December 1963
From The Space Library
In its "Statement of Purpose," the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics outlined scope of Federal Government's support of R&D and reviewed responsibilities of the Congress in answering questions of basic policy and evaluating the Federal R&D effort. Report pointed out that Government provides "more than two-thirds of the total research and development money being spent in the United States. Of this total, 75 percent is spent in industry, 8 percent in colleges and universities, and 15 percent within the Government itself, according to studies of the National Science Foundation." ("Government and Science No. 1: A Statement of Purpose," Rpt. of the House Subcomm. on Science, R&D, 1963) [[ Marshall Space Flight Center]] engineer Paul J. deFries spent two weeks at U.S. scientific stations in Antarctica gathering data on their experiences. Some factors might relate to the problem of supplying astronauts during long stays on the moon. (Marshall Star, 1/1/61, 1)
AEC Chairman Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg received the 1963 Franklin Medal, highest honor of The Franklin Institute, citing him "for outstanding contributions to our country as a distinguished scientist, as a thoughtful and imaginative educator, and now as the leading representative of science in our nation's service." (A&A, 1/64, 7)
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center issued $49,000 contract amendment to North American Aviation's Space and Information Systems Div. for extension of study on Apollo spacecraft modifications for manned space sciences laboratory. Amendment called for studies and concepts of linking two or more modified Apollo spacecraft. (Space Bus. Daily, 12/4/63, 338)
Ten senior executives, representing NASA's major Apollo program contractors, visited the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston for a briefing on the current status of Apollo. (Space News Roundup, 1/8/64, 2)
Staff members of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, visited the Manned Spacecraft Center and were given thorough briefings by MSC key personnel. (Space News Roundup, 1/8/64, 2)
1,000th radiosonde transmitter released by Atmospheric Measuring Group at NASA's Mississippi Test Operations. Milestone came just over one year after the group was established at MTO. The radiosonde transmitters are sent aloft several times daily attached to six-ft. balloons to study temperature, humidity, and wind direction and velocity in the atmosphere. (Marshall Star, 12/11/63, 1)
Summary article entitled "Ames Hypervelocity Free-flight Research" by Alvin Seiff in Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering reviewed shock-tube wind tunnel and light-gas gun experiments at Ames Research Center. Model speeds up to 41,000 fps and at air densities from 0.0002-0.16 times that at sea level have been achieved. (A&AE, 12/63,16-23)
Preparations continued for NASA-CNES launching of U.S. instrumented payload with French Centaure rocket from Colomb-Bechar Algeria, next February. (M&R, 12/2/63, 8-9)
A gimbaled integral nozzle (GIN) was successfully tested on the Lockheed "Char" motor by experts at the AF Rocket Propulsion Lab, designers of the exhaust system. Partially submerged in the aft section of the rocket case, the flanges and actuating components were shielded from the exhaust gases by the case itself. The concept would lead to a gimbaling system requiring less operating power than present operational swivel-type nozzles. A heavy, high-temperature-resistant silicone grease was used to lubricate the ball-and-socket gimbaling system. (M&R, 2/17/64, 21)
U.K. completed first static-firings of Blue Streak rocket planned as first stage of three-stage booster for ELDO. Tests were conducted at Woomera, Australia. (M&R, 12/23/63, 9)
NASA's trend toward more incentive-type contracts was outlined in Commerce Clearing House report, pointing out that in early 1962 NASA had no incentive-type contracts, by end of June 1963 NASA had awarded 10 large incentive contracts with others in negotiation, and by June 1964 the number of incentive contracts was expected to be increased by a large margin. Incentive-type contracts were expected to lower costs and improve work performance, in place of cost-plus-fixed-fee type. (Goodman, Wash. Post, 12/18/63)
Dr. Willard F. Libby received patent for space vehicle construction designed to resist "flash heating" of re-entry into the atmosphere, the design relying largely on reflection by highly polished glass fibers. (NYT NS, Louisville Courier-Journal, 12/13/63)
