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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 2416.PDF
662 FLIGHT, 28 October I960 Missiles and Space flight First photograph of Robot 322, a Swedish research missile with rocket booster and twin ramjet sustainers, on its launcher. A producf of the Royal Swedish Air Board, this missile has presumably been overtaken by that country's order for Bloodhounds ADVICE FOR BRITAIN The possibility of using Earth satellites for communications isbeing discussed at a series of technical meetings in the United States between British government officials and members of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration, Defense Depart- ment and private companies. The British team's visit began lastSunday and was expected to last three weeks. Led by Maj-Gen Leslie de Malapert Thuillier, assistant secre-tary in the Cabinet office and former War Office Director of Telecommunications, the British party includes four GPO officials,Mr J. R. U. Page of the Ministry of Science; Mr F. E. J. Girling, Mr A. G. Earl and Mr C. Williams of the Ministry of Aviation; MrF. A. Kitchen of the Admiralty; and Gp Capt A. Foden and Mr C. F. Sutton of the Ministry of Defence. LONG-DISTANCE CALLS The American Telephone & Telegraph Company requested USgovernment permission on October 21 to place a communications satellite in orbit "within a year." This would provide experi-mental transmission of telephone calls, television and other types of communication between the USA, Britain and the Europeancontinent, and would be the first commercial satellite. Mr Henry T. Killingsworth, company vice-president in chargeof long-distance service, said: "We believe the commercial appli- cation of satellite communications is a job for private enterprise.This new project is still another indication of our readiness to take on that job and pay our own way." In applying for thenecessary permission the company said it was now prepared to contract for the launching of the satellite and to proceed withconstruction of ground transmitting and receiving stations. The project would be financed and operated by the company inco-ordination with telephone services abroad. No immediate esti- mate of the total cost involved was available. Mr Killingswonh said: "We expect the initial satellite will becapable of transmitting up to about 35min some three or four times a day—-co-ordinated with the satellite passes over the Earthstation areas. The satellites would act as microwave towers in the sky, performing the same boosting and transmitting functionsas the microwave towers of our radio relay system on the ground." SOVIET POLARIS-TYPE SUBMARINES According to a statement by Mr Kruschev on October 20, th«.-Soviet Union now possesses atomic-powered submarines capable, of firing missiles. The occasion was a report delivered in Moscowby the Soviet premier on his recent visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and followed a reference to"a note ... in the American Press that the Pentagon had decided to send submarines armed with rockets with nuclear warheadswhich would cruise in the Baltic Sea close to the shores of the Soviet Union. "American generals and admirals cannot but know," MrKhruschev went on, "that our country also has submarines with atomic engines armed with rockets." BIG BOOSTERS ON THE BOARD Three US companies have been selected by NASA to carry outpreliminary design studies on "super-size" solid-fuel boosters for vehicles weighing between 1,000,000 and 7,000,0001b, with boosterthrust levels from two to three times the vehicle weight. The firms are Aerojet General Corp, Grand Central Rocket Co andthe Thiokol Chemical Corp. Grand Central will study and design a solid first stage forvehicles in the one-million-pound class; Thiokol a first stage for a seven-million-pound vehicle; and Aerojet General stages forvehicles in both these categories. Largest solid-fuel stage flown to date in the United States is the Algol first stage of Scout, whichweighs over 22,0001b and develops approximately 115,0001b. These new studies, which will cover a six-month period at atotal cost of some $225,000, follow two general investigations into the performance of large solid-propellant boosters completed lastyear for NASA by Lockheed Aircraft Corp and the Aeronutronic Division of Ford Motor Co. As well as specific designs for first-stage solid-propellantboosters, the three firms will also complete general designs of liquid-fueled upper stages where necessary to obtain realisticvehicle performance. Details of unit and development costs, fabrication methods, logistics and methods of mating to upperstages are to be included. The three companies will co-ordinate their studies with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center atHuntsville. SCOUT CONTRACT ANNOUNCED A six-million-dollar contract has been awarded to Chance VoughtAircraft Co as prime contractor for the Scout launch vehicle system. This was announced last week by the National Aeronauticsand Space Administration. Scout development began at NASA's Langley Research Centerin mid-1958. Under Langley management, Chance Vought was the contractor for launch-tower fabrication and manufacture ofairframes and motor transition sections. Under the new arrange- ment, Langley will retain technical direction of the vehicle. Chance Vought's responsibilities as prime vehicle contractorwill include final assembly and launch. Individual guidance and control packages will be shipped to the company at Dallas, Texas,where the four stages will be assembled for final testing and acceptance. The four constituent rocket motors—Algol, Castor,Antares and Altair—will continue to be made available as "Government-furnished equipment." The third Scout launch, the first in which an orbital shot willbe attempted, is expected to be made before the end of the year. A varied spread of aerials at Cape Canaveral. At Receiver Building No 2 on the north side of the Missile Test Annex, these aerials are used to receive tracking data and telemetry from missiles and spacecraft launched down the Atlantic Missile Range. The big dish on the left is a TLM-18 steerable reflector, one of two used at the Cape. The other will be employed in connection with the Project Mercury manned- satellite programme
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