Apr 5 1963
From The Space Library
Tass reported LUNIK IV spacecraft was 365,000 km. (226,680 mi.) from earth at 6:00 p.m. Moscow time and was continuing on its flight toward the moon. Radio communications with the probe were good, and telemetry data indicated onboard instruments and systems were functioning normally. "Experiments and measurements, provided for by the program, are being conducted." Sir Bernard Lovell, Director of Jodrell Bank Experimental Station (radiotelescope facility), reported receiving signals from LUNIK Iv for 45 min., 'ceasing abruptly at 8:50 p.m. (10:50 p.m. Moscow time). Lovell said there appeared to have been some "complicated maneuvers" with the probe. Italian astronomers reported receiving 45 min. of TV pictures showing close up of moon's surface. In Moscow, two scheduled lectures on LUNIK re flight were canceled by Moscow radio; a television discussion of history of lunar research made only passing reference to LUNIK IV. (Krasnaya Zvezda, 4/6/63 EOS Traps. ; NYT, 4/6/63, 2; UPI, NYT, 4/6/63, 2; CBS-TV "Newsnight," 4/5/63; Av. Wk., 4/15/63, 38)
Lewis Scientists report new and unusual use for liquid gallium, which appears ideally suited to the task of lubricating moving parts in space-bound machinery. (LRC Release 63-12; Lewis Chronology, 3 )
USAF announced launching of unidentified satellite with Blue Scout rocket from Vandenberg AFB. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 4/6/64) USAF memorandum charging that NASA was planning to build $77 million worth of facilities that would duplicate existing USAF facilities was detailed in New York Times. Interviewed regarding the memorandum, NASA Deputy Director Dr. Hugh L Dryden said NASA had frequent coordination meetings with moo and that "no Such statement has been made to us." He described the memorandum as representing "a point of view of junior people who can't get their superiors to support their desires." On point made m memorandum about USAF's offering bioastronautics laboratories to NASA, Dr. Dryden said: "We have offered to carry half the cost of bioastronautics laboratories but this was not accepted by the Department of Defense." (NYT, 4/5/63)
USN made second attempt to place operational Transit navigational satellite into orbit from Pt. Arguello, Calif., Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering reported. A&AE said spacecraft failed to attain orbit because of malfunction in fourth stage of US" Blue Scout booster. (A&AE, 5/63,141)
John L. Sloop, Director of NASA Propulsion and Power Generation in Office o_ Advanced research and Technology testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Space Science and Advanced Research and Technology: "Propulsion is the key to space exploration and our push to the moon in this decade will depend completely on chemical propulsion. We see a large and continuing role for chemical propulsion in the next decade. The advent of nuclear and electrical propulsion will greatly increase our capability and enable us to use each type in the application best suited to its characteristics. We see much larger chemical propulsion systems than we have today. Some of these may use air augmentation and will be capable of ferrying large payloads economically from earth to manned satellites and between distant points on the earth. We see chemical propulsion packages carried dormant for months on long space missions but read at the touch of a button or a signal from earth to perform heir task. We see chemical propulsion systems for landing and take-off from the moon, Mars, and Venus where compact systems of high thrust per pound of weight are needed. Some may be carried as extra stored energy sources for emergency use . . . ." (Testimony)
AEC announced Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer would be recipient of Enrico Fermi Award, AEC's highest honor, in recognition of his leadership in development of the atomic bomb and of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Dr. Oppenheimer has headed Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, since 1947. (NYT, 4/6/63,1,5)
Vasily V. Parin, president of Soviet Academy of Medical Sciences and expert in space medicine, was awarded the Order of Lenin "in recognition of his great contribution to the advancement of Soviet medical science," Tass reported. (AP, Balt. Sun., 4/7/63) April 6: LUNIK Iv passed within 8,500 km. (5,281 mi.) of the moon at 4:26 a.m. Moscow time, Tass reported. "The experiments and measurements which were conducted by means of the spacecraft are completed. Radio communication with the spacecraft will continue for a few more days. "Broad experimental data, which are of great value for the solution of a number of technological problems related to the conquest of the moon, were obtained. Measurement data are now being processed and studied in scientific centers of our country which are responsible for the investigation of cosmic space." Tass still did not reveal nature of probe's mission. Sir Bernard Lovell, Director of Jodrell Bank Experimental Station in England, was quoted as saying he believed the Soviets had failed in an attempt. to land instruments on the moon. "It is hardly conceivable, after a lapse of three years, with all the improvements in techniques, that the Russians would merely set out to do again what they did with LUNIK III." (Pravda, 4/7/63, EOS Trans.; AP, Wash,. Post, 4/7/63, A7; AP, Wash. Sun. Star, 4/7/63)
USAF satellite (1962 Beta Kappa-1), launched Oct. 26, 1962, to study artificial radiation, had discovered evidence that radiation from U.S. Starfish high-altitude nuclear test would last up to 10 years, Project Director Dr. Ludwig Katz of USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories disclosed. The previously unidentified satellite, called "STARAD," was built at non request when it became apparent artificial radiation might, be damaging orbiting satellites, carried nine different instruments for measuring the artificial radiation. USAF spokesmen said, in their opinion, data from this satellite were influential in Dr. James A. Van Allen's reversal of his previous position that the radiation would last only a year (see March 15). Dr. Katz said the satellite found there had been little decrease in artificial radiation's intensity since the satellite was launched. "The decay of the belt is so small that a lifetime of five to ten years would not surprise me." STARAD also detected increased radiation from Soviet high-altitude nuclear explosions of Oct. 28 and Nov. 1. It transmitted until Jan. 18 when its batteries deteriorated. (AP, Wash. Sun. Star, 4/7/63; Wash,. Post, 4/7/63; Av. Wk., 4/15/63,26)
Mining of water on the moon could provide rocket fuel for interplanetary spacecraft, thus eliminating need for more advanced rockets, John W. Salisbury of USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories said. Converting water to its components oxygen and hydrogen would provide the two fuel elements of Saturn V's upper stage. Salisbury said lunar water would be present either as subsurface ice or as one-eighth of silicate rock formations known as olivine. USAF was conducting studies to determine most efficient way of water thus trapped in the moon. (NYTNS, Wash,. Post, 4,/7/63, A7)
