Astronautical and Aeronautical Events of 1962 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 105
moon. X-rays expected from the moon were blanketed by much
stronger source in general +inity of constellation Scorpius.
Analysis of data from sensors indicated the radiation is in form
of soft x-rays that do not penetrate earth’s atmosphere below
50-mi. altitude. Data also seem to indicate the sensors may have
detected a second x-ray source on the galactic rim. AFCRL
planned a second rocket flight for October to verify results of
this experiment.
June 18: Aerospace Research Pilot School began a seven-month course
to train seven Air Force and one Navy officers for future space
missions and projects. This was the second space-training course
given at Edwards AFB, Calif., but the first for potential “opera-
tional” gersonnel.
At Sevent Military-Industry Missile and Space Reliability Sp-
posium at San Diego, Gen. Bernard A. Schriever (USAF) stated
that it had become clear that “performance has outstripped
reliability in a number of areas” and that this “imbalance”
needed correction since “overaU systems effectiveness implies
considerably more than performance.” He pointed out that
AFSC had attacked this problem by setting up reliability offices in
AFSC headquarters, in each of the four development divisions, and
in the three contract management regions. Representatives
from each of the offices serve on the Reliability Task Force to
achieve AFsc-wide focus and action. The publication of Military
Specification (~1~-~-27542) on “Reliability Requirements for
Aerospace Systems, Sub-systems, and Equipments” replaced
previous documents and as a standard section in all new systems
contracts ensures the “greatest possible understanding between
the Air Force and industry with regard to specific reliability requirements.”
Gen. Schriever ointed out that quantitative
reliability figures were being inc P uded in system ince tion docu-
ments (SOR’S and OSR’S) . Over the long term, researc and training
of personnel include reliability considerations.
June 19: TIROS v launched into orbit by Thor-Delta booster from
Cape Canaveral, faulty guidance system placing it into elliptical
orbit (apogee: 604 mi.; perigee: 367 mi.; period: 100.5 min.)
instead of 400-mi. circular orbit. Cloud-cover pictures transmitted
to tracking station at Wallops Station on early orbits were
of excellent quality. TIROS v was expected to chart the ori n,
formation, and movement of hurricanes, typhoons, and 04 f er
storms during the August-September peak tropical storm penod.
In speech to the National Rocket Club in Washington, George LOW,
NASA’S Director of Spacecraft and Flight Missions, outlined the
three methods of manned lunar missions (direct, earth-orbit
rendezvous, and lunar-orbit rendezvous) and indicated that a
NASA decision would shortly be forthcoming as to which would be
used in the Apollo rogram.
Mercury Astronaut &rgd I. (Gus) Grissom was presented the
General Thomas D. White Space Trophy by Secretary of the
Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert, at the National Geographical
Society in Washington.
In his presentation remarks, Secretary Zuckert said: “. . . The
National Aeronautics and Space Administration carries responsi-
bility for the development of space technology and, in company
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