Mar 11 1963
From The Space Library
U.S.-U.S.S.R. negotiations began in Rome on technical details of a three-year agreement signed at Geneva in June 1962, for exchange of data to be gained from separate satellite launchings. Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, Deputy Administrator of NASA, headed U.S. scientific delegation, and Prof. Anatoli A. Blagonravov of the Soviet Academy of Sciences headed the Russian delegation. Joint space research program would include coordination on meteorology and communications studies, and charting of the earth's magnetic field. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/11/63, A3)
RELAY I communications satellite was turned off because of severe drain on the onboard power supply, a difficult similar to that encountered during first week after launch. Power drain was encountered March 9 after RELAY I's orbit had been in earth's shadow for five weeks and spacecraft temperatures were low. When satellite was exposed again to constant sunlight, a Voltage regulator switch became too hot to operate properly and power drain occurred. NASA and RCA engineers were hopeful that onboard batteries could be recharged by power from solar cells during period of rest. Between January 3 and March 9, RELAY I had operated successfully in about 500 communications experiments, including first Voice, facsimile, and teletype links Via satellite between U.S. and South America. (NASA Release 63-54)
14-16 months' additional slippage of Rover nuclear rocket program due to engineering and materials problems in Kiwi nuclear reactor reported by Missiles and Rockets. Dr. Harold B. Finger, Manager of AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office (SNPO), was quoted as saying procurement difficulties were encountered because Rover lacked DX priority. No decision would be made to request a DX priority, he said, until results were obtained from the component test and evaluation program. (M&R, 3/11/63, 14-15; R-2, Stein and Morgan )
NASA and French National Center for Space Studies (CNES) jointly announced signing of Memorandum of Understanding for a cooperative U. S.-France program to investigate propagation of VLF electromagnetic waves. First phase of the program would consist of two electromagnetic-field experiments with French-instrumented payloads to be launched from NASA Wallops Station. Second phase, to be implemented upon mutual consent that Phase I had proved the experiments to be scientifically and technically feasible, would consist. of orbiting of scientific satellite, designed and built by France, with a Scout Vehicle. (Memo of Understanding; NASA Release 63-49)
Unnamed Administration official confirmed cutback of USAF's X-20 program to R&D level of effort, Missiles and Rockets reported, and USAF proposed to NASA that X-20 be covered by same joint-management agreement as Project Gemini. (M&R, 3/11/63,14)
NASA announced signing of $387,900,000 contract with Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. for development of lunar excursion module (LEM) of the Apollo spacecraft. Contract provided that Grumman, on cost-plus-fixed-fee basis, would design, fabricate, and deliver nine LEM ground test vehicles and 11 LEM flight models, and also would provide certain operational support. election of Grumman for LEM contract negotiations was announced Nov. 7, 1962. (NASA Release 63-51; MSC Release 63-49)
FAA announced award of $24,132 study contract to General Electric Co. Valley Forge Space Technology Center to "(1) analyze all data ... on natural conditions at high altitudes that could be hazardous to aircraft, (2) consider SST [supersonic transport] design and operational factors, procedures, and equipment in the light of this data, and (3) recommend further paths of inquiry in this area." Study was part of broad SST research program being conducted by FAA, DOD, and NASA. (FAA Release #26)
Bidders' conference for Voyager design-study contracts held at NASA Headquarters. Unmanned Venus and Mars probe, Voyager "is predicated on the fact that this country is serious in exploring planets in detail for a manned flight to the planets," NASA Deputy Director of Space Sciences Edgar Cortright was reported to have said. (Space Bus. Daily, 3/13/63,309)
Senator Clinton Anderson (D.-N.M.), Chairman of Senate Committee on Aeronautics and Space Sciences, questioned NASA FY 1964 request of $55 million for space communications research. He indicated he would oppose spending Federal funds to support research that would ultimately benefit Communications Satellite Corp. and would question the incorporators about possible overlapping of spending. (Space Bus. Daily, 3/12/63, 305)
Senator Warren Magnuson, Chairman of Senate Commerce Committee, in nomination hearings on incorporators of Space Communications Corp., said that the corporation would have no bearing on decisions regarding NASA research in communications satellites, but that NASA would have responsibility to justify continued communications research as being in the National interest. (Space Bus. Daily, 3/12/63,305)
Winners of NASA Certificates of Outstanding Achievement at 12th annual Tidewater Science Congress, Norfolk, Va., were announced by Floyd L. Thompson, Director of NASA Langley Research Center. Awards were made to high school students for their exhibits in six fields of science and were in addition to regular Tidewater Science Congress prizes. Mr. Thompson said this marked beginning of annual NASA awards program in conjunction with Tidewater Science Congress and at regional fairs in four states. (Langley Release)
At 17-nation disarmament conference stymied in Geneva, Soviet Ambassador Semyon K. Tsarapkin said: "The U.S. knows very well that the Soviet Union can carry out nuclear explosions on the other side of the moon. The U.S. therefore proposed a ban on tests in outer space, but without any controls or inspections of rocket launchings or any other inspections whatsoever." This showed, Tsarapkin explained, that the U.S. demands for on-site inspections of earth tremors were made for purely political reasons. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 3/11/63, A4)
OAR issued Basic Research Resumes for 1961 and 1962 which classified and indexed 2,500 USAF research projects. (OAR Release 3-63-5 )
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