Dec 10 1964
From The Space Library
Final Gemini unmanned flight test (GT-2) from ETR was postponed after a last-second engine misfire on the Titan II rocket. The trouble occurred 1.7 seconds after the Titan II booster engines ignited: loss of hydraulic pressure caused one of the two engine nozzles to swivel out of place; and automatic system sensed this and immediately extinguished both engines in the rocket's first stage one second before lift-off. A NASA spokesman said that one of the nozzle tubes received a slight crack as a result of the malfunction and that extensive checking of all systems must be completed before a decision would be made as to Whether the entire first stage would be replaced. The Titan II was to have lifted the 6,900-lb. Gemini capsule to 106 mi. in the suborbital flight and then accelerated it to faster and hotter re-entry than normal. A parachute landing in the Atlantic was projected for the capsule and recovery planned. Chief goals of the flight, second in the Gemini series, would have been to test the heat shield as well as control, life support, and other Systems. NASA said the delay meant the first manned Gemini flight would not take place until the second quarter of 1965- GT-2 would be attempted again in January. (Hoffman, N.Y. Her. Trib. 12/10/64; Balt. Sun. 12/10/64; Witkin, NYT, 12/10/64)
USAF Titan III-A space booster was launched from Cape Kennedy and executed its first completely successful test flight. Midway in its first orbit, approximately 115 mi. above the earth, the 5,2504. "transtage" (a third stage with multiple start-stop-restart capability and ability to transfer a payload from one orbit to another) performed a 360° somersault to align the platform's inertial guidance system gyro-scopes. At the end of its first 100-min. orbit, explosive charges automatically kicked a 3,750 lb. cylinder-shaped dummy satellite into a separate orbit. After the Titan III-A firing, Brig. Gen. Joseph S. Bleymaier, project director, said: "The success confirmed our confidence in the system. We feel that the Air Force now has a real purpose in accomplishing space missions." (AP, Balt. Sun, 12/11/64; Simons, Wash. Post, 12/11/64; AP, NYT, 12/11/64, 20)
X-15 No. 1 was piloted by Capt. Joseph H. Engle (USAF) to 112,000-ft. altitude at maximum speed of 3,500 (mach 5.11) mph to test scientific instruments (a densitron and daytime sky background experiments) carried in pods recently installed on the craft's wing tips and to sample density of upper atmosphere. The flight also served as a checkout of the newly installed Honeywell inertial guidance system- (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.; NYT, 12/11/64, 25)
U.S.S.R. launched COSMOS LI into orbit. In addition to scientific instrumentation, the craft contained a radio system for the precise measurement of orbital elements and a radiotelemetry system for transmitting data to earth. All equipment on board was operating normally. Initial orbital data: apogee, 544 km. (344-24 mi.) ; perigee, 264 km. (164 mi.) ; period, 92.5 min-; inclination 48-8°. (Tass, Pravda, 12/11/64, 1, ATSS-T Trans.; Tass, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 12/11/64, 1, ATSS-T Trans-; UPI, NYT, 12/11/64, 43; Wash. Post, 12/11/64)
An unexpected rise .in the number of meteors bombarding the earth from April to October 1963 was reported in Science by two Canadian and two New Zealand scientists. The rise was detected by radar echoes and the number of meteors put at 300 million. Studies made by the New Zealand group after the great increase indicated that the meteor rate rise may be recurring, with decreasing strength, once every six months. (Sci- Serv., NYT, 12/25/64; AP, Carey, Wash- Post, 12/11/64)
NASA announced that it would negotiate a one-year contract with Mason-Rust for continued support services at NASA Michoud Operations. (Huntsville Times, 12/11/64)
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