Nov 23 1962
From The Space Library
MARINER II reported by JPL to have again lost power from one of its solar panels on November 15 (similar to inoperative period between October 31 and November 7, after which it suddenly returned to life). Temperatures in MARINER continued to mount within 20° F of what was foreseen (200° F on sunward face of solar panels, 100° F toward the shady side).
Letter from President Kennedy defending Administration policy of permitting astronauts to sell their personal stories for profit was made public by M. B. Schnapper, editor of Public Affairs Press, in Washington, D.C. Replying to Mr. Schnapper's criticism of the policy, the President said the "policy decision was reached only after most careful review of all the facts and lengthy consultation both within and without the Government. Efforts were directed toward removing specific controversial aspects of the original astronaut agreement, and we feel that this goal has been reasonably achieved." In interview, FAA Administrator Najeeb Halaby stated that he would probably recommend the development of a 2,000 mph commercial jet transport, pending results of a full study. Supersonic transport would carry up to 150 passengers between New York and Los Angeles in one hour and 40 minutes. Development costs of perhaps $700 million would, said industry leaders, require Federal subsidy.
In press interview in Houston, Astronauts Leroy Gordon Cooper (Maj., USAF) and Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (Cdr., USN) said television pictures of Maj. Cooper would be transmitted to ground stations during MA-9 flight by means of miniature transmitter inside the Mercury spacecraft. Pictures could not be viewed live on commercial TV because transmissions would be on different scan speed. Astronaut Cooper also said that a rendezvous maneuver had been considered for MA-9 flight, but decision had been made not to attempt the maneuver. MA-9 is considered to be the last Project Mercury flight, to be followed by Project Gemini.
November 23–December 2: Space Science Fair, held in Cleveland and cosponsored by NASA and Cleveland Plain, Dialer, included extensive exhibit covering "virtually all topics of space technology" as well as series of lectures for junior and senior high school students by aerospace scientists and engineers Honorary co-chairmen of the fair were NASA Administrator James E. Webb and former NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan, President of Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland.
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