Oct 27 1964
From The Space Library
SAF Project Asset space glider was launched from Cape Kennedy with single-stage Thor booster to 31-mi. altitude before returning downward at 8,800-mph speed and impacting 900 mi. southeast of the launch site in the Atlantic Ocean. USAF said the spacecraft temperatures had reached about 2,000° in the 25-min. flight, which was termed "very successful." (AP, Wash. Post, 10/28/64; M&R, 11/2/64, 8)
Red spot on the moon was observed from 12:18 a.m. to about 1:00 a.m. by three lunar observers in Port Tobacco, Md. Using 16-in. telescope, the astronomers described the spot as a "red, pinkish glow" which was "located on the base of the central peak in the Crater Alphonsus." This was said to be eighth sighting of such a spot on the moon in the last six years and the first in Alphonsus since the discovery of the phenomenon by a Russian scientist in 1958. The three observers, associated with Trident Engineer Associates of Annapolis, Md., were using equipment specially developed for detecting the red spots, in lunar observation project for NASA. (Wash. Sun. Star, 11/1/64; NASA Release 64-278)
Maj. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips (USAF) , Apollo program deputy director in NASA Hq. since last January, was appointed director of the Apollo program NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight Dr. George E. Mueller had been acting Apollo director for the past year. / (NASA Release 64-267)
Balloon launched from Holloman AFB, Tex., carried telescope and instrumentation to 86,000-ft. altitude, where it focused on the planet Venus for more than three hours. Financed by USAF contract, the experiment was second such study of Venus this year by Johns Hopkins Univ. team headed by Dr. John Strong. Scientific results would be announced later this year (see Dec. 7) . (Fenton, Balt. Sun, 12/7/64; Sullivan, NYT, 12/8/64)
U.S. Army's use of orbiting satellite to pinpoint exact locations of land bodies separated by large expanses of ocean was described by DOD. Using SECOR (Sequential Collation of Range) system with the satellite and overseas ground stations, Army Corps of Engineers' Army Map Service was for the first time obtaining distance measurements of up to a thousand miles to an accuracy within 30 meters. Nine unknown points were expected to be located in the Pacific during the first year of operations. (DOD Release 776-64)
Writing about development of Vostok and Voskhod spacecraft, Soviet Lt. Gen. N. Kamanin disclosed: "The space flights of the six "Vostoks' became important landmarks in the history of mankind, having pointed out and illuminated the paths into the unknown worlds of the universe. The first spaceship-satellites began to be launched in 1960. At that time, Soviet science had already progressed to a systematic preparation for manned space flights. Many difficulties blocked the way. It was necessary to have a dependable space-craft that could be launched successfully into the stellar fastnesses and could assure the safety of a cosmonaut's flight including return to Earth. . . . "The flight of the Voskhod' spacecraft demonstrates that the time is drawing near when man can penetrate far into outer space and can realize the ancient dreams of flights to the Moon, Mars, Venus and to even more remote depths of the universe. Mankind has entered a new epoch in revealing the secrets of nature hidden in the depths of space. . "The `Voskhod' has increased reliability, improved equipment and an expanded program. We still do not know what the next spacecraft will be named. We can already say with certainty, however, that it will be a further step along the path of progress. Just as aviation became the means for mass transport of passengers over the airways, the space- ships will become the connecting link between the planets of the solar system. . . ." (Krasnaya Zvezda, 10/27/64, ATSS-T Trans.)
Communications Satellite Corp. re-emphasized to FCC its need to own and operate initial satellite terminal stations in U.S. ComSatCorp was replying to statements filed with FCC by communications common-carriers which requested FCC to deny ComSatCorp's request, originally filed Aug. 14. (ComSatCorp Release)
Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr. (SMC), received his colonelcy from President Johnson in White House ceremony. Since the Senate had not gotten to the promotion list prior to adjournment, the President, after consultation with members of Congress, had made a recess appointment for Glenn. (UPI, NYT, 10/28/64, 38; Balt. Sun, 10/28/64)
Art Arfons set new world land-speed record of 536.71 mph in his jet-powered car at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. (AP, NYT, 10/28/64, 58)
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