Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z

---

Atlas

---

Atlas
Credit: (c) Mark Wade

---

AKA: B-65;CGM/HGM-16D/E/F;CTM-16D/E;HGM-16;SM-65;X-11;X-12. Status: Retired 2004.

Atlas began with a US Army Air Corps request for proposal in October 1945 for long-range missile designs. By 10 January 1946, Consolidated-Vultee's engineers, under the leadership of Belgian-born Karel Bossart, submitted their proposals for two 6,000-nautical mile missiles: one subsonic, winged, and jet powered; the other supersonic, ballistic, and rocket powered. New technologies proposed for the ballistic missile included extremely low structural weight through use of steel monocoque single-wall construction tanks, kept rigid by internal tank pressure; gimbaled rocket engines; a detachable warhead section; and nearly single-stage to orbit performance through the ‘stage-and-a-half' approach of jettisoning the booster engines during the ascent.

On 19 April Convair received a contract for $1,893,000 to fabricate and test ten MX-774 Hiroc missiles to verify Bossart's innovative ballistic missile concepts. Captive testing of the MX-774 research rockets began in San Diego in 1947. In June, Consolidated Vultee was notified that it had lost the cruise missile competition; Northrop and Martin received contracts for development of their subsonic jet-powered cruise missile designs. Defense cutbacks forced the Air Force to terminate the MX-774 contract in July 1947, only three months before the first scheduled flight. The remaining contract funds allowed three MX-774's to be test-launched at White Sands Proving Ground in July-December 1947. Further work at Convair was reduced to ‘Mafia' low-level design activity using company funds.

The outbreak of the Korean war and the beginning of the cold war loosened the federal purse strings. Convair received a new contract (MX-1593) in September 1951 to begin design of a ballistic missile incorporating the design features validated by the MX-774. In 1953 the now-Convair Division of General Dynamics presented a plan to the Air Force for an accelerated program.

A major propulsion problem in the early 1950's was that liquid rocket motor ignition reliability was less than 50 percent. This led to the stage-and-a-half concept, with all engines ignited prior to lift-off and the booster engines jettisoned during flight. This allowed confirmation that all engines were functioning correctly before releasing the missile for flight.

A full go-ahead for the Atlas design was ordered in January 1955 as Weapon System WS107A-l. At Convair the project was known the Model 7 (in Russia, Korolev was working on the competing R-7 ICBM - evidently both sides wanted to use the lucky number). In September 1955, faced with intelligence reports of Russian progress on their ICBM, the Atlas received the highest national development priority. The project became one of the largest and most complex production, testing, and construction programs ever undertaken. The first propulsion system and component tests were conducted in June 1956; the first captive and flight-test missiles were completed later the same year.

The first Atlas A flight took place on 11 June 1957. In a tremendous national effort, by 1959 a peak of 33,000 personnel were working on the project. Total cost of the Atlas ICBM program to the United States was $8 billion. About a quarter of this went to Convair to design and develop the missile and launch facilities. The balance was for the tremendous cost of the ICBM launch facilities. For all of this effort, the Atlas was quickly obsolete, and the facilities were closed by 1966 after five years of service. However surplus ICBM's were stored, refurbished, and used as space launch vehicles until the last was flown in 1995 - 33 years after it was manufactured.

The first operational missile, the Atlas D, was the basis for launching the Mercury manned spacecraft into orbit. By use of Agena and Centaur upper stages, the Atlas became the medium-lift workhorse of American manned, reconnaissance, planetary, and geosynchronous-orbit space programs. After the retirement of the Atlas-Agena in 1978, the Centaur stage became standard on Atlas launch vehicles.

Centaur began with a contract awarded to General Dynamics by the Advanced Research Project Agency in 1958. The first space vehicle to use liquid hydrogen, Centaur was a pioneering project that solved the many technical problems of using the super-cryogenic and highly volatile fuel. Pratt & Whitney Aircraft was awarded the contract to develop Centaur's RL-10 engines. The US Air Force had already built the first large-quantity liquid hydrogen production facility for the deep black Suntan reconnaissance program.

In 1962, with the hydrogen propulsion technology being vital to the success of the Apollo program, Centaur management was transferred to NASA's Lewis Research Center. Lewis had fired their first experimental Lox/LH2 engine of 5,000 pounds thrust in 1953. The Centaur project was given the highest DX priority, but suffered delays due to management problems at both NASA and Convair. The first successful flight of Centaur atop Atlas occurred in November 1963. However thereafter von Braun's Saturn S-IV stage, using six of the RL-10 motors, leapfrogged the Centaur program . By the time of the first operational Centaur mission in May 1966, the S-IV had already completed its test series of six orbital flights. Yet thirty years later, the Saturn was long gone, and the Centaur continued, having been launched or planned for launch from Atlas, Titan, Delta, and Shuttle vehicles. Production continued into the 21st century, and no replacement for the RL-10 engine, the ultimate engine using the ultimate propellants, was ever put into production.

Development Cost $: 2,230.000 million. Recurring Price $: 8.309 million in 1965 dollars. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 1.800 million in 1965 dollars.

Atlas 3A American orbital launch vehicle. The Atlas IIIA was a development of the Atlas using Russian engines in place of the Rocketdyne MA-5 booster/sustainer group used on all previous models. It was the centerpiece of Lockheed Martin's strategy to remain a leader in the commercial launch services industry. However customers never materialized, and it was used for only two launches in 2002-2004 before being replaced by the Atlas V.

Atlas 3B American orbital launch vehicle. This was the first version of the Atlas to fly using Russian RD-180 engines; and the last version to fly using the original balloon-tank concept for the first stage. It differed from the Atlas IIIA in use of a stretched, two-engine upper stage, and had a brief three-year operational career in 2002-2005 before being superseded by the Atlas V.

Atlas A American test vehicle. First test model of Atlas ICBM. Two booster engines, no sustainer, dummy warhead. 50% reliability in 8 flight tests.

Atlas Able American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas with upper stage based on Vanguard second stage.

Atlas Agena A American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas D + 1 x Agena A upper stage. Agena originally called 'Hustler', based on engine for cancelled rocket-propelled nuclear warhead pod for B-58 Hustler bomber.

Atlas Agena B American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas D with improved, enlarged Agena upper stage.

Atlas Agena D American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas D with further improved and lightened Agena upper stage.

Atlas B American test vehicle. First all-up test version of the Atlas ICBM, with jettisonable booster engines and a single engine sustainer on core - a '1 1/2' stage launch vehicle.

Atlas C American test vehicle. Last development version of Atlas. Never deployed operationally or used for space launches.

Atlas Centaur American orbital launch vehicle. First test version of Atlas with Centaur upper stage.

Atlas Centaur LV-3C American orbital launch vehicle. Version with basic Centaur upper stage.

Atlas D American intercontinental ballistic missile. Rocket used both as a space launcher and ICBM.

Atlas E American intercontinental ballistic missile. Initial fully operational version of Atlas ICBM. Differed in guidance system from Atlas F. Deployed as missiles from 1960 to 1966. After retirement, the ICBM's were refurbished and used over twenty years as space launch vehicles.

Atlas F American intercontinental ballistic missile. Final operational version of Atlas ICBM. Differed in guidance systems. Deployed as missiles from 1961 to 1966. After retirement, the ICBM's were refurbished and used for over thirty years as space launch vehicles.

Atlas G Centaur Atlas-Centaur launch vehicles using stretched, uprated Atlas core.

Atlas H American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas H used the Atlas first stage developed for the Atlas G vehicle. It was flown without the Centaur upper stage.

Atlas I American orbital launch vehicle. The Atlas I launch vehicle was derived from the Atlas G, and included the same basic vehicle components (Atlas booster and Centaur upper stage). Significant improvements in the guidance and control system were made with an emphasis on replacing analog flight control components with digital units interconnected with a digital data bus.

Atlas II American orbital launch vehicle. The Atlas II booster was 2.7-meters longer than an Atlas I and included uprated Rocketdyne MA-5A engines. The Atlas I vernier engines were replaced with a hydrazine roll control system. The Centaur stage was stretched 0.9-meters compared to the Centaur I stage. Fixed foam insulation replaced Atlas I's jettisonable insulation panels. The original Atlas II model was developed to support the United States Air Force Medium Launch Vehicle II program. Its Centaur used RL10A-3-3A engines operating at an increased mixture ratio. The first Atlas II flew on 7 December 1991, successfully delivering AC-102/Eutelsat II F3 to orbit.

Atlas IIA American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas IIA was a commercial derivative of the Atlas II developed for the US Air Force. Higher performance RL10A-4 (or RL10A-4-1) engines replaced Atlas II's RL10A-3-3A engines.

Atlas IIAS American orbital launch vehicle. The Atlas II booster was 2.7-meters longer than the Atlas I and included uprated Rocketdyne MA-5A engines. The Atlas I vernier engines were replaced with a hydrazine roll control system. The Centaur stage was stretched 0.9-meters compared to the Centaur I stage. Fixed foam insulation replaced Atlas I's jettisonable insulation panels. Higher performance RL10A-4 or RL10A-4-1 engines replaced Atlas II's RL10A-3-3A. The Atlas IIAS model added four Thiokol Castor IVA solid rocket boosters (SRBs) to the core Atlas stage to augment thrust for the first two minutes of flight.

Atlas LV-3B / Mercury American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas D modified for use in Project Mercury.

Atlas SLV-3 American orbital launch vehicle. Standardized Atlas booster with no or small solid upper stage.

Atlas SLV-3 Agena D Standardized Atlas booster with Agena D upper stage.

Atlas SLV-3A Agena D Uprated Atlas booster with Agena D upper stage.

Atlas SLV-3C Centaur Standardized SLV-3C Atlas booster with Centaur D upper stage.

Atlas SLV-3D Centaur Fully developed version of Atlas with Centaur D-1A upper stage.

Atlas Vega American orbital launch vehicle. Atlas-Vega consisted of an Atlas booster with a storable propellant upper stage. It was planned by NASA at its inception for deep space and planetary missions before the Atlas Centaur was available. Work had already begun when NASA discovered that the CIA and the US Air Force had an essentially identical launch vehicle (Atlas-Hustler, later called Atlas-Agena) in development for the highly classified Corona reconnaissance satellite program. Atlas-Vega was accordingly cancelled.

Contracted Atlas American orbital launch vehicle. The 1954 design for the Atlas as contracted for by the Air Force used three main engines to power a 110 metric ton rocket able to send a 1400 kg nuclear warhead over a 10,200 km range. CEP was 3700 m. The missile actually delivered six years later would have the same dimensions and launch mass, but 63% more range and four times better accuracy.

