Aug 19 1964
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (2MB PDF)
NASA's SYNCOM III synchronous-orbit communications satellite was launched into preliminary orbit high above the earth by a TAD (Thrust-Augmented Delta) launch vehicle, its premiere satellite launching. Preliminary orbit: 23,675-mi. apogee, 695-mi. perigee, 11 hrs. 35 min- period, and 16° inclination to the equator. Four hours after launch from Cape Kennedy, the satellite received and sent back a test recording of music of "The Star Spangled Banner" as well as test voice and teletype message. Further maneuvers during the next 10 days would move SYNCOM III into a synchronous position over the Pacific, where it would be able to communicate with surface stations at Clark AFB in the Philippines, at Guam, and at Camp Roberts, Calif. Work was underway to make it possible to transmit the 1964 Olympic Games from Tokyo via SYNCOM III in October. (NASA Release 64-193; NASA Tran-script of Press Conference; AP, NYT, 8/20/64, 51)
NASA GSFC launched 201-ft.-diameter balloon carrying 160-lb. experiment package from Moberly, Mo., at sunrise, The balloon flew at altitude of about 24 mi- over 300-mi. course, ejecting its payload on signal about 12 hours after launch. The experiment package contained instruments to record and store data on cosmic rays in the earth's magnetic field, data which would be used to help map radiation fields around the earth and in space. Experiment payload was designed and built by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; the balloon was launched under ONR's "Skyhook" balloon flight program. (GSFC Release G-22-64; AP, NYT, 8/19/64; K.C. Times, 8/20/64)
Rep. Peter W. Rodino (D.-N.J.) said on House floor: ". . . Hardly any problem seems beyond solution by our scientists and engineers. We marvel at our achievement of landing a vehicle on the moon, transmitting pictures of its progress to the very instant of impact. Yet, we are doing practically nothing to solve a major air safety problem, or, worse yet, to discover its cause. I refer to the increasingly serious jet age problem of clear air turbulence-CAT-a danger to every passenger flying commercial or military transport aircraft. . . . "Our scientific and industrial communities must be given adequate funds promptly to initiate work on the problem; and that can best be done through a coordinated research effort jointly undertaken by Government and private industry. . . . "Our failure to implement without delay a national effort to develop an effective CAT detection and avoidance system may-in fact, probably will-cost the lives of many future air passengers. With every gain in air traffic, with every increase in aircraft speed, with every additional mile flown by every additional plane, the problem becomes more serious. . . ." He introduced into the Record an article on CAT by James A. Fusca in Space Aeronautics, August 1964. (CR, 8/19/64, 19715-20)
Western Devices, Inc., was awarded $1,615,111 NASA contract for work at Launch Complex 39, John F. Kennedy Space Center Merritt Island Launch Area. Contract was awarded by Army Corps of Engineers. (DOD Release 605-64)
Thomas D. Morris, Assistant Secretary of Defense (I&L), advised Army, Navy, Air Force, and DSA that it was DOD policy "to provide quality and reliability assurance services to NASA in a manner fully responsive to NASA's technical requirements." Memo clarified use of NASA Quality Status Stamps by DOD personnel and NPC 200-1A as the document establishing NASA's quality assurance requirements. (NASA Proj. Off.) [[ Communications Satellite Corp]]. stock reached $48, highest price since it went public June 2 at $20. (Hammer, NYT, 8/20/64, 37)
Cal Tech announced new superconducting alloy of gold and germanium was made by a new ultra-fast cooling technique that opened the way toward development of other such alloys. (SciServ., NYT, 8/19/64, 13)
Lockheed-California Co. engineers disclosed concept for a reusable rocket plane to transport 10 passengers between earth and orbiting space station. Prepared in a study for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the design concept was a winged, two-stage carrier with two-man crew in each stage and capable of hauling three tons of cargo in addition to the passengers. Lockheed engineers said if the vehicle system development program were begun in 1967, the transport could be operational in 1975. (Huntsville Times, 8/19/64)
August 19-22: 50 amateurs competed in national model rocket championship meet, sponsored by National Association of Rocketry, at NASA Wallops Station, Va. Astronaut William A. Anders made trophy presentations on the 22nd. (Wallops Release 64-61; AP, Wash. Post, 8/19/64)
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