Jun 7 1962
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 1 flown to 3,716 mph by NASA pilot Joseph Walker and put through a series of high-speed sharp-angle maneuvers involving banks and testing at three angles of attack. Skin temperatures may have reached 1,000°; the rocket engine developed some roughness in the course of the flight.
Nike-Cajun vehicle with an experiment to measure winds and temperatures in the upper atmosphere was launched from NASA’s Wallops Station. In the night flight, 12 special explosive charges were ejected and detonated at intervals from about 25 st. mi. altitude up to about 58 st. mi.
Pakistan made its first space experiment, the launching of a Rehbar I sounding rocket from a site near Karachi. Part of a cooperative program between NASA and the Pakistan Upper Atmosphere and Space Research Committee, the Rehbar I was a Nike-Cajun rocket supplied by the U.S., carrying a Sodium vapor payload to an altitude of about 80 miles to measure upper-altitude winds. Several more such launches are programed for the next few months. Prior to the launches, Pakistani scientists and technicians were given training in NASA research and launch centers.
NASA announced selection of Bendix Corp.'s Radio Division, Towson, Md., for contract to operate five of NASA's worldwide Project Mercury tracking and communications stations. Two-year, $10 million contract also called for engineering and operations services for all Mercury stations, beginning January 1, 1963. Under incentive contract, Bendix would have opportunity to earn bonus payments above its fixed fee by demonstrating superior performance; this contract probably first awarded by any agency to provide monetary incentive for outstanding performance in service-type work.
USAF Titan II ICBM launched from AMR on a planned 5,000-mi. test flight, the missile falling short of its target but achieving most of its test objectives.
USAF B-52H claimed a world record for nonstop, non-refueled distance flight over a closed circuit, having flown 11,400 miles in 22 hours, 38 minutes, 41.8 seconds, with an average speed of 510 mph. The closed-circuit course ran from Seymour Johnston AFB, N.C., to Bermuda; Sondrestrom, Greenland; Anchorage, Alaska; Los Angeles, Calif.; Key West, Fla.; and back to Seymour Johnson. Pilot was Capt. William M. Stevenson (USAF); copilot was Capt. Floyd J. Schoendiest (USAF). Present record is held by Lt. Col. J. R. Grissom (USAF), who on December 14, 1960, flew a B-52G a distance of 10,078.84 miles.
NASA announced the appointment of Dr. Richard B. Morrison as Director of Launch Vehicles and Propulsion Programs, Office of Space Sciences, in NASA Hq., succeeding Col. Donald Heaton (USAF). Dr. Morrison was previously professor of aeronautical engineering and supervisor of the Aircraft Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Michigan.
ONR's 85-ft., steerable radiotelescope dedicated at Hat Creek Radio Astronomy Facility, Hat Creek, Calif. Designed for extensive mapping of the galaxy—and particularly the hydrogen-gas clouds of the galactic nucleus—the Philco-built telescope would be operated by University of California.
U.S. Embassy in Warsaw announced withdrawal of U.S. offer to display the FRIENDSHIP 7 capsule in Poland during its international goodwill tour. Reason given was that the "Polish authorities are unable to give a positive reply to our offer."
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