Apr 19 1963
From The Space Library
NASA launched 85-lb. scientific payload to 208-mi. altitude at exact moment EXPLORER XVII atmospheric structure satellite passed over the Wallops Island, Va., launch site, an unusual `first" in NASA sounding rocket program. Launched by Aerobee 300A sounding rocket, experiment obtained temperature data on electron and neutral particles and measured ion and neutral particle densities. Data from this experiment would be compared with similar data obtained from EXPLORER XVII as it passed over Wallops Island at 198-mi. altitude during its 236th orbit of earth. Miss distance was 35,000 yards. Preliminary evaluation by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientists indicated data were of excellent quality. (Wallops Release 63-40; Av. Wk., 5/6/63, 21)
X-15 No. 3 flown to 92,500-ft. altitude at speed of 3,770 mph (mach 5.51) by NASA pilot Joseph A. Walker in test to investigate heat transfer rates and unusual air flow over certain parts of the aircraft. More than 400 heat-measuring devices and 25 presssure measuring devices were mounted on the aircraft to determine how heat caused by air friction is transmitted to aircraft's surfaces and to record information concerning air flow. (FRC Release; UPI, N.Y. Herald Trib., 4/19/63; M&27,4/29/63, 10)
Data from EXPLORER XVII indicated the earth is surrounded by belt of neutral helium atoms, scientists of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center said at American Geophysical Union meeting. Based on preliminary data received one day after launch, Goddard scientists said EXPLORER XVII atmospheric structure satellite had sent back more than eight hours of scientific information on physics and chemistry of tenuous gases making up the earth's atmosphere. (NASA Release 63-79)
Physicist S. Fred Singer, Director of National Weather Satellite enter, said at American Geophysical Union meeting that the millions of tiny copper dipoles to placed in orbit in USAF Project West Ford could remain aloft for as long as a century. Dr. Singer added that he did not regard the orbiting copper dipoles as treat to scientific observations, but he criticized secrecy surrounding first attempted West Ford launching. He urged freer and earlier public discussion of proposed space projects and suggested that U.S. invite scientists from other nations to discuss proposed U.S. scientific experiments with possible global consequences. (Wash. Post, 4/19/63; AP, Balt. Sun, 4/19/63)
USAF X-21A experimental aircraft was flown for first time, from Northrop Corp. facility at Hawthorne, Calif., to Edwards AFB. Calif. where it would undergo extensive flight tests. X-21A is modified WB-66 type twin-let aircraft on which were installed new laminar-flow wings, new engines relocated back on fuselage, and laminar-flow control pumping system placed in former engine pod positions. Two X-21A's would study near-elimination of friction drag in test program at Edwards. (DOD Release 54763)
Informed NASA sources were quoted as saying Astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper's Mercury flight MA-9 would be delayed about a week from the May 7 planning date because of technical problems in the Atlas booster. Also revealed was name Astronaut Cooper selected for his Mercury spacecraft-"Faith 7," (UPI, Wash. Post, 4/19/63)
Addressing meeting of Aviation and Space Writers Association, Vice President and General Manaer of Boeing Co. Aerospace Div., Lysle A. Wood, proposed : (1)' orbiting weather control station that could provide a "better foreign-'aid program than any of our efforts to date"; (2) orbiting industrial laboratories to supplement Government space laboratories; (3) orbiting cardiovascular laboratory for studying and treating selected patients in space environment; (4) research by chemists and others for substances, compounds, and organisms "for which we do not recognize a need or desire because we cannot imagine the possibility of their existence"; and (5) orbiting vehicles as new medium of advertising. He suggested that U.S. would benefit from commercial ventures into space, and such benefits could help pay for scientific and military programs. (NYT, 4/19/63, 86)
AFOAR announced USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories scientists were developing a compact lightweight instrument to give direct readings of refractive indices of the atmosphere at microwave frequencies. (OAR Release 4-63-5)
U.S. Army's Nike-Zeus antimissile missile successfully performed inflight maneuvers in test flight at White Sands Missile Range Missile was launched from underground cell. (DOD Release 557-63)
Members of International Association of Machinists Local 2061 at Cape Canaveral returned to work after one-day walkout against Boeing Co. The local had rejected BoeingLink title's contract offer, but returned to work while awaiting results of nationwide vote on the contract. (UPI, Wash. Post, 4/19/63)
U.S. proposal for a major international effort to establish worldwide weather forecasting system was presented by Richard N. Gardner, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, at meeting of American Geophysical Union and American Meteorological Society, in Washington. Proposed system would collect and analyze weather data on regional and global-rather than national-basis; it would call for expansion of ground weather stations and launching of weather satellites to obtain global views of weather patterns. He noted that recent U.S.-U.S.S.R. agreement for coordinated weather satellite launchings would "give increased significance to this international effort." (Finney, NYT, 4/20/63)
TIROS V meteorological satellite, launched June 19, 1962, entered its eleventh month of operation, surpassing previous longevity production record of TIROS II. Since launch, TIROS V had collected and transmitted more than 53,000 cloud-cover photographs of which more than 42,000 were meteorologically usable. (NASA Release 63-77)
Titan II missile, launched by USAF from Cape Canaveral, did not reach programmed range because second-stage engine cut off prematurely. (DOD Release 563-63)
Dr. Philip H. Abelson, editor of AAAS magazine Science, criticized in editorial the four justifications cited for manned lunar landing program: propaganda value of program had been "vastly overestimated"; possibility of military applications seemed "remote"; "technological fallout" would recover "not more than a small fraction of the cost of the moon program"; and scientific questions about the moon could be satisfied with unmanned, instrumented probes. If a scientist is not among the crewmen, "the alternative of exploration by electronic gear becomes exceedingly attractive. The cost of unmanned lunar vehicles is on the order of 1 percent of the cost of the manned variety; unmanned vehicles can be smaller and need not be returned. Most of the interesting questions concerning the moon can be studied by electronic devices . . . Unmanned exploration could provide the basis for realistic design of manned landing craft, thus decreasing the total costs and increasing the chances of success. A reexamination of priorities is in order." (Science, 4/19/63, in CR, 6/11/63)
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