Dec 4 1962
From The Space Library
USAF announced launch of unidentified satellite with Thor-Agena Booster from Vandenberg AFB. This was 100th launch with Thor as space booster, 93 of which were considered successful. To date, Thor launched more satellites and probes into space than all other boosters combined, including PIONEER I space probe, EXPLORER VI scientific satellite, PIONEER V space probe, and TIROS I weather satellite as Thor-Able vehicle; and ECHO I balloon-satellite, OSO I, ARIEL, TELSTAR, and four Tiros satellites as Thor-Delta. Thor-Able-Star (Vanguard-derived upper stages) combination launched series of USN navigation satellites, Army communications satellites, and tri-service ANNA geodetic satellite. With Agena upper stage, Thor boosted series Of USAF satellites as well as Canadian ALOUETTE satellite for NASA.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center launched two Nike-Cajun sounding rockets, one from Wallops Island, Va., and one from Ft. Churchill, Canada, for purpose of comparing data on wind and temperatures in upper atmosphere. Nike-Cajun from Ft. Churchill reached 69-nu. altitude and ejected 12 high-explosive grenades which detonated on schedule.; ground instrumentation measured sound energy from exploding grenades and recorded rocket position during flight. Nike-Cajun from Wallops Island performed unsatisfactorily, reaching altitude of only 31.8 mi. instead of 69 mi. predicted; only two grenade explosions were observed.
NASA announced award of contract to Army Corps of Engineers to define a research program necessary to give the U.S. capability to construct research station on the moon. D. Brainerd Holmes, Director of NASA Office of Manned Space Flight, said NASA does not have a program to establish a "manned lunar laboratory," but that initial studies "are required now which can lead to the existence of a lunar construction capability." Objectives of the six-month, $100,000 study: (1) define R&D effort required to provide U.S. lunar research capability; (2) define needed experimental facilities; and (3) prepare schedules and budgetary estimates for a lunar construction research program. Areas of research would include lunar soil characteristics; lunar soil movement and excavation techniques; construction materials; structural design; power generation; storing and handling of life-supporting atmosphere, water supply, and sanitation; construction tools; and human engineering and training.
Dr. Victor A. Belaunde of Peru told U.N. General Assembly's Political Committee that it was "imperative that we have a coordinating authority and a finally decisive authority, with decisive jurisdiction" to regulate exploration of space. He said the jurisdiction must be that of the U.N.
Soviet news agency Tass announced MARS I interplanetary probe was now more than 7 million mi. from earth; all onboard equipment was working normally and the spacecraft was sending back radio reports to earth. MARS I was expected to pass within 120,000 mi. of Mars in .June 1963.
Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., NASA Associate Administrator, told Joint Computer Conference in Philadelphia: ". . . It is no exaggeration to say that we could never have succeeded in orbiting and tracking even the simplest satellite without the availability of computers. . . . And it is certainly true that one of the major pacing elements in our rate of progress toward achieving t he national goals in space, will be the development of progressively more advanced computers and computer techniques to help cope with the even greater tasks ahead.
. . . [Data processing] systems of the future, as we see them, will involve compatible combinations of computer and ancillary devices, some of which will be spaceborne, some stationed on celestial bodies other than the earth, and some of course will still be here on earth.
"Such computer systems will be required to perform navigational and attitude control tasks; edit and store scientific and engineering data; make calculations of a conventional nature; time sequences of operations; feed displays; and trigger alarms.
"A task for the future is to extend . . . [the computer's pre-launch checkout] function to spacecraft for launching from orbit, for landing on celestial bodies, and for take-off from remote planets for return to earth. . . . What we are looking for are systems which are fully automatic and fast. . . .
"It is apparent that in general a rather complete distribution range of computing burden will exist. In some missions, such as close-to-earth satellite, earthbased computing equipment will perform most of the processing required. Other missions, such as one bound for Pluto, will require the autonomous activity of a highly redundant, self-adaptive, self-checking computer complex aboard the spacecraft.
"A vital need, therefore, is determination of the optimum nature, disposition and use of computing equipment. . . .
"Eventually . . . we may have large numbers of vehicles simultaneously operating in space. . . . In such a situation we will need sophisticated and very comprehensive Flight Control Centers, with compatible computer systems aboard the spacecraft, to handle information on flight status, command control, navigation, and program sequences. . . . "
U.S. Army Nike-Hercules missile exploded over McGregor Missile Range, Tex., killing French officer and injuring four other persons. Range safety officer reportedly detonated the missile at 500-ft. altitude when it veered off course.
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