . . . ." (Parade, 11/24/63, in CR, 12/3/63, 21995)
H.J. Res. 787 to provide for erection of a memorial statue to the late Dr. Robert H. Goddard was ordered favorably reported to the House by the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. The legislation would require that NASA erect a bronze statue of Dr. Goddard in central Massachusetts, the memorial giving appropriate recognition to Dr. Goddard's 1914 patents, first, liquid-fuel rocket flight, and other pioneering achievements. (NASA Leg. Act. Rpts. 11/196 and 11/198)
U.K.'s Labor Party issued statement that if Labor came to power it would discontinue development of the TSR-2 tactical-strikereconnaissance/strategic nuclear bomber as a strategic bomber or as a contributor to Britain's nuclear deterrent. As to the aircraft's original role as a tactical weapon, the Labor Party would reserve judgment until the aircraft's performance has been flight tested. (Aviation Daily, 12/3/63)
December 3-4: 14 NASA officials participated in Florida Aerospace Industry Seminar in Orlando, with more than 1,500 Florida businessmen, industrialists, and educators attending. (NASA Release 63-260)
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