Jul 22 1963

From The Space Library

U.S. Navy, announced it had successfully permanently sta­bilized an orbiting satellite through use of 100-ft. boom. Dif­ference in gravitational forces acting on satellite and on end of the boom aligned satellite so that its face will be permanently pointed toward earth. As satellite was tumbling through space with its face toward earth, boom was released from canister, causing entire assembly to rock through 40° are. Weight at­tached to boom by 40-ft. spring bobbed yo-yo fashion, slowing oscillation of boom and satellite until nearly all sway was re­moved. Satellite would remain stabilized indefinitely. Navy announcement said this was first successful stabilization of satellite without fueled mechanical controls. (DOD Release 1034­36)

Sen. Mike Mansfield (D.-Mont.) paid tribute to X-15 pilot Joseph A. Walker and his record flight of July 19, and said that "there can be no question that Mr. Walker and all the members of the X-15 team are pioneers of the space age. The solid contributions of the X-15 program have been many and valuable. They include information on aerodynamic heating, the behavior of the boundary layer, the effect of noise levels on aircraft structures, measurement of friction drag on aircraft skin, new control sys­tems, new piloting techniques, new landing gear designs and new ways of measuring landing gear loads, better instrument dis­plays, and many other improvements to performance, efficiency, or safety of air and space vehicles.' In addition, during the cur­rent series of tests, the X-15 is being used to carry scientific experiments into space. One of these experiments will use a camera which may give us the first meaningful photographs of stars taken from outside the earth's atmosphere. Speed and alti­tude records may be the incidental contributions of the remark­able X-15 program. More significant in the long run is the information and experience it has provided and continues to pro­vide about this strange new sea of space upon which man has embarked . . ." (CR, 7/22/63,12354)

NASA announced extension of contract with Research Triangle Insti­tute, Durham, N.C., for abstracts and evaluation of literature on reliability and quality assurance. (NASA Release 63-161)

NASA Manned Spacecraft Center announced $1,000 incentive award by NASA Inventions and Contributions Board to Matthew I. Radnofsky and Glenn A. Shewmake of MSC Crew Systems Div. for­ design of one-man life raft used in Project Mercury landings. (MSC Release 63-119)

• July

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