Oct 28 1964
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. announced orbiting of COSMOS L satellite into the following orbit: apogee, 150 mi.; perigee, 122 mi.; period, 883 min.; inclination to the equator, 51.3°. (Tass, Krasnaya Zvezda, 10/30/64,1, ATSS-T Trans.)
Titan II rocket booster for first manned Gemini space flight (GT-3) was turned over to the Government in ceremonies at Martin Co.'s Baltimore plant. Charles W. Mathews, Gemini project manager of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, said parachute landing system and spacecraft's ejection seats were all that remained to be flight-qualified, and GT-3 was still planned for first quarter of 1965. Mathews disclosed MSC had been experimenting for more than a year with braking rockets to enable manned Gemini spacecraft to land on land instead of water. Parasail also would be used in such a landing. Among other officials present were GT-3 crewmen, Astronauts Virgil I. Grissom and John Young. (Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 10/29/64; Witkin, NYT, 10/29/64)
U.S. and U.S.S.R. began exchanging weather data over special teletype, Weather Bureau spokesman said, although some operating details had not yet been worked out. Spokesman said U.S. was not yet sending to U.S.S.R. any data gathered from meteorological satellites. (AP, NYT, 10/29/64, 58)
Brig. Gen. Benjamin G. Holzman (SAF, Ret.) was sworn in by Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, as consultant to NASA for planning and administration of its advanced research and technology program. General Holzman would work on staff organization and formation of a program for NASA Electronics Research Center. (NASA Release 64-271)
Post-Apollo possibilities being considered by NASA were listed by NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell at luncheon meeting of Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers' Professional Technical Group on Nuclear Science, Philadelphia: "Adaptation of Gemini as an earth orbiting laboratory. "Adaptation of Apollo as an earth orbiting laboratory. "Extension of Apollo capabilities to create a six-man (or so) earth orbiting station. "Creation of an earth orbiting station to accommodate a score or more persons. . . . "Creation of an earth orbiting astronomical observatory in association with a manned orbiting station. "Extended manned exploration of the moon. "Extended unmanned exploration of the moon. "Establishment of a manned lunar base. "Establishment of a lunar astronomical facility. "Establishment of a lunar radio astronomy facility on the far side of the moon. "Unmanned exploration of the solar system. "Manned exploration of the planets. "Advanced solar studies. "Advanced weather satellite system. "Advanced communications satellite system. "Navigation satellite system. "Data collection satellites. "Nuclear power. "Nuclear propulsion. "Electric propulsion." Dr. Newell added: "The Space Science Board of the National Academy of Sciences has recently advised the Administrator of NASA that it strongly urges our moving forward with a vigorous, imaginative program of exploration of the solar system. In this regard the Board and our other scientific advisors accord much higher priority to enhancement of our unmanned planetary effort (including exobiology) than to a large-scale follow-on of the current manned lunar landing program or to manned earth orbital missions. This, I believe, reflects the general opinion of the scientific community, and is an important factor to weigh with all the other factors that must be considered in deciding on what next.. . ." (Text)
NASA Lewis Research Center announced contracts for construction of facilities at LRC's Plum Brook Station: $1,160,000 contract to Roediger Construction, Inc., and $1,386,000 contract to Mosser Construction Co. (LRC Release 64-100)
FAITH 7 Mercury spacecraft, in which Astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper made 22 orbits of the earth in final space flight of Project Mercury, went on display at NASA Hq., Washington. Nov. 2 the spacecraft would resume its tour of the 50 state capitals. (NASA Release, unnumbered)
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