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

ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 217
manned lunar flight technique would be made soon. Of the lunar
orbit rendezvous (LOR) method, he said: “We in NASA have
already reached the firm conclusion that this is the best, cheapest,
most reliable and quickest way to reach the moon. . . . The
final decision has not been made, but in the meantime, we are
proceeding with the lunar orbit rendezvous approach.”
October 16: Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert, addressing
National Rocket Club, asserted : “Developing the right kind of space
program is a continuing job in the Department of Defense. . . .
The difficulties encountered do not relate to problems of principle.
The problems are questions of specifics. There are tough de-
cisions of choice to be made. We have to weigh effects on other
activities, make careful estimates as t.0 time, determine rates and
select the projects to be pursued. . . . The current rate of invest-
ment in space by the Department of Defense reflects our best
judgment as to which projects are dictated by specific iequire-
ments and those which should be carried on for general develop-
ment purposes. . . . As projects become more precisely defined
and funding and time estimates can be firmed, and as require-
ments become clearer and more specific, then efforts are focused
on those most pressing and most promising. . . . 11
October 16-17: U.S.S.R. successfully fired new multistage rockets
approximately 7,500 mi. to target area in the Pacific, according
to Soviet news agency Tass.
October 16-22: International Rocket Week, with more than three
dozen nations participating in intensive cooperative study
Octo Brogram.
er 17: U.S.S.R. announced successful launch of COSMOS x into
earth orbit (apogee, 208 mi. ; perigee, 126 mi.; inclination, 65’
from the equator; period, 90.2 min.). Tass said the satellite’s
many scientific instruments to measure radiation and other spatial
conditions were functioning normally.
0 NASA postponed Ranger (5) launch because of weather at Cape
Canaveral.
Among the 22 scientists and engineers honored at Franklin Institute’s
Medal Day ceremony, Philadelphia, were: Dr. Wernher
von Braun, co-recipient of an Elliott Cresson Medal for his
contributions to design and development of liquid-propellant
rocket engines; Dr. James G. Baker, co-recipient of a Cresson
Medal for his contributions to design of cameras for satellite
tracking and aerial mapping; Dr. Wilbur H. GOSS, recipient of
Howard N. Potts Medal for engineering designs and technical
supervision leading to development of first successful supersonic
ramjet; and DI. Charles H. Tomes and Dr. Arthur L. Schawlow,
recipients of a Stuart Ballantine Medal for their concept of an
operable solid-stage, optical maser.
0 Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director of NASA Marshall Space Flight
Center, predicted U.S. will have as many as 24 men operating a
moon station within a decade.
USAF Minuteman missile was destroyed after eight seconds of
flight, in silo launch at Cape Canaveral.
Soviet news agency Tass reported Soviet scientists had developed
instrument to photograph any object by its own invisible thermal
radiation. .
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