Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1963

618 Pages·2007·17.59 MB·English

NASA SP-4004
A S T R O N A U T I C S A N D
A E R O N A U T I C S , 1 9 6 3
Chronology on Science,Technology, and Policy
Prepared by the NASA Historical Staff,
Office of Policy Planning
Scirntrfic and Tccbnrcal Informatron Drsrsron 1964
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Washington, D.C .

FOREWORD
The National Aoronautics and Space Act defined the national effort
in the exploration of spacethe largest, most complex research and
development effort ever undertaken. It also provided for the continu-
ation of the long tradition of research in aeronautics begun under the
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
During the past five years, an immense effort has been set in motion.
That this effort has borne fruit is evidenced by the events of the years
since the passage of the Act, some of which are recorded in the pages
that follow. These events constitute at least a partial record of the
raw material which is giving shape to the space effort. In some in-
stances, they represent the growth of space technology and equipment :
improvement in the percentage of successful launches; the develop-
ment of large boosters capable of supporting larger payloads in more
complex missions. The overall increases in reliabdity, sensitivity, and
accuracy of equipment are all signs of the increasjng breadth and
depth of our knowledge of the requirements for space fight. In othw
instances, these events portray our increasing capacity to explore both
the near and far reaches of spaca and to benefit from knowledge gained
by exploration. Though our knowledge has increased at a dramatic
rate, the demand for new information-which has become such a
pressing demand for practical reasons, for defense urposes, and as
part and parcel of the persistent human drive to ino w-threatens
~~~sc._n_~~n kc --+&r;ln thn c*innl-.
p "*I" ""PY'J
The wide range of events recorded here portray the wide scope of
this tremendous scientific undertaking. But perhaps even more indic-
ative than the variety of events, is the broad social, economic, and
political impact of the many projects and programs. For instance,
Professor Frederic Seitz, President of the National Academy of Sci-
ences, said recently that there was no part of university activity re-
lated to science and technolog "which is not involved in a funda-
mental way in the space effort. Or, in another field, we note that by
the end of 1963, some 65 political entities were cooperating in our
international space program.
These are developments, perhaps trends, which are emerging as the
S ace Age becomes more and more a part of the Nation's daily life.
TEeir parts are recurded here as past, but, more importantly, they are
also prologue.
HUQHL . DRYDEN,
Deputy Administrator.
m

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PREFACE
This chronology of the sixth -par of the space age was prepared
from open public sources. Like its annual ancestors, it was intended
to R rovide a compilation of known events related to the scientific,
tec nological, organization and policy aspects of space exploration
and exploitation. Although its index is a ready vehicle for informa-
tI;olra+i.entryit was not conceived as historical assessment. It pro-
vides a comprehensive listing of the growing welter of events in their
own date and place. The pace and complexity of the challenging and
sometimes dramatic endeavor as man learns and masters nature
beyond planet Earth is at least chronicled in a useful form. Hope-
fully, it provides some of the much-needed perspective for most
readers, many of whom are undoubtedly as breathless as contempo-
rary historians.
In the re aration of Astrmautks and Aermutics, 1963, Mrs.
Helen T. beis carried major responsibilities for drafting and edit-
ing. The entire NASA Historical Staff read? screened, and digested
available source materials and comments, including Dr. Frank W.
Anderson, Jr., Miss Molly Holme, and Miss Sara Corbett. The index
w&s drafted by Miss Nanc Ebert (ATBP). Indispensible contribu-
tions were made by the LT edicated overtime work of Mrs. Dema
Nappier (AFEE-I) A. as well as Center Historians and monitors, in
particular David Akens (MSFC), James Grimwood (MSC), Robert
iviuiac (LaRcj, an4 Aifreci Eosenthai jasmj. Lioyci Iiobbins and
Creston Whiting (ATBB-T) were unfailingly helpful in translation of
Russian materials. Many busy scientific and managerial personnel
were generous in their comments on preliminary drafts.
“Satellites, Space Probes, and Manned S5 a ce Flights-1963,” Ap
pendix A of this volume, was prepared by r. Frank W. Anderson,
Jr., Assistant NASA Historian, carrying on the annual operational log
compiled for previous years. Appendix B, “Major NASA Launchings,
1963,” adds another year to the NAEA Historical Report which now
EUGENME. Emm,
NASA Eistorian (ATPH)
Office of Technology Uti2ization and Policy Planning.
VII
JANUARY 1963
Janumy I: Effective this date, the International Code would desig-
nate all orbiting artificial satellites and sR ace6 ro bes with Arablc
numerals (1963-1, 1963-2, etc.) rather t an reek letters (1963
,
Alpha, 1963 Beta., etc.) National Academy of Sciences announced.
New system had been agreed upon by all national members of
COBPAR in May 1962. ( NAS Release)