Hiroc American test vehicle. Project MX-774 inaugurated by AAF with Consolidated-Vultee to study rocket capabilities with an ICBM as a final objective. Limited funds permitted a few test launches. These rockets demonstrated technologies that would later be applied to the Atlas.

MX-1593 American orbital launch vehicle. The September 1951 design for the Atlas used seven main engines to hurl the 3600 kg nuclear warhead over a 9300 km range. CEP was 1850 m.

Proposed Atlas American orbital launch vehicle. The April 1953 design for the Atlas at the time of Convair's proposal used five main engines to power a 200 metric tone rocket able to send a 1400 kg nuclear warhead over a 10,200 km range. CEP was 1850 m.

World Series American orbital launch vehicle. In May 1956 the Air Force proposed mating an Atlas A with an Aerobee-Hi upper stage in order to launch a satellite during the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958). The Eisenhower administration selected the Vanguard instead. After Sputnik, an Atlas B with no upper stage orbited the Score satellite as a reply to the Soviet's Sputnik 3.

Photo Gallery

---

---

New Generation LVs From left: 3 versions of Atlas 5, 5 versions of Delta 4, 3 versions of Chinese NGLV, Ariane 5. Vertical scale is 10 m intervals. Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

WS-107 WS-107 Concept 1. Before the Tea Pot report, Atlas was to have five thrust chambers and double the throw weight. Credit: Ronald Wade

---

---

WS-107 WS-107 Concept 2. First mock-up of the Atlas missile in the three-chamber configuration. Credit: Ronald Wade

---

---

Atlas Family From left - MX-774 of 1946; MX-1593 of 1953; Atlas A, B, D; Atlas Agena D; Atlas Centaur; Atlas I, IIA, IIAS, IIIA, IIIB, V Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

MX-774 Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

MX-774 MX-774 in its gantry. Credit: Ronald Wade

---

---

Atlas 1953 5-engine Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas B Credit: US Air Force

---

---

Atlas B Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas D OV Atlas D OV-1 (2x) - COSPAR 1966-111

---

---

Atlas manned lab

---

---

Atlas D ICBM Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

Atlas D Mercury BW Credit: NASA

---

---

Atlas D Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas D Mercury Credit: NASA

---

---

Mercury Atlas 9 Credit: NASA

---

---

Mercury Atlas 5 Credit: NASA

---

---

Atlas E Atlas E - COSPAR 1991-032

---

---

Atlas E Credit: US Air Force

---

---

Atlas F Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas D Able Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

Atlas Burner 2A Atlas Burner 2A - COSPAR 1972-076

---

---

Atlas D Midas Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

Atlas Agena A Credit: US Air Force

---

---

Atlas Agena A Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas D Samos Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

Atlas D Agena B Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

Atlas Agena B Atlas Agena B - COSPAR 1962 Eta

---

---

Atlas D Mercury Lab Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

Atlas Agena D Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Agenhgre Agena D stages in process, Hangar E, Cape Canaveral

---

---

Atlas ATDA Credit: US Air Force

---

---

Atlas Agena D Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas Agena Last Atlas Agena - Agena s/n P113 - 6 April 1978

---

---

Atlas Agena First Atlas Agena - Agena s/n 1008 - Midas 1

---

---

Agena D Agena D rocket stage being raised for mating with Atlas launch vehicle

---

---

Atlas Agena Atlas Agena / Ranger C launch vehicle

---

---

Atlas D ATS Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

SLV-3C Centaur SLV-3C Centaur AC-17 - COSPAR 1968-068

---

---

Atlas Centaur Atlas Centaur at Sunrise Credit: Lockheed Martin

---

---

Atlas Centaur SLV-3D Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

---

---

Atlas Centaur No. 40 Credit: Lockheed Martin

---

---

Atlas 2 Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas Centaur Centaur Launch Vehicle Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas Centaur No.69 Credit: Lockheed Martin

---

---

Atlas 2AS Credit: © Mark Wade

---

---

Atlas LV Atlas LV-3C s/n AC-3 - 1964-06-30

---

---

Atlas Centaur C Credit: © Mark Wade

---

• Strategic Missile Proposals - . Nation: USA.

  Bids were received in response to the USAAF request for proposal of the previous October. Vultee submitted proposals for two types (glide and ballistic) of 8000-km range missiles. North American proposed a three-year development program for a supersonic 800-km range missile, culminating in a production run of 50 missiles.

• MX-774 strategic missile study contract awarded - . Nation: USA. Convair received contract W33-038-AC-14168 for a $1.4 million, one-year study of two missile designs..

• MX-774 Azusa tracking - . Nation: USA. Study report submitted to Air Force on proposed Azusa tracking/guidance system. MX-774 funding cut back..

• MX-774 Azusa tracking tests - . Nation: USA. Tracking tests started with experimental Azusa equipment.

• MX-774 cancelled. - . Nation: USA.

  Contract with Convair for the MX-774 "Upper Air Test Vehicle," predecessor of the Atlas ICBM, was cancelled by the AAF. However the service approves Convair use of unexpended MX-774 funds to launch the MX-774 test vehicles already built. The decision made to move Vultee operations to San Diego.

• First complete MX-774 moved to Pt. Loma for test - . Nation: USA.

• First static firing of MX-774 - . Nation: USA. Unsuccessful, small fire..

• Second MX-774 static firing - . Nation: USA. Successful, at Point Loma..

• MX-774 static firing tests at Pt Loma completed. - . Nation: USA.

• First MX-774 arrives at White Sands Proving Ground - . Nation: USA.

• MX-774 Flight 1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). First Convair MX-774 (RTV-A-2) test rocket was successfully launched, first demonstrating use of gimballed engines and design features later incorporated in the Atlas ICBM. This was the first of three Convair-sponsored test flights..

• MX-774 Flight 2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 47 km (29 mi). Second Corvair MX-774 test rocket fired. Shut down at 15 km; reached 65 km before malfunction of unknown origin caused self-destruction..

• MX-774 Flight 3 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Third (last) MX-774 launched, WSPG; shut down at 51 seconds attaining an altitude of 48 km. Self-destructed at high altitude..

• All MX-774 work shut off by Air Force - . Nation: USA.

• MX-774 unexpended funds run out in 1950. - . Nation: USA. Convair allocated R&D funds to ICBM studies and marketing, running into 1950.

• RAND studies ICBM's. - . Nation: USA. Rand Corp. completed missile feasibility studies begun in 1949, which confirmed the military practicability of long-range rocket weapons..

• Atlas tracking system. - . Nation: USA. Azusa tracking system reaching advanced stage of development.

• Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas) begins. - . Nation: USA.

  Air Force established Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas), study phase for an intercontinental missile. Requirements included 8000-pound warhead, 5000 nautical mile range, to hit within 1500 ft. CEP. $1.5 million study contract was awarded to Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft on January 23. This was the follow-on to Project MX-774 terminated in 1947. Several test vehicles had been fired using residual funds in 1948 and 1949, after which the Convair MX-774 (Atlas) missile project had been shelved. The company, however, had continued to fund a research program.

• Atlas to be accelerated. - . Nation: USA. AF Gen. John Sessums proposes Atlas acceleration.

• Atlas XB-65 configuration. - . Nation: USA. MX-1593 named "Project Atlas" as XB-65; 120 feet long, 12-foot diameter, 7 engines, 8000-pound warhead, CEP 1 nautical mile.

• Atlas project to concentrate on ballistic missile. - . Nation: USA. MX-1593 glide missile cancelled. USAF directed all work in Project MX-1593 (Atlas) be for development of a rocket-powered ballistic missile..

• Reports of large Russian rocket engines - . Nation: USA.

• Reduced thermonuclear warhead size will allow American ICBM's to be smaller. - . Nation: USA. Atlas 3000-pound warhead anticipated, 1500-foot CEP.

• Gen. Joseph McNarney joins Convair - . Nation: USA.

• Millikan Committee Report - . Nation: USA. Millikan Committee report issued, saying Atlas could be operational by 1963.

• Atlas size reduced. - . Nation: USA. Atlas 12-foot diameter, 110 feet long, 440,000 pounds, 3000-pound warhead, 5500 nautical mile range, 1500-foot CEP.

• US guided missile status review - . Nation: USA. Defense Secretary Wilson institutes reviews of guided missiles' status.

• J.R. Dempsey joins Convair - . Nation: USA.

• Von Neumann's "Teapot Committee" established - . Nation: USA.

• Teapot Committee's first output - . Nation: USA. ICBM could use smaller warhead.

• Convair leases test facility. - . Nation: USA. A five-year Pt. Loma lease was approved..

• Reorganization of USAF ballistic missile programs. - .

  Mr. Trevor Gardner, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development, recommended to Air Force Chief of Staff General Nathan Twining, that the Air Force ballistic missile programs be reorganized.The "new" program would be provided with centralized management authority. The change was recommended to minimize the existing complexities and to focus attention on the importance of the program.

• Atlas) operational by the early 1960s. - .

  A Rand Corporation memorandum by Dr. Bruno W. Augenstein indicated that the Atlas ballistic missile (Project MX-1593) could be operational by the early 1960s. The missile, then , then under development by Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair), could make that date if the existing stringent performance criteria were relaxed while funding and program priority were increased.

• Teapot Report - .

  The Strategic Missiles Evaluation ("Teapot") Committee, established in October 1953 and chaired by Professor John von Neumann, submitted its report on intercontinental strategic missiles. Convair's ICBM design was feasible, as was acceleration of the program. The von Neumann Committee recommended changes similar to those outlined in the Rand study of 8 February. In addition, the report urged the establishment of a development-management group with sufficient authority, funds, and priority to reorient and accelerate the ballistic missile program.

• Atlas sustainer rocket engine contract - . The Air Force issued a contract to North American Aviation for continued development of a liquid-fueled sustainer rocket engine for Convair's Project Atlas..

• Atlas management structure outlined - .

  Trevor Gardner, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development, held a meeting in Washington. Included were representatives of the Air Research and Development Command (ARDC). Headquarters USAF, certain former members of the von Neumann Committee, and concerned contractor personnel. Among the problems discussed was the manner of meshing the scientific and technical operations in ballistic missile development with the prime contractor who would actually build the missiles. Finally it was agreed that the scientific-technical group recommended by the Strategic Missiles Evaluation Committee would be placed under an industrial contractor or university and would be balanced by an Air Force organization set up to supervise the whole show.

• First Atlas hardware. - . Nation: USA. 12-foot diameter Atlas tank completed by Solar.

