Jan 15 1963
From The Space Library
EXPLORER XIV energetic particles satellite transmitted 38 sec. of complete data, and officials of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center were hopeful the satellite might eventually resume normal operations. EXPLORER XIV developed transmission difficulty Jan. 10, after 100 days of nearly continuous transmission. Project Manager Paul G. Marcotte of Goddard reported EXPLORER XIV received less than 10 per cent degradation from space radiation since its launch Oct. 2 ; project officials did not believe radiation damage to be cause of satellite’s transmission malfunction. (NASA EXPLORER XIV Prog. Rpt. No. 4 ; NASA Release 63-6)
TELSTAR communications satellite relayed pictures of opening of East German Communist party congress to television viewers in US. (Chicago Trib., 1/16/63)
FAA announced Administrator Najeeb E. Halaby had told supersonic transport advisory group to restudy cost details of supersonic transport development and to prepare specific proposal on management organization of the aircraft’s development. Advisory board, headed by Gen. Orval R. Cook ( UBAF, Ret.), had been studying supersonic commercial aircraft for 13 months. (Wash. Post, 1/16/63)
Dr. Edward C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, told National Rocket Club in Washington : “From time to time, major public attention shifts from one space project to another. . . . It would be incorrect to conclude, however, that any one of these projects or any other specific project encompasses the whole job of implementing our space policy. Rather, all of them, plus many projects not yet conceived combined to make the national program viable, energetic and selectively expanding… “Our military space activities are just as peaceful as our non-military ones. Indeed, our space legislation labels both as ‘peaceful.’ Both, incidentally, are also scientific, so one cannot make the further distinction that NASA’s and AEC’S projects are scientific and the Defense Department’s are something other than that or vice versa. . . . “Whether or not enough is being done in either the military or non-military space field-and I am never satisfied-I would suggest that before one comes to a firm conclusion on such a question, he should examine in considerable detail just how much has been accomplished during the past 12 months. It is an impressive record and one need not skip over the failures or the delays in specific projects in order to develop a balance sheet which shows a remarkable degree of progress in a field in which we started late and moved slowly too long. . . . “In concluding . . . , I would emphasize several points: (1) It is in this nation’s interest-economically, technologically, scientifically, militarily, and internationally-to carry out an accelerating space program ; (2) to maintain our position of leadership in the free world we cannot afford anything less than first place in space accomplishment and there is no sound basis for complacency regarding our present position; (3) we must take risks and over come failures in this complex endeavor and we dare not let the risks or the failures slow our momentum; and (4) in spite of all the excitement and glamor of the space program, it must be managed and operated in a tough-minded fashion so that we will get every one of its many benefits as soon and as efficiently as possible.” (Text)
USAF solicited proposals from industry for development of solid-propellant space booster capable of up to six-million-lb. thrust. USAF action stemmed from DOD-NASA agreement of December 1962 to advance the technology of large solid propellant rocket motors. (DOD Release 53-63; AP, Wash. Post, 1/16/63)
R. W. Gillespie, systems engineer of Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., said in Los Angeles press conference : “America’s giant program for a [manned] lunar landing should be reoriented to allow for a manned landing on Mars and a manned capture [orbital flyby] of Venus by 1973. Most of the talent now working on the lunar landing would have to be diverted for the Mars and Venus flights.’’ He said he was “one of those who thinks there is some form of life on Mars” and that a landing there would be of more value than one on the moon; scientists already have a pretty good idea of what man would find on the moon. Gillespie was in Los Angeles for 9th annual meeting of American Astronautical Society. (L.A. Times to Wash. Post, 1/16/63, A7)
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