Mar 22 1963
From The Space Library
NASA announced RELAY I communications satellite had achieved all of its experiments and missions. Performance of RELAY I, launched by NASA December 13, "has been uniformly excellent" throughout about 500 communications tests and demonstrations in 660 orbits December 13-March 11. Although all planned demonstrations were completed, they would be continued while the Satellite remained in operation. (NASA Release 63-57)
At GSFC Colloquium, John A. O'Keefe discussed the origin and evolution of the moon, submitting his theory that billions of years ago the moon Separated from the Still "undifferentiated earth," thereafter was Subjected to volcanic eruptions, meteorite bombardment, and ultimate cooling and transformed into a hard cinder-like material. The volcanic dust produced the comparatively Smooth lunar maria. If theory is correct, O'Keefe said, the original dust has long since become firm and constitutes "no hazard" for landings of space vehicles. O'Keefe Supported his theory with available evidence on tektites. (Text; Wash,. Post, 3/23/63,1)
Sixth Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner, sponsored by the National Rocket Club, Washington, D.C. In address, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson paid tribute to the "father of modern rocketry," and said that those today who "understand the Stakes of space" must help "the public to understand these stakes." He urged that communications barriers among scientists, engineers, and politicians be abolished So that public support for public policy can be obtained. "Unless and until this is done," said the Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, "the technological community cannot justifiably be impatient with those who are chosen to represent and express the public's own will." In addition to honoring Mrs. Goddard, the National Rocket Club presented its annual awards: the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, its premiere award, to John H. Glenn, Jr., in recognition of the first U.S. manned orbital space flight.; the Nelson P. Jackson Aerospace Award to the American Telephone and Telegraph Company for development and operation of TELSTAR I; the National Rocket, Club Award to the Radio-Television Industry (ABC, CBS, MBS, and NBC), for "pioneering private enterprise efforts" under the U.S. open information coverage of the space program; the Astronautics Engineer Award to Jack Norval James of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Technical Director of MARINER II. The First Robert H. Goddard Historical Essay Award was given to R. Cargill Hall of San Jose, Calif., for his prize essay on "World-Circling Spaceships-Satellite Studies in the U.S. During the 1940's"; Honorable Mentions going to Wilfrid J. Mayo-Wells of Washington, D.C. ("Origins of Space Telemetry") and Robert D. Roach of Buffalo, N.Y. ("The First Man-Rocket Belt"). The Robert H. Goddard Scholarship was awarded to Miss Marcia S. Miner, physics major at the American University. (Program)
DOD announced ump was developing space structures of honeycomb material that could be compactly packaged, then expanded in space. Shelter of such material could be packaged approximately a foot square, then expanded in space to airtight structure seven ft. high and seven ft. in diameter. Geophysics Co. of America was working under contract to build the Structure, developing methods of fabricating and expanding it and making the structure rigid. Other predicted uses of the honeycomb material were in solar energy collectors and re-entry vehicles. (DOD Release 405-63)
Department of Defense announced the appointment of Maj. General Leighton I. Davis (USAF), AFMTC Commander, as the DOD representative for Project Gemini support operations. (AFSC Operational Highlights, 11)
USAF announced Atlas F ICBM launched from Vandenberg AFB, its re-entry vehicle impacting on predetermined area more than 4,000 miles down the Pacific Missile Range. (DOD Release 399-63)
West German Government announced that it disapproved of its citizens assisting the United Arab Republic on military rocket projects, and said that there was no proof that any West Germans were so engaged. The Israeli Parliament had appealed to Chancellor Adenauer on March 20 to take action against German scientists assisting the U.A.R. in developing military potential. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/22/63, A2)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
