November 12, 1962

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SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Self-deploying Space Station Will Support Experiments, Flight Procedures Checkout

First step toward development of a manned earth-orbiting platform will begin early next year with a request for proposals on a six-month detailed design study of a self-deploying space station. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is expected to issue its proposal request in January for the station—which is planned to be operational by 1966 (AW Sept. 10, p. 33) under joint sponsorship of NASA, as project manager, Defense Dept., Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Weather Bureau.

144

Editorial Comment on Pentagon News "Weaponry"

Tulsa Daily World—Nov. 2 The Department of Defense has made a dangerous mistake in its new policy of airtight control on information given to news media. The department is now requiring that any time one of its military or civilian officials speaks to a newsman—in person or by telephone—he must report it to a public information officer by the end of the day.

MISSILE ENGINEERING

Army Fires Sergeant as Field Use Nears

White Sands Missile Range, N. M.— First firing of a tactical configuration Sperry SSM-A-21 Sergeant surface-to-surface missile here under complete control of a U. S. Army artillery unit culminated in the ballistic missile impacting in the target CEP (circular error probability) after a maximum-range flight of slightly over 75 naut. mi. Lt. Col. Frederick Spann’s 3rd Missile Battalion (Sergeant), 38th Artillery, overcame several technical holds to launch the weapon and boost its CEP record.

By Erwin J. Bulban10 min

AIR TRANSPORT

Airline Interest Veers to Plane Mile Cost

New York—Seat mile costs appear to be losing some of their appeal among airline equipment planners as a yardstick of aircraft earning capacity, and more attention is being directed toward plane mile costs. Attitude is especially apparent in discussions about the short-haul jet transport, but also may affect airline views on any aircraft that manufacturers propose for the next major round of orders.

By James R. Ashlock8 min

AVIONICS

Fiber Optic Device Recognizes Signals

Washington—Small device made up of hundreds of vibrating optic fibers which can program itself to recognize a complex audio signal, to discriminate between different spoken words or to detect a sonar target buried in noise has been developed by Sperry Gyroscope Co.

By Philip J. Klass8 min

126

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Indians Supplied By Jet-augmented C-119s

Washington—Indian troops fighting in the Himalayan highlands are being supplied by Fairchild C-119 transports with jet thrust augmentation—the only aircraft in India’s air force that can climb over mountains to areas invaded by Chinese Communists to airdrop heavy cargo (AW Nov. 5, p. 26).

By David H. Hoffman7 min

108

AVIONICS

Space Computer Has High Speed, Capacity

Los Angeles—An unusually high-speed and high-capacity general purpose digital computer intended for a wide range of possible aerospace applications will be introduced at the American Rocket Society’s Annual Meeting and Space Flight Exposition here this week.

By Barry Miller6 min

November 51962

November 191962

November 12, 1962

November 12, 1962

Self-deploying Space Station Will Support Experiments, Flight Procedures Checkout