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

ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 111
June-$0: U.S.S.R. announced launching of COSMOS VI into earth orbit
(apogee : 250 mi. ; perigee : 126 mi. ; period : 90.6 min. ; inclination :
49’). As with other unmanned satellites in the Cosmos series
which began on March 16, 1962, COSMOS VI was stated to be n
scientific satellite instrumented to explore radiation and other
hazards to manned space flight.
0 AEC and Columbia University announced the discovery of the
existence in nature of two different type of neutrinos (the smallest
atomic particle) , one connected with mu-mesons, the other with
electrons. Neutrinos were first proposad to explain a loss of
energy not otherwise accounted for.
0 By this date, 57 nations had joined the U.S. to support the develop-
ment of peaceful uses of outer space, uniting with NASA in joint-
flight, flight-support, or training rograms.
0 An estimated 23,000 visitors toure B Marshall Space Fli ht Center
during the “Family Da ” observance of MSFC’S secon birthday.
0 Article in Soviet periodica 9 Ekcnomicheskaya Gazeta stated U.S.S.R.
had 84 All-Union and centralized professional organs, 94 central
offices of technical information at the Councils of the National
Economy, more than 4,000 offices of technical information, 3,000
“homes” and “rooms” of technology at industrial enterprises,
and more than 16,000 scientific and technical libraries. More
than 60,000 eople were employed in this network.
0 During Fiscal gear 1962, ending this date, North American Aviation,
Inc., received highest dollar-value contracts from NASA-
$199.1 million worth of contract awards. Other top contractors
were McDonnell Aircraft Corp., with $68.4 million; Douglas
Aircraft Co., $68.3 million; and Aerojet-General Corp., $66.3
million.
During June: FAA proposed a regulation to restrict firings of the
5,000 amateur rocket clubs in the U.S. Beyond firing safety
precautions, FAA is concerned with airlane safet . Reportedly
some amateur rockets weigh up to 75 lbs. an 2 can reach an
altitude of over five miles.
0 Series of full-scale wind-tunnel tests of VTOL fan-in-wing model
vehicle at NASA Ames Research Center for Army lift-fan flight
research program. Part of General Electric (Cincinnati) research
contract, model and test hardware were fabricated b
NASA, while GE fabricated and tested propulsion s stems inch2
in two lift fans, two diverter valves, and two $ 585 engines.
dnd-tunnel tests proved acceptability of inlet temperature,
control characteristics, transition capability, and aircraft stability.
0 Analysis of six photographic emulsion blocks carried aloft by
DISCOVERER XVIII on December 7, and recovered on December 10,
1960, revealed that inner Van Allen radiation belt dips as low as
180 miles. According to Herman Yagoda of the USAF Cambridge
Research Lab., the production of star tracks and “enders”
energetic protons of the inner belt increased exponentially wit
altitude from 180 up to 340 miles. Thus manned space opera-
tions would probably be restricted to lower latitudes rather than
high inclination orbits because it is not feasible to shield against
the energetic protons of the inner belt with present payload
limitations.
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