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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1261.PDF
363FUG. 7 Sep1961 Titov's-eye view: the above photographs of the surface of the Earth, taken by Maj Herman Titov while in orbit in "Vostok 2," were released by Tass on August 29. Right, looking through the porthole of the optical orienta- tion instrument aboard the spacecraft Missiles and Space flight EXPLORER 12 HARD AT WORK An embarrassingly large amount of information was transmittedcontinuously by the instruments aboard Explorer 12, the energetic- particles satellite launched into orbit on August 15, during the twoweeks following that date. Periodic acquisition of data by ground stations was planned to begin on September 1. Revised orbital data announced by the National Aeronautics andSpace Administration for Explorer 12 include: perigee, 180 miles; apogee, 47,800 miles; inclination, 33.3 ; period, 26hr 25min.The estimated lifetime of the satellite is one year. EXPLORER 13 BRIEFLY IN ORBIT Explorer 13, a NASA satellite designed to investigate the nature of micrometeoroids and their effects on space flights, was successfully launched by Scout vehicle from Wallops Island on August 25. In addition to placing the satellite in orbit, the second major objective of the launch was to study the performance, structural integrity and environmental conditions of the Scout vehicle and guidance-control system. The orbit achieved was first reported to have a perigee of 175miles and an apogee of 606 miles, inclined to the equator at 36.4 . Orbital period was 97.27min. Later, however, NASA reportedthat the satellite had re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on August 28, indicating that the initial perigee was lower than first reported.The payload weighed 1871b, including 501b spent fourth stage and 121b transition section, and comprised a 76in cylinder, 24in indiameter. The surface ,was virtually covered with five types of detectors exposed to micrometeoroid impact and penetration. This spacecraft control simulator, mounted on an air-bearing, is being tested at the Chance Vought plant at Grand Prairie, Texas EVEN BIGGER SOLID FIRED Aerojet-General Corporation achieved a spectacular step forwardin the keenly contested battle to win large contracts for giant solid motors when, on August 26, they fired the largest such motor yetbuilt in the West. Propellants have not been divulged, but the configuration of the four sections of which the charge wascomposed was a typical six-lobe star-centre. The charge weight has been given as 75, 78 and 80 short tons. The motor casewas just over 30ft in length and 8ft 4in diameter, and a single fixed nozzle was employed. One of the photographs shows the motor being fired, on a (" Missiles and Spaceflight " news is continued on page 406) Explorer 12 progress is reported on this page. The picture below shows the 831b satellite prior to launch at Cape Canaveral
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