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

266 ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962
December IO: Aviation Week and Space Technology reported NASA was
considering substituting piggyback satellite for Agena D target
in Project Gemini rendezvous maneuvers. Dr. Joseph F. Shea,
NASA Deputy Director of Manned Space Flight Systems, was
quoted as saying NASA could save both time and money by such
substitution. USAF plans for Blue Gemini project were not yet
firm, pending NASA’s decision. USAB hoped to buy four of NASA’s
12 two-man Gemini capsules for use in its own manned space
flight training using Agena D as rendezvous target for two-man
Gemini crew. DOD had not yet approved any Blue Gemini funds
for FY 1964.
USAF Minuteman ICBM exploded within seconds after launch attempt
from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
US. Army Pershing missile met all test objectives in flight from
Cape Canaveral with pre-programed zig-zag maneuvers designed
to test missile guidance system’s ability to keep the Pershing on
course.
NASA Flight Research Center announced modifications to x-15
(No. 1) had been completed, the modifications providing window
and camera in fuselage for Follow-On Program of high-altitude
research. Camera with window would be used to study optical
degradation resulting from observations through hypersonic
boundary layers and shock waves. This project would begin in
early 1963 and would include first five flights of the 35 flights
planned in X-15 Follow-On-Program, a two-year program
sponsored by NASA and USAF.
December 11: Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara met in
London with British Defense Minister Peter Thorneycroft to
discuss future of Skybolt air-launched missile, among other
defense matters. DOD was considering canceling Skybolt development
because it would be very cost1 to develop, might
not be successful by proposed operationar date of 1965, and
was thought no longer needed in view of Minuteman and Polaris
successes. U.S.-U.K. agreement of 1960 had provided for joint
participation in Skybolt project.
First USAF Minuteman squadron was declared operational, with
20 of the ICBM’s placed in underground silos at Malmstrom
AFB, Mont.
December 12: President Kennedv. back in Washing.ton after insDection
, of defense and nuclear-rocket facilities, said:
“We are going to let these test go on of the [Project Rover]
reactor. These tests should be completed by July. If they
are successful, then we will put more money into the program,
which would involve the Nerva and Rift, both the engine and the
regular machine. We will wait until July, however, to see if
these tests are successful.
“It should be understood that the nuclear rocket will not
come into play until 1970 or ’71. It would be useful for further
trips to the moon or trips to Mars. But we have a good many
areas competing for our available space dollars, and we have to
try to channel it into those programs which will bring us a
I result, first, on our moon landing, and then to consider Mars.”
Unidentified pa load launched by USAF with Thor-Agena vehicle
I
from Vanden t urg AFB.
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