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

182 ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962
within the last year. “Although the Soviet Union has never
announced it, it is a fact that the Soviet Union itself carried out
high-altitude nuclear tests during its series which began a year
ago this month.”
Sqtember 11: U.S.S.R. delegate to the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space expressed approval of a subcommittee’s
recommendation to establish an international sounding rocket
launching base on the gcoinagnetic equator. U.S. delegate
Pliinpton welcomed the Soviet position.
National Research Corp. had determined that certain micro-organisms
may be able to survive such space environment effects as
temperature extremes and ultrahigh vacuum, in first phase of
study program sponsored by NASA. Five known laboratory
strains of micro-organisms were subjected to simulated space
conditions for five days, and certain species were found to be
“highly resistant” to temperature and ultrahigh vacuum effects.
Future studies would consider heat and ultraviolet solar effects
and gamma irradiation.
0 Congressman Victor Anfuso (N.Y.), speaking before the Pan American
Management Club at Cape Canaveral, said:
“Recognizing the very significant contrast between our mission
in space and that of the Russians, we must do three things:
“1. Convince the world that our venture into space is a peaceful
one-to bring back benefits which will create a world of abundance,
making war and strife among nations unnecessary. . . .
“2. We must, at all costs, achieve dominance in all phases of
space exploration for our own security and that of all peoples of
the earth.
“3. Wp must establish freedom in space and invite all nations
of the world, having a contribution to make, to join our efforts.
(‘TO accomplish all these three things requires an all-out effort
on our part-a mobilization of all our resources-sacrifices on
the part of Government, business, industry, and labor. . . . ’7
0 AEC reported that KIWI B-IB reactor had been damaged recently
during its experimental ground test series with a static-power
run at the Nevada Test Site. Further analysis would be required
to determine exact cause and extent of the malfunction.
United Auto Workers and International Association of Machinists
unions in Los Angeles announced they had set September 22 as
strike date against 4 aerospace companies-North American
Aviation, Inc., Lockheed Aircraft Corp. , General Dynamics
Corp., and Ryan Aircraft Co. President Kennedy warned that
such a strike, involving nearly 100,000 workers, “would seriously
set us back in space exploration and would imperil the Nation’s
defense.”
In interview in Yugoslav Government newspaper Borba, Soviet
Cosmonaut Gherman Titov said U.S.S.R. was planning fligbt to
the moon in 1965. “If some problem arises and a solution is not
found immediately, the time is extended.”
0 NORAD announced Soviet manned spacecraft VOSTOK 111 and IV
crossed the North American continent 70 times during their
double orbital trips August 11-14. NORAD space detection and
tracking system tracked the flights for 112 earth orbits.