February 1963

From The Space Library

During February: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center plans for second-generation Oso satellite-known as Advanced Orbiting Solar Observatory, or Hellos-were outlined at Philadelphia technical meeting by Goddard's Aoso Project Manager A. J. Cervenka. (Av. Wk., 3/4/63,48)

USAF predicted Project West Ford's 250 million copper dipoles to be placed in orbit would have a very short orbiting life, a predic­tion based on results of six-needle orbital experiment conducted in 1962 and revealed Jan. 22. The six needles were not affected by space electricity, which had been feared would cause needles to shift from their initial orbit and then solar pressure would keep the dipoles in orbit for years. (M&R 2/11/63, 21)

California's Governor Pat Brown said in Washington that NASA Administrator James E. Webb was planning a "deliberate" ef­fort to spread contracts throughout the nation which would result in reduction of contracts to California industries. Gov. Brown later told L.A. Times that Mr. Webb reassured him that NASA contracts would continue to be awarded competitively. Mr. Webb confirmed NASA policy "to spread the problems which we must solve in space work over the greatest number of able minds throughout the country, . . ." but that purpose of policy was not to penalize California but to "obtain the best solutions for the , , program .... Contracts will be let by competition alone, not on the basis of politics or geography." (L.A. Times, 2/16/63)

National Academy of Sciences named a panel of scientists to advise the Federal Government on astronomy's role in space exploration during the coming decade. Headed by Dr. Albert E. Whitford, Director of Lick Observatory, NAS panel was soliciting comment from all of U.S. astronomers on astronomy's manpower and equip­ ment needs. It hoped to compile full report this year and offer guidelines for the future of astronomy. (San Francisco Chron­icle, 2/11/63)

In addendum to speech delivered last Dec. 30, Dr. James A. Van Allen retracted his criticism of President's Scientific Advisory Committee concerning radiation effects of U.S. high-altitude nu­ clear test in July. Dr. Van Allen said his criticism should have been directed toward joint NASA-AEC-DOD committee headed by Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner, President's special assistant for science and technology and also chairman of President's Science Advisory Committee. Addendum appeared in published version of speech in bulletin of St. Louis Citizen's Committee for Nuclear Informa­tion. (NYT NS, Chattanooga Times, 2/14/63)

During February: Four men spent 14 days in slow-rotation room simulating slowly-rotating space station, in NASA-sponsored ex­periment at Navy's School of Aviation Medicine, Pensacola, Fla. `No serious disturbance of a psychological or physiological nature was encountered,"'and no change was found in conceptual reason­ing, physical performance, perception, and sensory ability. No important changes in blood pressure, respiration, or pulse rate were observed during the experiment. (Av. Wk., 3/4/63, 59)

Dr. Dwain W. Warner, curator of ornithology at Minnesota Mu­seum of Natural History, proposed in Natural History magazine that scientific satellites be used in tracking animal migrations. Dr. Warner proposed animals be tagged with transistor radios and batteries weighing 1/2 to 2 oz; satellite in 200-mi. polar orbit would pick up signals and transmit them to scientists who could plot animals' locations and correlate them with other data from satellites. Transistors had been successfully tested with small animals and large birds, but tracking by ground stations was hindered by horizon line; satellite with 24 ground receiving sta­tions could provide constant contact with migratory creatures. (AP, Balt. Sun, 2/6,/63)

In March issue of Physical Review, John Linsley of MIT's Labora­tory for Nuclear Science reported that an atom of high energy, presumably from some galaxy outside our own Milky Way, penetrated our solar system and crashed into the earth's atmosphere, setting off a cosmic-ray shower over New Mexico during Febru­ary. Source of the atomic nucleus was reasoned because of its enormous power as the resultant cosmic-ray shower covered an area of several square miles. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/2/63)

Recovery parachutes for Agena military payloads were tested with U-2 aircraft from 70,000-ft. altitudes. (M&R, 2/11/63, 9)

Soviet astronomer G. A. Tikhov concluded that Martian vegetation, if it exists, is blue rather than green, because of light and tempera­ture conditions on Mars. In translation/abstract of Tikhov's report, issued by Dept. of Commerce, he reported that "plants in the Far North on earth should have entirely different optical properties than in temperate latitudes and on mountains. Mar­tian plants should be closest to the Arctic and mountain species, whose spectra have quite inconspicuous chlorophyll bands." (Wash. Eve. Star, 2/14/63)

First issue of Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering, publication of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), featured series of articles on manned orbital operations by NASA Manned Spacecraft Center personnel. (A&AE, 2/63)

International Academy of Astronautics announced election of Honorary Members of the Academy: Prince Louis de Broglie, French physicist; Jacqueline Cochran, U.S. aviatrix; and Harry F. Guggenheim, U.S. philanthropist. (Av. Wk., 2/4/63, 104)

Soviet Prof. A. Martynov, director of State Astronomical Institute of Kiev, said Soviet Venus probe launched Feb. 1961 undoubtedly had reached its objective and probably landed on Venus. U.S. sources had said the probe was launched at too high a velocity to have been orbited around Venus. Martynov also said results of Soviet radioastronomy experiments with Venus indicated Venu­tian surface temperatures range from 212°F on dark side and about 572°F to 752°F on the sunlighted side, conclusions differ­ing from those of data provided by MARINER II. (Av. Wk., 3/4/63, 21)

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• March