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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1632.PDF
444 Missiles and Spaceflight At present one of the test cells at Hatfield is engaged in an investigation into the conditions which will obtain in the separation bay between the Blue Streak and the French second stage. The engine of the latter will ignite before stage separation, and two models (one-tenth and one-fortieth scale) are being used to simulate the pressure distribution across the top bulkhead of the Blue Streak tank section and to determine the optimum efflux apertures round the separation bay. The thrust of the French rocket can be simulated quite well by gaseous nitrogen or argon. In another test a thermal investigation is being made with a lox/methanol engine at Cranfield, which has characteristics very similar to those of the French engine. Yet another possibility would be to send the top bulkhead and separation bay—or a quadrant of it, for the second stage has four nozzles—to Vernon, for tests beneath the actual French motor; but ELDO has not yet budgeted for this. Hawker Siddeley Dynamics are also engaged in three further heat/blast/erosion investigations. The first is the design of optimized insulation for the top bulkhead of the Blue Streak. The second is the protection of the launcher and surrounding equipment and services, to minimize items requiring replacement after each launch. Finally, work is in hand to provide thermal protection to pipes and equipment on the outside of the Blue Streak against the severe kinetic heating encountered during the climb up through the atmosphere. Everything has to be ready for F.l's flight next April. US/SOVIET COMSAT AGREEMENT The text of the communication satellite section of the joint space agreement between the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the USSR Academy of Sciences, announced on August 16, is as follows:— Arrangements for Passive Communications Satellite Experiments A. General The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR agree to participate jointly in passive communications experiments using a large reflector satellite, Echo 2 (referred to as Echo A-12 in the agreement of June 8, 1962), which NASA is expected to launch prior to the middle of 1964. B. Satellite characteristics The satellite to be used in these experi ments shall be approximately 44 metres in diameter and shall be constructed of a material having a radio-wave reflectivity of 98 per cent. It will carry two telemetry transmitters (approximately 136 Mc/s) to be used as tracking aids. The intended orbit will be inclined about 82° to the equator and will be roughly circular at an altitude of 1,290km. C. Frequencies and route Communications experiments shall be carried out at frequencies of approximately 162Mc/s between the USSR (Zemenki Observatory, Gorky State University) and the United Kingdom (Jodrell Bank Observatory, University of Man chester). In view of the technical desirability of carrying out communica tion experiments with a passive satellite using higher frequencies, NASA and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR shall consider, within three months following the date of this agreement, the possibility of extending these tests into the microwave region of the radio frequency spectrum. The possibility of arranging radar and optical observations of the Echo 2 satellite sphere during the period of its inflation and thereafter shall be considered within the same period. D. Arrangements The Academy of Sciences of the USSR shall make necessary arrangements for use of the Gorky State University facilities. NASA shall make necessary arrangements for the use of the facilities of the University of Manchester at Jodrell Bank. Within 60 days NASA and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR shall appoint representatives to begin and carry on continuing technical co-ordination with respect to the experiments at approxi mately 162Mc/s. NASA will request the appointment of a corre sponding technical representative of the University of Manchester. In case the question of using higher frequencies for carrying out the passive satellite experiments is settled positively, NASA shall arrange, through the General Post Office of the United Kingdom, for the use of the Goonhilly Downs Station and shall request that technical representatives also be appointed by the General Post Office. The technical representatives for NASA and the Academy ••'.'• • . • FLIGHT International, 5 September 1%$ of Sciences of the USSR, referred to in the preceding paragraph, shall also serve to carry on continuing technical co-ordination for these experiments or other representatives may be named for this purpose. It is understood that there will be no mutual money reimburse ments between NASA and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR for the use of any facilities. E. Orbital information NASA shall provide a prediction of the expected initial orbital elements at least two months prior to launch ing of the satellite. Actual orbital elements based on tracking information will be supplied for the duration of the experimental period, at intervals of approximately once per week, or as necessary for adequate pointing of the communication antennas. The Academy of Sciences of the USSR shall provide tracking data on orbits that are visible in the USSR but not in the USA in a form to be mutually agreed on by the technical representatives. F. Planned types of transmission The passive Echo 2 satellite experiments shall basically consist of measurements of the quality of transmission over the circuit between the USSR and the UK for the following kinds of transmissions:—• (a) Unmodulated carrier (b) Single frequency modulation (c) Telegraphy (d) Facsimile and voice if feasible It shall also be an objective of these experiments to test the feasibility of direct communication between the US and the USSR using the Echo 2 satellite as a part of the link. For this purpose NASA will arrange for the part of the link from the US to the UK. G. Exchange of observational data The results of the experiments and observations shall be promptly exchanged between NASA and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, and be made generally available to the scientific and technical community. Information about the equipment used for the experiments shall be exchanged to the extent necessary for the interpretation of these data. H. Future plans NASA an d the Aca demy of Sciences of the USSR will continue experimental research with active communications satellites under their national programmes; after the completion of preliminary national tests, negotiations will be continued to discuss the possibility of joint experiments of mutual interest with active communications satellites. First photograph of the Little Joe II servicing tower at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, constructed for NASA's Manned Spaceflight Center by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The first Little Joe II has now been delivered by Convair, and few a performance-verification test on August 28 (when the destruct system failed). Later Little Joe lis will be used to fly dummy Apollo command modules, as outlined in our March 21 issue
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