• Atlas booster propulsion system work begins. - . Nation: USA. Work on MA-2 propulsion system for Atlas by Rocketdyne was begun, drawing upon the experience in developing the regeneratively cooled chamber developed for the Navaho..

• US tests confirm feasibility of small thermonuclear warheads - . Nation: USA.

  The United States exploded its first "droppable" hydrogen bomb in the Marshall Islands. A second U.S. thermonuclear device was successfully tested on 20 March. These tests as part of Operation Castle confirmed the feasibility of the development of lightweight, high-yield thermonuclear weapons. This advance allowed the previously restrictive performance characteristics of the Atlas to be relaxed to the point where continued development was within the existing "state-of-the-art."

• First public indication that Project Atlas exists - . Nation: USA.

• Plan for accelerating the intercontinental ballistic missile program. - . Related Persons: Schriever.

  As a result of the 26 February meeting, Trevor Gardner submitted a plan for accelerating the intercontinental ballistic missile system (IBMS) program. This was sent to Secretary of the Air Force Harold E Talbott and Air Force Chief of Staff General Nathan Twining. The plan called for emergency funding and an operational capability as early as 1958-60. Mr. Gardner also recommended that high-ranking military officers be placed in charge of the revised program and specifically named Major General James McCormack, Jr., Vice Commander of ARDC, and Brigadier General Bernard A. Schriever, then Assistant for Development Planning, Deputy Chief of Staff/Development, Headquarters USAF, for the top positions.

• Atlas performance specifications relaxed so that the program could be accelerated. - .

  The Air Force Council recommended to the Chief of Staff that the Atlas missile's performance specifications be relaxed so that the program could be accelerated as much as possible. It also recommended the use of Air Force funds to finance the program, a reorientation of the program to achieve the earliest possible operational capability, the assignment of program responsibility to Air Research and Development Command, and the establishment of a special development-management organization to recommend further measures to accelerate the entire Atlas program.

• Atlas acceleration ordered. - . Air Force Secretary Harold E. Talbott directed General Twining to take all necessary actions to implement the Strategic Missiles Evaluation Committee's recommendations of 10 February..

• Atlas acceleration measures approved. - . General Nathan Twining, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, approved the Air Force Council's recommendations of 16 March..

• USAF established the Atlas Scientific Advisory Committee - .

  Due to the continuing need for the best available scientific advice for the reorientation and acceleration of the Atlas program, Headquarters USAF established the Atlas Scientific Advisory Committee. Subsequently redesignated the ICBM Scientific Advisory Committee, this Committee was essentially a reconstitution of the former von Neumann Committee (Strategic Missiles Evaluation Committee) which had disbanded following the submission of its report on 10 February. The new Committee was also chaired by John von Neumann, but its membership was expanded and slightly different from the old "Teapot" Committee.

• USAF Assistant Chief of Staff for Guided Missiles - . Headquarters USAF established the new office of Assistant Chief of Staff for Guided Missiles (AFCGM) - a clear indication of the importance now attached to the missile program..

• Ballistic missiles to move forward with all practicable speed. - .

  In a memorandum to Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott, Deputy Secretary of Defense Roger M. Keyes stressed that the plans for the ballistic missile program "be formulated with a thoroughly realistic appraisal of the capabilities of our contractors to meet their commitments." He then emphasized that the program was to move forward "with all practicable speed."

• Agreement on the proposed plan to accelerate Atlas. - .

  Trevor Gardner informed General Twining, Air Force Chief of Staff, that the 19 March memorandum from Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott and the Air Force Council's actions of 16 March were substantially in agreement on the proposed plan to accelerate Atlas. The program was to be reoriented, and its acceleration was to proceed at maximum possible effort with no limitation on funding. The accomplishment of the new program was to be the direct responsibility of a field office under a general officer who would have authority and control over all aspects of the program.

• Schriever named head of Atlas program. - . Related Persons: Schriever. In addition to his other duties, Brigadier General Bernard A. Schriever was appointed Assistant for Project Atlas to the Director of Research and Development..

• Atlas receives high priority. - . Lt General Donald L. Putt, DCS/Development, Headquarters USAF, informed his subordinates that Project Atlas had the highest program priority in the Air Force..

• Ramo-Wooldridge contracted for Atlas technical support. - .

  Development Command gave the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation a new contract to continue research and experimental investigations that had been begun in support of the original von Neumann Committee. Part of Ramo-Wooldridge's work involved technical evaluations and systems analyses of Project Atlas to be performed over a 12-month period and to be used for the redefinition of the program prior to its acceleration. In addition, conclusions and recommendations resulting from research completed under previous contracts were to be analyzed for possible future applications.

• Atlas program accelerated to the maximum extent that technology would permit. - .

  General Thomas D. White, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, informed Headquarters USAF offices and personnel that the Atlas program would be accelerated to the maximum extent that technology would permit. To insure the necessary support, the program was given the highest research and development priority in the Air Force (1-A), while it received a 1-2 category and precedence rating and a S-l supply priority. Field responsibility for the Atlas program during development and test would be assigned to Air Research and Development Command which would establish a field office on the west coast commanded by a general officer.

• Ramo-Woolridge contracted for Atlas systems integration. - . Nation: USA. Ramo-Wooldridge given letter contract as Technical Director and Systems Integrator for Atlas program.

• USAF Western Development Division established. - . Related Persons: Schriever. In June 1954, the Air Force established the Western Development Division under the direction of BrigGen Bernard A. Schriever. Early planning and development of the Atlas ICBM was conducted from there..

• Responsibility for accelerating Atlas program given to USAF ARDC. - .

  Lt General Donald L. Putt officially assigned the responsibility for reorienting and accelerating the Atlas program to Headquarters, Air Research and Development Command. The general officer appointed to command the office was to be given authority and control over the entire Atlas program which already had been granted the highest priority in the Air Force on 14 May.

• Schriever named head of Atlas program. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Schriever. Brigadier-General Bernard A. Schriever, ARDC, assigned to head Atlas program.

• Scientific Advisory Board recommendations rejected. - . Nation: USA. Scientific Advisory Board recommendations differing from Teapot Committee rejected.

• Western Development Division (WDD) established by USAF - . Related Persons: Power.

  By verbal orders of LtGeneral Thomas S. Power, Commander, ARDC, the Western Development Division (WDD), Headquarters ARDC, was established at 409 East Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood, California, under the command of Brigadier General Bernard A. Schriever. Headquarters ARDC General Order Number 42 confirmed LtGeneral Power's verbal orders of 1 July establishing the Western Development Division of Headquarters ARDC. Rocketdyne put on contract for Atlas engines.

• Reorientation of the Atlas program - .

  The Air Force Atlas Scientific Advisory Committee (the former von Neumann Committee as reconstituted in April) met at the Western Development Division to discuss the reorientation of the Atlas program. The Committee expressed its dissatisfaction with Convair's lack of progress and noted some serious flaws in the company's technical and managerial approaches. After examining the project management structure proposed by WDD, the Committee unanimously concluded that it was weak and confused and that Convair was not strong enough to be given systems responsibility over the Atlas project. It was recommended that the project management structure, and especially Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation's role therein, be reevaluated and that a new, stronger approach be worked out. In addition, the Committee recommended that a second propulsion system contractor be introduced into the program as a back-up for North American.

• Schriever assigned full authority for the Atlas project - . Related Persons: Schriever. Brigadier General Schriever was assigned full authority, responsibility, and accountability for the Atlas project and given status and prerogatives for a Deputy Commander, Air Research and Development.

• First USAF WDD Facility - . Nation: USA. Inglewood "Schoolhouse" WDD facility established.

• General Schriever in command of the Western Development Division - . Related Persons: Schriever. General Schriever personally assumed command of the Western Development Division, Headquarters ARDC..

• Early action to accelerate the Atlas program. - . Western Development Division gave North American Aviation the go-ahead to proceed with their rocket development program, including engine test stand construction and erection of an engine pilot plant..

• Atlas contracting function colocated with Western Development Division. - .

  Headquarters Air Materiel Command (AMC) announced the establishment of the Special Aircraft Project Office (SAPO) under the command of Colonel Harold T. Morris. SAPO was to begin operations in Inglewood, California, on 15 August, and would perform all procurement and contracting functions for the Western Development Division.

• USAF issues GOR 21 for an intercontinental ballistic missile - .

  Headquarters USAF issued a "skeleton" general operational requirements, GOR Number 21 (SA-IC), for an intercontinental bombardment weapon system ballistic missile replacing the previous GOR Number 1. The weapon system to satisfy this GOR was expected to emerge from the redefinition and acceleration of the Atlas program.

• Proposal that Ramo-Wooldridge manage the Atlas program. - . Related Persons: Schriever.

  After completing an evaluation of possible management approaches, a special WDD study group recommended to General Schriever that the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation manage the Atlas program. In this position, the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation would provide and be responsible for systems engineering and technical direction (SE/TD) for the entire Atlas project and for monitoring hardware development accomplished under Air Force contracts with industry.

• Atlas alternate propulsion system contractor. - . Related Persons: Schriever.

  General Schriever forwarded two important recommendations to Headquarters ARDC. First, he recommended that an alternate propulsion system contractor be introduced into the Atlas program as a back-up. Second, he presented the results of the Atlas management study of 18 August and recommended Ramo-Wooldridge for the SE/TD role in the project.

• Technical direction functions for Project Atlas. - . Related Persons: Power.

  Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation selected to perform systems engineering and technical direction functions for Project Atlas. Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation selected to perform systems engineering and technical direction functions for Project Atlas. Following approval by General Power, ARDC Commander, and General E.W. Rawlings, AMC Commander, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Materiel Roger Lewis approved the selection of the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation to perform systems engineering and technical direction functions for Project Atlas under the overall control of the Western Development Division.

• Convair group to become the nucleus for the Atlas development team. - . Related Persons: Schriever.

  After further study, General Schriever recommended that the Convair program be continued because the company had the experience and could become the nucleus for the Atlas development team. Convair would handle airframe structural and aerodynamic aspects of the program along with the assembly of the vehicle and its components. The Western Development Division and the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation would provide SE/TD for the Atlas contractor.

• Contract for development of the Atlas liquid oxygen/RP-1 rocket engine. - . Western Development Division and Special Aircraft Projects Office awarded a letter contract to North American Aviation for continued research and development of the liquid oxygen/RP-1 rocket engine..

• Atlas further reduced in size - . Nation: USA. Atlas size reduced from 12-foot to 10-foot diameter, with 3 large engines.

• Atlas full-scale development - . Nation: USA. First major Atlas WS107A1 development and construction contract awarded Convair; CEP 2-3 NM, IOC by 1960-62.