Trap III (Terminal Radiation Airborne Program) system for measuring radiation involved in high-speed re-entry experiments was delivered to USAF Aeronautical Systems Div. for installation in modified C-121 aircraft. (M&R, 12/23/63, 13)
Choice of 5-psi, 100% oxygen environment for Apollo spacecraft was documented in Journal of Aerospace Medicine by Edward L. Michel, George B. Smith, Jr., and Richard S. Johnston of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center. They said it ranks higher than 7-psi, 50/50 oxygen-nitrogen environment in weight, leakage rates, system simplicity, reliability, and decompression protection, lower in fire dysbarism and atelectasis protection. (M&R, 1/27/64, 27)
U.S.S.R. has failed in at least 13 attempts to send probes to Mars, Venus, and the moon since October 1960 Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering reported, and these failures were chiefly caused by inability of fourth stage to send the payload out of parking orbit. A&AE concluded, "it seems clear that the Russians have need for an improved upper stage to launch deep-space vehicles, and that Polyot I fills the bill." (A&AE, 12/63, 90)
Man's conquest of space moved from spectacular hazard toward routine accomplishment, from the exhilarating peaks and slumps of first-generation hardware and experiments to the steadily improving reliability and capability of second- and third-generation launch vehicles and satellites. NASA launched 13 major space shots, with mission results of 11 successes, 1 partial success and 1 unsuccessful, compared with the 1962 record of 19 successes, 4 partial successes, and 3 unsuccessful. Project Mercury ended with Leroy Gordon Cooper's 22-orbit flight; Project Apollo began its flight tests with two unmanned capsule tests. Communications satellites demonstrated near-synchronous orbit and Saturn and Centaur boosters moved toward operational status with successful test flights. U.S.S.R. conducted a 129-orbit, tandem flight and orbited an unmanned prototype of a new manned maneuverable space capsule. NASA Administrator James E. Webb cited as NASA's greatest specific accomplishment of 1963 the fact that his key staff people in Headquarters and the Centers had "learned to supervise the efforts at hand," that he now has "the men matched with the job and the job matched with the men." (NASA HHR-8 ; HHR-10 ; Space Bus. Daily, 1/3/64, 10)
During the year the BMD delivered two Minuteman wings to the Strategic Air Command, making an average of one ICBM delivered per day in 1963. (AFSC Release 312-R-114,1/1/64, 1)
On a date not released, DOD launched a pickaback satellite attached to a principal satellite payload boosted by Thor-Agena D. (Pres. Rpt. on Space, 1963, 1/27/64)
On a date not released, DOD launched a pickaback satellite attached to a principal satellite payload boosted by an Atlas-Agena B. (Pres. Rpt. on Space, 1963, 1/27/64)
The highlight in delivery of missile systems to the operational inventory by the Ballistic Missile Division (BMD), Norton AFB, Calif., was the turnover of six squadrons of Titan II missiles to the using command in 1963. The first squadron was delivered on June 13, 1963, at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and the last two squadrons were turned over on December 30, 1963, at Little Rock AFB, Ark. The turnover completed the Titan II program and gave the nation an inventory of 54 of the powerful weapons. (AFSC Release, #312-R-114, 1/1/64, 1)
The X-19, first of a new tri-Service family of vertical take-off and landing (Vtol) aircraft, flew for the first time. (AFSC Release, #312-R-114, 1/1/64, 2)
More than 150,000 visitors visited NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, more than 50,000 visits recorded by persons on business. Biggest single attraction was Space Orientation Center, drawing about 83,000 visits during the year. (Marshall Star, 1/22/64, 1)
In coordinating the military and civilian scientific and industrial efforts of the United States toward the development of aerospace weapon systems, AFSC had managerial responsibility for some 40 per cent of the Air Force budget, or approximately 10 cents of each Federal dollar. (CR, 2/18/64, 2910)
Since March 1959, more than 460 space probes have been conducted from Air Proving Ground Center's (APGC) Eglin AFB, Fla., aerospace launch facility on Santa Rosa Island. The probes included at least 87 in the "Project Firefly" program. The project involved intense investigation of the earth's atmosphere and near space. (AFSC Release, 312-R-114, Atch #2, 1/1/64, 1)
“Florida Rides a Space-age Boom” article appears in National Geographic Magazine
- December
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