Mar 18 1963
From The Space Library
Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Manned Space Flight: "The F-1 engine development program has an impressive list of accomplishments. A year after the contract was signed full-scale components were undergoing tests, and in 27 months complete engine systems testing had begun. Full thrust and full duration tests have become routine. The engine has been gimbaled during hot firing. We expect successful completion of the Preliminary Flight Rating Tests this year . . . . "When design of the F-1 was begun in 1959, combustion instability was known to be a potential problem. Accordingly, early in the program tests of various injectors for the thrust chamber were conducted, and a design was selected which had not experienced unstable combustion. For about a year, from mid 1961 to mid-1962, occurring. tests were conducted without this phenomenon occurring. Then, on June 28 last year we were testing development engine #008 on the test stands m California. A test run which was scheduled for the full 21/2 minutes running time was interrupted after 106 seconds of satisfactory performance by a rupture of a valve casting. The rupture was traced to combustion instability. Since this occurrence, several cases of combustion instability have taken place. "This phenomenon is not unique to the F-1, but has occurred in the development. of most liquid rocket engines . . . . "We are presently concentrating on combustion instability and are making progress. With the contractor at Rocketdyne, we have made an exhaustive survey of all test data having a bearing on the problem . . . . "To summarize, the F-1 engine development over the last four years has made satisfactory progress . . . ." (Testimony)
Frederick R. Kappel, AT&T board chairman, said in speech before New York Chamber of Commerce that TELSTAR II communications satellite would be equipped with instruments "far more resistant to radiation" than TELSTAR I. Like its predecessor, TELSTAR II would be launched by NASA at AT&T expense. (NYT [West. Ed.], 3/19/63)
USAF announced launch of unidentified satellite into polar orbit from Vandenberg AFB using improved Thor-Agena booster (TAT). This was second attempt and first successful launching of the improved Thor, thrust of which was uprated from 170,000 lbs. to about 330,000 lbs. by addition of three solid-propellant rocket motors to the liquid-fueled power plant. (DOD Release 374-63)
NASA was faced with "a sizable budget cut-up to half a billion dollars-unless a new Soviet space spectacular changes the attitude of an economy-minded Congress," according to Aviation Week and Space Technology. (Av. Wk., 3/18/63, 30)
U.N. Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in last meeting of current session, agreed to have its legal subcommittee meet at U.N. Headquarters, New York, and scientific and technical sub committee in Geneva. Agreement ended three-week deadlock between U.S. and Soviet delegations on a meeting place. (L.A. Times, Wash. Post, 3/19/63)
DOD announced Army Corps of Engineers, New England Div., would provide design and construction assistance to NASA on proposed Electronics Research Center in Boston area. (DOD Release 366-63)
Four-man space laboratory described in unsolicited proposal to NASA by Douglas Aircraft Co.'s Missile and Space Systems Div. was reported in Missiles and Rockets. Space laboratory, which Douglas said could be operational in two years, could be fabricated mostly with existing hardware and proven equipment, would use only one new structure-the command-control module. (M&R, 3/18/63,10)
March, 18-20: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Flight Testing Conference held in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Rocco A. Petrone, Chief of Heavy Space Vehicle Systems Office, NASA Launch Operations Center, presented paper on facilities required in launching Saturn V space vehicles in Project Apollo. (Saturn V/Apollo Launch Operations Plan.)
March 18-21: 200 scientists from 60 countries met in Rome to plan International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) studies in 1964-65. Congress was under auspices of International Geophysical Committee of the International Council of Scientific Unions. (NYT [West. Ed.], 3/19/63)
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