Aug 29 1963
From The Space Library
In ceremony celebrating establishment of new Australian tracking stations near Carnarvon and Canberra, NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Hugh L. Dryden presented scale model of 85-ft,diameter tracking antenna to Australian Ambassador Sir Howard Beale. Carnarvon station was being established for Project Gemini and would also monitor Ogo and Oao unmanned satellites. Canberra station would be a portion of Deep Space Network which tracks space probes to moon and planets. (NASA Release 63-195)
Monorail rocket sled attained mach 5 speed along missile test track at Holloman AFB in recent test, AFSC announced, highest known speed ever reached by a monorail sled. Fired in two stages with Cajun and Cherokee rockets, the test vehicle reached 3,753 mph before being stopped near end of seven-mile track. Attachment of "flow separation spike," similar to needle on nose of jet fighter aircraft, reduced air resistance and thus increased speed. To brake the sled, spike was flipped away from front of sled when peak speed was attained, thus increasing air drag by a factor of four. Sled was then caught by several lengths of tied-down nylon restraining straps. Major test objectives were accomplished. (AFSC Release 37-74-72)
At meeting of American Institute of Biological Scientists in Amherst, Mass., Max D. Lechtman of Magna Corp. presented report by team of researchers predicting use of certain bacteria in life support systems of future manned spacecraft. One means of supplying oxygen to astronauts on long-duration flights would be electrolysis of water-breaking down water into its oxygen and hydrogen components by electric current. Microbes such as H. eutropha and H. ruhladi which absorb hydrogen would be valuable in removing the hydrogen. (Wash. Post, 8/30/63, All)
Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved nuclear test-ban treaty by 16 to 1 vote. Senate debate on treaty was scheduled to begin Sept. 9. (Marder, Wash,. Post, 8/30/63, 1)
USAF launched Thor-Agena D booster rocket with two unidentified satellites from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (Wash. Eve. Star, 8/30/63; M&R, 9/9/63, 13; Pres. Rpt. on Space, 1963, 1/27/64)
Special Subcommittee of House Committee on Armed Services, established to investigate research and development in the Armed Services, met in executive session. (NASA Leg. Act. Rpt.. II/136)
Minuteman ICBM launched from Vandenberg AFB silo on 5,000-mi. flight down Pacific Missile Range. Launching was conducted by SAC crew. (M&R, 9/9/63.13)
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