Jan 16 1964
From The Space Library
NASA announced selection of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., to supply liquid hydrogen to NASA Mississippi Test Operations and Marshall Space Flight Center for Saturn launch vehicle test program. Contract called for supply of up to 30 tons of liquid hydrogen per day by no later than mid-1965, would be renewable annually through December 1970. (NASA Release 64-10)
X-15 No. 3 flown by NASA pilot Milton O. Thompson to 3,170 mph (mach 4.80) and 70,000-ft. altitude in test to investigate heat-transfer rates with sharp-leading-edged vertical tail. The sharp leading edge on top portion of aircraft's vertical tail is 1/100-inch radius, as compared to previous blunt edge of -inch radius. Change was designed to reduce complexity of air flow around aircraft's tail surfaces; this would cause difference in heat-transfer rates. During flight Thompson performed several control maneuvers to evaluate aircraft stability. (FRC Release; FRC X-15 Flight Log)
The lowest altitude at which demarcation line between air space and outer space should be assigned is 100 km. (60 mi.), according to Norman Sissenwine, USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories scientist and cochairman of U.S. Committee on the Extension of the Standard Atmosphere. Sissenwine's definition had been requested by Hyman, Hayman, and Harris law firm, which was attempting legislative interpretation for the International Astronautical Federation and the International Institute of Space Law. Sissenwine acknowledged that ultimately the line must be drawn arbitrarily, explained considerations favoring 100 km.: "Aerodynamic forces on most of the ballistic re-entry, lifting re-entry, and boost-glide orbital aerospace vehicles can generally be neglected at altitudes above 100 km. (This may vary from 80 to 120 km, depending upon the vehicle concept, but I believe 100 km is a good nominal altitude to use.) . . ." He pointed out that atmosphere's basic composition begins to change near 100 km. "Specifically it has been determined that disassociation of molecular oxygen into atomic oxygen should be depicted at an altitude of 90 km in the Standard Atmosphere. " Another consideration was that relationships of temperature and pressure fields to wind fields are generally constant to nearly 100 km. This is also true for speed of sound, coefficient of viscosity, kinematic viscosity, and thermal conductivity. Finally, he pointed out that meteors entering the atmosphere generally disintegrate below 120.km. altitude, and most meteor trails formed in atmospheric entry are observed below 100 km. (OAR Release 1-64-4)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded $63,366,378 contract for NASA to joint bidders Paul Hardeman, Inc. Morrison-Knudsen Co, Inc., and the Perini Corp, for construction of Inc., V-Apollo assembly building at Cape Kennedy. (NYT, 1/17/64, 32; WSJ, 1/17/64)
Sen. John Stennis (D.-Miss.), Chairman of Senate Armed Services' Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee, said he had directed his staff "to up-date and review the current information and data relating to the reliability and dependability of the Nation's long range ballistic missiles as soon as possible." (AP, Wash. Post, 1/17/64; Raymond, NYT, 1/17/64, 13)
In interview with Space Business Daily, Rep. George P. Miller (D.-Calif.) cited two factors he believed would improve NASA's relations with House Committee on Science and Astronautics this session. First, committee members now have more knowledge of NASA's problems and needs, having visited NASA installations and learned first-hand about NASA's activities. Last session, he pointed out, 10 of committee's 31 members were new to space legislation. Second, NASA was perfecting its procedures of informing Congress, improving the information flow and clarifying its justifications. (SBD, 1/16/64, 80)
34 scientists fled East Germany to West Germany in 1963, German Ministry for Refugees reported. Since Jan. 1, 1958, the Ministry added, 1,710 scientists had emigrated from East to West Germany. (UPI, NYT, 1/16/64, 2)
USAF fired two Minuteman ICBM's, one from AMR and one from PMR. AMR flight was test of devices on warhead design to confuse enemy defenses; PMR flight Was routine training launch by SAC crew. (M&R, 1/27/64, 10)
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