• First production funding for Atlas. - . Air Force Procurement Authorization 54-GM-3 authorized $3.6 million in P-150 production funding for Atlas. This was the first production funding for Atlas..

• Atlas publicly announced. - . Nation: USA. USAF announced Atlas ICBM under construction by Convair..

• Titan begins as alternate configuration and staging approach to the Atlas missile. - . The Air Force ICBM Scientific Advisory Committee recommended that an alternate configuration and staging approach to the present Atlas missile be introduced into the ballistic missile program..

• Atlas contract award. - .

  A contract was awarded to the Convair Division of the General Dynamics Corporation for the development and fabrication of the Atlas (XSM-65) airframe and control system. Included were the integration and assembly of the various subsystems with the airframe and control system, and for checkout and testing.

• Titan proposed as a competitor and backup to the Atlas program. - . Related Persons: Schriever. General Schriever formally proposed to Hq ARDC that an alternate, two-stage configuration intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) be developed as a competitor and backup to the Atlas program..

• Contract for Titan liquid oxygen-hydrocarbon ICBM engines. - .

  The Western Development Division (WDD) and the Special Aircraft Project Office (SAPO) awarded a contract to Aerojet-General Corporation for development of liquid oxygen-hydrocarbon ICBM engines. The contract covered design and fabrication of booster, sustainer, and vernier engines and was intended to provide an alternate propulsion system should the North American Aviation effort encounter delays.

• Definitive to Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation for technical support for ICBMs. - .

  A formal, definitive contract between the Air Force and the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation fixed the firm's responsibility for systems engineering and technical direction (SE/TD) support for ICBMs. A formal, definitive contract between the Air Force and the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation fixed the firm's responsibility for systems engineering and technical direction (SE/TD) support for ICBMs.

• AVCO to conduct research on nose cones for missiles. - . The Western Development Division and the Special Aircraft Project Office selected AVCO Manufacturing to conduct research needed for the design of nose cones for missiles..

• Atlas fabrication begins - . Nation: USA.

• Contract for 12 propulsion systems for Atlas A. - . The Air Force awarded the Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation a contract to fabricate and deliver 12 rocket engine propulsion systems for the Series A Atlas flight test missiles..

• Contract for ballisitc missile all-inertial guidance system. - . Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was awarded a contract for the research and development of an all-inertial guidance system. AC Spark Plug Company was to work with MIT and would fabricate and test the completed guidance system..

• Radio guidance system for Atlas. - . The General Electric Company (GE) was given a contract to design, develop, and fabricate three complete ground-based tracking and command elements of the radio guidance system for Atlas..

• Atlas given top development priority. - . Nation: USA. USAF Chief of Staff, Nathan F. Twining, reported that ICBM's were receiving priority in the AF program because of known Soviet progress. Navaho, Snark, and Atlas programs accelerated..

• New WDD complex - . Nation: USA. New WDD complex activated on Arbor Vitae Blvd. in Los Angeles.

• Contract for all-inertial guidance for a ballistic missile. - . The Arma Division of American Bosch Arma Corporation received a contract to design, develop, fabricate, and test a complete airborne all-inertial guidance system for a ballistic missile system..

• Development Plan for Atlas - . The Western Development Division published the first Development Plan for Atlas (WS107A)..

• Contract for a prototype nose cone for the Atlas. - . The Air Force awarded a contract to General Electric for research, design, and development of a prototype, full-scale nose cone for the Atlas reentry system..

• Quarles Committee studies best method of furnishing the United States with a sattelite by end of 1958. - . Related Persons: Quarles, Schriever. Spacecraft Bus: Man-In-Space-Soonest. Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, SCORE.

  Quarles Committee studies best method of furnishing the United States with a sattelite by end of 1958. A committee, appointed by Secretary of the Air Force, D. A. Quarles, to recommend the best method of furnishing the United States with a satellite between the dates of June and December 1958, was briefed at Western Development Division (WDD). The Atlas project was reviewed and the potential of Atlas as a booster vehicle in a selected satellite system was presented. The committee was advised that WDD was qualified to manage the program if so directed but that such a program would interfere, to some extent with the high priority of the Atlas development effort. (Memo, Col C. H. Terhune, Dep Cmdr Tech Opns, WDD, to Brig Gen B. A. Schriever, Cmdr WDD, 28 Jun 55, subj: Visit of DOD Satellite Committee, 28 Jun 55.)

• Back-up reentry vehicle for Atlas. - . Western Development Division gave the AVCO Manufacturing Corporation a contract to research, design, and develop a second, or back-up, reentry vehicle (nose cone) prototype for Atlas..

• Requirement for an intercontinental ballistic missile. - . General Operational Requirement (GOR) Number 104 was issued for a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile..

• Maximum acceleration of the Atlas program. - . Development Directive 76 was issued for an ICBM weapon system. The directive called for maximum acceleration of the Atlas program and confirmed the assignment of the highest Air Force priority..

• Eisenhower given a complete briefing on the Atlas. - . Related Persons: Schriever, Eisenhower.

  President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the National Security Council (NSC) were given a complete briefing on the Atlas program. Briefers were Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Trevor Gardner, Professor John von Neumann, and Brigadier General Bernard A. Schriever, Commander of the Western Development Division.

• Eisenhower declared that the Atlas missile had the highest priority in the nation. - . Related Persons: , Eisenhower. President Eisenhower and the National Security Council (NSC) declared that the Atlas missile, Weapon System 107A-1, had the highest research and development priority in the nation..

• Acceleration of ballistic missile program. - . Related Persons: , Eisenhower.

  Trevor Gardner, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development, requested that a working group be formed to evaluate the ballistic missile program. Such an evaluation was necessary to assure that the administrative management and control procedures of the program would allow the full project acceleration as directed by President Eisenhower and the National Security Council on 8 September. Accordingly, a committee was established under Hyde Gillette, Deputy for Budget and Program Management, to evaluate these procedures and to recommend means for reducing administrative delays that might impede attainment of the earliest possible operational capability of Atlas.

• First Atlas sustainer engine fired - . North American Aviation test fired the first 60,000-pound thrust Atlas sustainer engine..

• Atlas program assigned top priority in the nation - . Nation: USA. Atlas program assigned top priority in the nation (was highest priority only for AF).

• Gillette Committee report - .

  Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson approved the report of the Gillette Committee on simplifying administrative procedures for ICBM development programs. In accordance with the Committee's recommendations, Wilson established the Office of the Secretary of Defense Ballistic Missile Committee (OSD/BMC) with exclusive Department of Defense (DoD) authority to review and approve all ballistic missile program requirements. The existing Air Force ICBM Scientific Advisory Committee was also to advise the Secretary of Defense on ballistic missile matters. In addition, the Air Force was later authorized to undertake all actions necessary for the construction of ICBM operational bases.

• Complete Atlas booster propulsion package fired for the first time. - . North American Aviation test fired the complete two-engine, 270,000-pound thrust Atlas booster propulsion package for the first time..

• Highest priority for both ICBMs and IRBMs. - . Related Persons: , Eisenhower. President Eisenhower officially assigned highest and equal priority to the development of the Atlas and Titan ICBMs and the Thor and Jupiter IRBMs. This decision led to the resignation of ICBM program advocate Gardner..

• Thor given second priority after Atlas. - . Related Persons: Power.

  On the basis of the Hq USAF directive of 18 November, General Thomas S. Power, ARDC Commander, amended the Western Development Division's mission to include responsibility for ICBM initial operation capability (IOC) and for the development of IRBM Number 1 on a priority second only to that of the ICBM program.

• The Air Force ICBM Scientific Advisory Committee transferred to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. - .

  The Air Force ICBM Scientific Advisory Committee was transferred to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) to assure common interchange of technical information on all DoD missile programs. The Committee continued to act in an advisory capacity for the Western Development Division and the Air Force ballistic missile program.

• ICBM and IRBM equal priority. - . Headquarters ARDC directed WDD to treat the ICBM and IRBM with equal priority..

• Trevor Gardner resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. - .

  Trevor Gardner, who was instrumental in the actions leading to the acceleration of the Air Force ballistic missile program two years earlier, resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. He protested the Pentagon's policies concerning missiles and lack of stronger emphasis on the programs.

• First Atlas Series A booster engines delivered. - . North American Aviation delivered the first research and development, Series A booster engines to the Convair plant in San Diego, California, where the first Atlas missile was produced..

• Ballistic Missiles Office established. - . The AMC Special Aircraft Project Office (SAPO) was redesignated the Ballistic Missiles Office (BMO), and Brigadier General Ben I. Funk assumed command..

• Production funding for guided missiles increased. - . As per authority of the Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee (AF/BMC), Procurement Authorization 56-GM-20 increased the production funding for guided missiles to $279.05 million..

• Lunar instrument carrier using the Atlas - . Spacecraft: Explorer. The Rand Corporation reported on the feasibility of a lunar instrument carrier using the Atlas as a booster vehicle..

• Rand Corporation studies a lunar instrument carrier, based on use of an Atlas booster. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest. Rand Corporation issued a series of reports on the feasibility of a lunar instrument carrier, based on use of an Atlas booster. (Early BMD-ARDC General Space Chronology, II Feb 59, prep by AFBMD Hist Ofc.).

• Lunar instrument carrier based on Atlas booster. - . Spacecraft: Explorer. Rand Corporation issued a series of reports on the feasibility of a lunar instrument carrier, based on use of an Atlas booster..

• Atlas production plant at Kearney Mesa - . Nation: USA. New Astronautics plant announced—$20 million funding by General Dynamics, with the Air Force to match, for tooling and special equipment.

• Convair announced as the prime contractorfor the Atlas - . Nation: USA. The Air Force disclosed that a $41 million guided missile production facility would be built at Sorrento, California, for the Atlas launch vehicle. Convair was announced as the prime contractor..

• RAND lunar instrument carrier based on the Atlas booster - . Nation: USA.

  The RAND Corporation issued the first of a series of reports on the feasibility of a lunar instrument carrier, based on the use of an Atlas booster. A braking rocket would decelerate the vehicle before lunar landing, and a penetration spike on the forward point of the instrument package would help to absorb the 500 feet per second impact velocity. Instruments would then transmit information on the lunar surface to earth.

• First Atlas production engine delivered. - . North American Aviation delivered the first production type, Series A XSM-65 Atlas engine to Convair. The early Series A booster engines had a nominal thrust of 270,000-pounds..

• Atlas ICBM first test firing - . Nation: USA.

