Jan 8 1963
From The Space Library
NASA reported RELAY I communications satellite’s low battery voltage had been result of faulty voltage regulator in one of its twin transponders. Continued tests by RCA and NASA engineers pinpointed the difficulty and also discovered that the regulator fails to function properly when it becomes too hot or too cold. Despite the difficulty engineers would attempt live television transmission via RELAY I by sending special command signals to the satellite and concentrating on the remaining good transponder. (Wash. Post, 1/9/63, C8)
Task force from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center sent to Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, Calif., where F-1 engine had developed “combustion instability,” William Hines reported in Washington Evening Star. Five-engine cluster of 1.5-million-lb. thrust, F-1’s would power first stage of Advanced Saturn (C-5). (Hines,Wash. Eve. Star, 1/9/63)
Results of recent radarastronomy and radioastronomy studies of planet Venus were reported by Howard Simons in Washington Post. Studies conducted at NRL, Washington, concentrated on detecting water in atmosphere of Venus; NRL radarastronomers and radioastronomers concluded that Venusian atmosphere contains very little, if any, water. Their research suggests surface temperature of Venus may be 600° F, as previously reported. Meanwhile, radioastronomy studies at JPL, Pasadena, indicated Venusian surface was characteristically desert; that Venus appears to rotate very slowly, perhaps only once every 250 earth days; and that Venus appears to rotate in direction opposite that of earth. These results combined with those from MARINER II Venus probe, provided evidence that Venus is swept by winds at hundreds of mph, which in turn constantly churn up high sandstorms. JPL’S Eberhardt Rechtin said. (Wash. Post, l/8/63, 1)
World’s largest radiotelescope, developed by National Science Foundation was now operational. Thomas R. Henry reported in Washington Evening Star. Located on Papago Indian reservation in Arizona, radiotelescope has antenna of 300-ft. diameter. Among first objects of study were radio waves emitted from planet Jupiter; later study would be devoted to outer planets Uranus and Neptune and to distribution of neutral hydrogen in Milky Way Galaxy and nearby galaxies. (Wash. Eve. Star, 1/8/63)
Charles H. Zimmerman, NASA Director of Aeronautical Research addressed Aero-Space Luncheon Club in Washington on shortrange, intermediate-range, and long-range aircraft. Short-range : “I think there is a tremendous future in the helicopter and the V/STOL aircraft in the short range and feeder line application. However, in order to take full advantage of the capabilities of these aircraft, we have to find some better way of utilizing the air space and the airport space that is available. I think we will do it. It is a matter of time and effort . . . ." Intermediate range : “I am speaking of 2,000 miles and up . . . . We are working closely with the FAA and with the DOD in steps leading-we sincerely hope-to the development of a supersonic commercial transport . . . . “I might point out that NASA today is opening the proposals that were submitted on feasibility studies which are a part of the overall FAA-DOD-NASA program. This is one of the steps that we are taking to help this program along . . . ." Long range : “At this stage of history, we can send a man from the U.S. to Australia in about an hour in a Mercury capsule.. . . “Now, conceivably in the future we will be able to put a number of people in some sort of hypersonic aircraft and send them to Australia in an hour. This is looking out into the blue. But I really think that mankind will not quit in this development of transportation through the air till they have made this a practical possibility . . . .” (Text)
Opening of Technical University of Berlin’s Institute for Elements of Space Travel was attended by Prof. Eugen Saenger, Dr. Wernher von Braun, Prof. Hermann Oberth, and other dignitaries of West Berlin and Univ. of Berlin. Prof. Saenger, former head of Research Institute for Physics of Jet Propulsion at Stuttgart, has been nominated as director of the new institute. (Bild [Hamburg], 1/8/63, in MSFC: SIN, 3/63, 5)
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