Feb 28 1963
From The Space Library
Attempt to launch series of three Hopi-Dart wind research vehicles from NASA Wallops Station was canceled when first vehicle failed to perform properly. Tests, to gather wind flow data at altitudes approaching 60 mi. for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, would be rescheduled after analysis of cause of rocket's malfunction. (Wallops Release 63-21)
Nike-Cajun sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Station in continuing series of upper atmosphere studies, the vehicle carrying payload that ejected and detonated 12 explosive charges at intervals from 22- to 51-mi. altitude. A similar experiment was launched from Ft. Churchill, Canada, at about the same time to obtain high altitude wind and temperature data. Both shots were considered successful. Experiments were being conducted by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (Wallops Release 63-22; NASA Rpt. of S. Rkt. Launching 3/5/63 and 3/11/63)
FAA Administrator Najeeb E. Halaby announced at news conference that Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner had joined inter-agency committee studying supersonic trans-development. (AP, Wash. Post, 3/1/63, A2)
Bell Telephone Laboratories announced TELSTAR I communications satellite disconnected its storage batteries and stopped communicating,apparently after misinterpreting a ground command. As in previous communications blackout in November, shutoff occurred as TELSTAR's changing orbit brought it into strong sections of radiation belt. This pattern led Bell engineers to "suspect that the continued inhibiting effects of radiation on transistors" is to blame, according to Bell spokesman Bruce Stasser. (UPI, Wash. Post, 3/21/63, A8)
NASA Director of Meteorological Systems Morris Tepper told House Committee on Science and Astronautics that TIROS V and TIROS VI (launched in June and Sept. 1962 respectively) were still providing good data. Tiros data "continue to be used by the Weather Bureau for weather analysis and forecasting, storm tracking, hurricane reconnaissance, etc. The Weather Bureau disseminates its analyses and warnings widely .... "The Meteorological Soundings project has continued throughout the year as planned. The project at Goddard Space Flight Center which utilizes the larger meteorological sounding rockets continues as it has in past years with excellent results. In addition, we have initiated at the Langley Research Center a project which will develop and utilize the smaller meteorological sounding rockets. We expect to have this well underway by the end of this Fiscal Year .... " (Testimony)
D. Brainerd Holmes, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator and Director of Manned Space Flight, said in testimony before House Committee on Science and Astronautics: ". . . The past year has been an exceedingly active one for our manned space flight program. It was not only the year for accomplishments both in Project Mercury and in the initial Saturn test flights, but it was also a year for decisions in the rest of our program. "The lunar orbit rendezvous technique was selected for Project Apollo, and our preliminary program plans were translated into firm and decisive schedules. Every major hardware element has been placed under contract and construction of the required facilities is well under way. "In the current year we plan to carry forward all of the activities I have just described. By the end of this year much of the preliminary testing required in our program should have been completed and we should be well under way in the program designed to achieve not only a manned lunar landing in this decade, but also pre-eminence in manned space flight for this Nation." (Testimony)
White House announced that Leo D. Welch, retiring board chairman of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, and Joseph V. Charyk, Under Secretary of the Air Force, were being nominated by the President as incorporators of the Communications Satellite Corporation (CSC). The CSC announced that Welch had been selected to be chairman and chief executive while Charyk would become president and principal operating officer. Dr. Charyk became Chief Scientist of the USAF in 1959, was appointed in June 1959 as Ass't Sec'y of USAF for R&D, and in January 1960 as Under Secretary. (AP, Wash. Post, 3/1/63, A8)
Testifying at Space Posture Hearings, before House Committee on Science and Astronautics, Dr. Lawrence L. Kavanau Special Assistant for Space, non DDR&E, said "It is . . . important to understand that, within the Department of Defense itself, a `space program' does not exist as a separate entity. Space and space-related projects are integrated, on a functional basis, throughout our program structure. The basic objective in any functional area is to develop and exploit those capabilities which will provide the maximum military effectiveness for the foreseeable future." (Space Posture Hearings, 2/28/63,174)
Harvard College Observatory reported that astronomers at Boyden Observatory at Bloemfontein, South Africa, had photographed SYNCOM I satellite missing since February 14. The Observatory's photographs indicated SYNCOM I probably was in orbit about 22,000-mi. high. (UPI, Wash,. Post, 3/1/63, A8)
Air Force said that "an improved Thor booster combination of liquid and solid propellants," launched with unnamed satellite from Vandenberg AFB, was deliberately destroyed when it veered off course. Improved Thor had increased thrust from 170,000-lbs. to about 330,000-lbs.-almost double its earlier power and almost equal to the early Atlas. (UPI, Wash. Post, 3/1/63, 1; Wash. Eve. Star, 3/1/63)
USAF announced routine training launch of Atlas missile from Vandenberg AFB. (UPI, Wash,. Post, 3/1/63, A6)
Senator Barry Goldwater (R.-Ariz.) introduced jointly sponsored resolution In the Senate to authorize presentation of an Air Force medal of recognition to Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois (ret.). General Foulois learned to fly from Wilbur Wright in 1909 and was Chief of the Army Air Corps when he retired in December 1935. In 1907, he wrote a thesis on "Tactical and Strategic Value of Aerodynamic Flying Machines," using Jules Verne, the Bible, and Army Field Service Regulations as sources, one of the pioneering concepts of the military application of aeronautics. General Foulois served on the NACA (1929-30, 1932-35), and is currently President of the Air Force Historical Foundation. (CR, 2/28/63, 2975)
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