July 1962
From The Space Library
Outfitted in pressure suits in a simulated space environment, five NASA scientists of MSFC and MSC completed study determining how an astronaut could work on J-2 rocket engine during actual space flight, at Rocketdyne. Maintenance, repair, replacement, and adjustment of components of the hydrogen-fueled J-2 were. performed along with research on the design of special tools and pressure suits.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center announced first static test of PAW liquid-hydrogen engine. In first firing of series, which was run in vacuum chamber to simulate space environment, RL-10 ran nine seconds and generated a rated 15,000 pounds of thrust.
First successful reactor tests using liquid hydrogen as coolant were performed by Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory at the Nuclear Rocket Development Station (NRDS), Jackass Flats, Nev. "Cold flow" series of reactor tests involved operation of Kiwi–B reactor, previously conducted only with gaseous hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen as a propellant is planned to power the Nerva nuclear engine being developed for Projects Rover and Rift.
NASA announced that it was establishing computer center at Slidell, La., to service the Michoud Operations by November. Facility will be one of the nation's largest computer centers and will perform engineering calculations arising in the development, fabrication, and static testing of the Saturn S–I and S–IC first stages.
Research Institute for Advanced Study of the Martin Company was awarded contracts by NASA, AFOSR, and ONR for basic research in nonlinear mathematics, an area relating to problems in space flight, long-range communications, and automation.
Samuel K. Hoffman, President of Rocketdyne Division, NAA, received the Spirit of St. Louis Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for his "contributions to aviation, aerospace and rocket industries through the development of the first major long-range rocket engine." Karel J. Bossart of General Dynamics/Astronautics received the Astronautics Medal of the British Interplanetary Society for his "individual contribution to the science of astronautics, particularly in the engineering sciences." The Messerschmitt factory, Augsburg, Germany, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the construction of its Me-262, the world's first operational jet aircraft.
U.S.S.R.'s Aeroflot inaugurated two-hour helicopter sightseeing flight over Moscow on Sundays, the popularity of which required advanced bookings of passengers for this "fashionable form of transport." SRN.2 Hovercraft was publicly demonstrated at the Isle of Wight, a 27-ton watercraft powered by four-paired Blackburn Nimbus gas-turbine engines. SRN 2 research vehicle developed by Hovercraft Development Ltd. has already traveled more than 8,000 miles and up to 62 knots speed. Four-ton SRN.1 Hovercraft has operated for more than 300 hours and the speed range has been increased from 25 to 65 knots.
USAF announced that largest chimpanzee science research center was under construction at Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Holloman AFB, a doubling of facilities and professional staff possible through funds ($500,000) made available by NASA. 50 anthropoid apes are currently in various stages of training, ranging from space veterans Ham and Enos to preschool adolescents.
FAA awarded seven additional contracts for research on supersonic transport aircraft, bringing the total of supersonic transport study awards to $6.1 million.
North American Aviation expected to pass its peak World War II employment figure of 93,000 persons within the next 90 days, its current corporate employment now being at 90,000. Rocket-dyne Division has grown from 11,000 to 13,000 employees within the past year.
The Dragon of Iskander a science fiction story by American Interplanetary Society founder Nathaniel Schachner appears in Fantastic Stories magazine.
- July
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