Sep 23 1964
From The Space Library
NASA announced SYNCOM III synchronous-orbit communica-tions satellite was now in such a precise orbit that its rotational speed was only five seconds slower than that of the earth. Positioned over the equator at 22,300-mi. altitude, SYNCOM in drifted less than 1/100th of a degree per day. Orbital parameters: 22,311-mi. apogee, 22,164-mi. perigee, 1,436.158-min. period, and .095° to the equator. Same day, spokesman for Communications Satellite Corp. announced SYNCOM III was successfully relaying test pictures across the Pacific and their quality was "much better than expected." The experimental transmissions between Kashima, Japan, and Pt. Mugu, Calif., had begun Sept 21. (NASA Release 64-241; Finney, NYT, 9/24/64, 13)
USAF launched Atlas-Agena D satellite booster from Vandenberg AFB with an undisclosed payload. (M&R, 9/28/64, 9)
NIMBUS I experimental weather satellite ceased operating, after producing more than 27,000 remarkably sharp weather photographs. As result of several days' buildup of friction in motor that turned satellite's solar paddles, the solar paddles locked, preventing them from rotating toward sun. Lacking adequate solar power to recharge batteries, the satellite control system, three camera systems, and associated electronic equip-ment could no longer function. NIMBUS I surpassed all expectations both as a research spacecraft and as a storm-spotter. During its 380-orbit lifetime it provided the first satellite pictures of nighttime cloud-cover and photographed Hurricanes Dora, Ethel, and Florence, Typhoons Ruby and Sally. (NASA Release 64-243)
Attempted flight of X-15 No. 3, with Capt. Joseph H. Engle (USAF) as pilot, was aborted 10 min. before scheduled launch from B-52 mother craft because of problems with cabin pressure. (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.)
Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, said in speech before Professional Group on Antennas and Prop-agation of the IEEE, Kennedy Airport International Hotel: "In the development of national [space] capability, NASA is carrying forward the work begun a half-century ago by its predecessor agency, the Na-tional Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Like the NACA, the space agency is concentrating its efforts on research and development. The only important difference is that NASA also carries out operations in space and, in so doing, develops methods of operation as well as the needed technology. . . . "The facilities, manpower, flight hardware, and experience being created in the Apollo program will serve the country long after the program itself has been completed. In fact, fully 90 percent of the work now in progress in Apollo would be done to create space power even if there were no moon and our efforts in manned space flight had an entirely different goal. "It may be compared with the Paris objective of Lindbergh's flight. His primary purpose was not to reach Paris but to develop and demon-strate the capability of transatlantic flight. . . ." (Text)
Committee for the Preservation of Cambridge Industry, made up of representatives from each of the 94 industrial firms that would be dislocated by location of NASA Electronics Research Center on Kendall Square site, announced it would wage a legal battle to prevent NASA's obtaining the site. Committee said implementation of NASA's plan would "disrupt the jobs of 4,000 employees within this area," contended it would cost some of the industries $200,000 to $400,000 to relocate although maximum renewal funds available for business reloca-tion were only $25,000. (Lewis, Boston Globe, 9/23/64)
Five surviving men among the eight Army Air Service pilots who took part in the first flight around the world 40 years ago were honored by Ex-plorers Club at dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif. A week later, the men were honored in ceremonies at AFSC Hq., which also honored Donald W. Douglas, Sr., designer and builder of the four Douglas World Cruiser open-cockpit biplanes. (AP, Balt. Sun, 9/21/64)
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