Dec 5 1963
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 1 flown by Maj. Robert Rushworth (USAF) to 101,000-ft. altitude and 4,018 mph speed (mach 6.06), just 86 mph slower than record speed of 4,104 reached in June 1962 flight by Joseph Walker (NASA). Today's flight was scheduled to reach 3,900 mph, but an extra burst of power from the rocket engine propelled the aircraft close to the record speed. Purpose of flight was to test new navigation instrument, cross-ranger indicator, and to measure effects of high speed flight on photographic techniques. Photographs taken by the X-15's camera were compared with those taken by camera in U-2 aircraft, piloted by Lt. Col. Harry Andonian at the same time as the X-15 flight and along the same route- Edwards AFB to Delamar Lake, Nev. (AP, Balt. Sun, 12/6/63; UPI, Chic. Trib., 12/6/63)
F-1 rocket engine static-fired in 10-sec. test, first in series conducted. by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. (Marshall Star, 12/11/63, 2)
USAF launched two unidentified satellites using Thor-Able-Star launch vehicle from Vandenberg AFB. (AP, Balt. Sun, 12/6/63; Pres. Rpt. on Space, 1963. 12764)
U.N. General Assembly's Political Committee approved draft resolution and declaration on international cooperation in space sciences and law. The resolution endorsed recommendations by U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which called for proposals on exchange of scientific information, consideration of agreements on legal principles "governing the activities of the states in the exploration and use of outer space," and other steps toward cooperation. The declaration was an endorsement of legal principles drafted jointly by U.S. and U.S.S.R. representatives last month. Provisions of the nine-point draft included statements that celestial bodies should be regarded as free territories not subject to national sovereignty; exploration of space should be for the benefit of all men of all nations; and all nations engaged in space exploration should observe international law. With adoption of the two drafts, the Political Committee concluded its present consideration of space exploration. (Lubasch, NYT, 12/6/63, 1 & 17)
House and Senate conferees met in executive session and filed a conference report on the differences between the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 8747, FY 1964 appropriations for independent offices, including $5.1-billion appropriation for NASA. Two of the NASA amendments were reported in disagreement. (House Rpt. 1004, 12563; NASA Leg. Act. Rpt. 11/198; L.A. Times, Wash. Post, 12/7/63)
NASA and Australian Dept. of Supply jointly announced manned space flight tracking and data acquisition facilities were being moved from Muchea, Australia, to a new site being built near Carnarvon, on the west coast. Move would consolidate at one site NASA'S ground support facilities in Australia for manned Projects Gemini and Apollo. Site also would include tracking and data acquisition facilities for unmanned Orbiting Observatory satellites-Oao, Ogo, and Oso. (NASA Release 63-266)
Reacting to President Johnson's Thanksgiving Day message announcing he had "acted . .. to change the name of Cape Canaveral . [to] Cape Kennedy," the City Council of Cape Canaveral and the Cocoa Chamber of Commerce adopted resolutions opposing changing the name of Cape Canaveral. Florida's Governor Farris Bryant defended President Johnson's decision, in a Tallahassee press conference: ". . . the people of Florida, in the year 2063, will look back and understand what President Johnson has done and will approve." Arthur A. Baker, chairman of the Domestic Names Committee of the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, said he regarded the name change as an accomplished fact. Edward P. Cliff chairman of the Board, also said he regarded the change as fact. Official name changing awaited action by the Board, which was scheduled to meet next Jan. 21. (AP, Wash, Post, 12/6/63; UPI, N.Y. Herald Trib., 12/6/63; AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/5/63)
Transmission of seismic data over long distances by telephone lines has been achieved by USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) scientists, USAF OAR announced. A significant "first" in seismography, the technique permits comparison of data from relatively quiet area of seismic activity supplied by New England stations with data from active Aegean region and along West Coast of North and South America and around Japan. (OAR Release 10-63-5)
President Lyndon B. Johnson transmitted NASA'S Eighth Semi annual Report to Congress, reporting projects and progress for the period July 1-December 3/12 1962. (8th, Semi ann. Rpt.)
26 persons associated with Project Mercury were presented the John J. Montgomery Award by the San Diego Chapter of the National Society of Aerospace Professionals. Recipients from NASA were Astronauts M. Scott Carpenter, Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., John H. Glenn, Jr., Virgil I. Grissom, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Donald K. Slayton, and Walter M. Schirra ; Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, MSC Director; Dr. Walter C. Williams, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator; Kenneth S. Kleinknecht, Project Mercury Manager; Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., Project Mercury Flight Operations Director; Maxime A. Faget, Assistant Director of Engineering and Development; Dr. Charles A. Berry, Medical Operations Chief; and Lt. Col. John A. Powers (USAF) Mercury Public Affairs Officer. (San Diego Union, 12/6/63)
X-15 pilot Joseph A. Walker (NASA) was presented 1963 Pilot of the Year award by National Pilots Association in Miami. Award was made in recognition of Walker's contribution to aeronautical research and the general advancement of aviation. Participating in the X-15 program since its inception, Walker has flown the X-15 25 times, more than any other man; he has flown it to record speed of 4,104 mph and has attained record altitude, 354,200 ft. (FRC Release 36-63)
High-altitude research chamber was formally opened at Atlantic Research Corp., Alexandria, Va. Described as first such private facility in the Free World, the chamber would simulate conditions at altitudes up to 50 mi. The $200,000 facility was built with aid of NASA contract. (Wash. Post, 12/6/63; Wash. Eve. Star, 12/6/63)
U.S. is recovering more than three of every four satellites launched in its orbit-recovery program, according to Maj. Gen. Benjamin I. Funk, AFSSD Commander, writing in Bell Aerosystems Co. magazine: "In the recovery of satellites from orbit, we achieved a 75 per cent success record last year, and this rate has since improved even more." (Troan, Wash. Daily News, 12/5/63)
Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D.-N.M.), Chairman of Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, outlined his recommendations for improving Congressional dealings with science: (1) Congressional committees dealing with science should be strengthened ; (2) these committees should make use of ad hoc groups; (3) information flow between Congress and scientists should be easier, to prevent needless repetitiousness in hearings; (4) all parts of Executive Branch should improve Congressional committee presentations; and (5) channels for gathering information through Library of Congress should be expanded and more heavily used. (Space Bus. Daily, 12/6/63, 354)
Sen. Daniel B. Brewster (D.-Md.), inserting in the Congressional Record an article from Fortune magazine (Nov. 1963) on the Martin Marietta Corp., pointed out that "during the past year, the Martin Co. was one of the first to agree to an incentive type defense contract on a major project, the Air Force's standard space launch system, Titan III. This cost plus incentive type of contract has been cited by Secretary McNamara as a most effective method of reducing the enormous expense of defense in the 1960's. I believe that Martin Marietta is to be congratulated not only for its accomplishments in space technology but also for its leadership in efforts to control cost. Martin's willingness to be the first company to accept such a contract on a $275 million project is a testament to its courageous and forward-looking executives .. . ." (CR, 12/5/63, 22439)
AFSC announced awarding two six-month study contracts for operations analyses and preliminary design of long-range, low-level supersonic air-to-surface missile designated the Chemical Low Altitude Missile (CLAM). Recipients of the two $300,000 contracts were North American Aviation's Space and Information Systems Division and Lockheed California Co. (AFSC Release 39-107-104)
West German rocket firm, Weapons and Aviation Armament Corp. of Hamburg, test-fired four solid-fuel rockets to 90,000-ft. altitude and announced signing contract to deliver missiles to an unnamed foreign country. (Wash. Post, 12/6/63)
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