Apr 13 1963
From The Space Library
COSMOS XIV scientific satellite launched by U.S.S.R. into orbit (apogee, 318 mi. ; perigee, 165 mi. ; period, 92.1 min.; inclination, 48° 57' to the equator). Tass said satellite was carrying equipment "designed to continue the study of outer space," and that the satellite was functioning normally. (Tass, Kraznaya Zvezda, 4/14/63, 1, AFSS-T Trans.; NYT, 4/15/63, 25; UPI. Wash,. Past, 4/14/63)
Second of two Aris (advanced range instrumentation ship) ships for AMR, Gen. H. H. Arnold, docked at Port Canaveral after shakedown cruise from Bayonne, N.J. (M&R, 4/22/63, 20)
Balloonists Don Piccard and Ed Yost, both of Sioux Falls, S.D., crossed the English Channel in hot-air balloon-first time in history such a crossing was completed. Flying mostly at 13,000-ft. altitude, they made the trip from Rye, England, to Gravelines, France, in 3-and-3/4 hours. (AP, Wash. Sun. Star, 4/14/63, A4)
Gas-filled balloon exploded near Herbede, West Germany, killing three persons and injuring eight. Balloon had flown with crew of four from Essen, had landed safely after flight, and was being deflated in a field when explosion occurred. (Reuters, Wash. Post, 4/14/63)
Retired Admiral of the Soviet Fleet Ivan S. Isakov said in Izvestia interview that nuclear-powered submarine Thresher had been compelled to undertake "risky experiments." Admiral Isakov charged: "The sinking of the newly charged atomic reactor is sure to contaminate the Atlantic waters, all the more so since the tragedy took place in the northern current. of the Gulf Stream. . . ." U.S. naval officials had repeatedly asserted that sunken reactor created no radioactivity hazard. (NYT, 4/14/63) April 14: British-French' supersonic transport, to be in commercial service by 1970, was described in joint statement by the two developing companies British Aircraft Corp. and Sud-Aviation of France. Problem of sonic boom greatly influenced design of the mach 2.2 airliner, named "Concorde." "By adopting special operational techniques and by not flying at. supersonic speeds below certain altitudes, disturbance can be reduced to a mini- mum." Airfield noise was "expected to be little more than that from current subsonic jets." (NYT 4/14/63)
