May 19 1964
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 1 flown to 196,000-ft. altitude and 3,477-mph speed (mach 4.85) by USAF pilot Capt. Joe Engle in flight to serve as altitude buildup for Captain Engle. The flight also conducted optical degradation studies. (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.; FRC Release)
Two successful tests of parasail landing gear were conducted by NASA and U.S. Army at Ft. Hood, Tex. Army helicopter dropped one-third scale model of Gemini spacecraft from altitudes of about 10,000 ft., the attached parasail maneuvered by radio signals from the ground. (, Houston Chron., 5/20/64)
USAF launched an unidentified satellite aboard an Atlas-Agena D booster from Point Arguello, Calif. (AP, 5/19/64)
MSC began 10-day series of short weightlessness tests with Gemini spacecraft installed inside a KC-135 jet aircraft. Astronaut John Young took part in the tests along with four USAF and McDonnell Aircraft Corp. test pilots. (Houston Chron., 5/19/64)
U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Soviet Academy of Sciences announced signing of exchange agreement providing for each academy to send 55 scientists to the other country for inspection visits, lectures, and cooperative research. This was third such agreement since the General Cultural Exchange Program was begun in 1959. (Finney, NYT, , 5/20/ 64, 4)
General Bernard A. Schriever, AFSC, said in address to National Space Club: "There are three facts about the ballistic missile and space effort which I would like to emphasize: first, it has given us today a substantial strategic superiority; second, it has built a base of experience, facilities, and hardware for the national space program; and third, it provides convincing evidence that trained and dedicated people, who are properly motivated, can work together to achieve something that skeptics consider to be "impossible." .. . "These five factors . . .awareness of the competition, rapid advancement of technology, acquisition of modern research and test facilities, employment of skilled and dedicated people, and use of streamlined methods of management-all of these were vital to the achievements of our ballistic missile and space efforts during the past ten years. The same factors are vital to any future national effort. "One very clear lesson emerges from our ICBM experience, and it is this-we cannot afford to rest on our past accomplishments. Technology is not standing still. It keeps moving rapidly ahead, and we must keep pace with it. We must make use of our past experience as we tackle the challenges of the future." (Text, AFSC Release 45-R-62)
DOD announced Deputy Secretary of Defense had directed military departments and Defense agencies to establish central pool of funds and manpower spaces to be used for long-term education and training of key civilian DOD employees. (DOD Release 395-64)
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