Apr 10 1964
From The Space Library
NASA launched 250-Ib. instrumented Ram (Radio Attenuation Measurement) spacecraft on a ballistic trajectory from Wallops Island, Va., on a three-stage rocket system. Experiment was one of series to investigate the problem of communications through the ionized plasmas created when a spacecraft re-enters earth's atmosphere at high velocities. Spacecraft was to attain top speed of 18,400 fps. Preliminary data indicated the vehicle and payload performed satisfactorily; the flight lasted about 10 min. and impact occurred approximately 650 mi. east of Bermuda. Flight measurements, telemetered to ground receiving stations would be reduced and analyzed at Langley Research Center, which designed and built the spacecraft. Ram series was under LaRC direction for NASA's Office of Advanced Research and Technology. (NASA Release 64-65; Wallops Releases 64-29 and 64-34)
Dr. John Strong, Director of Johns Hopkins Astrophysics and Physical Meteorology Laboratory, announced definite evidence of water vapor around and on the planet Venus. His determination was made as the result of a Feb. 21 daytime balloon flight to study Venus by means of a unique robot telescope system. The study was made under research grant for USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories. "Since it is known that carbon dioxide exists on Venus, proof of water vapor forces us to re-examine every previous calculation made concerning the possibility of some sort of life existing on the planet," Dr. Strong said. Amount of water vapor in the air above the Venusian cloud level was established with a relative precision of 5%. Launched from Holloman AFB, N. Mex. the balloon carried the telescope to altitude of 87,000 ft (OAR Re- lease 4-64-2)
Iron meteorite landed in two pieces in Muzzaffarpur, India. One piece was later sent to U.S. for analysis by E. P. Henderson, curator of meteorites for the Smithsonian Institution, and by the Brookhaven National Laboratories. (Wash. Post, 5/22/64)
United Plant Guards Workers of America members who had picketed Cape Kennedy and Merritt Island Launch Area agreed to six-month suspension of picketing while negotiators continued trying to settle the dispute. Informed of the agreement, District Judge George C. Young dismissed the temporary anti-picketing injunction against the guards which had been obtained by the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of NASA. (AP, Wash. Sun. Star, 4/12/64)
Airport towers at 277 airports reported record 31 million takeoffs and landings during 1963, FAA statistics showed. This was almost double the 16.8 million operations 10 years ago and was a 10% gain over the 28.2 million operations in 1962. (FAA Release 64 33)
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