  First captive Atlas first test firing. The 'battleship' missile was installed at test stand 1-4, Edwards Air Force Base. The test was a failure due to inadvertant closure of the fuel prevalve, leading to duct collapse, and a turbine overspeed cutoff. No damage was sustained and the first successful firing came the next day. Atlas, First successful captive test firing, June 22, 1956, Edwards Rocket Base, duration - 4 seconds. Successful.

• First test firing of the MA-1 engine for the Atlas missile. - . The Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation completed the first test firing of the 360,000-pound thrust, three-engine propulsion cluster (MA-1) for the Atlas missile..

• USAF missile program reductions - . Related Persons: , Quarles, Eisenhower.

  The Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee (AF/BMC) withheld approval of WDD's proposed initial operational capability (IOC) program until a further review was completed. Austerity in facilities and reductions in military objectives were recommended. Secretary of the Air Force Donald Quarles and the AF/BMC directed the Western Development Division to adopt a "poor man's approach" when working out the alternate IOC program.

• Hardened bases for ICBMs studied - . The Western Development Division began studying hardened bases for ICBM operational deployment..

• Vandenberg chosen as location for USAF ICBM and IRBM operations and training. - . Related Persons: , Quarles. Secretary of the Air Force Donald Quarles approved the location of ICBM and IRBM operational and training facilities at Camp Cooke, California, contingent upon approval by higher authorities..

• Atlas 1A delivered - . Nation: USA. Atlas missile 1A was conditionally accepted by the Air Force and delivered to the Convair Sycamore Canyon Test Site for checkout prior to captive testing..

• Ballistic missile program budget cut - . Related Persons: Schriever, Quarles.

  Secretary of the Air Force Donald Quarles rejected WDD's FY 1958 ballistic missile program budget submitted to the Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee by Major General Schriever. Secretary Quarles directed a cut from the recommended $1,672 billion on a maximum of $1.3 billion and advised a restudy of IOC planning.

• Atlas missile 2A delivered to Edwards AFB - . Atlas missile 2A was accepted by the Air Force and delivered to Edwards AFB, Test Stand 1-A, for checkout prior to captive test firings scheduled for early 1957..

• Revised WDD ballistic missile development plan - . Related Persons: , Quarles.

  The revised WDD ballistic missile development plan was submitted to Secretary of the Air Force Donald Quarles and the Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee. Cuts were made in force structure, and the budget was reduced to $1,335 billion as already approved by the Air Council. AFBMC also approved the new submission and passed it on to the Office of the Secretary of Defense Ballistic Missile Committee (OSD/ BMC) for consideration.

• Vandenberg selected as first ICBM base. - . Nation: USA.

  Department of Defense transferred northern portion of Camp Cooke, Calif. (now Vandenberg AFB), to the Air Force to be used as first ICBM base. The Secretary of Defense directed the United States Army to transfer 64,000 acres of Camp Cooke's 86,000 acres to the Air Force.

• All missiles over 200 miles range assigned to USAF. - .

  Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson issued a memo to the Armed Forces Policy Council to end the argument between the Air Force and Army on responsibility for missile programs. In an effort to settle the areas of jurisdiction for the services, Secretary Wilson ruled that all long-range missiles, ICBMs as well as IRBMs, with a range of more than 200 miles, would be given to the Air Force.

• Atlas first flight test vehicle delivered - . Atlas missile 4A, the first flight test vehicle, was delivered to the USAF at Convair's San Diego plant. It was then transported by truck to the Missile Test Center in Florida..

• Scheduled design complete (95%) for Atlas A-series missiles - . Nation: USA.

• USAF missile development budget - . Related Persons: , Quarles.

  Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson, Secretary Quarles, and the OSD/BMC approved the $1,335 billion budget submitted by WDD for FY 1958. Subsequently, however, this approved budget was cut to $1,135 billion by OSD in an effort to reduce the overall FY 1958 funding requirements of the Air Force.

• Atlas 1A destroyed in test. - . Atlas missile 1A made its first captive test firing at Convair's Sycamore Canyon captive test facility. It burned on second run at S-l with stand damage.

• Highest priority for ICBM/IRBM contracts - . The Defense Department assigned the highest priority to ICBM/IRBM contracts and purchase orders to expedite the programs..

• First flight Atlas missile delivered - . Nation: USA. First flight Atlas missile, 4A, delivered, and shipped to AMR.

• First flight Atlas missile erected - . Nation: USA. Atlas 4A erected on AMR LC-14.

• Warren AFB - . The Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee approved the use of Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, as the second operational prototype base in the Atlas initial operational capability (IOC) program..

• WDD renamed Ballistic Missiles Division (BMD) - . Nation: USA.

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

  The first Atlas Series A flight test missile (4A) had to be destroyed shortly after launch from Cape Canaveral due to a booster engine shutdown and loss of thrust. From a technical standpoint, however, this first booster-only launch successfully demonstrated the launching mechanism, structural integrity of the airframe, subsystems performance, and operating procedures for launch crew personnel. First test flight of prototype WS-107A Atlas was detonated by command signal at 10,000 feet following a failure in the booster fuel system. The 23-second flight was considered a partial success.

• First Atlas wing activated at Cooke AFB. - . Nation: USA. Air Research and Development Command activated the 704th Strategic Missile Wing (Atlas) at Cooke AFB..

• Atlas IOC delayed. - . Nation: USA. Estimated operational capability date for Atlas changed from March 1959 to June 1959..

• Ballistic missile programs reoriented. - .

  The National Security Council approved a Defense Department recommendation to reorient and cut back the ballistic missile programs. Atlas retained its priority, but the Titan program was reduced to second priority. The Thor and Jupiter IRBM programs were to be combined and evaluated by a joint Office of the Secretary of Defense-Air Force-Army Committee that would choose between them for future development.

• Missile production rates curtailed. - .

  In an attempt to reduce program costs, Defense Secretary Charles E. Wilson curtailed the planned production rates for Atlas, Titan, and Thor missiles to four missile each per month for the ICBMs. He also requested a study of the effects of a monthly production rate of 2-2-2 for the three programs.

• US ICBM production limited to four Atlas and two Titan missiles per month - .

  Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson directed that the ICBM program be limited to a maximum monthly production of four Atlas and two Titan missiles rather than the "4-4" program ordered on 9 August. With other areas also reduced, the Titan program became essentially a research and development effort.

• Scheduled design complete (95%) for Atlas B-series missiles - . Nation: USA.

• Air Force Ballistic Missile program cuts - .

  The Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee reviewed the revised AFBMD FY 1958 program that resulted from OSD decisions and directives of August that cut the program from $1,135 billion to $944 million. A 4-4-2 monthly production rate was approved for Atlas, Titan, and Thor missiles, and program slippages were accepted in response to Secretary Wilson's guidance of 9 August. The program was later submitted to OSD/BMC and approved on 5 October 1957.

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

  The second Atlas flight test missile (6A) was destroyed 32 seconds into the flight because of an engine shutdown. Atlas was again destroyed by command signal at three minutes into flight following a failure in the booster fuel system. The 50-second active flight was considered a partial success.

• Studies to accelerate missile programs. - . In anticipation of directives to revise the objectives of the United States missile programs in light of the Russian success with Sputnik, AFBMD began studies for accelerating its programs..

• Approval of the revised AFBMD ballistic missile program. - .

  Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson approved the revised AFBMD ballistic missile program submitted to the Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee on 12 September. A total of $991 million was approved; $437 million for Atlas, $335 million for Titan, and $148 million for Thor. AFBMD's original FY58 budget submission of October 1956 had requested $1,672 billion for the ballistic missile programs.

• Restrictions on US missile production removed. - . The Defense Department removed the restrictions placed on missile production on 16 August, while the production rates and operational deployment schedules were revised..

• USAF augmented program for ballistic missiles - .

  Headquarters USAF presented its revised and augmented program for ballistic missile development to the Secretary of Defense and the Armed Forces Policy Council. Nine Atlas squadrons were proposed, the first to become operational in June 1959 and the ninth in June 1963 and eight Titan squadrons, the first to be operational in March 1961 and the last in June 1963.

• Warren AFB - . The Air Force announced that the first Atlas ICBM operational base and strategic missile squadron would be located at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi).

  The third flight test missile (12A) became the first successful Atlas Series A missile flight. A short-range, booster-only flight was completed with the booster impacting 575 miles down range from Cape Canaveral. During the flight, all systems performed satisfactorily. First successful test firing of USAF Atlas ICBM, the missile landing in the target area after a flight of 600 miles.

• SAC made responsible for operational ballistic missile program. - . Headquarters AEDC notified AFBMD that the responsibility for the IOC phase of the ballistic missile program was to be transferred to SAC effective 1 January 1958..

• Scheduled design complete (95%) for Atlas C-series missiles - . Nation: USA.

• Outpost four-man space station. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ehricke. Spacecraft: Outpost.

  In 1958, the year after Sputnik 1, Krafft Ehricke, then with General Dynamics' Convair Division, designed a four-man space station known as Outpost. Ehricke proposed that the Atlas ICBM being developed by Convair could be adapted as the station's basic structure. The Atlas, 3 m in diameter and 22.8 m long, was America's largest rocket at the time.

• NASA sketches two-crew Mercury follow-on spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Johnson, Caldwell. Spacecraft: Gemini.

  In 1958 H. Kurt Strass and Caldwell C. Johnson of NASA's Space Task Group at Langley Field, Virginia.sketched a spacecraft design concept for a two-man orbiting laboratory to be launched by an Atlas-Vega booster. This was one of the earliest sketches of a two-crew Mercury follow-on. The Vega stage was dropped in favour of the Agena a year later, and a similar one-crew Mercury-Agena space station was proposed by McDonnell some years later.

• Centaur proposed - . Hq ARDC proposed to Hq USAF the initiation of a program for development of an experimental exploratory space vehicle. This subsequently became the Centaur high-energy upper stage program..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). A successful limited flight was made by the fourth Atlas fired from Cape Canaveral..

• Pacific Missile Range announced - . The Defense Department announced plans to establish the Pacific Missile Range (PMR) as part of the Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Magu, California, and as a national range..

• Highest priority to ballistic missiles, spy satellites, and ballistic missile early detection. - . Related Persons: , Eisenhower. Spacecraft: WS-117.

  President Eisenhower directed the highest and equal national priority for Atlas, Titan, Thor, Jupiter, the WS 117L advanced military satellite system, and WS 224A BMEWS. This action returned the Titan program to its previous highest national priority status.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi).

