Sep 22 1964
From The Space Library
Boilerplate Apollo spacecraft with attached burned-out Saturn S-IV stage, launched into intentionally low orbit Sept. 18 by Saturn I SA-7, re-entered earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. The orbiting package was in its 59th orbit and had been in flight for three days, 19 hrs., 37 min. (NASA Release 64-250)
NASA announced the details of U.S. geodetic satellite program, designed to provide more precise mapping of the earth's surface and its gravitational field. Program was based on recommendation of NASA-DOD- Dept. of Commerce Geodetic Satellite Policy Board and involved three types of satellites: Beacon Explorer, equipped with reflectors to reflect laser beams from earth and with Doppler transmitter to measure effect of irregularities in earth's gravitational field; Geodetic Explorer (instrumented to conduct more experiments than the Beacon Explorer), containing flashing lights, variety of electronic beacons, optical reflectors, and when possible radar reflectors; and passive geodetic satellite, sunlight-reflecting 100-ft.-diameter Echo-type sphere. (NASA Release 64-236)
Engine for Apollo service module fired for one second in programmed 10-sec. test. Automatic cutoff device shut down the engine because of excess vibration due to unstable combustion. NASA spokesman called the twit a "minimal success," said results were "not entirely unexpected. The engine had been fired three times previously in acceptance tests, but it wasn't fired in as complete a form as it was today." (AP, L.A. Times, 9/23/64)
NASA and Univ. of Texas signed contract for 84-in. optical telescope to observe the moon and planets NASA would provide $2.1 million to build the telescope, and the University would provide $759,000 observatory building and $1.2-million associated shop buildings. Scheduled to be operational in 1968, the telescope would be fifth largest in the world. (M&R, 9/28/64, 13)
Team of geologists and astronomers at Cal Tech made significant temperature measurements of planet Jupiter, using heat-sensitive detector fitted to Mt. Palomar 200-in. telescope and discovered that: apparent temperature of Jupiter's atmosphere increases more than 100° in areas darkened by shadows of its moons (average temperature of atmosphere is - 230°F in sunlight but only -117°F in shadows, as penetrations go deeper, atmospheric temperature rises; and the moon Callisto seems to radiate about twice as much heat as might be expected. (Korman, CTPS, Chic. Trib., 9/23/64)
Electron microscope with new television attachment, 10 times more powerful than any previous microscope, was demonstrated by RCA. The system magnified objects by two million times. (AP, NYT, 9/23/64, 41)
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