Dec 4 1963
From The Space Library
EXPLORER XVIII (Imp) satellite completed second of its long elliptical orbits (apogee, 122,800 mi.; perigee, 119 mi.), and all systems appeared to be functioning as planned. Lifetime of IMP-A, launched Nov. 26 from Cape Canaveral, revised by NASA from estimated 12 months to hundreds of years. (NASA Release 63-265; A&A, February 1964, 11)
Zero gradient synchrotron-first major particle accelerator in the Midwest-dedicated at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. Financed by AEC, the accelerator is one of the three largest in the world, generates 12.5-bev energy. (Plumb, NYT, 12/5/63)
NASA announced the Centaur stage (AC-2), launched from Cape Canaveral Nov. 27, was orbiting the earth with several objects varying in size, believed to be insulation panels and nose fairing of the stage. Centaur project officials believed that after attitude control was discontinued in orbit, the stage began to tumble because of venting of gaseous hydrogen, and the panels and nose fairing were separated. (NASA Release 63-265)
NASA ordered its major manned space flight program contractors to freeze all new hirings and not replace any persons lost through normal attrition. Expected to save millions of dollars, the temporary action was taken while NASA was reassessing its budget programing for the current fiscal year, based on an expected appropriation of only $5.1 billion. (Simons, Wash. Post, 12/6/63)
USN disclosed new Subroc antisubmarine missile, a submarine-launched, rocket-propelled, initially-guided nuclear depth bomb, would be operational in 1965. Launched from standard torpedo tube, Subroc is powered by solid-fuel rocket motor which ignites underwater and propels missile up and out of the water. Rocket booster is automatically separated from depth bomb payload, which continues on ballistic trajectory until impacting water, where it sinks and detonates. (DOD Releases 1536-63 and 1537-63)
Franco-Italian project to develop "Iris" rocket capable of delivering mail to any European city was reported by Associated Press. Powered with mixed solid-liquid fuel, the rocket is being designed to deliver 65 lbs. of mail more than 400 mi. away. Rocket would be launched vertically to predetermined altitude-around 72,000 ft.-then guided by radio to delivery point. 30 mi. from target, engine would be shut. off, allowing rocket. to glide; retrorockets would be fired to point its nose up, then Iris would descend backwards to earth. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/4/63)
Dr. Ralph E. Lapp, in address at. Queens College, Charlotte, N.C., said photographs made by U.S. military satellites were providing excellent studies of Soviet military installations. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/5/63)
December 4-7: 32 high school science students participated in National Youth Science Congress in Washington, sponsored by NASA and National Science Teachers Association of the National Education Association. (Wash. Eve. Star. 12/5/63)
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