NASA Ames Research Center was assigned direction of future Pie
neer space probes, first of which would be launched in 1964.
Newly created Space Sciences Div. would direct scientific aspects
of the project. (San Jose News, 1/1/63)
Walter C. Williams and J. C. Elms assumed duties as deputy direc-
tors of NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, under M ~ CD irector,
Dr. Robert R. Gilruth. Williams, formerly M ~ ACs sociate Di-
rector, became Deputy Director for Mission Requirements and
Flight Operations; concurrently he was named Director of Flight
Operations in NASA OfEce of Manned Space Flight. Elms was
appointed MSC Deputy Director for Development and Programs,
with primary management responsibility for spacecraft develop-
ment. (MSG Roundup, 11/28/62,1)
Sen. Robert S. Kerr (D.-Okla.) died of heart attack in Wash-
ington. He had been Chairman of Senate Committee on Aero-
nautical and Space Sciences since January 1961. (Wash. Post,
1/2/63, Al)
January 2: Washington Post quoted informed DOD oFciais as saying
USAF was considering converting Skybolt development program
into project for exploring antisatellite problems or for use in
space probes. (Wash.P ost, 1/3/63, a9)
Contract awarded to RCA Services Company to create the sun's inten-
sity in two space environmental chambers. The largest chamber
would measure 120 ft. high and 85 ft. in diameter; it would house
the Apollo vehicle, consistinf i of command, service, and lunar
excursion modules. The sma er chamber, measuring 85 ft. high
and 65 ft. in diameter, would house the Apollo command module
and provide the space environment for astronaut training. (Fact
Sheet #96, MMJ)
January 3: Both U.S. communicationssatellites, TEMTAR I and RELAYI ,
came to life. TELSTAR I, silent since Nov. 23, responded to signals
sent by Bell Telephone Laboratories; later in the day, RELAY I,
silent since first being orbited Dec. 13, responded twice to
television test patterns sent from New Jersey and Maine.
.
(Wash.P ost, 1/4/63, Al)
NASA was tentatively plannin to extend one-day MA-9 flight of
Astronaut Leroy Gordon &ope! (Maj., USAF) from 18 to 22
orbits (27 to 34 hours), John Fmney of iVem Yo& Times re-
1
2
ASTRONAUTICS AND AEHONAUTICS, 19 6 3
ported. Scheduled for April 1963, MA-9 would be last flight in
Project Mercury. (NYT Co., Atlanta Constitution, 1/3/63)
January 3: Rep. Bob Wilson (R.-Calif.) speaking for Republican
Party’s Advisory Committee for Space and Aeronautics, charged
Kennedy Administration had failed to build a strong military
space program and recommended USAF be given authority to un-
dertake an immediate military .space program with priority over
NASAm’sa nned lunar landin% program : “Very little of the hard-
ware developed by NASA can e used militarily. But the Kennedy
Administration tends to lead the public to believe that the oppo-
. . . .
site is true [NASA projects such as Mercury and Apollo]
could no more be converted to competitive militwy space systems
than could a Liberty ship into an aircraft carrier or a truck into
a tank . . . .” (AP, Boston Herald, 1/4/63)
British sources reported US. would disclose details of its space
launch vehicles to European Launcher Development Organiza-
tion (ELDO) in exchange for cooperative work on joint space
projects. (Manchester Guardian, Wash. Post, 1/3/63)
January 4.: TELSTAR I communications satellite transmitted 10-min.
television pictures across. the Atlantic, the satellite’s first trans-
atlantic transmission since Nov. 23 when radiation damaged on-
board circuits. Eugene S. O’Neill, director of satellite communi-
cations for Bell Telei h one Laboratories, said BTL scientists
“tricked TELSTAR’S deco ers into receiving commands” by chang-
ing the command signals slightly. Remote-control repair mas
performed after BTL constructed laboratory model of TEWTAR I
with its faulty circuits and experimented with it to devise cor-
rective signals. ( UPI, Wash. Post, 1/5/63 ; AP, Wash. Eve. Star,
1/5/63, A1, A3)
MARINER 11 ceased transmitting scientific data to earth. The space-
craft was 5.7 million mi. beyond planet Venus and 54.3 million
mi. from earth. This was new commuiiications record, previous
record having been set by PIONEER v n-hich in 1960 stopped trans-
mitting scientific data at 17.7 million mi. and position signal at
22.5 million mi. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 1/5/63, A3)
U.S.S.R. unannounced launching (1963 1-A, 1-C), with fragments
re-entering from Jan. 5 through Jan. 11. Launch re orted by
GSFC in Satellite Sittiation Report, June 15, 1963. ~ S F CSa t.
Sit. R t., dune 15 1963)
Soviet ifkdemy o? Sciences announced that Soviet scientists had
successfully bounced first radar signals off planet Mercury. Per-
formed last summer when Mercury was 52-54 million mi. from
earth, experiment was credited with confirming value of the
Astronomical Unit calculated in 1961 by US., U.K., and U.S.S.R.
using Venus as radar target. Eberhardt Rechtin of JPL called
Soviet Mercur achievement “another significant step in radar
exploration 0; the solar system.” (AP, Wash. Eve. Star,
1/5/63, A3 ; Sun Francisco Chronicle, 1/5/63)
President Kenneth S. Pitzer of Rice Univ. announced establishment
of a Dept. of Space Science, first of its type. Headed by Dr.
Alexander J. Dessler, new department would offer study in eo-
magnet ism, dynamic characteristics of interplanetary space, fan