Apr 12 1963

From The Space Library

George J. Feldman, Communications Satellite Corp., in­corporator nominee, said in address on international arrange­ments for satellite communications: "Last July 10, when Telstar went into orbit, communications via satellite literally entered the homes of millions of men, and women. This historic event symbolized technical developments which open up unparalleled opportunities and will, in time, significantly affect the daily lives of people in many parts of the world. A new dimension has been added to communications by telephone, telegraph, radio and television.... "Cooperation on the international level, bilaterally and multi­laterally, is a keystone of a successful communications satellite system and it is self-evident that the wider the range of the sys­tem, the more extensive will be the need for wider participation and agreement.... "The development of the communications satellite system is underway. It will involve intricate negotiation and arrange­ments, and there are many problems to be tackled. But tech­nology has thrust greatness upon us and, as in some other mani­festations of this technological revolution, we are summoned to the challenge. . . ." (Text, CR, 4/24/63,A2426)

U.S.-Australian experiment to obtain data on the ionosphere con­ducted at NASA Wallops Station, with Aerobee 150A sounding rocket carrying 144-lb. payload of radio instruments 1,253 mi. high during eight-minute flight. Experiment was designed to measure intensity and spectrum of VLF radio waves above "E" region of the ionosphere. This was third U.S.-Australian at­tempt of the space experiment and first success, the previous two having failed to reach desired altitude because of vehicle struc­tural failure. Scientific payload was provided by Australia's t1 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Technical facilities, telemetry recording, and the two-stage rocket were provided by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (Wallops Release 63-39)

Andrew E. Potter, Jr., Lewis scientist, described Lewis plans to launch a man-made comet. Such a comet, he said, would answer a number of questions. "If the simulated comet duplicates the behavior of an actual comet., we will have a better understanding of natural comets," he said. (LRC Release 63-13; Lewis Chro­nology , 3)

Lt. Col. Stanley C. White (USAF), space surgeon and Chief of Crew Systems Div., NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, would be reassigned to Aerospace Medical Div. of Brooks AFB, MSC announced. Effective June 2, reassignment would conclude "de­tached duty" from USAF with NASA since October 1958. (MSC Release)

Soviet Cosmonaut Major Andrian Nikolayev, speaking over Radio Moscow in a "Cosmonautics Day" broadcast, called U.S. Project Mercury spacecraft SIGMA 7 an "unreliable American contraption.... To be frank, I would not like to find myself in his [Astronaut Walter M. Schirra's] place. You have no idea how cramped and uncomfortable this capsule looks in compari­son with the cabins of our remarkable Vostok cosmic ships." Nikolayev had seen SIGMA 7 during his recent visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the spacecraft was on display. (AP, Balt. Sun, 4/13/63)

Prof. Eugen Saenger, Prof. of Space Research at Technical Univ. in Berlin, predicted in interview that if manned observation stations were established on the moon "no large-scale happening of any consequence anywhere in the world could go unseen." Noting that it costs several thousand dollars to orbit a pound of pay­load, he predicted that by 1975 cost would be only $25 per pound. Dr. Saenger's interview was published in Good Friday issue of German weekly publication Christ and Welt. (CDNS, Wash,. Post, 4/15/63)

Apr 13 1963