Jun 22 1965
From The Space Library
MARINER IV spacecraft was functioning well on its mission to Mars, but the public should not "expect too much" from the photo. graphs of Mars it was scheduled to take July 14, NASA scientists said during a press briefing. It was conjectural whether the 21 photo. graphs the Mars probe would take would be clear enough to disprove or verify the theories held by some scientists that there are canals and some form of life on Mars, Scientists who would study the photo. graphs pointed out that 21 pictures would only enable them to see 1% of Mars. Nevertheless, any pictures of the surface would be far superior to the best observations now obtainable with earth-based telescopes. The first few photographs might be made public immediately after being received, but the others probably would not be released until they had been studied for weeks or months. (Transcript, Sehlstedt, Balt. Sun, 6/23/65; Hill, NYT, 6/23/65, 7)
X-15 No. 2 flown by pilot John B. McKay (NASA) to 155,900 ft, altitude at maximum speed of 3,938 mph (mach 5,64) to obtain data on star tracking cameras, landing gear modification checkout, stability and control and advanced X-15 landing dynamics. (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.; X-15 Flight Log)
The GEMINI IV spacecraft's onboard computer that failed toward the end of the GT-4 flight was working well in ground tests. It would be tested under simulated orbit conditions to determine if the problem might have been in the inertial guidance system. (UPI, NYT, 6/22/65, 36; Phil, Eve. Bull, 6/22/65)
Two Nike-Apache sounding rockets launched two sodium vapor trail experiments from Wallops Station, Va, as part of NASA's upper atmosphere meteorological research program. Vapor trails were ejected through a region 40 to 124 mi, above earth. One rocket was fired on an azimuth of 90° (due east) and the other on a 130° azimuth (southeast) so that the sodium trails were in the same altitude region at about the same time but several miles apart to provide data on wind behavior variations over a lateral distance as well as at various altitudes. (Wallops Release 65-38)
President Johnson nominated Astronauts Walter M. Schirra (USN) and John Young (USN) for promotions. Commander Schirra was nominated for captain and Lt. Commander Young for commander. Each had received his current rank in 1961, before the space flights. All the original astronaut team had now been promoted. (AP, Wash. Post, 6/23/65, Al2)
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