Feb 13 1963
From The Space Library
Herbert D. Rochen’s appointment as NASA Deputy to Program Manager of joint AEC-DOD-NASA Snap50 Program Office was announced by NASA. In this capacity Rochen would provide liaison between NASA programs and Snap-50/Spur (nuclear electric power plant) program. Rochen was formerly assigned to NASA Office of Advanced Research and Technology, Nuclear Systems Directorate, where he was NASA program manager for Snap-8 project. (NASA Release 63-28)
USAF launched Atlas missile from Vandenberg AFB in “missile training launch.” (DOD Release 220-63)
J-2 rocket engine first successfully test-fired, at simulated space altitude of 90,093 ft. The one-sec test was conducted in specially designed vacuum chamber at NAA’S Rocketdyne Propulsion Field Laboratory. (MSFC Historian, 5/22/63)
EXPLORER XVI meteoroid detector satellite recorded 16 punctures by meteoroids during its first 29 days in orbit, NASA reported. Charles T. D’Aiutolo, manager of meteoroid research programs in NASA office of Advanced Research and Technology, said that with EXPLORER XVI “we have established conclusively that there are micrometeoroids out there which can penetrate thin surfaces.” Other spacecraft had reported hits by cosmic debris, but this was first time actual punctures were recorded. If EXPLORER XVI continued as expected to report meteoroid data, for a full year, it should enable scientists to determine whether meteoroids are hazardous to spacecraft-both manned and unmanned. D’Aiutolo said the satellite, which exposed 25 sq. ft. of surface to meteoroid impacts, was not large enough to provide good statistical data on larger and rarer particles in space. (Earlier this month, NASA announced plans to orbit two meteoroid-detector satellites, each with exposure surface of more than 2,000 sq. ft. See Feb. 5.) (Langley Release, 2/19/63; UPI, Wash. Post, 2/14/63, Al)
Invitation to European scientists to participate in ground experiments using lasers to track the NASA Polar Ionosphere Beacon Satellites (S-66) was made at Third International Symposium on Quantum Electronics, Paris, by representatives of NASA Hq. and Goddard Space Flight Center. Under proposed program, NASA would provide orbital prediction data to European participants, who would attempt to track the satellite by bouncing a laser beam from ground off corner reflectors on satellite. NASA would be conducting similar experiments in the U.S. Lasers were expected to provide useful supplement to existing radio and radar tracking systems by providing extremely precise range and bearing data. (AI, Robinson)
Reorganization of Apollo Spacecraft Project Office of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center was announced, with Robert O. Piland named as Deputy Project Manager for the Lunar Excursion Module and James L. Decker as Deputy Project Manager for the Command and Service Modules. Deputy directors would be responsible for cost, schedule, technical design, and production of the three- module Apollo spacecraft under overall direction of Apollo Project Manager Charles W. Frick. Other organizational changes included establishment of a Spacecraft Systems Office for the Command and Service Modules, with Caldwell C. Johnson as Manager, and a similar office for the LEM with Owen E. Maynard as Acting Manager. (MSC Release 63-27)
“Astrovoice,” device to enable voice communications with astronauts during manned spacecraft re-entry, was displayed publicly by Avco Corp. Device adds voice channel to tracking radar, which is not blacked out during re-entry ionization. Modifications to existing ground radar receivers would require only “a few hours,” Avco spokesman said. (Wash. Eve. Star, 2/13/63)
Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D.-Mass.), addressing Massachusetts delegates to NASA-Industry Program Plans Conference, Washington, reaffirmed his pledge to foster Government contracts for space and electronics industries in Massachusetts, and said : “It is my responsibility as a member of Congress to see to it that NASA lives up to its responsibility and make sure your case is heard. It is NASA’s responsibility to see to it that the bids made by Massachusetts companies get the fullest examination and the fairest consideration . ..” (Boston Record American, 2/13/63)
According to Soviet press agency Tass, MARS I spacecraft was 59,460,000 km. from Earth at 9:00 a.m. Moscow time, traveling at 12.7 km/sec as it moved away from Earth. Routine interrogations had been conducted during the past week and scientific information from MARS I had been obtained. (EOS Translation, 3/6/63, of Tass, Pravda, 2/13/63)
Mirage IV aircraft, French prototype bomber, crashed near Orleans because of trouble in one of the twin jet engines. The supersonic aircraft had logged 400 flying hours during past three years. (Reuters, Wash. Post, 2/14/63)
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