May 1962
From The Space Library
Checkout was completed and the University of Alaska assumed responsibility for the Alaska Data Acquisition Facility near Fairbanks. Part of the GSFC system, the Alaskan facility is an 85-ft. dish and its associated electronics system will be used on tracking and data acquisition of polar-orbiting Nimbus, Ego (Eccentric Geophysical Observatory), and Pogo (Polar-Orbiting Geophysical Observatory) satellites of GSFC.
Announced that the Nippon Electric Co. of Japan (Nix) was constructing several NEC-I active repeater communications satellites to be launched by NASA Scout or Thor-Delta boosters during the Olympic Games in Japan in 1964.
NASA Langley Research Center announced contract with Space-General Corp. for the development of an inflatable paraglider to measure micrometeoroid flux in the lower regions of space up to 700,000 feet. Inflatable Micrometeoroid Paraglider (IMP) will test new sensor system consisting of alternate layers of mylar and aluminum and will determine suitability of inflatable re-entry paraglider.
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India visited the tracking station built by GSFC and located at Ahmedabad, 300 miles north of Bombay.
High interest in the Rogallo-wing concept among amateur aircraft-builders reported to have concerned NASA developers since apparent simplicity of the flexible wing offers serious trouble.
Rep. Edgar Hiestand asked citizens of the 21st Congressional District of California—"Do you consider scientific information resulting from a U.S. moon flight worth its $40 billion cost?" Results of the poll were: 44% replied "no"; 35% replied "yes": and 21 % replied "undecided." Project 60 established by Secretary of Defense to improve field operations involved in management of DOD and NASA contracts.
Awards for 1961 announced by the American Helicopter Society: first Igor I. Sikorsky International Trophy to Mikhail L. Mil of the Soviet Union; Dr. Alexander Klemin Award to Brig. Gen. Robert R. Williams, U.S. Army Aviation Center Commander; Capt. Wm. J. Kossler Award to Air Rescue Service, MATS; Frederick L. Feinberg Award to Lt. Col. Francis M. Carney (USAF) ; and the Grover E. Bell Award to the engineering organization of Sikorsky Aircraft.
The FAI certified that a Soviet E-166 jet fighter piloted on October 7, 1961, by A. Fedotov had set a new world speed record of 1,491.9 mph over a 100-km. closed course. This record was previously held by the McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II which flew the course at 1,390.24 in September 1960. The FAI also certified several speed, altitude, and altitude-with-payloads records the Russians had claimed for the Beriev M-10 jet seaplane.
Swedish industrial group formed in Stockholm with aim of studying peaceful applications of space research, a branch of Sveriges Mekanforbund, a general industrial organization. Among those participating are Saab Aircraft Co., Telefon AB LM Ericcson, Svenska Flygmotor AB, and Svenska AB Gasaccummulator (Aga).
National Society of Professional Engineers Award of 1962 announced for Dr. Charles Stark Draper of MIT for his "outstanding contributions to the military affairs of the country . . . " The Fédération Aeronautique Internationale (FAT) received the Edward Warner Award granted every second year by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, for "outstanding contributions to the development of international civil aviation." IAS awarded its Flight Test Engineering Fellowship to Raymond P. Boyden, Director of Engineering, U.S. Army Hq., St. Louis. Gene J. Matranga of NASA’s Flight Research Center and Maj. James C. Wayne (USAF) were named runnerups. All will attend Princeton's Aeronautical Engineering Department.
“Telephone a Star: the Story of Communications Satellites” article appears in National Geographic Magazine
- May
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