Dec 14 1962
From The Space Library
MARINER II passed within 21,600 mi. of planet Venus and made 42-min. instrument-scan of Venutian atmosphere and surface before continuing into perpetual orbit of the sun. In world's first close interplanetary contact, MARINER II measured and returned temperatures and other characteristics of Venutian surface and its atmosphere; telemetry signals would be analyzed and evaluated by JPL, technical manager of interplanetary programs for NASA. In press conference at NASA Headquarters, JPL Director Dr. William H. Pickering said all instruments onboard MARINER II functioned as planned and the mission was virtually a complete success. NASA Administrator James E. Webb bailed the achievement as "an outstanding first in space for this country and for the Free World." NASA Director of Space Sciences Dr. Homer E. Newell pointed out that the probe's internal temperatures ranging from 125° F to 200° F had not prevented the scientific experiments from succeeding; temperatures were expected to continue rising as the spacecraft traveled closer to the sun. JPL would continue tracking the probe as long as possible, even though its scientific mission was considered completed.
Dr. Newell outlined significant interplanetary data already obtained from the four scientific instruments onboard MARINER II. " . . The plasma probe revealed a steady 'solar wind' at 250450 miles per second. The magnetometer showed that space contains fields of at least a few gamma and that there are fluctuations by factors of as much as 5 to 10. . . The cosmic dust detector indicated that the meteoritic particles in space are less numerous than near Earth by a factor of 10,000. . ." When MARINER II neared Venus, two additional experiments were activated—microwave and infrared radiometers to measure temperatures and identify their sources (surface or atmosphere).
X-15 No. 3 flown by Major Robert M. White (USAF) in stability test at speed exceeding mach 5, with lower tail-fin absent and with nose raised to 25° angle above the horizon. Successful flight was the 75th by the rocket research airplane.
Ground signal station at Nutley, N.J., turned on RELAY satellite's communications transponders and sent signals to the satellite; telemetry indicated RELAY received signals, but RELAY failed to return transmission to Nutley, Andover (Me.), or Pleanneur Bodou (France) stations. All onboard systems were turned off except, command receivers.
Unidentified USAF payload launched with Thor-Agena vehicle from Vandenberg AFB.
Soviet news agency Tass distributed announcement by U.S.S.R. Academy of Science giving new details on MARS I interplanetary probe. Announcement said scientists had held 37 radio communications with MARS I during first month of the probe's journey and that more than 600 orders had been transmitted to it.. Command, measuring, and computing centers onboard the spacecraft were reported working properly. Announcement said MARS would pass planet Mars at distance of about 119,000 mi. (193,000 km) and added that its trajectory would have to be corrected sometime during the flight. Data from probe indicated space radiation had increased about 50 to 70% since 1959 Soviet lunar probes made measurements; other data indicated extremely low density of meteor matter at great distances from earth. Announcement said MARS I onboard equipment included television to photograph Martian surface; spectrograph to study ozone absorptions in Martian atmosphere; equipment to measure magnetic fields and radiation in space and around Mars; and radio-telescope to register streams of low-energy protons and electrons.
Project Stargazer balloon landed after 18½-hr. trip to 82,000-ft. altitude, in southwestern New Mexico, by Capt. Joseph A. Kittinger, Jr. (USAF), and William C. White, astronomer from U.S. Naval Test Station at China Lake. White had clearest view of heavens of any astronomer in history by using telescope mounted on top of gondola. J. Allen Hynek, director of USAF OAR’s Project Stargazer, predicted great future for balloon astronomy.
General Assembly of the United Nations voted unanimously to approve resolution submitted by the U.S., U.S.S.R., and 24 other nations, calling for continued scientific cooperation directed toward using space to improve weather forecasting and intercontinental communications system. The U.N. Assembly also approved continuation of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
Scientists requested Continental Air Defense Command to shoot down tandem pair of runaway test balloons launched from Palestine, Texas, on December 12th. 600-ft.-long balloons, which had drifted eastward across the Gulf of Mexico were considered a hazard to the airways.
USAF Minuteman ICBM launched from silo at Cape Canaveral, its re-entry package landing approximately 5,000 mi. down the AIR.
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