Apr 27 1962
From The Space Library
Press conference held at NASA Hq. on the first international satellite, ARIEL I, with U.K. and U.S. participants. Orbital data was reported: 100.9 min. period; 242.1 st. mi. perigee; 745.4 st. mi. apogee; and 53.87° inclination to the equator. All experiments were reported as functioning. Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Associate Administrator, outlined NASA’s International Program, and pointed to the initiation of the joint U.K.–U.S. S-51 satellite effort in 1959 and the international tracking network (8 non-U.S. stations) participating in the readout of ARIEL I. Sir Harrie Massey, chairman of the British National Committee on Space Research, pointed out the demands of science and space research for international cooperation.
Langley Gold Medal of the Smithsonian Institution was awarded to Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, NASA’s Deputy Administrator, at the annual meeting of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. Cited for his "important applications of experimental science to the problems of flight and for his wise and courageous administration of much of America's research and technical developments that now make possible the conquest of air and space," Dr. Dryden was the tenth recipient of the 54-year-old award.
Details of Project Anna, flashing-light geodetic satellite, were given to the international Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) meeting in Washington by Mark M. Macomber of ONW. Previously classified, two Anna satellites have been built and when placed into orbit will provide means to calibrate three different satellite tracking systems and provide accurate reference points in space (flashing light photographed at precise times against known star background). NASA will now not have to develop a geodetic satellite to provide open scientific information.
Dr. Launor F. Carter was appointed Chief Scientist, USAF, to take office in July succeeding Dr. Leonard S. Sheingold. Dr. Carter, Vice President and Director of Research for System Development Corp. of Santa Monica, Calif., has been a member of the USAF Scientific Advisory Board since 1955. A psychologist, Dr. Carter has done much work on leadership, perception, and group behavior.
George C. Barnhart, pioneer airman and inventor, died in Pasadena. Barnhart held 70 aircraft patents, including one for wing tanks. In 1942, he had turned over his patent for split-edge wing flap, a landing brake used on conventional and jet aircraft, to the Army Air Forces for the duration of the war, thousands of planes being built 1946-51 using the Barnhart flap for which be received no royalties as World War II had not been officially ended. He had intended to sue the Government for 810 million.
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