Dec 13 1963

From The Space Library

U.S.S.R. launched COSMOS XXIII into earth orbit (apo­gee, 381 mi.; perigee, 149 mi.; period, 92.9 min.; inclination to the equator, 49°) , the satellite carrying scientific instrumentation for "continuing the study of outer space" in accordance with March 16, 1962, Tass announcement. Tass said onboard equip­ment was functioning normally. (Tass, Krasnaya Zvezda, 12/14/63, 1, ATSS-T Trans.)

U.N. General Assembly approved broad program for cooperation in exploration of outer space, unanimously adopting two resolutions on outer space presented by committees: (1) draft setting forth U.N. space program for 1964, expressing belief that in­ternational cooperation can be fruitful in space exploration, and calling for use of space satellites for communications and meteorological purposes; (2) draft setting groundwork for legal guidelines covering space exploration, urging formal interna­tional agreements to provide for such issues as return of astro­nauts and space vehicles forced to land on foreign territory. (AP, Wash. Post, 12/14/63)

Cancellation of five follow-on flights of the Ranger lunar impact spacecraft announced by NASA Associate Administrator for Space Sciences and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell. Decision to cancel the follow-on series represented $90 million saving in the Ranger project. Dr. Newell said: "By this move, we are placing greater reliance on the remaining four Rangers, the Surveyor landers and the Lunar Orbiters for unmanned lunar exploration prior to manned landings on the Moon. At the same time, this move will contribute to necessary economies in the overall NASA program." (NASA Release 63-276)

Launch of the SA-5 vehicle was delayed due to failure of connect­ing fittings in critical high-pressure pneumatic and hydraulic lines. Primary cause of the failures was attributed to the use of a specified heat treatment that did not provide optimum stress cor­rosion resistance for the specific stainless steel alloy used. The defective parts were replaced with parts heat-treated by a differ­ent process designed to provide more consistent properties and much improved resistance to stress corrosion failure. (MSFC, R-P-VE-N comment)

Two sounding rockets launched at White Sands Missile Range in U.S.-Sweden coordinated study of ion and electron concentrations in D-region of the ionosphere. Areas sounding rocket carrying Sweden's scientific experiment was fired to 60-mi. altitude, its 12-lbs. of instruments to obtain measurements of ion densities from peak altitude down to 25 mi. At apogee, parachute was de­ployed and instrumentation exposed. Nike-Apache sounding rocket, launched 62 min. later, carried U.S. experiments in 100-lb. payload of instrumentation designed to measure ion and electron densities, ultraviolet radiation in the upper atmosphere, and a camera supplied by Univ. of Leicester, England, to photograph x-ray emission; payload did not achieve desired altitude (about 110 mi.) because of malfunction in the launch vehicle. Cause of malfunction was not yet known. U.S.-Sweden experiments were part of program sponsored by Swedish Committee for Space Research and NASA, whose Goddard Space Flight Center has responsibility for U.S. coordination. Both firings were conducted by Physical Science Laboratory of New Mexico State Univ. under U.S. Army contract. (NASA Re­lease 63-277)

Appointment of Dr. W. Randolph Lovelace II as con­sultant to Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administra­tor for Manned Space Flight. President of the Lovelace Founda­tion for Medical Education and Research, Dr. Lovelace would be consultant on medical aspects of current manned space pro­grams. (NASA Release 63-274)

Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, said he believed Soviet Union is building super-rocket that would dwarf any flown before. "We would be foolish to think they are standing still," he remarked. Dr. von Braun was at Michoud Operations, near New Orleans, formally accepting the first Saturn S-I booster built by private industry (Chrysler Corp.). (UPI, Chic. Trib., 12/15/63; Marshall Star, 12/18/63, 1)

McDonnell Aircraft Corp. of St Louis shipped the first of two Gemini mission simulators to Cape Kennedy, Fla., to provide NASA astronauts and ground crews with realistic training before actual launching of the two-man spacecraft. (AP, Kansas City Times, 12/14/63)

Approximately 110 persons in NASA Manned Spacecraft Center's Computation & Data Reduction Div. moved into new offices at Clear Lake, second large group to occupy new quarters. With completion of Technical Information Div.'s move later this month, more than 250 MSC employees would have been relocated at Clear Lake. (MSC Release 63-254)

Rep. Bob Wilson (R.-Calif.) said on House floor that U.S. air­craft manufacturers should achieve mach-3 supersonic transport "through logical evolution. If we begin today on the mach 2-plus commercial transport we will see that within no more than a year after the first one flies it will be modified-at relatively little expense-to give substantially better performance. Our aircraft industry has demonstrated this sort of design flexibility throughout its history . . . . There is a natural evolution that takes place when economic and engineering considerations become compatible. There is no reason to fear that this will not take place in the case of the supersonic aircraft. When we upset this normal progression we incur additional expense and introduce both operational problems and safety hazards . . . . "Our aircraft industries and our airlines have competed suc­cessfully in the world marketplace for more than 50 years. There can be no logical justification for risking destruction of these in­dustries by insisting that they accept more governmental help than they need. And that is just what we shall be doing if we persist in demanding a mach 3 commercial transport at this time." (CR, 12/13/63, 23391-92)

Army Corps of Engineers awarded $1,701,368 contract to C&B Construction Co., Memphis, for construction of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's components test facility at Hunts­ville, Ala. (DOD Release 1569-63)

Final test-firing of Army's Nike-Zeus antimissile missile at White Sands Missile Range was announced by DOD. The successful fir­ing was test of propulsion and guidance components of the missile. Army would continue to fire Nike-Zeus at Kwajalein Island in the Pacific (DOD Release 1566-63)

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