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

272 ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1 9 0 2
consumer. In designing, building, testing, and flying space
hardware we are searching for and creating new materials,
lubricants, manufacturing processes, and techniques. We are
stressing miniaturization, quality control, and foolproof automatic
operation over long periods of time. We hope that many
of these new products and new techniques can be put to good use
on earth as well as in space and that the benefits they yield for
business and the American consumer will eventually pay a
substantial portion of the cost of the space program. We do
not know what new products or uses may develop from space
activities of the next few years. But we are hoping that businessmen
throughout the country will be watching closely for profitable
possibilities. And this is one way in which close contacts between
business and the scientific community will pay off. The university
can act as a transmission belt to make this accumulation
of new technology available to industry . . . .
December 18: USAF launched unidentified Blue Scout space probe from
Point Arguello, Calif.
* USAF Atlas ICBM exploded shortly after launch by SAC crew at Van-
denberg AFB on training mission. USAF spokesman said no one
was injured and no facilities were damaged.
December 19: NASA announced Ranger 6 lunar spacecraft would not
be launched but would, instead, be subjected to “an exhaustive
test program . . . intended to achieve the high reliability re-
quired for Ranger lunar missions.” Improvements resulting from
test program would be incorporated in Rangers 7-9, launching of
which would be delayed “several months.” Revised schedule
was based on recommendations by Board of Inquiry headed by
Cdr. Albert J. Kelley (USN), Director of Electronics and Control
in NASA Office of Advanced Research and Technology. After
intensive one-month study of Ranger system Board concluded
that “certain improvements could be made in Ranger spacecraft
design, construction, systems test and checkout which could con-
tribute to increased flight reliability.” Kelley board, ap ointed
by NASA Space Sciences Director Dr. Homer E. Newel 7 after
RANGER v flight, consisted of officials from NASA Hq., five NASA
field installations, and Bellcom.
U.S. Weather Bureau announced development of infrared spectrom-
eter, to be flight-tested in new balloons during next six months.
The 100-lb. “flying thermometer” was planned for use in Nimbus
weather sat ellit es.
NASA Flight Research Center announced it had received A-5A
(A3J) aircraft from USN for use in its supersonic transport re-
search. The “Vigilante” would be used primarily in study of
problems in terminal area of air-traffic control operations.
Working closely with FAA officials, FRC engineers would plan and
conduct supersonic flights of Vigilante on assigned Federal air-
ways and into high-air-traffic-density areas; the flights would
provide basis for formulation of control plans necessary for safe
operation of future commercial supersonic aircraft.
e Titan I1 ICBM fired from Cape Canaveral in successful 5,000-mi.
flight down AMR, DOD announced. R&D flight was “designed to
further test the missile’! propulsion and guidance system in
flight,” announcement said.
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