May 1 1962
From The Space Library
International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) meeting in Washington received summary reports of accomplishments of 1961 and plans for 1962 by the U.S. and U.S.S.R. A. A. Blagonravov of the Soviet Academy of Sciences reported that the U.S.S.R. planned to send more men into orbit this year as well as several more unmanned scientific satellites, including one to study "the distribution and production of cloud systems in the atmosphere." Dr. Richard W. Porter of the U.S. delegation specified that NASA planned to launch 22 instrumented satellites and space probes during the year. During 1961, Porter reported, the U.S. had launched: over 300 high-altitude research balloons; 866 weather rockets; more than 70 larger rockets not meant to carry payloads into orbit ; and 31 instrumented satellites and deep-space probes.
British scientists protested U.S. plans to explode "rainbow" bombs 500 miles above the Pacific test area (called "rainbow" bombs because high-altitude nuclear explosions light up the sky thousands of miles away). Sir Bernard Lovell, director of Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory, Martin Ryle, radio-astronomer, and Sir Mark Oliphant, Australian nuclear physicist, all protested the "probable" distortion of the Van Allen radiation belt by the forthcoming U.S. tests.
Dr. Richard W. Porter, head of the U.S. delegation to COSPAR meeting in Washington, reported that the moon emits x-rays as a result of solar and cosmic ray bombardment. Rockets shot of October 24, 1961, detected x-radiation from the lunar surface. By future studies of these energies it is hoped to determine the composition of the surface of the moon.
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced in London that the U.S. would contribute over $30 million for the development of the STOL/VTOL fighter aircraft, the P-1127, originated by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Co., as part of the U.S.-British-West German cost-sharing agreement of February. This is the first, agreement to develop NATO weapons jointly.
In television interviews in New York, Cosmonaut Gherman S. Titov denied reports that any Russian cosmonauts had been killed prior to the orbital flight of Gagarin as reported in the American press. Titov said he also saw the tiny "fireflies" reported by John Glenn.
In speech to IAS-NASA Manned Space Flight Conference at St. Louis, General Bernard A. Schriever, Commander of AFSC, said that if the Soviets attain a "really significant breakthrough in space technology, they may be able to deny other nations access to space—even for purposes of scientific research. . . . We must have necessary strength to ensure that space is free to be used for peaceful purposes." Schriever said that "both the military and civilian aspects of our space program are vital, and both must he pursued with urgency. They share a common aim—the security and well-being of the United States."
The Television Academy announced annual Emmy Award nominations. The orbital flight of Astronaut Glenn and Mrs. John F. Kennedy's tour of the White House—regarded as top TV events—were not considered because they had been cooperatively covered by the three major networks.
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