Oct 25 1963
From The Space Library
DOD launched two unidentified satellites on one Atlas-Agena D launch vehicle (Pres. Rpt. on Space, 1963, 1/27/64)
The Air Force accepted the first Gemini Launch Vehicle from the Martin Company. The booster, a specially modified Titan II, would be used in the NASA Gemini program. (A-N-AF Journal and Register, Jan. 1964; AFSC Release 312-114, Atch. 2, 1/1/64,2)
Weather Bureau and U.S. Navy announced first tentative results from Project Stormfury, the cloud-seeding experiments performed on hurricanes to determine whether the energy patterns of the storm can be changed. Hurricane Beulah was seeded with silver iodide particles on Aug. 23 and 24, 1963. The Aug. 23 seeding apparently missed the eye of the storm; winds continued to in crease. The Aug. 24 seeding did enter the eye of the storm; the eye appeared to degenerate and reform in a wider and less violent circle. Scientists cautioned that such an effect might have occurred even without seeding and that several more hurricanes would have to be seeded before any firm conclusions could be drawn. (WB Release 63-13)
Lewis announced final details of contract to General Dynamics Astronautics for construction of second Centaur launch pad at Cape Canaveral. Pad would give Centaur a capability of one launch a month after completion in late 1964. (LRC Release 6388, Lewis Chronology, 10 )
Albert J. Evans was appointed Acting Director of Aeronautical Research, NASA Hq., following the resignation of Charles H. Zimmerman, who left NASA to become Chief Engineer, Army Materiel Command. (NASA Announcement 63-232)
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara ordered the Navy to proceed with the construction of the conventional-powered aircraft carrier (CVA 67) authorized by Congress in FY 1963. Navy had delayed construction to plead for nuclear propulsion in the carrier; this would have cost an additional $180 million. DOD Release 1424-63 )
House Post Office and Civil Service Committee reported 1,248 computer systems were in use in the Federal government. The Committee attributed the computers with holding down Federal payrolls. (UPI, NYT, 10/26/63, 7)
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