Scrapbook 2: Jun 1962 — Pershing, ESRO, Scott Carpenter, Titan, Saturn
Mercury Capsule Parachute Test Called Success
HOUSTON (AP) — A full-scale model of the Mercury space capsule used by America’s astronauts was successfully parachuted into Trinity Bay here.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Manned Space Craft Center crews directed the operation, designed to improve the parachute system of the capsule. Officials labeled the drop a success.
Spokesmen said a model of the improved Mercury capsule will be dropped in abut 20 days and the remodeled capsule itself will be tested in about a month.
The new capsule will use tetro rockets to lessen the impact. Current capsules use a parachute system.
European Space Talks Under Way in Paris
PARIS (UPI) — The second European space symposium continues here at the headquarters of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The symposium was being organized jointly by the French Aeronautic Society and the British Interplanetary Society, with the support of the Eurospace organization.
First Pershing Missile Unit To Be Organized This Month
WASHINGTON (AP)—The Army will organize its first unit to use the Pershing battlefield nuclear missile by the end of this month.
It announced that the 2nd Missile Bn of the 44th Arty, with a manpower strength of 615 will be formed at Ft. Sill, Okla. Some personnel already have been in training at Orlando, Fla., and Ft. Sill.
The battalion will have four batteries, each battery with one launcher and equipment needed to prepare and fire the 200-mile-plus missile.
The Pershing is a solid fuel, quick-firing missile, designed as a replacement for the present liquid fuel Redstone.
It can be transported on lightweight, tracked vehicles or airlifted by helicopter or in cargo planes. The prime contractor for the Pershing is the Martin Co.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)—A Pershing missile lost thrust during second stage flight and fell into the Atlantic Ocean short of its intended goal of more than 150 miles.
It was the seventh failure in 38 Pershing test firings.
Munich to Display Old V2 Rocket
MUNICH (AP)—The V2 rocket, one of Hitler’s main weapons in the “Blitz” on London during the last war, will be one of the exhibits in a new space and rocket section of the German museum here.
The museum announced that negotiations are in progress for transfer of exhibits, including the V2 rocket, from Stuttgart where they have been stored since an unsuccessful attempt to found a space museum there in 1953.
Six AF Academy Cadets to Test Space Endurance
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UPI) — The Air Force Academy said six cadets have been chosen to spend 15 days testing their endurance under simulated space flight conditions in an experiment which could lead to their selection as astronauts.
The test will be undertaken at Marietta, Ga., by the Human Factors Research Department of Lockheed-Georgia Co.
The cadets will live under conditions similar to a 15-day space flight, with the noise of a missile in flight piped in.
The cadets are Robert Lee Staib of Chicago; Richard Slowik of Belleville, Mich.; Phillip F. Patterson of Richmond, Mo.; Larry D. Springs of Fresno, Calif.; Rupert G. Fisk of Anchorage, Alaska, and Burnham A. Hawthorne of Danvers, Mass.
They were chosen from among 75 volunteers.
U.S. Orbits Satellite
POINT ARGUELLO, Calif. (AP) A satellite was pushed into orbit by an Atlas-Agena B rocket combination Sunday, the U.S. Air Force announced. No other details were released.
NEW TRACKING STATIONS
SYDNEY, Aug. 12.—A group of experts from the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration arrived here today to view possible sites for new space tracking stations in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.—Reuter.
Plan Drawn For Europe Space Probes
PARIS (AP) — Western Europe has taken a giant step toward establishing its own space program.
A dozen nations agreed on a plan calling for rocket probes, satellites and a lunar probe over the next eight years. Under the program, atmosphere-testing rockets will be launched from European pads next year. A small satellite will be put into orbit by 1967 and a large satellite will be sent up in 1969.
Representatives of the countries agreed on the text of the agreement which forms the European Space Research Organization.
The countries participating are France, Britain, West Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
$300 Million Budget
The program has a $300 million budget for the first eight years.
During the first eight years, the program calls for launching 440 rocket probes, 22 small satellites, 8 lunar rocket probes and several large satellites.
A spokesman for the program said that all the rocketry needed will be made in Europe.
Headquarters for the program will be set up in Delft, Holland. The rocketry will be assembled at a research center in Darmstadt, Germany. Laboratories will be set up in many of the participating countries.
One of the program’s first launching sites will be in Sweden about 90 miles from Narvik, Norway.
Astronaut to Give Wings to U.S. Navy
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP)—Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter will give a pair of gold wings he carried with him on last month’s orbital flight to the Pensacola Naval Air Station.
The wings will be presented to Vice-Adm Fitzhugh Lee, chief of Naval Air Basic Training, when the astronaut visits the base.
Navy officials said the wings will be enshrined permanently in the Naval Aviation Museum at the air station.
30 Hurt in Blast At Titan Missile Site in Arizona
RILLITO, Ariz. (AP) — Officials said at least 30 men were injured in an explosion at a Titan missile site near this southeastern Arizona community.
An undetermined number of workers were reported in the silo when the explosion occurred.
Titan officials said the explosion was caused by an electrical short, and that there was a great amount of smoke but apparently no fire in the silo.
Officials said the explosion occurred while they were making a heat and ventilation test in the silo.
Twenty men were rushed to hospital, authorities said.
Saturn Gets ‘Spacy Look’
HUNTSVILLE Ala. (AP) — The Saturn booster rocket — currently the free world’s largest operating space vehicle — is getting a new look.
Something engineers refer to as “spacy-looking” tail fins are being added to the huge rocket. It is one of several design changes being incorporated in a version of the Saturn to be used on the vehicle’s fifth flight.
So far two of the Saturn boosters have been flown in a testing program.
Design changes are being previewed by engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center, where the Saturn is being developed. Full-scale models are being constructed of the Saturn booster’s tail section, forward section, test stand equipment and launch hold-down arms.