Sep 13 1963
From The Space Library
SYNCOM II and RELAY I linked Rio de Janeiro and Laos, Nigeria, in 20-min. voice conversation, first operation employing both communications satellites in single communications circuit and world's first three-continent telephone conversation. Signal began from USNS Kingsport in Lagos harbor, then to SYNCOM II, which sent it to Lakehurst, N.J., ground station, then by overland wire to Nutley, N.J., ground station, then to RELAY I overhead which sent it to Rio de Janeiro ground station. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center engineers monitoring the conversation declared quality of transmission to be good. (GSFC Release G-17-63; AP, Wash. Post, 9/14/63; N.Y. Herald Trib., 9/14/63)
NASA issued procedures on decontamination of lunar-landing spacecraft and planetary-landing spacecraft, based on recommendations by NAS-NRC Space Science Board made public this date. Because sterilization procedures employed on previous Ranger lunar spacecraft-particularly heat cycle were suspected of directly contributing. to Ranger mission failures, NASA lowered decontamination requirements for current Ranger spacecraft. It was now only required that microbes on Rangers be "reduced to a minimum." Regarding lunar probes, Space Science Board said: ". . . The lunar surface with its high temperatures, intense ultra-violet radiation, paucity of moisture, and high vacuum is a most unfavorable environment for proliferation of terrestrial organisms . . . ." It recommended U.S...... minimize contamination to the extent technically feasible . . . [and develop] a sterile drilling system to accompany an early Apollo mission to return an uncontaminated sample of the lunar subsoil . . . ." NASA Procedures for Mars landing missions required that space- craft be sterilized and that this decontamination be effectively achieved without jeopardizing spacecraft reliability. Regarding Mars probes, Space Science Board said: ". . . The contamination of Mars through the impacting of non sterile probes from the Earth could destroy an opportunity to carry out a meaningful search for life forms on Mars with remote detectors. This opportunity is unique and its loss would be a catastrophe . . . ." It recommended U.S. ". . . accord the highest priority to the prevention of the biological contamination of Mars until sufficient information has been obtained about possible life forms there so that further scientific studies will not be jeopardized . . . ." (NASA Release 63-200; NAS-NRC Release; NAS-NRC Space Probe Sterilization)
Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter disclosed seeing twin tails on one side of sun's corona during solar eclipse July 20. The twin-tailed corona did not appear in photographs Carpenter made of the eclipse while flying in DC-8 jetliner with other scientific observers. (O'Leary, Houston Post, 9/14/63)
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center had begun training NASA's 16 astronauts in techniques of water and land parachute landings. In preparation for safe parachute landings in low altitude abort during Project Gemini launching, astronauts were towed to heights of 400 ft. suspended under pre-inflated canopy, then cut loose for free descent to earth. Towing was by power boat for water descents and truck for land descents. (MSC Release 63-151)
NASA Lewis Research Center awarded a $48,131,315 contract to Aerojet-General Corp. for redefinition of Snap-8 Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power) development program. Snap-8 is designed to provide 35 kilowatts of on-board electric power to future spacecraft. (Lewis Chronology, 8)
USAF announced most promising and practical method for protecting spacecraft against meteoroids appeared to be the "particle wall" concept: a layer of tiny metallic particles trapped by an electrostatic field would be used to cover surface of the spacecraft, absorbing impact of space particles. Study of this concept was completed by Fundamental Methods Associates, for AFSC Research Technology Div. (DOD Release 1233-63)
Air Force Association presented Astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper the David C. Schilling trophy for the year's most significant aerospace achievement m field of flight-his 22-orbit Project Mercury space flight MA-9. (MSC Space News Roundup, 9/18/63,8)
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