Jul 7 1963
From The Space Library
TELSTAR II was successfully tracked for 18 min. by ground Station northeast of Tokyo. Satellite microwave beacon signal was turned on by ground station at Andover, Maine. No communications tests were conducted, but tracking exercises between Tokyo and Andover were to continue through July 20, in preparation for communications experiments to be conducted "during the next period of mutual visibility, beginning in April 1964. (Bell Lab. Release, 7/9/63 in SID, August. 1963; Reuters, NYT, 7/8/63,36)
USAF announced launching of unidentified Satellite June 28 from NASA Wallops Station, using Scout booster. Goddard Space Flight Center Satellite Situation Report listed the satellite as "research Satellite for geophysics." (AP, Wash. Post, 7/7/63; GSFC Sat. Sit. Rpt., 6/30/63)
Dr. E. C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Spoke before the Georgetown University Forum "In brief I would list Some solid reasons for the moon trip " 1. [There is] No other place so near in space where we can test the equipment and the men for future space travel. "2. A clear objective gives impetus, order, and efficiency to a program. The lunar project requires the development of powerful rocket engines, sophisticated spacecraft, trained astronauts, tracking systems, and capability to protect man against the multiple hazards of space. "4. Success in this venture gives prestige essential at negotiating tables. "5. It will give an impetus to our standard of living, to education and employment, and to new methods and materials for the productive process. " 6. There will be Substantial defense Spin-offs, in addition to the political and economic benefits which also tend to deter aggression. For example, rendezvous technique, life-protective measures, control and guidance systems, improvement in rockets, etc. " 7. The moon is an excellent platform for mounting astronomical instruments, without atmospheric handicaps. " 8. The moon can be a relay point for communications and a refueling point for space travels." (Text)
Astrophysicist Dr. F. Curtis Michel (Capt., USAFR) said in AP interview "NASA knows the requirements for the first space flights much better than I do. "But I personally believe it can't be very long before we must send scientifically trained men into space. We are going into space because we expect to find the unexpected, and only a man trained in science will know what he's seeing when the unexpected comes along." The 29-yr.-old scientist, with 500 hrs. jet flying time, would begin new job next Sept. as Assistant Prof. of Space Science, Rice Univ., in Houston. Rice President Dr. Kenneth Pitzer had described Dr. Michel as "a possible candidate as scientist-astronaut," adding he was one of few men in U.S. with such qualifications. (AP, N.Y. Herald Trib., 7/7/63)
General Electric Co. said four men would spend one month inside full-scale model of space station at GE's Space Technology Center, in test of man's reactions and performance in simulated space-flight conditions. Experiment would begin in September. (AP, NYT, 7/8/63,25)
Brig. Gen. Frank Purdy Lahm (U.S. Army, Ret.), second Army pilot officially to fly Army's first airplane in 1909, died at 85. Taught to flyby Wilbur Wright, he served during World War I as air chief of Second Army in France, later became first commander of first U.S. Air Corps Training Center, at Randolph Field, Tex. (AP, NYT, 7/9/63, 31)
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