Oct 5 1962
From The Space Library
EXPLORER XIV was relaying "excellent quality preliminary data," NASA announced. The satellite, launched Oct. 2, was traveling in highly eccentric earth orbit: apogee, 61,000 mi.; perigee, 175 mi.; period, 36.1 hrs. Speed at perigee was 23,700 mph; at apogee, 1,500 mph. NASA said it would be some time before analysis of telemetry data on the radiation belts could be correlated.
Walter M. Schirra, aboard the recovery vessel U.S.S. Kearsarge, reportedly suggested to Project Mercury engineers that the ground communications stations should give the orbiting astronaut "more quiet time" in space. Extraneous conversation could interrupt the astronaut's concentration on technical duties.
Dr. Charles A. Berry, Chief of Aerospace Medical Operations Office, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, reported that preliminary readings of a dosimeter indicated Astronaut Schirra had received much smaller radiation dosage than expected. Dr. Berry said post-flight examination of the astronaut determined that he was "in excellent condition and detected no physiological effects from the space flight." NASA announced progress of MARINER II Venus probe launched August 27: distance from earth-6,268,440 mi.; distance from VenuS-34,997,199 mi.; radio signals—good.
Cluster of six RL-10 engines for the Saturn S-IV stage was static-fired in first full-duration (seven-minute) test at Douglas Aircraft Co., Sacramento.
USAF announced special instruments on unidentified military test satellites had confirmed artificial radiation belt densities calculated from earlier INJUN and TELSTAR. data. Radiation of new belt, created by U.S. high-altitude nuclear test in July, was composed primarily of electrons. Radiation sharply increases above 400-mi. altitude at the geomagnetic equator and reaches peak intensities of 100 to 1,000 times normal levels at altitude above 1,000 mi. Lt. Col. Albert C. Trakowski (USAF) stated in press conference that Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., could have been killed if his MA-8 space flight had taken him above 400-mi, altitude. Answering questions about USAF report on the artificial radiation belt, Col. Trakowski said the lifetime of the belt "cannot be forecast at present—it will be long." Nevada Extension of the AEC—NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office (SNPO) became operational, with Robert P. Helgeson as Chief. Located at Las Vegas, the Nevada Extension assumed financial and contract responsibilities for construction and operation of facilities at Nuclear Rocket Development Station (NRDS), which will conduct static ground testing of nuclear rockets.
NASA signed $1.55 million contract with Hamilton Standard Div. of United Aircraft Corp. and International Latex Corp. for development of spacesuit for Apollo crewmen. As prime contractor, Hamilton Standard has management responsibility of the overall program and would develop life-support, back-pack system to be worn by crewmen during lunar expeditions; Latex would fabricate the suit with Republic Aviation Corp. furnishing human factors information and environmental testing. The suit would allow crewman greater mobility than previous spacesuits, enabling him to walk, climb, and bend with ease.
Third test flight of USN Polaris A-3 was partially successful, the missile functioning properly until second stage went out of control near burnout and was destroyed by range safety officer.
Sperry Gyroscope Co. announced it was patenting a new gyroscope using liquid instead of wheel as the spinning element. Sperry said this was the first such gyroscope to operate successfully and to go into production.
Soviet Minister of Agriculture K. G. Pysin, visiting U.S.S.R. Embassy in Washington, commented when asked about Soviet droughts that "control of the weather is being researched up there in outer space."
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