Sep 17 1964
From The Space Library
NASA'S EXPLORER XVIII (IMP-I) satellite, silent since last June because of low power levels, resumed data transmission; it had reached a more favorable sun angle and was able to operate on power directly from its four solar panels. Data received from the satellite, based on preliminary analysis, were described as "good." (NASA Release 64-242 Addendum)
President Johnson said in Sacramento, Calif., speech: "To insure that no nation will be tempted to use the reaches of space as a platform for weapons of mass destruction, we began in 1962 and 1963 to develop systems capable of destroying bomb carrying satellites. "We now have developed and tested two systems with the ability to intercept and destroy armed satellites circling the earth in space. I can tell you today that these systems are in place, they are operationally ready, and they are on alert to protect this Nation and the free world. "Our only purpose still is peace. But should another nation employ such weapons in space, the United States will be prepared and ready to reply. . The President also disclosed U.S. had produced "over-the-horizon" radar, which would "literally look around the curve of the earth .. . [and] give us earlier warning than ever before of any hostile launches against this country." (Text)
In its first five years of powered flight, the X-15 aircraft amassed total of 17 hrs., 52 min., 7.1 sec. of flight, of which 4 hrs., 8 min., 16.8 sec. was powered flight. The rocket-powered research aircraft accrued 4 hrs., 13 min., 11 sec. of flight at speeds above 2,000 mph (mach 3), far more flight time at mach 3 than any other aircraft. It achieved a total of 2 hrs., 39 min., 47.4 sec. at mach 4 (about 2,700 mph), a speed impossible for any other manned aircraft; 40 min., 45.1 sec. above mach 5 (about 3,400 mph) ; and 11.6 sec. above mach 6 (about 4,000 mph) . The X-15 was built for top speed of 4,000 mph and altitude capability of 250,000 ft. Piloted by Joseph A. Walker (NASA), the X-15 set unofficial world speed record at 4,104 mph and unofficial world altitude record of 354,200 ft. It held current official FAI world altitude record of 314,750 ft., set July 17, 1962, with Maj. Robert M. Rushworth (USAF) as pilot. The No. 2 aircraft, modified to provide longer engine burp time, was expected to attain much higher speeds-possibly as high as mach 8 (more than 5,000 mph) . In its first five years the X-15 made 116 flights. It was expected that the three aircraft would bring the total to twice that many within about five more years. (NASA Release 64-265)
NASA selected Brown and Root, Inc., with Northrop Corp. for negotiation of contract to provide operational and maintenance support services at NASA Manned Spacecraft Center. Cost for first year: about $2.5 million. Two-year extension options to the contract were contem-plated, and total cost requirements for three years would be about $10 million. (NASA Release 64-235)
Sen. John Tower (R.-Tex.) said in Houston he favored continuing exploration of space and landing a man on the moon as soon as possible, thus differing with Republican Presidential candidate Sen. Barry Goldwater. Sen. Tower said: "I believe, knowledge is needed for the sake of knowledge. . . . I would continue space expenditures at their present level." (Houston Chron., 9/17/64)
Vladimir Kotelnikov, member of Soviet Academy of Sciences, proposed one-year radio search of the universe for signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, according to Tass. He proposed that network of antennas be assigned to "listen to" specific target points in space. The antennas would be connected to a central multichannel receiver. U.S. radio-astronomers at National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, W. Va., had conducted similar experiment in 1960 (Project Ozma) without detecting messages. (Reuters, Wash. Post, 9/18/64)
Communications Satellite Corp. held its first stockholders' meeting and elected its first Board of Directors-six representing public shareholders and six, communications carriers. (Finney, NYT, 9/18/64, 45)
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