• 14 Thor boosters to be used during year for space and ICBM missions. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  The ballistic missile division informed command headquarters that as many as 14 Thor boosters would be available during the calendar year for special purpose flights. These were tentatively allocated as follows: three were assigned to Phase I "Able" series flights, six were assigned to the program for recoverable satellites, and five were assigned to Phase II "Able" for continued development leading to a Thor ICBM capability. (For a time Thor plus a second stage and warhead was considered as a means of acquiring an early emergency ICBM inventory well ahead of Atlas and Titan.) However, only eight additional launchings could be scheduled through 1958--three for Phase I "Able", three for recoverable satellites to be launched one a month beginning in October, and two in support of Phase II "Able" precisely guided reentry vehicles. Thus this appeared to be the maximum effort possible in the category of space related experimental flights essential to a more advance program. If a greater effort was desirable it would be necessary to obtain additional launching facilities, a problem that might be quickly and easily solved by modifying Navaho launch stands to accept Thor vehicles. (Msg, WDT 2-7E, AFBMD to ARDC, 11 Feb 58.)

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF.

• USAF lead role in space reaffirmed. WS 117L to be prioritized. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, KH-1, WS-117.

  The Office of the Secretary of Defense, in the first significant forward step to accelerate development of a space capability, reiterated the space role of the Air Force. In addition to its missile programs the Air Force was responsible for the 117L system and "... has a recognized long term development responsibility for manned space flight capability with the primary objective of accomplishing satellite flight as soon as technology permits." Furthermore, the Air Force was told it was to carry forward and accelerate the Atlas 117L project "under the highest national priority in order to attain an initial operational capability in the earliest possible date," But the proposed interim system using a Thor booster combined with a second stage and recoverable capsule "should not be pursued. " The Department of Defense did agree that a Thor booster with a suitable second stage "may be the most promptly and readily available device for experimental flights with laboratory animals" and development of such hardware including a system for recovery of animals was authorized. (Msg 03-014, Cmdr ARDC, to Cmdr AFBMD, 5 Mar 58.)

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). USAF Atlas A ICBM was flown from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to the impact area some 600 miles away..

• Equal priority for all ICBM and IRBM programs - . Related Persons: , Eisenhower. President Dwight D. Eisenhower reaffirmed the highest and equal national priority for Atlas, Titan, Thor, and Jupiter..

• AVCO-Convair proposal for a manned satellite at the earliest possible date. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  An AVCO-Convair contractor team submitted to the Air Force an unsolicited proposal for development of a manned satellite at the earliest possible date. The proposed system was built around an Atlas booster, no second stage, mounting a light double walled capsule which would rely on a steel mesh drag chute for deceleration and recovery. The proposal was analyzed by Air Force space specialists who concluded that the plan was feasible but offered little margin for error. Furthermore, weight estimates were optimistic, its orbital endurance and altitude were low and it possessed no growth potential although use of Atlas as a booster appeared to have merit. Air Force Ballistic Missile Division felt adoption of the proposal would only gain three or four months over the much more versatile Thor-fluorine combination vehicle which would also be free from the major limitations inherent in the AVCO-Convair proposal. (Memo, Col J. D. Lowe, AFBMD. to Col H. Evans, AFBMD, 16 May 1958, no subject.)

• Centaur program begun - . Spacecraft: WS-117. Headquarters ARDC recommended initiation of a development program for a liquid hydrogen fueled rocket engine (Centaur program) that would be incorporated in the WS 117L advanced satellite program..

• Man-In-Space Soonest plan presented to LeMay. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  The ballistic missile division briefing on Man-In-SpaceSoonest was presented at Air Research and Development Command headquarters. Present were General C. E. LeMay and "members of the Air Staff, and to Air Force Undersecretary M. A. Maclntyre and Assistant Secretary R. E. Horner. Favorable reception was accorded the briefings and the command was assured that adequate funding, "somewhere between seventy-five and one hundred million dollars" would be allocated the program for fiscal year 1959. The briefing to Maclntyre and Horner evoked a specific suggestion that an ICBM be used as a booster in lieu of developing a second stage for the Thor. The division was allowed two weeks to prepare a plan using an Atlas booster and bring it to Washington for secretarial review. (Memo, Col H. L. Evans, Asst Dep Cmdr, Space Sys, to Col C. H. Terhune, 23 May 58, subj: Trip Report.)

• Inertial guidance system transferred from the Titan to Atlas. - .

  American Bosch Arma Corporation's contract for an all-inertial guidance system was transferred from the Titan (XSM-68) development program to Atlas (XSM-65) that was to become operational sooner. The Bell Telephone Laboratories (BTL) radio-guidance system would be used on all Titan research and development missiles and for the first four Titan operational squadrons.

• Atlas production facility opens. - . Nation: USA. Open house, new Astronautics facility on Kearny Mesa.

• USAF fourth Man-In-Space Development Plan. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  Air Force Ballistic Missile Division completed its fourth Man-In-Space Development Plan.This, in the form of charts rather than a formal publication, proposed use of the Atlas booster plus a second stage consisting of a Lockheed Hustler (second stage of the 117L, later called Agena) to place a man in a 150 nautical mile orbit during October 1960. Cost for this project was estimated to be $106.11 million for fiscal 1959. The plan was briefed at command and Air Force headquarters, as well as the Air Force secretariat level. (Chronological Space Hist, 1958.)

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi).

  The final Series A Atlas missile (16A) was launched from Cape Canaveral. Of the eight research and development launches, five had been failures, but each had provided vast quantities of important data. Last Atlas A flight, considered fully successful. Four of the eight flights were considered successful.

• Configuration for last seven Atlas squadrons - .

  The Air Force recommended to the OSD Ballistic Missile Committee that the last seven Atlas squadrons be in a dispersed 3x3 configuration and that the last five squadrons be hardened to 25 psi.The Air Force also recommended that the missiles in the last five squadrons be equipped with an all-inertial guidance system. The Committee approved these recommendations on 19 August.

• BMD opposes reduction 100 nm manned spacecraft orbit - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  The ballistic missile division informed command headquarters that reducing the orbit of a manned spacecraft from 150 to 100 nautical miles would either significantly (by 50 percent) increase the number of -stations needed for tracking and control of the manned satellite or decrease the reliability and length of contact appreciably. Also on this same date, the missile division agreed to prepare a revised manned space program which scheduled its first manned flight in April 1960--moving the date up from October by six months -by using an Atlas D booster (Chronological Space Hist, 1958..)

• USAF conference on manned satellite program - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Project 7969.

  A conference was scheduled at Air Force headquarters on 25-26 Jun 1958 to discuss the "over-all problems of the manned satellite development program." The conference was sponsored by the Advanced Research Projects Agency with representatives of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Air Research and Development Command, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Space Technology Laboratories, and Convair invited to the meeting. Questions to be attacked were: Could the booster be an Atlas without a second stage? What would be the subsystem distribution of payload weight? What was Atlas maximum payload weight performance? question of ablation or heat sink capsule design was to be resolved before the conference. If it was concluded that Atlas weight lifting performance was inadequate an alternate choice would be the Atlas with a 117L second stage. Complete funding plans covering program options were to be available to the conferees. (Msg, AFDRD 51947, Hq USAF, to Hq ARDC, 13 Jun 58.)

• Man-In-Space-Soonest to use of Atlas D booster for first manned spacecraft during April 1960. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  In an agreed draft revision of its "Man-In-Space-Soonest" development plan, AFBMD proposed the use of an Atlas D booster to put the first manned spacecraft into a 115-NM orbit during April 1960. If Atlas D performance were not sufficient, an Agena or Vanguard second stage would be added.

• Draft revision of USAF Man-In-Space-Soonest plan - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  This plan proposed use of an Atlas booster to place a man in 115 nautical milt, orbit during April 1960. In event the performance was not up to lifting the required payload weight, a 1177L or a Vanguard second stage would be added. Costs were estimated at $99.3 million for Atlas alone, $139.51 million if a 117L vehicle were used as the second stage. (Chronological Space Hist, 1958.)

• USAF fifth Man-In-Space-Soonest plan - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  Air Force Ballistic Missile Division presented its fifth Man-In-Space-Soonest development plan to Washington decision points in the Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense. The division was instructed to complete its plans for an Atlas vehicle plus a second stage as a backup in the event the Atlas could not handle the job alone. (Chronological Space Mist, 1958.)

• No "go ahead" for the man in space program. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Project 7969.

  The Advanced Research Projects Agency had not yet directed a "go ahead" for the man in space program. However, Air Force headquarters considered it a certainty that direction of an Atlas boosted manned space flight would be given to the Air Force at an early date, that funds for the project would probably total $66 million and that a series of Thor boosted, instrument and animal capsule flights would precede the Atlas full sized instrumented capsule, chimpanzee, and manned shots. The Air Force would probably re-program to obtain whatever additional funds were required to support the program. The ballistic missile division was advised that while waiting for an authoritative "go ahead" it should continue preparation of work statements for industry competition and contractor selection so they might be coordinated with the Advanced Research iProjects Agency and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. (Ltr, Maj Gen J. E. Smart, Asst V/CS, to Lt Gen S. E. Anderson, Cmdr ARDC, 19 Jun 58, no subject given, quoted in TWX, RDZGW6-33-K, Hq ARDC, to Hq AFBMD, 27 Jun 58.)

• Secretary of the Air Force authorized an increase in missile production. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, , KH-1.

  Inasmuch as availability of basic booster units threatened to limit selection of the most desirable space programs, the Secretary of the Air Force authorized an increase in missile production as follows: four more Thor boosters, delivery to begin in December 1958 at a rate of one a month; four more Atlas boosters, delivery to begin in May 1959 at a rate of one a month; and $8 million budgeted to the Advanced Research Projects Agency for procurement of four additional Lockheed 117L vehicles, delivery to begin January 1959 at a rate of one a month. (Memo, SAF to C/S USAF, 24 Jun 58, no subject.)

• Atlas ICBM soft pad design complete. - . Nation: USA. Design of vertical initial operational capability ground support equipment.

• Advanced Research Projects Agency questions - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  The Advanced Research Projects Agency addressed two questions to the research and development command: Would the Air Force accept a 110 nautical mile orbit instead of 150 nautical miles for the manned space flight? What degree of program accomplishment could be obtained with a fiscal 1959 program of $50 million based on an Atlas-117L second stage? (Chronological "Space Hi't, 1958.)

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

  The initial Atlas Series B missile flight test vehicle (3B) malfuncticr.ed and broke up 60 seconds after launch from the Air Force Missile Test Center at Cape Canaveral. To the basic Series A airframe, the Series B missiles added the complete North American Aviation MA-1 propulsion cluster of booster and sustainer engines, General Electric's Mod II airborne radio inertial guidance system (open loop), and GE's Mark II nose cone. First full-powered flight of USAF Atlas B ICBM using both the sustainer and booster engines. 'Marginally successful'.

