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Astronautical and Aeronautical Events of 1962

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Astronautical and Aeronautical Events of 1962 [COMMITTEE PRINT] ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 REPORT OF THE 1 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TO THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND ASTRONAUTICS U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JUNE 12, 1963 I Printed for the use of the Committee on Science and Astronautics I [COMMmEE PRINT] ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TO THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND ASTRONAUTICS U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JUNE 12, 1963 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science and Astronautics U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 97317 WASHINGTON : 1963 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfEw Washington 25, D.C. - Price $1.00 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND ASTRONAUTICS GEORGE P. MILLER, California, Chairman OLIN E. TEAGUE, Texas JOSEPH W. MARTIN, JR., Massachusetts JOSEPH E. RARTH, Minnesota JAMES G. FULTON, Pennsylvania KEN HECHLER, West Virginia J. EDGAR CHENOWETH, Colorado EMILIO Q. DADDARIO, Connecticut WILLIAM I(. VAN PELT, Wisconsin J. EDWARD ROUSH, Indiana R. WALTER RIEHLMAN, New York THOMAS 0. MORRIS, New Mexico CHARLES A. MOSHER, Ohio BOB CASEY, Texas RICHARD L. ROUDEBUSH, Indiana WILLIAM J. RANDALL, Missouri ALPHONZO BELL, California JOHN W. DAVIS, Georgia THOMAS M. PELLY, Washington WILLIAM F. RYAN, New York DONALD RUMSFELD, Jllinois THOMAS N. DOWNING, Virginia JAMES D. WEAVER, Pennsylvania JOE D. WAGGONNER, JR., Louisiana EDWARD J. GURNEY, Florida EDWARD J. PATTEN, New Jersey JOHN W, WYDLER, New York RICHARD H. FULTON, Tennessee DON FUQUA, Florida NEIL STAEBLER, Michigan CARL ALBERT, Oklahoma CHARLESF. DUCANDER,Ezecutive Diretor and Chief Counsel JOHNA. CARSTARPHEN,Jr., chief Clerk PapB. YEAQER,Counsel FRANKR. HAMMILL,Jr., Counsel W. H. BOONE,Technical Consultant WILLIAME. DITCH, Technical Consultant HAROLDA. Goum, Technical Consultant RICHARDP. HINES, Staff Consultant JOSEPHM. FELTON,Assistant Staff Consultanl DENIS C. QUIQLEY, Publicatiom Clerk I1 FOREWORD Days, weeks, months, and years of the space a e clock on. Note- worthy events in space science and technology ifash by at an ever- accelerating rate. Many events appearing of current importance be- come less so with the passage of time, whde others emerge slowly as the signxcant milestones align themselves into the dynamic patterns of progress. Our comprehension of the meaning of astronautics to the future of mankind is likewise a growing thing. The great breadth of the social, political, economic, and strategic impact of man’s nascent steps to explore his universe must not be ignored. Yet all of us tend to become preoccupied with our problems and reaponsibili- ties near at hand. One of the useful tools to help gain perspective and greater appre- ciation is a chronology of documented events. As current meaning stems from the decisions and progress of the past, so also is the future conditioned by the comprehension and the actions of the present. Prepared from open sources, this chronology has reference value of contemporary utility and will also serve the cause of future historians and analysts. The year 1962 was only the Hth year since the Soviet BPUTNIK opened many American eyes to the early practical significance of space science and technology. Yet it was another spectacular ear in space affairs. The highlights of 1962 were many: the orzital flights of Mercury Astronauts Glenn, Carpenter, and Schirra ; the successful launching of more than 61 American vehicles; the spectacu- lar data-recording flight past the planet Venus by MARINER 11, not to slight RANGER v hitting the moon and the first international satellites, ARIEL I and ALOUETTE. There was the continued contribution of Tiros weather satellites as well as the dramatic first live global telecom- munications achieved by TELSTAR. The rocket-powered x-15 research airplane continued its record-making contribution to the science and technology of manned space flight. Decisions b management and progress throughout NASA[S program also are re-H ected in this chro- nology, not to ignore the mdispensable contributions of other govern- mental agencies, the aerospace industry, and the academic community to the massive research and development effort now well underway. In his address at Rice University on September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy said that this Nation “means to be a leading space- faring nation.” These words sound the challenge for which a response must be fashioned by all Americans. While 1962 was an eventful year, the future of astronautics appears even more stimulating. GEORGEL. SIMPSON,Jr., Assistant Administrator for Technology Utilization and Policy Planning, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. m ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL CONTENTS Page xi1 vi1 1 12 27 46 67 93 114 136 169 206 228 257 285 299 306 PREFACE A chronology is not a full-fledged history. But this chronology is a necessary beginning of the historical process of documentation, analysis, and