Apr 14 1964
From The Space Library
Atlas D launch vehicle sent NASA's 200-lb. Project Fire spacecraft more than 500 mi. into space from Cape Kennedy in test to provide data on re-entry heating of spacecraft returning from the moon. As the spacecraft fell back to earth, a solid-fuel Antares II motor ignited for 30 sec. to hurl it through the atmosphere at the speed of 37,800 fps (about 26,000 mph). With exterior heating at estimated 20,000 degrees, instruments in spacecraft interior relayed data back to earth while cameras and other instruments recorded the "flaming meteor" descent. About 32 min. after launch the Project Fire craft impacted in the Atlantic more than 5,200 mi. from the launch site. Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, commented that the experiment, conducted by NASA Langley Research Center, "recorded the highest speed ever reached by a manmade object in free flight" In conjunction with the Project Fire test, NASA Nike-Apache sounding rocket was launched to 97-mi. altitude from Ascension Island. Its instrumented payload, provided by Univ. of Michigan, measured pressure, temperature, and density in the equatorial atmosphere using pitot-static probe technique. (NASA Release 64-69; AP, Wash. Post, 4/15/64; Unc. Enqr. 4/16/64, NASA Rpt. SRL)
NASA Aerobee 150 sounding rocket was launched from White Sands, N. Mex., with JPL payload to measure ultraviolet light and fluctuations in earth's magnetic field. Rocket started large yaw maneuvers soon after 30 sec. and reached only 18.2-mi. altitude; no new scientific data were obtained. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
A Delta rocket's third-stage motor (X-248) inexplicably ignited in check-out building at Cape Kennedy, burning 11 engineers and technicians, three critically. The rocket stage had just been mated with Orbiting Solar Observatory (Oso) in preparation for prelaunch spin testing, when the motor suddenly ignited, rose from the alignment stand, hit the ceiling knocking off the Oso, and landed in a far corner. NASA and USAF immediately began investigating the cause of the ignition. USAF said this was the "first serious incident of its kind in 14 years of operations and over 1,400 missile launchings" at the Cape. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star 4/14/64; AP, Wash. Post, 4/15/64; Goddard News, 4/20/64, 3; Marshall Star, 4/29/64,1, 3)
NASA had developed lightweight and inexpensive shock absorber that had no recoil. Built for space use, the shock absorber would break on impact rather than bounce back. (Phil. Eve. Bull., 4/14/64)
British Postmaster General Reginald Bevins said in House of Commons that, under the right conditions, "the United Kingdom will be willing to provide up to œ15 million of the capital cost of a world system" for satellite communications. He said U.K. would share in design of comsat system, share in its ownership, and play full part in providing satellite launch vehicles and other equipment. He reported that in recent meeting of representatives of European, U.S., and Canadian governments on problems of establishing a global comsat system, "good progress" was made. (UPI, NYT, 4/16/64, 9)
Dr. Smith J. DeFrance, Director of NASA Ames Research Center, was one of 10 recipients of the 1964 Career Service Award of the National Civil Service League. Director of Ames since 1940, Dr. DeFrance was recommended for the award on the basis of his 43-year career as an outstanding administrator and leader of aeronautical and space research. (NASA Release 64-75)
Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Hayes, III, Assistant to the Chief of Army Engineers for NASA Support for the past two years, received certificate of appreciation from NASA Administrator James E. Webb. General Hayes supervised such Engineer Corps activities as design and construction of NASA facilities, lunar mapping, and advance engineering related to future programs. He was cited by NASA particularly for his "skillful direction" in the "planning, design and construction of the massive and complex structures required for the manned space flight system?' (NASA Release 64-84)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics was briefed on comparative U.S. and U.S.S.R. space programs by National Aeronautics and Space Council Executive Secretary Dr. Edward C. Welsh and NASC staff members. Committee Chairman Rep. George P. Miller (D.-Calif.) said the executive session gave the committee a better appreciation of Soviet scientific space exploration and reaffirmed his belief that the U.S. "must keep up its effort to stay in the space race." (Av. Wk., 4/20/64, 30)
Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois (USA, Ret.) was presented a special Medal of Recognition for his more than 50 years of dedication and service to the development of aviation, in ceremony at the Pentagon. He had been a member of the NACA while Chief of the Army Air Corps (1932- 1936) . (DOD Release 309-64)
FAA announced Braniff Airways had reserved two delivery positions for U.S. supersonic transport aircraft and Trans-American Aeronautical Corp. of Washington had increased its delivery reservations for SST from one to two. (FAA Release 64-35)
Sen. Barry Goldwater (R.-Ariz.), candidate for Republican Presidential nomination, released a campaign paper regarding missile reliability: "I have raised, and will continue to raise until all the facts are in, fundamental questions about the reliability of our intercontinental ballistic missiles. It is not a question of theoretical accuracy. The fact is that not one of our advanced ICBM's has ever been subjected to a full test under simulated battle conditions." Later in the day, DOD issued listing of U.S. missiles, bombers, and missile-bearing nuclear submarines and compared them with Soviet strength in each category. Don said it was acting to prevent another "missile-gap myth" from circulating. (NYT, 4/15/64, 1, 6)
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