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

224 ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 19 6 2
ment, continuing from October 1 for about three months, would
be compared with those obtained by MARINER 11 spacecraft when
it flies in vicinity of Venus.
October 29: NASA officials said five experiments aboard EXPLOREIZ xv
were workinq well but that two others had been adversely affected
by satellite’s excessive spin rate. The two experiments were
designed to determine decay rate of artificially created radiation.
All industry proposals for 210-ft. antenna at Goldstone Tracking
Station were reported rejected by JPL because their prices ex-
ceeded sum allocated for the project. JPL was considering relax-
ing its requirements and requesting bidders to compromise on
price.
W. Randolph Lovelace 11, of Lovelace Foundation for Medical Edu-
cation and Research, told 200 space experts from 14 countries
that scientists would have to volunteer for space flight teams.
“It takes four years of college plus three years or more of further
study to reach the doctor of philosophy level. It is a bit too
much to ask our test pilots to undergo this further training.”
He said that in projects such as two-man Gemini a scientist
could make space flights in company of trained flier. Lovelace
was addressing an international symposium on environmental
problems of man in space, held in Paris.
USAF awarded $75 million contract to General Dynamics/Astro-
nautics for a standardized Atlas space launch vehicle, to be
known as Atlas SLV-III. Contract covered design and develop-
ment of standard space vehicle version of Atlas ICBM, modifica-
tions to launch sites at AMR and PMR, and production and launch
of SLV-111 boosters.
Indonesian scientist Dr. Radinoto said Indonesia hoped to launch
her first space rocket in 1964 for scientific purposes, with aid
provided by U.S.S.R.
AEC announced three Soviet nuclear tests in past two days, two of
intermediate yield and one of low yield.
October 50: MARINER 11 Venus probe passed the earth on 65th day of
its 110-day flight to vicinity of Venus. At that point in its
smaller-than-earth’s orbit, the 447-113. spacecraft was 11.5 million
mi. from earth and traveling at 70,500 mph relative to the sun.
NASA announced realignment of functions within office of Associate
Administrator Robert C. Seamans, Jr. D. Brainerd Holmes
assumed new duties as a Deputy Associate Administrator while
retaining his responsibilities as Director of NASA Office of Manned
Space Flight. NASA field installations engaged principally in
manned space flight projects (MSFC, MSC, and LOC) would report
to Holmes; installations engaged principally in other projects
(Ames, Lam, LRC, GSFC, JPL, and Wallops) would report to
Thomas 3‘. Dixon, Deputy Associate Administrator for the past
year. Previously most field center directors had reported di-
rectly to Dr. Seamans on institutional matters beyond program
and contractual administration.
NASA announced signing of detailed contract with Space and Infor-
mation Division of North American Aviation, Inc., for development
and production of Saturn S-I1 stage. The $319,922,328 con-
tract, largest single contract ever awarded by NASA, covered