• USAF sixth Manned Military Space System Development plan. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  Air Force Ballistic Missile Division published its sixth Manned Military Space System Development plan. This proposed a single Atlas booster, but with a back-up program for a second stage (either 117L or AJ 10), to place a man in a 150 nautical mile orbit in June 1960. The cost to carry out this plan was estimated at $106.66 million for fiscal 1959. (Chronological Space Hist, 1958.)

• Scheduled design complete (95%) for Atlas D-series missiles - . Nation: USA.

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 900 km (550 mi).

  The first successful flight test of a Series B Atlas missile. This was also the first successful staging of a long-range missile. (AF Ballistic Missiles Program Status Report.) Flight test missile 4B was the first Atlas Series B missile to be launched successfully and the first ICBM to complete staging. Its 2,500-mile powered flight was the first time that the MA-1 propulsion cluster operated for the planned duration of flight. Second full-powered flight of USAF Atlas ICBM traveled 2,500 miles with radio-inertial guidance, fully successful.

• Largely as a result of the successful Thor/Able reentry tests, Brigadier General Osmond J. - .

  Ritland, AFBMD Vice Commander, reoriented the Division's reentry vehicle research and development program. Avco was directed to cancel its work on a y copper "heat sink" reentry vehicle. General Electric's Mark II copper "heat sink" nose con^ would be used on Thor IRBMs and early model Atlas ICBMs. Moreover, GE was assigned to start work on lightweight, second generation nose cones for heavier warheads.

• USAFstrategic communications satellite plan. - . Spacecraft: Advent. After examining contractor proposals for a communications satellite relay project since September 1957, Headquarters ARDC presented its original strategic communications satellite development plan..

• Centaur upper stage to be used with either Atlas or Titan boosters. - .

  ARPA issued order Number 19-59 establishing the Centaur program that would provide a high energy, liquid-fuel upper stage for use with either the Atlas or Titan boosters. Pratt and Whitney was to develop the liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engines for the upper stage vehicle to be developed by Convair/Astronautics. The development goal was to produce an upper stage vehicle that could place a satellite into a 24-hour, synchronous orbit 23,000 miles above the equator.

• Research and development / AFSWC-1 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 900 km (550 mi).

• Research and development / AFSWC-2 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 900 km (550 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

• Centaur engine contract awarded. - . Nation: USA. Air Force awarded contract Pratt & Whitney for Centaur vehicle with hydrogen-burning chamber based on research of Lewis Research Center between 1953 and 1957. Centaur project later transferred to NASA..

• Negotiations for Mercury Atlas launch vehicles - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Langley Research Center personnel visited the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Inglewood, California, to open negotiations for procuring Atlas launch vehicles for the manned satellite project..

• Joint Army-Air Force synchronous orbit communications satellite. - . Spacecraft: Advent.

  ARPA requested a joint Army-Air Force development plan for a 24-hour, synchronous equatorial orbit communications satellite. The Army Signal Corps was to be responsible for the ground and satellite communications while the Air Force (AFBMD) was to handle satellite spacecraft, booster, and launch services. The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) made the Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory (ASRDL) and the Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) responsible for milcomsats. This covered communications and vehicular aspects of the first U.S. military communications satellite program. Booster and spacecraft development were assigned to AFBMD.

• AFBMD responsible for booster and spacecraft for Advent. - . Spacecraft: Advent, . Headquarters ARDC informed AFBMD that it would be responsible for the booster and spacecraft portions of the 24-hour communications satellite program..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi).

• Space Task Group orders first Mercury Atlas missile. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group placed an order for one Atlas launch vehicle with the Air Force Missile Division, Inglewood, California, as part of a preliminary research program leading to manned space flight. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters requested that the Air Force construct and launch one Atlas C launch vehicle to check the aerodynamics of the spacecraft. It was the intention to launch this missile about May 1959 in a ballistic trajectory. This was to be the launch vehicle for the Big Joe reentry test shot, but plans were later changed and an Atlas Model D launch vehicle was used instead.

• USAF receives request for booster support of NASA manned space program. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  Air Force Ballistic Missile Division received its first specific request from the civilian space agency to support a "preliminary research program leading to manned space flight." The division was requested to procure one Atlas C ballistic missile booster with its associated control and guidance equipment." '... This request was a forerunner of a support effort for a program "requiring approximately thirteen (13) ballistic missile boosters of the Thor and Atlas class."' The space agency would procure the payload, scheduled for May 1959 delivery. The missile division was to furnish detailed plans, subject to the approval of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for the design, construction and launching of this vehicle. One million dollars was immediately transferred to the Air Force with more money to be supplied as it was requested. (Msg, no cite number, Hq NASA, to Cmds. AFBMD, 25 Nov 58.)

• Research and development / AFSWC-3 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 900 km (550 mi). Less than 18 months after the first flight, a USAF Atlas made its first successful full-range operational test flight in a 6,325 statute-mile flight, landed close to its target..

• USAF support role only in US manned space program. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  While the probability of the ballistic missile division developing a military manned space system was rapidly diminishing, military and civilian demand for space boosters was accelerating. Except for certain strictly military applications it was plain the Air Force would play mainly a supporting role in the nation's space program, supplying boosters and launch facilities to the civilian .space agency and the Advanced Research Projects Agency. On this date there were approximately 11 scheduled programs, several only in the planning stage. One of the firm programs was the civilian agency's man in space which was scheduled to launch its first experimental Atlas C payload in May 1959 and start a series of nine Atlas D launches beginning December 1959. (Ltr, Col L. D. Ely, Asst Dep Cmdr, Military Space Sys, AFBMD, to Col C. H. Terhune, 1 Dec 58, subj: Atlas Boosters for Space Projects.)

• Nine Atlas launch vehicles ordered for Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Space Task Group indicated that nine Atlas launch vehicles were required in support of the Project Mercury manned and unmanned flights and these were ordered from the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division..

• Score - . Mass: 70 kg (154 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Class: Technology. Type: Communications technology satellite. Spacecraft: Score. Decay Date: 1959-01-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 10 . COSPAR: 1958-Zeta-1. Apogee: 1,484 km (922 mi). Perigee: 185 km (114 mi). Inclination: 32.30 deg. Period: 101.50 min.

  Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay Equipment; first commsat; transmitted taped messages for 13 days. Project Score, Atlas rocket placed in orbit carrying communications equipment which relayed President Eisenhower's Christmas message to the world from outer space. (AF Ballistic Missiles Program Status Report.)

• NASA-USAF modalities for Atlas - . Spacecraft: Mercury.

  One of the most important Project Mercury meetings between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the missile division took place. A series of agreements was approved controlling administrative arrangements and procedural channels essential to coordinated, efficient management of the joint phases of the program. Cost of the Atlas booster was set at $3.5 million, Space Technology Laboratories systems engineering and technical direction of the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division's part in the program was agreed upon, revision of program requirements was accomplished, regular technical and management meetings were arranged, and the missile division promised to prepare a development plan for the first Mercury booster (HS-24) by February 1959. (Ref .J file, AFBMD Support, Proj Mercury, Dec 60.)

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 900 km (550 mi). First Atlas C flight (3C), successful..

• Strategic Air Command takes over Atlas ICBM facilities. - . Nation: USA. VAFB SMS 576A facilities turned over to SAC.

• Centaur first contract. - . Nation: USA. Centaur project (Atlas upper stage) contracted for $7 million in its first year.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

• Mod II re-entry vehicle research and development mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 990 km (610 mi).

• NASA/USAF responsibilities for the first two Mercury Atlas firings. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  During a meeting between personnel of the Space Task Group and the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, the responsibilities of the two organizations were outlined for the first two Atlas firings. Space Technology Laboratories, under Air Force Ballistic Missile Division direction, would select the design trajectories according to the specifications set forth by the Space Task Group. These specifications were to match a point in the trajectory at about 450,000 feet, corresponding to a normal reentry condition for the manned spacecraft after firing of the retrorockets at an altitude of 120 nautical miles. Space Technology Laboratories would also provide impact dispersion data, data for range safety purposes, and the necessary reprograming of the guidance computers. The spacecraft for the suborbital Atlas flights would be manufactured under the deriction of the Lewis Research Center, based on Space Task Group designs. Space Task Group was developing the spacecraft instrumentation, with a contingent of personnel at the Lewis Research Center. The attitude control system was being developed by Lewis.

• Atlas ICBM coffin launcher design completed. - . Nation: USA. Design of horizontal operational ground support equipment (coffin configuration) completed.

• Research and development / AFSWC-4? test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 990 km (610 mi). Last Atlas B flight, fully successful.

• Atlas launch vehicles in Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Discussions were held at Langley Field between the Space Task Group and the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division covering aspects of the use of Atlas launch vehicles in Project Mercury. Specifically discussed were technical details of the first Atlas test flight (Big Joe), the abort sensing capability for later flights, and overall program objectives.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

• The first operational Atlas missile accepted by the Air Force - . The first operational Atlas missile, 6D, was accepted by the Air Force from Convair. Subsequently, 6D was installed in the first Atlas complex, 65-1, at Vandenberg AFB during the first week of March..

• Atlas squadrons five to nine to have nine launchers each. - . Atlas squadrons five through nine were approved for a 1x9 configuration - each squadron to consist of nine individual launchers..

• Warren AFB - . Construction began on the Atlas D operational sites assigned to Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, and Offutt AFB, Nebraska..

• Atlas 6C blows up. - . Nation: USA. Missile 6C blows up, destroying ERB Stand 1-A..

• NASA Atlas plan - . Spacecraft: Mercury, .

  The civilian space agency acknowledged receipt of the missile division development plan for the first booster scheduled to start the man in space effort. Except for two revisions, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration declared the plan to be "satisfactory." One of the revisions was suggested in this statement: "NASA prefers not to be committed to the specified sum of $3,556,000, but reserves the right to negotiate the costs." (Ltr, T. K. Glennan, NASA Administrator, to Cmdr, ARDC, 11 Mar 59, no subject.)

• RVX-2 re-entry vehicle research and development mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

• Scheduled design complete (95%) for Atlas E-series missiles - . Nation: USA.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

  The first Atlas D model flight test missile (3D) had to be destroyed 36 seconds into flight due to a severe engine malfunction and explosions. In addition to other changes, the D series replaced the MA-1 engine package with the Rocketdyne MA-2. The booster engines in the MA-2 produced 309,000 pounds of thrust versus 300,000 pounds for the MA-1. Sustainer engine thrust remained 57,000 pounds. With verniers, total thrust for the MA-2 was 368,000 pounds compared to 357,000 for the MA-1 engine package.

