Dec 31 1959

From The Space Library

Mercury astronauts completed basic and theoretical studies in their training program and started practical engineering studies.

More than 100 drop tests of boilerplate Mercury capsules had been completed from aircraft to test and develop the parachute system.

Approximately 300 U.S. research rockets were launched during the 30-month IGY/IGC-59 period : 221 of these were launched during the IGY. This compared with the some 400 U.S. research rockets fired during the entire preceding 12-year period from the beginning of high-altitude rocket research circa 1945 to July 1, 1957.

The IGY/IGC-59 program ended, but international cooperation in geophysics was to continue without a formal name under the sponsorship of International Council of Scientific Unions. NASA continued to make data from scientific satellites and space probes available to the world scientific community utilizing COSPAR and World Data Centers established during the IGY.

NASA accepted the recommendations of the Saturn Vehicle Evaluation Committee Silverstein Committee on the Saturn C-1 configuration and on a long-range Saturn program. A research and development plan of ten vehicles was approved. The C-1 configuration would include the S-1 stage (eight H-1 engines clustered, producing 1.5 million pounds of thrust), the S-IV stage (four engines producing 80,000 pounds of thrust), and the S-V stage two engines producing 40,000 pounds of thrust .

Akens et al., History of the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center from July 1 to December 31, 1960, Vol. 1, Appendix D, p. 33; Saturn Illustrated Chronology, pp. 8-10.