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

ASTRONAUTIC& AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 223
were pending. Revised patent policy was designed to promote
widespread use of space inventions by industry and the public.
October 26: Third high-altitude nuclear test of Operation Dominic
was conducted by U.S. near Johnston Island in the Pacific. The
sub-megaton bomb was carried to estimated altitude of between
30 and 40 mi. by Thor missile.
New York Times reported a 300-ft.-diameter radiotelescope at
National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, W. Va.,
had recently detected in one day as many radio si nals from
Jupiter as smaller instruments have recorded in a mont fit . Source
of Jupiter’s long-wave radio signals was still unresolved.
October 27: EXPLORER xv energetic particles satellite (S-3b) placed
in orbit by Thor-Delta vehicle launched from Cape Canaveral.
Initial orbital data: apogee, 10,960 mi.; perigee, 193.7 mi.;
period, 315.3 min.; inclination, 18.02’ to the equator; velocity
at apogee, 6,015 mph; velocity at perigee, 21,598 mph.
Launched to study artificial radiation belt created by U.S.
high-altitude nuclear explosion in July, the 98-lb. satellite was
similar to EXPLORER XII and EXPLORER XIV which successful1
measured energetic particles of natural radiation belts. d
though satellite achieved orbit within predicted estimated range
it was spinning on its axis about 10 times faster than the planned
10-rpm rate. Unnamed spokesman said: “We have a high
spin rate. It may well be that we’ll receive acceptable data
from the main experiments, with some secondary experiments
not able to function. . . . We won’t know for certain until
we have made a thorough study of data over a period of days.”
EXPLORER xv carried experiments on magnetic field, ion-electron,
electron flux, and distribution in pitch angle of electrons; trans-
mitter; optical attitude sensor; and solar cells, including solar-cell
damage experiment. Launching marked 13 th successful satel-
lite-orbitin by NASA-developed Delta vehicle.
r
Dr. Hugh L. % ryden, NASA De uty Administrator, was among five
Government career men seected for 1962 Rockefeller Public
Service Awards.
0 AEC announced two US. nuclear test explosions-one in atmosphere
near Johnston Island and one underground in Nevada-and a
Soviet test in the atmosphere near Novaya Zemlya.
Eleven per cent of national budget is spent for research and develop-
ment-more than twice the combined investment in research of
industry and nonprofit institutions, New York Times reported.
October 29: Aerobee sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops
Station carried 230-lb. payload to 116-mi. altitude before land-
ing in Atlantic Ocean 59 mi. from launch site. Flight tested
performance of three photometers developed for use in Oao
(Orbiting Astronomical Observatory) satellite to be launched
by NASA in 1964. Other instrumentation obtained data from
the comparatively young stars Gamma Cassiopeia and Delta
Persei, for use in star-evolution study being conducted by Uni-
versity of Wisconsin. Launch was under management of NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists disclosed they were conduct-
ing radar exploration of Venus. Data obtained by the experi-