Apr 2 1964
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched ZOND I space probe "for the purpose of developing a space system for distant interplanetary flights." Final stage of improved booster rocket" placed earth satellite into parking orbit; then a rocket took off from the satellite and propelled the ZOND I to escape velocity, sending it into flight trajectory "close to the computed one. There was no indication as to what the computed course was, and no details of the probe's weight, size, or destination were given. (Tass, Krasnaya Zvezda, 4/3/64, 1, ATSS-T Trans.; CSFC SSR, 4/15/64)
In letter to chairmen of Senate and House space committees-Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D.-N. Mex.) and Rep. George P. Miller (D.-Calif.) - NASA Administrator James E. Webb detailed findings of committees investigating failure of RANGER VI lunar probe. Although the committees had not yet identified any specific cause for failure, Mr. Webb's letter out-lined five major faults in the spacecraft: 1. The two onboard TV systems "were more complex than required and were not completely redundant. They included a number of common components in which a single failure would lead to disablement of both television systems." 2. "Possibilities of failure . . increased as a result of practices employed in the design and construction of the spacecraft. . . 3. Preflight ground testing "may have obscured potentially dangerous situations which could have enhanced accidental triggering of critical control circuits." 4. The antenna for transmitting the lunar photographs had never been tested with the TV transmitters. 5. "Because of reluctance to risk possible damage to the space vehicle, prelaunch systems verification was not complete. . ." (Loory, HTNS, Wash. Post, 4/3/64, 8)
Boilerplate Apollo spacecraft was mated to Saturn I SA-6 at Cape Kennedy in preparation for flight later this spring. (Marshall Star, 4/8/64, 1)
Labor dispute continued at Cape Kennedy, with 1,973 of 4,068 construction workers at the Cape and MILA refusing to cross picket lines of the United Plant Guards Workers Union. National Labor Relations Board began investigating the situation, which was further complicated by failure of Iron Workers Union and Patrick AFB Contractors Association to work out a new contract, causing about 400 ironworkers to walk off the job, (UPI, NYT, 4/3/64)
With the publication of the name change from Cape Canaveral to Cape Kennedy in the official decision list of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the legal procedure involved in renaming the Cape was completed. (AP, NYT, 4/3/64)
Vice Adm. William F. Raborn, Jr. (USN, Ret.), told industry delegates to conference at Georgia Tech that primary purpose of nuclear and space exploration was "the maintenance of national defense to guarantee a continuation of our Way of life." Technology assures "not so much a better texture for our bread but the fact that we will have that bread to eat," he maintained. Conference was sponsored by Southern Interstate Nuclear Board and Georgia Tech's School of Nuclear Engineering in Cooperation with AEC and NASA. (Rutherford, Atlanta Const, 4/3/64)
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