Mar 5 1962
From The Space Library
USAF B-58 Hustler bomber claimed 3 transcontinental speed records after a Los Angeles-to-New York-to-Los Angeles nonstop flight: round trip, 4 hrs. 42 min. 12 sec.; west-to-east, 2 hrs. 1 min. 39 sec.; east-to-west, 2 hrs. 15 min. 12 sec. Flying most of the way at 50,000 ft. and at an average speed of 1,044.3 mph, the B-58 trailed a 40-mile-wide sonic boom along the ground in its wake. Crew was: Capt. Robert Sowers, pilot; Capt. Robert MacDonald, navigator; and Capt. John Walton, defense systems operator.
U.S. reported to the United Nations that a total of 72 U.S. space vehicles and associated objects were in orbit around the earth as of February 15.
Department of Defense has issued a directive providing for closer and more effective cooperation between DOD and NASA, DOD's Deputy Director of Research and Engineering John H. Rubel told the Senate Aeronautical and Space Committee. The directive gave the USAF authority to work with NASA on all levels for purposes of coordinating efforts and exchanging technical information but reserved to DOD the responsibility for establishing new programs and assigning military support to NASA.
Tiros weather satellites have been of major assistance in improving forecasts for airline operations. Mr. Silvio Simplicio, supervising forecaster at New York International Airport, said: "We can do a job nowadays we never thought we could do years ago . . . With the aid of the Tiros satellites we never had it so good, and with the Nimbus meteorological satellite now undergoing tests, we expect even better results." NASA selected American Telephone and Telegraph Co. as contractor for system engineering support for the manned space flight program. It was estimated that some 200 specialists would be available under the contract for quick fact-finding in regard to critical decisions on the complex program.
Caledonian Airlines DC-7 with 111 persons aboard crashed near Douala, Cameroon, the worst single aircraft disaster in civil aviation history.
March 5-7: NASA Wallops Station, Va., suffered storm damage first estimated in excess of $1 million as a result of high seas accompanying series of severe storms. Facilities of the main base on Wallops Island unused by NASA were Subsequently opened to house evacuees from Chincoteague and surrounding areas.
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