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

232 ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1 9 6 2
Emblen Sobotovich, senior scientist at Leningrad Radium Insti-
tute, said meteorites were preserved on Mars for long periods of
time because Martian atmosphere contained almost no moisture,
Tass reported.
November 4: High-altitude nuclear explosion over Johnston Island
ended current US. atmospheric test series. President Kennedy
announced that underground testing in Nevada would continue,
and added: “I hope that in the next months we can conclude an
effective test ban treaty, so that the world can be free from all
testing. . . . We shall devote our best efforts to conclude such
a treaty and hope all othcrs will do the same.”
AEC announced U.S.S.R. conducted atmospheric nuclear test with
intermediate-range yield.
November 5-7: Symposium on Protection Against Radiation Hazards
in Space sponsored by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, American
Nuclear Society, and NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, in Gatlin-
burg, Tenn.
November 5: USAF launched Thor-Agena from Vandenberg AFB, with
unidentified satellite to be placed in polar orbit.
16th of Project Firefly series of high-altitude rocket launchings was
conducted at Eglin AFR, Fla., the two-stage Nike-Cajun rocket
releasing chemicals at about 50-mi. altitude. Chemicals caused
formation of artificial cloud which ground stations tracked to
determine upper atmosphere movements.
Political Committee of the United Nations passed resolution urging
end to all nuclear testing by January 1. No negative votes were
cast; 25 nations abstained, including U.S., U.K., France, U.S.S.R.
and Soviet-bloc countries. Similar resolution, proposed by U.S.
and U.K., emphasized need for international control to enforce
a test ban; it was adopted 50-12, with 42 members abstaining.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center announced award of $12 million
worth of contracts for tracking-network modification in prepara-
tion for lengthy manned space flights. Contracts were awarded
to : Canogo Electronics Corp., for tracking antenna acquisition
aid systems; Radiation, Inc., for digital command encoders;
Collins Radio Corp., for RE’ command systems; and Electro
Mechanical Research Corp., for PCM systems.
Space chimp Enos died at Holloman AFB, of a form of dysentery
resistant to antibiotics. Enos had orbited earth two times Nov.
29, 1961, on MA-5 flight.
Dr. James B. Weddell of North American Aviation Space and In-
formation Systems Div. announced development of new technique
to predict solar flares up to 35 days in advance with 70 per cent
accuracy. Dr. Weddell announced his new forecasting technique
at symposiuni on radiation hazards, Gatlinburg, Tenn., cospon-
sored by NASA, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and American
Nuclear Society.
United Technology Corp. announced development of new technique
for throttling rocket engines involving use of helium mixed with
liquid fuel. Depending on ratio of gas to liquid, the engine will
exert either more or less thrust; system would permit throttling
of an engine of 10,000-lb. thrust down to as low as 100 lbs. UTC
director of research and advanced technology, William J. Corco-
ran, pointed out that a practical method of throttling liquid
rocket engines had never before been attained.