Dec 29 1964
From The Space Library
The first of three giant Pegasus satellites arrived at NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center. A Saturn I space vehicle (SA-9) would launch the 3,200-lb. satellite into an orbit visible from earth and ranging from about 310- to 465-mi. altitude, sometime in the first quarter of 1965. Primary mission of the Pegasus satellites would be to use its 2,000 sq. ft. a capacitator panels to measure, record, and transmit back to earth data on the frequency, size, direction, and speed of meteoroids in near-earth space. This information would be important to development of manned and unmanned spacecraft. (KSC Release 227-64)
The first Apollo spacecraft adapter was delivered by Army CH-47A helicopter from Tulsa, Okla., to NASA Manned Spacecraft Center - Florida Operations at Merritt Island. The 4,000-lb., 22-ft.-dia., 28-ft. long, cone-shaped unit structurally simulated the adapter section that Would house the Apollo lunar excursion module (LEM) on its trip to the moon. It would undergo tests to determine whether the mechanical fit was adequate, if sufficient access was provided to perform service and checkout of the LEM, and to determine its compatibility with test facilities and ground handling. Helicopter was chosen over other forms of transportation because of the awkwardly large diameter of the section. (KSC Release 227-64)
Soviet radio astronomy expert Iosif Shlovsky said at a symposium on 1964 science conducted by Tass news agency that the biggest success of 1964 in world astronomy Was an experiment by Dr. Herbert Friedman of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The experiment showed that a large region of the Crab Nebula produced x-ray radiation. Data obtained by Friedman with an Aerobee rocket launched July 5 from White Sands Missile Range "established how the flux of x-ray radiation coming from the Crab Nebula changed when the moon passed between it and the rocket," Shklovsky said. Some scientists had attributed the radiation to a tiny, superdense "neutron star." But observations from the rocket as the moon shut off direct view of the Nebula showed that a larger area was involved. (AP, Balt. Sun, 12/29/64; Sullivan, NYT, 12/19/64, 3)
NASA Flight Research Center requested bids for construction of a high-temperature heat facility at Edwards, Calif. The completed facility would include enough test area to permit heat load testing of actual aircraft of the size of the XB-70 and the proposed supersonic transport. It could produce temperatures up to 3,000° F on small isolated areas of the test aircraft; large areas could be heated up to 600° F. The contract would be administered by the U.S. Army Engineers. (FRC Release 33-64)
Successful first flight tests at Dallas of XC-142A V/Stol transport aircraft that could take off and land vertically were conducted by Ling-Temco-Vought. Initial hover flights were held to an altitude of five feet. Design plans called for the aircraft to attain speeds of 430 mph. Its wings could be tilted upward while the fuselage remained level. Thrust from the engines would lift the plane off the ground to a desired height; the wings could then be tilted back in place for conventional flight. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/30/64)
Navy radar operators at Patuxent Naval Air Station, Md., reported the sighting of two highspeed unidentified flying objects which approached the base at a speed of approximately 4,800 mph, executed a tight turn, and disappeared. (AP, Phil. Jnq., 1/6/65)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
