May 27 1964
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (2MB PDF)
NASA launched Nike-Apache sounding rocket at White Sands, N. Mex., the rocket serving as a test round for a series of rockets to be flown in Sweden in July, and containing micrometeoroid-particle collector as follow-up to Aerobee 150 experiment three years before. De-spite extremely low peak altitude (about 30 mi.-the second stage broke up after about 4.5 sec. of burning), instrumentation functioned until impact except for aspect sensor and Dovap. No useful scientific data were obtained. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
NASA announced the large air-filled bag safety system performed successfully in DC-7 crash experiment conducted April 24. Results indicated that if a man had sat in for the dummy, he would have survived the crash. Martin Co. designed the airbag system under NASA contract, for possible use by both airline passengers and astronauts. (NASA Re-lease 64-121)
Brig. Gen. Joseph S. Bleymaier (USAF) told Aviation/Space Writers" Association that USAF would seek bids for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) by Dec. 1. DOD had released $6 million for the project May 1, opening the door to preliminary study. Under present schedule, he said, hardware development could begin in about a year, with first unmanned flight late in 1967 or early 1968. (Benedict, AP, 5/27/64)
Maj. Gen. Leighton I. Davis (USAF), Commander of National Range Div., presented to Aviation/Space Writers Association meeting at Patrick AFB, Fla., a "status report" on newly organized NRD:: "The activation of the Nun and the renaming of its organizations has already been well publicized. Basically we have brought the old Atlantic Missile Range and the ICBM and satellite test range portion of the Navy's Pacific Missile Range under single management. Additionally, my job as the DOD representative in support of NASA's Projects Gemini and Apollo has moved with me to the new organization. . . ." (Text, AFSC Release 45-R-61)
ComSatCorp disclosed its initial stock issue (5 million shares) had been oversubscribed by 27% by 163 firms in the communications industry. Of the 5 million shares, 2,895,750 were bought by AT&T. The other 5 million shares were scheduled for sale to the general public June 2. (AP, Wash. Post, 5/28/64; MacKenzie, Wash. Post, 5/28/64)
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