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

ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1982 85
make direct samplings of noctilucent clouds (clouds of unknown
origin, faintly luminous, which appear in certain regions of the
auroral zone).
May 23.- May 24 was declared a day safe from major solar flares for
Mercury-Atlas 7 launch attempt by the Sacramento Peak Ob-
servatory of the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories.
In regular press conference, President Kennedy answered a question
on the possible US.-U.S.S.R. cooperation in space because of
recent progress in formulating a joint proposal for the use of
satellites for weather analysis: (‘We felt the best place to start
was on weather, and any progress we can make on that would be
very welcome. I must say that we strongly support any cooper-
ative effort we could make on weather, predictions of storms, and
all of the rest, and I hope it will lead t,o other areas of cooperation
in space.”
In testimony on proposed Federal salary reform before the House
Post Office and Civil Service Committee, NASA Administrator
James E. Webb stressed the requirements of the national space
program for adequately paid scientific and technical personnel in
government. He pointed out that one third of NASA’s personnel
were professional scientists and engineers, one third skilled crafts-
men and research mechanics and their supervisors, one eighth
were engineering and scientific technicians, and one sixth were
clerical and secretarial. The remainder were professional-level
specialists in management, legal counsel, librarians, editors, etc.
Mr. Webb said that in considering pay raise legislation (H.R.
10480) the Federal Government must be able to compete favor-
ably in the nation-wide labor market and that present salaries
must be raised to have ‘(reasonable comparity” outside of Gov-
ernmen t .
USAF launched a satellite with a Blue Scout booster, from Point
Arguello; according to U.N. Public Registry, did not achieve
orbit.
Congressman John J. Rhodes (Ariz.) polled his district, receiving
5,000 replies to a series of current questions. To the question-
“Are you in favor of United States-Russian space cooperation?”-
the response was: 19% said “Yes”; and, 70% said “No.”
May 24.- AURORA 7 with Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter (Cdr., USN)
as pilot, launched on MA-7 orbital mission by Atlas booster from
Cape Canaveral, the second US. manned orbital flight and the
fourth US. manned space flight. Almost faultless countdown,
launch was delayed only briefly by ground fog, and Mercury
spacecraft was placed into orbit at 17,532 mph (apogee: 167.4
miles; perigee: 99 miles; period: 88.3 minutes). Astronaut
Carpenter performed series of space science and technical de-
velopment experiments including visual and photographic ob-
servations of star fields and “white particles,” consumption of
solid foods, release of tethered multi-colored balloon to test
sighting, and observation of separated Atlas booster. 81,200-
mile flight featured attitude stabilization and control pilotage for
completion of three orbits, and monitoring of control-systems
fuel for proper retroh attitude. Re-entry caused landing im-
pact point over 200 miles beyond intended area and beyond
radio range of recovery forces. After landing, Carpenter egressed