Sep 6 1962
From The Space Library
NASA Aerobee 100 sounding rocket launched at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the rocket reaching 46-mi. altitude in successful experiment to measure ultraviolet ray airglow spectrum.
JPL scientists reported that Venus-bound MARINER II was successfully transmitting data from nearly two million mi. in space. John W. Thatcher, staff engineer of JPL's Deep Space Instrumentation Facility (DSIF), said, "We fully expect that we will be able to track it and follow it well beyond Venus." Signals were reported coining in relatively "loud and clear" at receiving stations in Goldstone, Calif.; Johannesburg, So. Africa; and Woomera, Australia.
International Telephone & Telegraph Corp. (IT&T), announced plans for NASA Project Relay satellite communication experiment to link North and South America. To be launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral this year, the satellite would relay 12 telephone calls at once, from IT&T ground relay station in Nutley, N.J., to portable ground station near Rio de Janeiro. The satellite, built by RCA for NASA, would also transmit TV from North America to Europe via ground stations at Andover, Me.; Goon-hilly Downs, England; and Pleumeur-Bodou, France. In another set of experiments, Relay would establish telephone communications between Brazil and England. Relay would radiate microwave signal of 10 watts, compared to TELSTAR’s 2-watt signal.
Congressman George P. Miller, chairman of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, defended the U.S. space program in speech on floor of the House. Arguing that Soviet VOSTOK III and IV manned orbital flights did not justify changes in the U.S. program, he said: "Certainly I will not stand here and say that more and better military space programs should not be undertaken. What I do say is that a considerable effort in this field has long been underway and that the Monday-morning quarterbacks whose teeth start chattering after every Russian 'spectacular' might exhibit a bit more faith in those who have the actual responsibility for the defense of the country. . . .
"[We should not overlook] . . . the fact that the Soviets have now demonstrated two important capabilities: First, that they have sufficient launch facilities and rocket reliability to launch two manned spacecraft within a short time, and second, that they have the ability to time launches with great precision. These capabilities are an important step toward the development of the rendezvous and docking technique which will be of great value in achieving many advanced objectives in space exploration, some of which may have potential military value.
"These, I think, are the formidable implications of their recent feat. But these implications are no reason for us to put our program in a constant state of flux, with projects starting, stopping, and shifting in response to each new Soviet development. Our undertaking is gigantic, immensely complex. It cannot be assembled and disassembled and redesigned and reassembled without losing its direction and momentum, and the space contest itself.
"There is a suggestion that the military services should duplicate work now in progress under the civilian agency. There is nothing particularly military about solutions to problems involved in the effects of long-term weightlessness, radiation, and isolation. The capabilities of both civilian and military research agencies should be brought to bear on these problems in a coordinated manner.
"On the record, then, it appears that the critics of our space program are not asking that we do twice as much—but that we do everything twice. I do not think the economy will take that, but even if it would—it just does not make sense.
"And how about the reciprocal use of the knowledge we are gaining? Science knows no exclusive applications technologically speaking, what is developed by civilians can be used militarily and vice versa. . . .
"It seems fairly well established that the real cause of all this squabble about the military-in-space stems from an in house difference of opinion within the military establishment. The problem is not that our civil space program is retarding the military. On the contrary, it is enhancing it and will continue to do so in the future. The problem is that the military space enthusiasts have not been able to obtain all the green lights they want from their bosses. . . . I am confident the controversy will be resolved in time—and expeditiously, I hope."
USIA Voice of America began broadcasting reports of U.S.S.R. unsuccessful interplanetary probes and Sent the announcement to newspapers all over the world via its wireless press network. Public release of information on Soviet space failures was made September 5 in form of letter from NASA Administrator James E. Webb to Congressmen.
TELSTAR satellite was used to relay exchange of reports of action on New York and Paris stock exchanges, in 10-min. test transmission of telephone call between Michael W. McCarthy, chairman of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Smith, Inc., to Frederick J. Sears, manager of Merrill Lynch's Paris office.
Weather Bureau announced weather data gathered by Tiros satellite was relayed to France via TELSTAR satellite.
Ernest Brackett, NASA procurement officer, told American Management Association that about 80% of NASA’s contracts are made for research and development, and outlined NASA procedures of awarding R&D contracts.
USN launched second Polaris A-3 in partially successful test from Cape Canaveral, a malfunction during second-stage flight causing the missile to fall far short of its intended 1,950-mi. range.
In response to U.S. explanation that U-2 reconnaissance plane may have unintentionally overflown Soviet territory, Soviet government newspaper Izvestia said U.S. Government spokesmen in the U-2 situation were "making clumsy attempts to exonerate themselves, attempts unworthy of responsible politicians." Soviet Communist Party newspaper Pravda claimed U.S. was renewing "provocative" reconnaissance flights and said that "such activities only intensify the threat of war, heat up the international situation and stir up suspicion and hostility between countries." British Minister of Aviation Julian Amery told London audience that Aviation Ministry was studying an "aerospace plane" that could be operated either in the atmosphere or in Space. London newspapers reported that the craft was a "space fighter" that takes off in conventional manner but can fly into orbit and back at speeds up to 18,000 mph. Space fighter was reportedly based on concept of sustained flight rather than boost-glide principle used in U.S. Dyna-Soar.
U.S. and Australian scientists reported in Science that phases of the moon affect rainfall on earth. Their studies in both northern and southern hemispheres disclosed that heavy rains fall most frequently in the first and third weeks of the synodical month—the period from one new moon to the next.
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