Sep 6 1963

From The Space Library

President Kennedy signed NASA authorization bill for FY 1964 (PL. 88-113), authorizing NASA $5,350,820,400 for the fiscal year. (NASA Leg. Act. Rpt. II/141) )

NASA and DOD announced agreement for NASA Use of USAF-developed Agena launch vehicles, replacing Feb. 1961 agreement under which NASA used Atlas-Agena and Thor-Agena vehicles for Ranger, Mariner, and Alouette projects. Signed by NASA Asso­ciate Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., and AFSC Vice Commander Lt. Gen. Howell M. Estes, Jr., agreement provided USAF will be responsible for design, engineering, and acceptance testing of basic Atlas and Thor vehicles and Agena D stages, with NASA buying these from USAF; NASA will have responsibility for all its mission modifications to basic vehicles; NASA will launch its Atlas-Agena vehicles from Complex 12 at AMR and USAF will conduct all Agena launch operations from PMR; technical and administrative control of 11 remaining NASA Agena B stages transferred from USAF to NASA. Atlas-Agena vehicles for Project Gemini were covered by separate NASA-USAF agreement. (NASA Release 63-198; DOD Release 1212-63)

NASA Manned Spacecraft Center announced signing of definitive contract valued at $7,658,000 with Kollsman Instrument Corp. for guidance and navigation equipment for Apollo spacecraft's com­mand and service module. (MSC Release 63-147)

NASA Director of Space Sciences Dr. Homer E. Newell said in ad­dress at dedication of Stedman Hall of Science, Central Methodist College, Fayette, Mo.: "We are now laying the groundwork for whatever role we may have to play in space in the future. We are developing the ability of the United States to use space and to operate in space either as it may choose to do voluntarily or may find itself compelled to do in its own defense. This is the capability that we shall have from the development of the ability to investigate scientifically with satellites and space probes, from space applications, from the abil­ity to perform manned space flight and manned space operations, from the vast complex of manufacturing and assembly plants, launching complexes, tracking and telemetering facilities, and from the invaluable experience that this initial stage in the space program will give us. "This is the most significant point about the present era in space. This is the most important aspect of the present activity m space . . . ." (Text)

USAF launched Atlas-Agena D from Pt. Arguello with unidentified satellite. (M&R, 9/16/63, 11-12)

USAF announced launching two Atlas ICBM's from PMR. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 9/7/63)

• September

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