Feb 27 1963
From The Space Library
Leonard Jaffe, NASA Director of Communications Systems testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics: "During fiscal year 1963 the feasibility of using active communications satellites to relay television, telephone conversations, teletype, facsimile, and data over transoceanic distances has been demonstrated with Telstar and Relay .... Aside from these demonstrations, which have public appeal, and are necessary to show that our satellites perform as we say they do, hundreds of engineering tests have been performed, the results of which will enable the United States to design better satellites and ground stations for an operational, global communications satellite system. In addition, we have accumulated a considerable amount of radiation data, and have obtained better information on the damage to solid state components, such as solar cells, transistors and diodes, from which we will profit in the design of all kinds of satellites in the future . . . ." (Testimony)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched at Wallops Station carried 65-lb. instrumented payload to 94-mi. altitude in experiment to obtain measurements of electron density profile, electron temperatures, and solar radiation in ionosphere. Test was part of continuing NASA program conducted by Goddard Space Flight Center to study ionosphere. (Wallops Release 63-20)
First Block II flight configuration of Saturn I space vehicle, SA-5, was static-fire for 33 sec. at Marshall Space Flight Center, developing full 1.5 million lbs. of thrust. All objectives of the firing were met. (Marshall Star, 3/6/63,1)
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