Jul 18 1962
From The Space Library
NASA launched rigidized Echo-type balloon on Thor booster to 922 mi. in inflation test. Nicknamed "Big Shot," the 13-story balloon was inflated successfully and was visible for 10 minutes from Cape Canaveral. Movie film capsule parachuted into sea northeast of San Salvador was recovered by three pararescue men of the Air Rescue Service. This was the largest manmade object sent into space, the previous record being held by the 100-ft ECHO I.
President John F. Kennedy presented the Robert J. Collier Trophy, aviation's most distinguished award, to four X-15 pilots: Major Robert M. White (USAF), A. Scott Crossfield (NAA), Joseph A. Walker (NASA), and Cdr. Forrest S. Petersen (USN). Following the White House ceremony, the pilots received personal miniatures of the Collier Trophy at a luncheon co-sponsored by the Aero Club of Washington and the National Aeronautic Association.
In X-15 awards ceremony before distinguished guests and Headquarters personnel, at NASA Headquarters, tribute was paid to the team of governmental and industrial persons responsible for the contributions of the X-15 program to aeronautics and space flight. Associate Administrator Seamans reviewed the objectives and achievements of the X-15 program. NASA Outstanding Leadership Awards were presented to Paul F. Bikle (Director of the NASA Flight Research Center) and Hartley A. Soulé (Langley Research Center X-15 project manager) by Administrator Webb. After a short address on the pride of the nation concerning NASA’s achievements, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Council and a key figure in the Congressional enactment of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958) awarded NASA Distinguished Service Medals to the X-15 pilots Forrest S. Petersen (Cdr., USN), Robert M. White (Major, USAF), and Joseph A. Walker (NASA).
Astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter, and [[George M. Low]], NASA Director of Spacecraft and Flight Missions, testified before House Subcommittee on qualifications for astronauts. Low testified that qualifications would be raised rather than lowered for Project Apollo, that the sex of pilots had never been a requirement, but that if any resources were diverted for a woman in space effort "we would have to slow down on our national goal of landing a man on the moon in this decade." Astronaut Glenn said on women astronauts: "I couldn't care less who's over there [in the next seat] as long as it's the most qualified person. . . . I wouldn't oppose a women's astronaut training program; I just see no requirement for it." NASA had not found one woman to date who met all astronaut requirements: American citizenship; excellent physical condition; degree in physical or biological sciences or engineering; and experimental jet flight-test experience.
USAF launched unidentified satellite with an Atlas-Agena B booster from Point Arguello, Calif.
DOD canceled construction of Navy's 600-ft.-diameter radiotelescope at Sugar Grove, West Virginia, because major and unforeseen scientific advances provided better methods to acquire information. Initiated in 1954 and costing $17 million to date, the Sugar Grove dish had as its primary purpose military research in ionospheric physics, space communications, navigation, and radio astronomy. Since then, parametric amplifiers and masers revolutionized space communications, while more inexpensive acquisition methods had been developed for ionospheric data. DOD decision did not affect National Science Foundation's 140-ft. steerable radiotelescope at nearby Green Bank, W. Va., which would be used to scientifically map radio and thermal sources with greater efficiency.
Senate confirmed Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner as Director of the Office of Science and Technology.
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