Dec 16 1963

From The Space Library

Modifications to X-15 No. 2, made when the aircraft had to be repaired after accident in Nov. 1962, were aimed at perform­ance goal of mach 8 at 100,000-ft. altitude, 30% faster than basic design but lower than X-15's 354,000-ft. record altitude. X-15 No. 2 ultimately will make possible 4 min. 15 sec. of flight above mach 5 with more extensive experimental payload capability. (M&R, 12/16/63, 39)

Activities at Kitty Hawk, N.C., commemorating 60th anniversary of powered flight (Dec. 17, 1903) : Youth Seminar on Flight, with 200 state delegates, observers, and representatives of youth attending, was moderated by Astro­naut John H. Glenn, Jr. (Lt. Col., USMC). Panel members were Max Conrad, pilot of stock-model business aircraft; Capt. Harold Blackburn, TWA jet pilot; James Fields, business pilot; Jacqueline Cochran, record-holding aviatrix ; and Maj. Robert Rushworth (USAF), X-15 pilot. Full-scale replica of the Wright Flyer, built by volunteers from National Capitol Section of AIAA, was installed in museum at Wright Brothers National Memorial. Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges was featured speaker at annual banquet of Kill Devil Hills Memorial Society at Nags Head, N.C. Soaring Society of America presented to Wright Memorial Museum and Visitor's Center a plaque commemorating Wright Brother's glider flights. Presentation was made by Floyd Sweet of NASA Hq., past president of the Society. (60th Anniv. Com­mittee Release; Wash. Post, 12/15/63; Soaring Society of America, Inc. Release, 12/16/63)

At ceremonies commemorating 60th anniversary of powered flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. Walter Bonney, director of public information for Aerospace dorp. and former director of public information for NACA and NASA, recounted historic events of Dec. 17, 1903. He quoted Orville Wright on his initial, 120-ft. flight : " 'This flight lasted only 20 seconds, but it was, nevertheless, the first in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started.' "There were three additional flights that bleak December day, with the brothers alternating at the controls. The longest and last, with Wilbur the pilot, was of 59 seconds' duration and was for a distance of 852 feet. . . ." (Text, CR, 12/17/63, 23663)

Although USAF was assigned responsibility for manned orbiting labo­ratory project, NASA would continue providing technical and infor­mation support, USAF officials said. Monthly NASA-USAF coordina­tion meetings, "mutual information sessions," would continue to be held. (Space Bus. Daily, 12/16/63, 401)

Nine enormous star-like objects emitting strong radio energy have been observed by astronomers in recent months, ac­cording to scientists reporting at International Symposium on Gravitational Collapse in Dallas, sponsored by Southwest Center for Advanced Studies, Univ. of Texas, and Yeshiva Univ. Identification of the new objects was accomplished by British- American-Australian astronomers using interferometry technique. Discoveries were described as the most important in astronomy in many decades. (Sullivan, NYT, 12/17/63, 1, 35)

AFCRL research project to find if there were any correlation between phases of the moon and rainfall on earth involved checking 1,000 dates over 92 years of observations, checking each date against the lunar phase. Result of research, reported AFCRL'S Dr. Fred Ward, indicated there was no correlation between rainfall and the lunar cycle. (OAR Research Review, 12/16/63,2)

USAF launched Titan II ICBM from silo at Vandenberg AFB,, Calif., in successful flight down Pacific Missile Range. (M&R, 12/23/63, 10)

USN launched Hydac sounding rocket, built by Douglas Aircraft and Lockheed, from Pt. Arguello, Calif. (M&R, 12/23/63, 10)

Prof. Leonid I. Sedov, chief Soviet space scientist, quoted as baying he "believes" that by 1968 there would be 100-ton space stations and an automatic scientific station on the moon. (Space Bus. Daily, 12/16/63, 400) Using a selected cross-section of Americans, the Harris Survey in­dicated that the majority of Americans favored the exchange of musicians and artists, and students with the Soviet Union, as well as favoring the sale of wheat and other food. With regard to "Scientific Cooperation" : Sending Man to the Moon Jointly : Favor 35% Oppose 54% Not sure 11% Exchanging Scientists and Engineers: Favor 34% Oppose 54% Not sure 12% Selling equipment with potential military application to Rus­sia was adamantly opposed. (L. Harris, Wash,. Post, 12/16/63, 1)

Edward M. Shafer, NASA Attorney-Adviser since Sep­tember 1959, was appointed NASA Assistant General Counsel. (NASA Announcement 63-275)

13-man Army and USAF team of parachutists jumped from USAF C-130 flying at 43,500 ft., delaying their parachute openings until below 2,500 ft., to claim new world record for mass free-fall. Previous record was 36,650 ft. set by 9-man Soviet team in 1961. The chutists were all participating in series of tests called "Opera­tion Halo" (high altitude/low opening) conducted at El Centro, Calif. (DOD Release 1578-63)

Four airmen ended simulated 30-day space flight mission inside a space cabin at USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, San Antonio, Tex. The airmen breathed pure oxygen at simulated altitude of 27,500 ft. in preparation for future manned space flights. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/17/63)

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