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

ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 221
America. RcA-developed equipment using higher radio frequencies
would penetrate the blackout sheath 99 per cent of the
time during which it engulfed a spacecraft.
October 24: USAF Cambridge Research Laboratories reported its 150-ft.
radiotelescope at Sagamore Hill Observatory, Hamilton, Mass.,
would be ready for operation in early 1963. Telescope would be
among three largest radiotelescopes in U.S., the others being one
operated by Stanford Univ. at Palo Alto, Calif., and one by NRL
at Chesapeake Beach, Md.
White House memorandum asking U.S. news media to use “caution
and discretion” in handling information regarded by DOD as vital
to national security during the Cuban crisis. All military commands
had been ordered not to release such information, memorandum
said, but “such information may come into the possession
of news media.”
A single communications satellite in stationary equatorial orbit
could connect 92 per cent of world’s telephones, Dr. Herbert
Trotter, Jr., president of General Telephone & Electronics, Inc.,
told US. Independent Telephone Association in Chicago.
Launching of DOD geodetic satellite Anna was postponed indefinitely
for undisclosed reasons.
0 Scientists at Lockheed-Georgia Co. and Georgia Tech announced
development of method to prevent space vehicle disintegration
upon atmospheric re-entry. New method involved coating the
vehicle with liquid refractory (heat resistant) materials: Refractory
materials in powder form were mixed with inert gases at
temperatures up to 40,000” in spray gun. Heat turned the materials
to liquid, which could be sprayed on the foundation metal.
AEC announced a second 24-hour postponement of high-altitude
nuclear test in the Pacific, for technical reason.
October 25: At annual NASA awards ceremony, NASA Administrator
James E. Webb presented Group Achievement Awards: to four
groups at NASA Manned Spacecraft Center’s Assistant Directorate
for Engineering and Development, Preflight Operations Division,
Mercury Project Office, and Flight Operations Office; and to
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Directorate for Tracking and
Data Systems. NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Hugh L.
Dryden presented Exceptional Scientific Achievement Awards
to Robert E. Bourdeau and John C. Lindsay, both of NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center. NASA Associate Administrator Robert
C. Seamans, Jr., presented Outstanding Leadership Awards to
Maxime A. Faget, Assistant Director for Engineering and Development,
MSC; George B. Graves, Jr., Assistant Director for
Information and Control Systems, MSC; George M. Low, Director
of Spacecraft and Flight Missions, Office of Manned Space Flight ;
and John W. Townsend, Jr., Assistant Director for Space Science
at GSFC.
0 Maj. Virgil I. Grissom (USAF) was first astronaut to pilot paraglider
in test at Edwards, Calif., in development tests for Gemini
manned spacecraft landings, Xi te-like paraglider was towed
aloft by biplane and released to glide downward. Maj. Grissom
landed the partiglider upright, although the craft’s nose wheel
crumpled upon hitting the ground.