Sep 3 1965
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (2MB PDF)
Nike-Apache launched from Wallops Station to peak altitude of 95.3 mi. (153.1 km.), Purpose of flight, second of a series of two, was to compare five ionospheric plasma probes, using stable ionosphere as a laboratory, to evaluate the probes and check relevant theories of probe operation. Little scientific data were obtained; the nosecone did not eject and only one antenna deployed. (NASA Rpt. SRI.)
U.S.S.R. launched COSMOS LXXX, LXXXI, LXXXIII, and LXXXIV into orbit with a single booster. Initial orbital data: COSMOS LXXX, apogee, 1,552 km. (963.3 mi.) ; perigee, 1,356 km. (842 mi.) ; period, 115 min,; COSMOS LXXXI, apogee, 1,556 km. (967 mi.) ; perigee, 1,385 km. (860.2 mi,) ; period, 115 min.; COSMOS LXXXII, apogee, 1,563 km. (971 mi,) ; perigee, 1,410 km. (876 mi.) ; period, 115 min.; COSMOS LXXXIII, apogee, 1,569 km. (975 mi.) ; perigee, 1,438 km. (893.1 mi,) ; period, 116 min,; COSMOS LXXXIV, apogee, 1,574 km. (978 mi,) ; perigee, 1,467 km. (911.1 mi,) ; period, 116 min. Inclination for all five satellites was 56°, One of the satellites was powered by a radioactive isotope, but Tass announced that full measures had been taken "to preclude the possibility of the radioactive isotope contaminating the atmosphere or the surface of the earth," All onboard equipment was functioning normally. (Tass, 9/3/65)
Second two-stage Dragon sounding rocket launched by France from Skogasandur, Iceland, to 248-mi, peak altitude. Payload was instrumented to study protons and electrons in the Van Allen radiation belt. (AP, NYT, 9/5/65, 48)
In a congratulatory wire to President Johnson, Yugoslavia's President Tito called the GEMINI V spaceflight a "major achievement of American science" and expressed hope that it would "serve peace in the world." (UPI, NYT, 9/5/65, 28)
U.S. and Soviet astronauts had accumulated 19,610,000 accident-free miles-greatest total in the history of transportation-reported the National Geographic Society. A compilation released by the society showed that U.S. astronauts had traveled 10,692,000 mi. and Soviet astronauts, 8,918,000 mi. (UPI, Houston Chron, 9/3/65)
Refined data on Martian atmosphere's density, ionization, and composition, based on analysis of radio signals from MARINER IV during its occultation experiment, were reported by scientists at American Geophysical Union meeting held at Southern Methodist Univ., Dallas, Tex. Martian atmosphere was now thought to be much thinner than previously believed: it now seemed that air pressure at Martian surface was only about one-5,000th that of earth. Theory that Martian atmosphere was more dense at heights of 25 mi, or more above the surface than earth's at comparable elevations was not upheld; observations reported today indicated Martian atmosphere was thinner than earth's at all elevations. Temperature was about -250° at location of maximum ionization in Martian atmosphere (78-mi, altitude, about one-fourth the expected height). In earth's ionosphere, temperature is higher than 2,200° F. Atmospheric composition that would account for the MARINER IV observations, the scientists said, would be largely carbon dioxide. (Earth-based observations of Mars had shown the presence of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.) Only scant amount of carbon dioxide is present in earth's nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere. The scientists making this report were Dr. A. J. Kliore of JPL and Dr. Von R. Eshleman of Stanford Univ. (Sullivan, NYT, 9/4/65, 1, 12)
Paraglider, in its first successful manned free flight, demonstrated it could guide a spacecraft to preselected landing site. Test pilot Donald F. McCusker landed a Gemini-type test craft at Edwards AFB, following a four-and-one-half-minute flight suspended beneath the wing. He put the previously-inflated paraglider and simulated spacecraft through a series of turn and pitch maneuvers enroute to his landing, after being towed aloft by helicopter and dropped at approximate 8,000-ft, altitude, In actual spacecraft recovery, the paraglider would be stored in a ten-cubic-foot canister onboard the spacecraft. After reentry when the vehicle would be slowed by the earth's atmosphere and parachute drogue, the paraglider would be deployed to its full size-31 ft, long with a 31-ft. span-using an onboard nitrogen supply. The astronaut would control his glide through an onboard flight-control system. North American Aviation, Inc, was conducting the paraglider program for NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, studying the feasibility of a controlled earth landing system. (NAA S&ID Skywriter, 9/3/65, 1)
Patent granted to Barnes Engineering Co, on an instrument that could distinguish a rocket flash from a sunset-an important distinction in the automatic tracking of missiles. The invention was already in use at a Government launch site for research in missile development, reported the New York Times. Lockheed Aircraft Co, received a patent for a reentry vehicle designed for more accurate landings than had been made with the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft. Invented by Charles H. Christenson, the craft had wings that could be extended for flight in the atmosphere or folded for launching and space travel. The vehicle's tail section would exert considerable drag after reentry; ring-shaped control surfaces could reduce the drag when extended rearward. (Jones, NYT, 9/4/65, 27)
Speculation that the earth might briefly have had another moon, one of pure iron which disintegrated and fell to earth in a series of fireball showers, was reported in Science, Discovery of a 47-mi.long string of craters and meteorites extending northeast to southwest in northcentral Argentina led scientists to propose that the rare meteorites, consisting of almost pure iron, might be remnants of a single object which had orbited inside the Roche Limit, been torn apart by the gravity of the earth, and fallen from orbit, Perigee of the hypothetical orbit would have been over the latitude of Argentina and inclination would have been about 40° to account for the alignment of the nine craters. (Science, 9/3/65, 1055-1064)
Soviet scientists, writing in the bulletin of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, asserted that a flight to the moon can now be regarded as fully reliable from the medical and biological viewpoint. This conclusion was reached in summing up the results of the medical-biological research carried on in the two Voskhod spaceflights. Careful training and selection of visual reference points in advance helped to offset the anticipated disorientation of spaceflight. (Tass, 9/3/65)
FAA announced allocation of $84.5 million in Federal matching funds for the construction and improvement of 44.5 civil airports under the Federal-aid Airport Program for FY 1966. The program provided for the improvement of 371 existing airports ($74.7 million) and the construction of 74 new airports ($9.8 million), Major emphasis was placed on airports used by the airlines, airports used by general aviation which would relieve congestion at crowded metropolitan airports, and airports used by commercial air taxis. (FAA Release 65-67)
All bids submitted July 21 for surplus Titan/Atlas missile silos were rejected by General Services Administration because they were too low. The silos had cost the Government between $12 million and $25 million each; the highest offer was $26,110 each, GSA said disposal plans were now being reviewed. (AP, NYT, 9/4/65, 7)
“Astronaut Conrad at Start of Flight – In Color the anatomy of the Gemini 5 spacecraft” article in Life Magazine
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