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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0219.PDF
FLIGHT International, 8 February 1962 221 Missiles and Spaceflight RANGER 3 IN SOLAR ORBIT The Ranger 3 lunar probe launched on January 26 from Cape Canaveral is now in orbit around the Sun in a trajectory having the following characteristics, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration: perihelion, 91,503,314 miles; aphelion, 108,133,854 miles; period, 406.439 days. The Goldstone tracking station in California transmitted a terminal-manoeuvre command to the spacecraft at 11.52 a.m. EST (4.52 p.m. GMT) on January 28, at which time the craft was approximately 31,000 miles from the Moon. An "execute" com mand was sent 30min later, whereupon the Ranger carried out three main manoeuvres which had the effect of turning the craft so that its base and the vidicon camera system were pointed at the Moon. At 12.45 the protective lid covering the vidicon lens was swung out of the camera's field of view, and this operation was reported by telemetry. At 12.52 the attempted television transmission of lunar pictures was started, with the spacecraft performing all its functions perfectly, with one exception. This exception was the failure of the spacecraft's mechanism to reposition the high-gain directional antenna to keep it pointing at the Earth. Because of this, the television signal was received at Goldstone with a great reduction in signal strength. During the 41min before Ranger 3 passed below the horizon from Goldstone, "a signal was received at Goldstone but the vidicon data in the signal was so overcome by noise, caused by the weak character of the signal, as to render the vidicon data meaningless." All other systems aboard Ranger 3 had seemed to be working well. No attempt was made to release the lunar landing capsule, 'since the spacecraft was too far from the Moon to perform a meaningful experiment." The spacecraft passed the Moon at a speed of 4,188 m.p.h. at its closest point of approach (22,862 miles) at 6.23 p.m. EST on January 28. It then left the Moon behind and started into its heliocentric orbit. For a period of a few weeks it was hoped that tracking of the Ranger would be possible by means of signals from the lunar-capsule radio, which has long-life batteries. The source of solar power for the main spacecraft transmitter was cut out when the solar sensors were switched off on command at the time of the terminal manoeuvre. THUNDERBIRD RESULTS The British Army regiments equipped with the mobile English Electric Thunderbird guided-weapon system have reported out standing successes with their missiles—say British Aircraft Cor poration—even better than was achieved during pre-service trials. At practice camps the regiments have had an average success rate of 90 per cent (some batteries have achieved 100 per cent). Firings took place against high-speed aircraft targets which were manoeuv ring and changing course when the missiles engaged them. In the pre-service trials, often under ideal conditions, the success rate was 84 per cent. All these practice firings were done "in the field" under realistic conditions. These outstanding results are particularly notable because they were achieved by the regiments right from the time when they took over the Thunderbird. A complete Thunderbird defence may be deployed in any field in under three hours. This time has been regularly achieved in all weathers and by day and night, and is from the time that the weapon system is on the move to the time that it is fully deployed and engaging enemy aircraft. For one practice camp a complete regi ment travelled more than 200 miles, deployed and went into action. "Flight International" photograph The first joint US/UK satellite, soon to be launched by Delta vehicle from Cape Canaveral, is discussed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center by (from the left) Dr A. P. Willmore of University College, London; Mr Alastair Durney of Imperial College; and Mr Robert Baumann of Goddard, US project manager for the satellite One battery of this regiment achieved 100 per cent success and the other 75 per cent. One [regiment is serving with the British Army in Germany. NO MONEY FOR PT.428 It is understandably difficult for either the Ministry of Aviation or British Aircraft Corporation to discuss a project about which not a word has ever been published officially, but neither body is dis posed to contest the claim that the PT.428 project has been ail-but abandoned. This programme, which never got beyond the study stage, was intended to produce the optimum anti-aircraft system for forward troops—an almost impossible task which may be tackled in several ways. The US Army and Marine Corps have GD/ Pomona's Redeye, fired from the shoulder; but this homes on to the jet nozzles of departing aircraft, and so engages the latter only after they have done their worst. The same firm's Mauler is a better bet, but this weapon system includes a tracked vehicle. We may not say what form PT.428 would have taken, nor how effective it might have been against M2 aircraft at tree-top height, but there is clearly not enough money in the UK defence budget to bring the project to fruition. According to unofficial reports, the study contract for Project 428 was held by English Electric Aviation's guided-weapons division at Stevenage. In November 1960 the Daily Express wrote, "Pro ject 428 . . . will automatically launch itself as soon as its radar picks up a target. The Government is giving it top priority because it might be adopted as the low-level anti-aircraft missile throughout NATO." And two months later the Daily Telegraph, commenting upon the Anglo-German defence discussions then recently com pleted, made a logical deduction: "The communique's reference to joint effort on 'new weapons for defence against low-flying aircraft' implies, I understand, joint development of the new British short- range anti-aircraft missile now designated PT.428. This is for use by troops in the field." The present position thus appears to be one quite familiar in this country: we are having to abandon a good idea because we cannot afford to develop it. FURTHER DELAY FOR MERCURY February 13 is now the revised target date for Mercury-Atlas 6, the first United States attempt at manned orbital flight. In a National Aeronautics and Space Administration announcement on January 30 the postponement was attributed to "technical diffi culties in the launch vehicle encountered during the current pre parations for flight—later defined as a fuel-tank leak."
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