Aug 6 1963
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. announced COSMOS XIX had been placed in orbit (519-km. apogee, 270-km. perigee, 92.2-min. period; 490 angle of inclination to equator). (Tass, Pravda, 8/7/63, 1, AFSS-T Trans.)
Tracking and data acquisition operations ceased for OSO I (Orbiting Solar Observatory), launched March 7, 1962. (GSFC Historian, 8/14/63)
In hearings on H.R. 7381, bill to modernize dual-compensation and dual-employment laws, conducted by House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, NASA Administrator James E. Webb testified "The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is strongly of the opinion that the proposed legislation should be enacted (1) to permit the Government to capitalize on certain skills, competence, and experience in the areas of aerospace science and technology possessed by a sizable group of military personnel who have completed their service careers, and (2) to correct certain inequities in the present statutes pertaining to the Government employment of these personnel. "Many of the abilities and skills and much of the knowledge valuable to NASA are possessed by certain military personnel who have been closely associated with missile and military space programs and aeronautics. Collectively, this body of men, educated and skilled in aerospace science and technology, represents a reservoir of knowledge and experience which constitutes a national asset of inestimable value. Unless this limited group of specialists can be attracted to remain in the Government, this asset will not be available directly to the Government's space program. As of August 5, 1963, 227 active duty military officers are detailed to NASA by the Department of Defense . . . ." (Testimony)
License granted by the Atomic Energy Commission for operation of low pressure, low power (100 kw) Mock Up Reactor to Plum Brook Station of NASA Lewis Research Center. The MUR would be used to determine the effects of experiments on the radiation flux in the core of its high-power twin, the Plum Brook 60-megawatt reactor. Also, experiments requiring low-level nuclear bombardment would be run in the MUR. (Lewis Chronology, 3) )
NASA announced preparations for dual launching of satellites with Scout launch vehicle late this year. Under contract to NASA Langley Research Center, State Univ. of Iowa would provide Injun satellite containing instruments to record corpuscular radiation streaming into earth's upper atmosphere from space. The other satellite, a 12-ft. inflatable sphere to measure air density, was being built by LaRC. The two satellites would be launched into near-polar orbit from PMR. (NASA Release 63-170)
Communications Satellite Corp. announced selection of American Telephone and Telegraph Co., Hughes Aircraft Co., and Radio Corp. of America to study multiple access techniques for communications satellites. Each company would study different approach and provide ComSatCorp with specific data on existing types of equipment for engineering information so that ComSatCorp could choose design of first operational commercial comsat system. (ComSatCorp Release)
Weather conditions forced postponement of NASA pilot Joseph A. Walker's 68-mi. altitude flight in X-15. Flight was made Aug. 22. (UPI, NYT, 8/7/63)
DOD plans to orbit its first two experimental satellites for detecting nuclear tests in outer space reported by New York Times. The Project Vela satellites, under jurisdiction of DOD's Advanced Research Projects Agency, were expected to be capable of detecting unshielded nuclear tests as small as 10 kilotons and as far away as 180,000,000 mi. from earth. To be launched this fall, satellites would orbit earth at 50,000-60,000 mi. (NYT, 8/7/63, 12)
Raytheon Co. announced appointment of D. Brainerd Holmes as senior vice president, effective Oct. 1. (NYT, 8/6/63,8)
Dr. M. Samuel White named Federal Air Surgeon of Federal Aviation Agency by FAA Administrator Najeeb E. Halaby. (FAA Release 63-73)
Second anniversary of Titov's orbital space flight in VOSTOK II, Pravda using occasion to announce the cosmonaut and his wife were expecting the birth of a baby. (UPI, Wash. Daily News, 8/7/63)
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