Apr 27 1963
From The Space Library
NASA Administrator James E. Webb said in interview at Princeton Univ. alumni meeting in Washington that first manned flight in Project Gemini would not be made for at least a year. He attributed the slippage to "some difficulty with the utilization of Titan II" and "some problems" with Gemini spacecraft. "No one can forecast now when we will fly Gemini." On subject of Soviet space competition, Mr. Webb said: "With their existing rockets, they will probably be able to do a multimanned flight around the earth a year before we will do that." (Hines, Wash. Sun. Star, 4/28/63)
Titan II missile launched for first time from underground silo, in USAF test from Vandenberg AFB. Re-entry vehicle landed in preselected target area and flight was described as a complete success. (UPI, Wash. Post, 4/28/63, Al)
Robert J. Parks, Director of JPL Lunar and Planetary Program was quoted as saying sterilization of lunar spacecraft no longer appeared necessary, because "intense ultraviolet radiation on the surface of the moon would kill any microorganisms that might be carried up from the earth. If a probe should dig beneath the surface, it is believed there would be no chance of contamination spreading. "These factors, coupled with the present lack of an assured method of achieving sterilization, make it appear that efforts to sterilize Ranger VI may be unnecessary." He emphasized that planetary probes would, however, be sterilized. (L.A. Times, Wash.. Post, 4/27/63)
Explosions at Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory, Rocket Center, W. Va.,. with three men presumed dead and 10 others injured. Explosion occurred in building used for processing chemicals, destroying building and several large trailers. ABL is Navy-owned facility, primarily a research center for solid-rocket propellants, operated by Hercules Powder Co. Cause of explosion was not immediately known. (Wash. Sun. Star, 4/28/63)
Daniel Webster, 20th U.S. Polaris missile-firing submarine, launched at Groton, Conn. (Wash. Eve. Star, 4/27/63)
Wernher von Braun wrote a lengthy memo on this day addressing his knowledge (or lack thereof) regarding Robert H. Goddard's rocketry patents. Von Braun Memo (11MB PDF)
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