Jan 14 1963
From The Space Library
NASA announced signing of Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Dept. of Atomic Energy, providing for cooperative U.S.-India space program. Joint scientific experiments to explore equatorial electrojet and upper-atmosphere winds from geomagnetic equator would be launched from Thumba, India, during 1963. For equatorial electrojet experiments NASA would provide nine Nike-Apache vehicles ; ground launching, tracking, and telemetry equipment, ground instrumentation on loan basis; and training in U.S. for Indian personnel responsible for telemetry and launch operations. Univ. of New Hampshire would provide instrumented payloads through NASA. India would provide launching site and facilities; personnel for launch operations, telemetry, and data analysis; and supporting ground magnetic and meteorological observations. For atmospheric-wind measurements, NASA would provide four Nike-Cajun vehicles, appropriate launching device on loan basis, and training at NASA centers for Indian personnel responsible for launch operations. India would supply four sodium-vapor-release payloads, photographic equipment, launch site and facilities, personnel, and supporting meteorological data. (NASA Release 63-5)
French President Charles de Gaulle, speaking in press conference in Paris, referred to President Kennedy’s offer of Polaris missiles as joint defensive weapons for NATO: “Nobody in the world, especially nobody in America, can say, if, where, when, how, and to what degree American atomic armaments would be employed to defend Europe. Therefore we will construct and if need be will employ our atomic force ourselves. “Of course, this does not exclude the combined action of our force with an analogous allied force of the same kind, but for us integration is unthinkable in this case. . . . "We have neither the submarines to launch them (Polaris missiles) nor the nuclear warheads to arm them. By the time we have them, what good will the Polaris be? Without doubt, by then we will have our own missiles. For us, this matter has no present application. . . .” (Wash. Post, 1/15/63, A1, A7)
NASA decision to procure Atlas-Agena B vehicles directly from contractors, thus eliminating USAF as procurement was predicted in Aviation Week. NASA would name single responsible contractor for vehicle integration and would standardize the Atlas-Agena B for space missions. NASA already had used seven of the vehicles five for Ranger and two for Mariner-and was planning to use 20 Atlas-Agena B’s over next three years-in Gemini rendezvous flights, Ogo, Oao, Ranger, and Mariner R. Prime vehicle contractors were General Dynamics/Astronautics for Atlas stage and Lockheed for Agena; USAF had vehicle integration responsibility. (Av. Wk., 1/14/63,38)
Article in Soviet newspaper Pravda, reported in Missiles and Rockets, said the moon appears to be undergoing changes : During recent years, crater Linne has decreased to half its former size; crater Alhazen has disappeared; small craters have formed at bottom of Plato; and, at sunrise, greenish-gray spots periodically appear at bottom of some craters. Pravda said spots in bottom of crater Eratosthenes appear to some observers to be moving. (M&R, 1/14/63,23)
J. A. MacTaggart, managing director of Niagara Falls, Ontario, wax museum, said wax image of Astronaut John Glenn was not on display because of “astronomical” $3,000 it would cost to purchase space suit from American manufacturer. Wax figure of Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was on display, Soviet government having supplied copy of his space suit after request through British Aeronautical Board. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 1/14/63)
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