verification concerning the activities, problems, and accomplishments of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra- tion and its academic, industrial, governmental, and international partners in the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all mankind. This historical report was prepared from open, public sources. Science and technology in today’s world are essentially indivisible. Space-related efforts by the De artment of Defense and the military services, as well as inhrnationaP items of a non-NASA character, have therefore been included to help retain a valid historical context. Any effort by a free society also manifests considerable public discussion and policy comment, the inclusion of which was considered pertinent to meaningful presentation of known events in the science and tech- nology of space exploration. The NASA Historical Staff appreciates the generous sup ort by various NASA offices and centers as well as by members of the E‘storical community in compilation of this report. Astronautical and Aeronautical Events of 1962 is supplemental to Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1915-60, published by NASA (GPO, Superintendent of Documents), as well as Aeronautical and Astro- nautical Events of 1961, a NASA Historical Report published in 1962 by the House Committee on Science and Astronautics. Appendix A: “Satellites, Space Probes, and Manned Space Flights-1962, ” com- piled by Dr. Frank W. Anderson, Jr., Assistant NASA Historian, is a continuation of Appendix A in both of the above chronologies. pendix B : “Chronology of Major NASA Launchings, 1958-62, originally drafted by Mr. Robert Rosholt, provides a useful catalog not previously available. Compilation of this chronology involved the entire NASA Historical Staff mth Mrs. Helen T. Wells carrying the major draftin and edi- torial responsibilities. Appendix A was launched by Mgr. Alfred Rosenthal, Historian of the Goddard Space Flight Center, while NASA Center historians at Launch Operations Center, Manned Space- craft Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center also made their mark in this preliminary report. Incompleteness, perhaps errors, either by commission or omission, may require further gutdance by history-makers and scholars. Com- ments and criticism are welcomed by the NASA Historical Staff at any time. EUGENEM. EMME, NASA Historian (AFEH). VZI JANUARY 1962 January 1: National Bureau of Standards and U.S. Naval Observa- tory increased the standard frequency transmissions by 2 parts in 1 billion to allow for higher precision in scientific measurements, radio communications and navigation, and satellite tracking. The United Nations should tax commercial ventures in outer space, the ocean depths, and polar regions to obtain financial support, said Dr. Eugene Staley of the Stanford Research Institute in a memorandum to the United Nations. He also proposed that the U.N. should be given exclusive authority to license and regu- late space traffic and satellites relaying telephone and television signals. January I:Army announced installation of new 102-foot antenna near Fort Dix built in conjunction with DOD’S Project Advent, one link in development of a microwave radio-relay system for global communications using active-repeater satellites in a 22,300- mile-hi h orbit. Walter gahn of General Electric’s Defense System Department was named NASA’sDirector of Management Analysis Division. January 3: NASA announced that Mercury Mark I1 spacecraft would be named “Gemini,” after the third constellation of the zodiac featuring the twin stars Castor and Pollux. Gemini would be a two-man spacecraft used in development of the rendezvous technique, would be 50% larger than the Mercury capsule, and launched into orbit by a Titan I1 booster. e Mercury capsule installed on top of Atlas booster preparatory for MA-6 manned flight; it was also reported from Cape Canaveral that 6rst American orbital manned flight was now unofficially scheduled for January 23. e Vice President Johnson sent a congratulatory telegram to members of the OSCAR amateur radio satellite team: “For me this project is symbolic of the type of freedom for which this country stands- freedom of enterprise and freedom of participation on the part of individuals throughout the world.” OSCAR I was launched with DISCOVERER xxxv~on December 12, 1961. e Dartmouth College announced new graduate program leading to a doctorate in the field of molecular biology. January 3-10: Soviet cosmonaut, Major Gherman S. Titov, visited Indonesia at the personal invitation of President Sukarno, was then scheduled to go to Burma. Janmry 4: Announced at the Manned Spacecraft Center that a large “innertube” or “flotation collar” may be used to keep Mercury capsule afloat after a water landing. Collar would be installed by Navy frogmen. Astronaut Alan B. Shepard took part in proving tests conducted on Chesapeake Bay. 1 2 ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 January 4: NASA announced contract with the University of Texas to design and build a radio antenna at the Balcones Research Center to be used in making radiation measurements of the moon and planets. It would be 16 feet in diameter and operate effectively at 30,000 to 150,000 megacycles.
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