Jul 19 1962

From The Space Library

Jump to: navigation, search

NASA test pilot John B. McKay flew X-15 No. 2 in sustained heat test, reaching peak altitude of 84,500 feet and speed of 3,375 mph (mach 5.11) in flight which created an estimated temperature on the leading edge of the wings of 1,100° F for more than a minute, and 1,290° F for a few seconds when leaving and re-entering the atmosphere.

First known antimissile missile interception of ICBM nose cone announced by DOD, the interception of an Atlas nose cone launched from Vandenberg AFB high over the Pacific by a 3-stage Nike-Zeus fired from Kwajalein. Interception of 16,000-mph nose cone by experimental Nike-Zeus was regarded as comparable to a bullet hitting a bullet, although DOD did not state whether physical contact had been made.

Newsmen in London and New York exchanged news items and conversations in the first two-way transatlantic telephone connection via TELSTAR communications satellite. Reuters transmitted its first news report to the world press via satellite.

In Izvestia, Soviet correspondent V. Matveyev said that the background of U.S. satellite TELSTAR showed that progress in the development of productive forces in the U.S. was being usurped by the modern capitalist states in the interests of the monopolies.

In Pentagon ceremony, USAF Chief of Staff LeMay pinned astronaut wings on Major Robert M. White, the first man to fly a winged aircraft, the X-15, into space.

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