Jun 16 1963
From The Space Library
June 16-19: Flight of VOSTOK VI with Lt. Valentina V. Tereshkova, first woman in Space, conducted by U.S.S.R. Launched from Baikonur, VOSTOK VI completed 48 earth orbits in 70 hrs. 50 min,; initial orbital path was 141-mi. apogee 112-mi. perigee, 88.3-min. period. Shortly after entering orbit, ass reported, Lt. Tereshkova established radio communications with Lt. Col. Bykovsky in VOSTOK V; the two cosmonauts then radioed joint message to Premier Khrushchev. Tass stated flight of VOSTOK VI was being made "to continue the Study of the effect of various space-flight factors on the human organism, including a comparative analysis of the impact of these factors on the organisms of a man and a woman; to carry out new medical biological research and to further improve and perfect the systems of piloted spaceships in conditions of simultaneous flight." During initial orbit VOSTOK V and VI came within about five km. (three mi) of each other, apparently closest distance achieved. Cosmonaut Tereshkova, whom Tass described as having never Pilot an aircraft, landed by parachute in Kazakhstan. After She and Cosmonaut Bykovsky landed, Tass issued statement on flight results: "New valuable data have been obtained about the influence of different factors of a Space flight of long duration on the organisms of man and woman. Rich factual material necessary for further perfection of the systems of piloted space ships has been obtained." (Tass, Izvestia, 6/18/63, 1, AFSS-T Trans.; NYT, 6/17/63-6/20/63, 1ff)
Results of six-year experimental Study of 25 generations of mice exposed to large radiation doses were reported in New York Times. Conducted by Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Study disclosed large doses of radiation over long period of time have an "amazingly small" effect on mice: no evidence of malformations was found, and there appeared "to be no threat to genetic extinction of the species." (Plumb, NYT, 6/16/63)
AF Cambridge Research Laboratories terminated flight of 54-ft. mylar balloon after 28-day journey across Pacific Ocean. Launched May 19 from Chico, Calif., super pressure balloon had reached point 500 mi. South of Kamchatka (Siberia) peninsula when AFCRL destroyed it by radio command from Chico. This was third successful balloon flight in AFCRL series to evaluate super pressure design. (OAR Research, Review, 9/9/63, 2)
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