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

252 ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1 9 62
November 26: Closed-door sessions of the 13 directors of Communica-
tions Satellite Corp. were reported in Drew Pearson’s column,
discussions on the revolution in communications made by satel-
lites and the international complications involved.
J. G. Morse of Martin-Marietta Corp. told Atomic Industrial Forum
in Washington that the Government should begin immediately
to develop nuclear power systems for communications satellites.
Morse suggested that only nuclear power in form of radioactive
chemical or isotopic generators could satisfy communications
satellite needs-systems in power range of 60 to 300 watts, with
operational lifetimes of more than 10 years.
Soviet scientist Nikolai Semyonov, writing in Pravda, noted that
many U.S. corporations had applied-science laboratories and
U.S. universities had laboratories devoted to pure science. ((. . .
This is profitable for them inasmuch as it is university science
which gives them, in the main, those fundamental Scientific
results which supply the laboratories of corporations, and through
them,. production.” Mr. Semyonov’s article was in support of
Premier Khrushchev’s order that Soviet research institutions be
developed on an industry basis.
November 27: Aerobee 150A sounding rocket launched from White
Sands Missile Range, N.M., in NASA experiment to gather data
on solar radiation intensity in ultraviolet region. Rocket carried
spectrophotometer package to 124-mi. altitude. Preliminary
experimental results: “High voltage arcing in the instrumenta-
tion prohibited collection of scientific data. . . .
9,
Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, Assistant Director of Lunar and Planetary
Programs, NASA Office of Space Sciences, was appointed chairman
of Joint Working Group of NASA Office of Space Sciences and
Office of Manned Space Flight. Group would be responsible for
(1) recommending detailed program of scientific exploration in
future manned flights; (2) defining information desired from
unmanned flights to support manned flights; and (3) establishing
and maintaining close liaison with NASA field centers, other
Government agencies, and universities in development of inte-
grated scientific program for manned flight. Dr. Shoemaker had
been employed by U.S. Geological Survey as Chief of Astrogeology
Branch in Menlo Park, Calif.
Experimental new method of producing synthesis of chemicals with
low-energy ions was reported by Rocket Power, Inc., a solid-
propellant manufacturer. Milton Farber, vice president and
director of laboratories, and Dr. Stanley Singer, chief chemist,
indicated several new compounds had been produced. Mr.
Farber said the ion-synthesis method could produce rocket
propellants perhaps 10 per cent more efficient than any now
available in US. (‘The key is the speed of the ions. If the beam
of ions meets the target chemical at too high a rate, shattering
occurs. By controlling the velocity of the ions, they can be made
to merge with the chemical, creating a new compound.” Research
project was sponsored by USAF OAR.
Representative Chet Holifield, Chairman of Joint Congressional
Committee on Atomic Energy, declared in speech that “moon
madness” is starving scientific programs other than space ex-
ploration. He predicted budgetary troubles for atomic energy
programs because of “greater priority” of space programs.