Oct 6 1962
From The Space Library
NASA Astronaut Walter M. Schirra was greeted by cheering crowds in Honolulu, transferring from aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kearsarge to USAF jet at Hickam AFB, for trip back to Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas.
NASC Chairman Dr. Edward Welsh, in message to American Legion, refuted arguments that the accelerated space program was detrimental to other interests, and said: "Even before we had a space program, we were not spending enough on education, or medicine, or housing, and there is no reason to believe that we would be doing even as much as we are now on those essential projects if it were not for the space program. in fact, our national space effort increases our gross national product and provides more employment and more funds than we would have without it. This is a solid investment which we must make."
AEC announced low-yield nuclear detonation in the atmosphere near Johnston Island, the 29th announced test in current U.S. series in the Pacific.
Decision to sell Cape Colony Inn, partially owned by the seven Project Mercury astronauts, was announced by attorney C. Leo DeOrsey of Washington. He said the astronauts' investment in the motel near Cape Canaveral "had become the subject of controversy in some quarters of the press and might become embarrassing to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I believe it is in the best interests of all concerned to sell the motel." USAF revealed that three "plastinauts," plastic dummies of human astronauts, were undergoing tests at Kirtland AFB preparatory to being sent into space. Plastinauts in space would be used to determine radiation hazards to astronauts.
During early October: J-2 liquid-hydrogen rocket engine successfully completed its first full-duration static firing (more than four minutes) at Rocketdyne Div. of North American Aviation, Inc. J-2 engines will be clustered to power stage of Advanced Saturn vehicle.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