• USAf-NASA Atlas cost dispute - . Spacecraft: Mercury, .

  Air Force Ballistic Missile Division replied to the 11 March 1959 letter in which the civilian agency demurred at accepting the charge of $3.55 million without the right to negotiate the cost. The missile division reminded National Aeronautics and Space Administration that it had already committed $2.761 million to the space agency's Order HS-24 and in the immediate future additional funds were required up to $3.556 million to cover the cost of the basic Atlas booster and additional work schedule through the launching sequence as stipulated in the development plan. (Msg, WDPP-4-4, Cmdr AFBMD, to NASA, 24 Apr 59.)

• High-resolution photographs of the moon using Vega rocket - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Rosen, Milton. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Lunar Orbiter.

  Milton W. Rosen of NASA Headquarters proposed a plan for obtaining high-resolution photographs of the moon. A three-stage Vega would place the payload within a 500-mile diameter circle on the lunar surface. A stabilized retrorocket fired at 500 miles above the moon would slow the instrument package sufficiently to permit 20 photographs to be transmitted at a rate of one picture per minute. Additional Details: here....

• NASA combines Atlas booster orders - . Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration instructed the missile division to combine its first order for an Atlas booster (HS-24) with a later order for nine Atlas boosters. This action would also combine fund allocations of $2,761 000 for the first booster and $6 million for the nine boosters to a fund total of $8,761, 000 for Mercury booster procurement. therefore, the missile division was requested to prepare a development and funding plan covering the amended HS-36 order and forward the plan to NASA by 15 June 1959, (Msg, no cite number, NASA to AFBMD, 14 May 1959.)

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

• Project Steer - . Spacecraft: Advent.

  At last realizing the importance of the ground-to-aircraft communications requirements for control of the SAC bomber force, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) initiated Project Steer. The defense communication satellite effort now had three distinct elements - Steer; Tackle, for an advanced polar communication satellite; and Decree for a 24-hour synchronous communication satellite to be put in orbit by the as yet undeveloped Atlas-Centaur. Priority was assigned to Project Steer, and project supervision was given to AFBMD. However, ARPA retained control and did not delegate authority and responsibility for systems integration.

• Atlas 2D blows up. - . Nation: USA. Missile 2D blows up on Sycamore stand S-2, after a total of 1486 seconds running time.

• Flight instrumentation for Mercury-Atlas program. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Technology Laboratories and Convair completed an analysis of flight instrumentation necessary to support the Mercury-Atlas program. The primary objective of the study was to select a light-weight telemetry system. A system weighing 270 pounds was recommended, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration concurred with the proposal.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF.

• Centaur transferred to NASA. - . The Centaur high-energy upper stage development program was transferred from the Air Force (ARDC) to NASA..

• Instrumentation to measure noise level during the Mercury Big Joe-Atlas launching. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  An agreement was made with the Air Force for Space Task Group to place microphone pickups on the skin of the Atlas launch vehicle as a part of the instrumentation to measure noise level during the Big Joe-Atlas launching. Distribution of the microphones was as follows: one inside the Mercury spacecraft, three externally about midway of the launch vehicle, and one on the Atlas skirt.

• Research and development / AFSWC-5 test / particles mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 900 km (550 mi).

  The first full-scale test of an ablation reentry vehicle (RVX-2) was conducted with the launch and successful flight of Atlas 8C. Following the 4,385 NM flight into the South Atlantic, the reentry vehicle was recovered. A full-scale USAF Atlas ICBM nose cone recovered for the first time after flight down the AMR.

• First successful Series D Atlas missile flight test. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest. (Air Force Ballistic Missiles Program Status Report.).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). First Atlas successful D missile flight.After three consecutive failures (3D, 7D, and 5D), Atlas missile 11D became the first Series D flight test missile to complete a successful launch from Cape Canaveral..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development / AFSWC-6 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,400 km (800 mi).

  The final Atlas Series C missile, 11C, was fired from Cape Canaveral. Three of the six Atlas C research and development test missiles were successful, while the other three were failures. Last successful Atlas C flight (11C); 9C exploded one month later during the Able static firing.

• Additional Atlas launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  NASA Headquarters authorized the Space Task Group to enter into negotiations with the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division for the procurement of additional Atlas launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury. The authorization was to be incorporated into Contract No. HS-36.

• LC 576A at Vandenberg first fully operational ICBM complex. - . Complex 576A (65-1) at Vandenberg AFB was transferred to SAC and thus became the first fully operational ICBM complex..

• Atlas D ICBM operational. - . Nation: USA. USAF Atlas ICBM officially declared operational and taken over by the Strategic Air Command, at Vandenberg AFB..

• Mercury BJ-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 153 km (95 mi).

  A NASA boilerplate model of the Mercury capsule was launched atop Atlas 10D from Cape Canaveral. Although the range was less than planned due to failure of the Atlas booster engine section to separate, the capsule was recovered in the South Atlantic after surviving reentry heat of more than 10,000°F.

• Atlas ICBM initial operational capability demonstration launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

  A SAC crew conducted the first west coast launch of an Atlas operational configuration missile, 12D, from Vandenberg AFB, to a target near Wake Island, Afterward, General Thomas S. Power, CINCSAC, declared the Atlas system to be operational. This marked the attainment of operational status for the Atlas one year earlier than the six years that the von Neumann Committee had projected in its February 1954 report.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• USAF responsible for all military spacecraft. - . Related Persons: , LeMay.

  General Curtis E. LeMay, Vice Chief of Staff, USAF, informed Headquarters ARDC that the Secretary of Defense had assigned responsibility to the Air Force for developing and launching all military spacecraft. The Air Force was also to perform all required systems integration for military space systems. The decision was made for reasons of efficiency and economy.

• Responsibility for military space programs assigned to USAF - . Spacecraft: WS-117, Transit, Midas, Samos.

  Once again, the Defense Department reorganized its space program. Primary responsibility for military space programs was assigned to the Air Force. ARPA retained responsibility for advanced research on missile defense, solid propellants, and several other projects. Existing projects were reassigned to the military services from ARPA - MIDAS and SAMOS to the Air Force,the Transit navigation satellite to the Navy, and NOTUS to the Army. These reassignments were not immediately effective, but the move toward Air Force development, production, and launching of military space vehicles was quite clear.

• Atlas C Able explodes on pad during static test. - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: Pioneer.

  A participant remembers:

  I live near the Cape on Merritt Island and have been here for about 41 years. I worked for the ARMA Corp that developed the Atlas Inertial Guidance System. I was in the Blockhouse at Complex 11 while a static test was performed on an Atlas Able on Complex 12. It did explode. Did it ever! After a couple of hours the six of us were allowed out of the blockhouse and saw all the damage to our complex...I had a tiny piece of that missile for a long time that somehow wound up on my person...labeled 9C.

  The next Atlas Able would not fly until over a year later, using the Atlas D as the booster stage.

• Warren AFB - . The first Atlas missile was delivered to Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, and was used to check out missile installation and launch facilities..

• Mk 3 Mod 1 re-entry vehicle research and development mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). USAF Atlas successfully launched from Cape Canaveral carrying a nose-cone camera which took a series of photographs of the earth's cloud cover from a 300-mile altitude..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Pioneer (P 3) - . Payload: Pioneer P 3 / Able IVB. Mass: 168 kg (370 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Pioneer. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft: Pioneer P 3. Decay Date: 1959-11-26 . Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

  An intended lunar probe launched from the Atlantic Missile Range by an Atlas-Able booster disintegrated about 45 seconds later when the protective sheath covering the payload detached prematurely. The probe was sponsored by NASA, developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and launched by the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division.

• Headquarters USAF directed an Atlas program of 13 squadrons. - .

• First American ICBM put on strategic offensive alert - . One Atlas D missile at Vandenberg complex 576A was maintained in a state of operational readiness during the month. This marked the introduction of the ICBM into the U.S. strategic offensive alert..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Atlas ICBM made second successful 6,325-mile flight at AMR..

• Ablestar second stage completed - .

  Aerojet-General Corporation completed development of the Ablestar second stage for use with Atlas, Titan, or Thor boosters. Primary improvements over the previous Able vehicles were increased propellant capacity, multiple restart capability, and full-time attitude control.

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). 43D achieved a 6300 NM (7200 SM) flight from AMR with enough residual fuel for an additional 2000 miles.

• Mercury-Atlas flight test working group - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A proposal was made by Walter C. Williams, Associate Director of Project Mercury Operations, that the Mercury-Atlas flight test working group become an official and standing coordination body. This group brought together representation from the Space Task Group, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Convair Astronautics, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, and the Atlantic Missile Range. Personnel from these organizations had met informally in the past on several occasions.

• 15 Atlas launch vehicles and 26 Mercury spacecraft purchased. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. At a meeting to draft fiscal year 1962 funding estimates, the total purchase of Atlas launch vehicles was listed as 15, and the total purchase of Mercury spacecraft was listed as 26..

• Initial operational capability demonstration launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Two Atlas ICBMs launched within two hours - one by SAC at VAFB, one by GD/A at AMR; both successful..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Pioneer (P 31) - . Payload: Pioneer P 31. Nation: USA. Program: Pioneer. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft: Pioneer P 3. Decay Date: 1960-02-15 . COSPAR: F600215A.

• Midas 1 - . Payload: Midas / Agena TV 1008. Mass: 2,025 kg (4,464 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Midas. Decay Date: 1960-02-26 .

  The Air Force MIDAS I satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral in the first successful launch of the Atlas D/Agena A booster-upper stage combination. MIDAS I, however, failed to achieve orbit because an accident at the Atlas-Agena staging damaged the Agena. The entire vehicle reentered and burned up about 2,500 miles downrange. Missile Defense Alarm System.

• USAF selects Advent as sole military communication satellite. - . Spacecraft: Advent.

  Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) issued an interim directive cancelling the three-phase development program for a military communication satellite system. Pending a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and OSD review, Projects Steer, Tackle, and Decree were replaced by a single synchronous communications satellite system subsequently designated Project Advent. AFBMD was directed to conduct a single integrated research and development program for a 24-hour synchronous equatorial global communication satellite system. The Army was to develop the communications equipment while AFBMD handled the booster and spacecraft.

• Three Atlas missiles in semi-readiness - . Three Atlas missiles were placed in semi-readiness at Vandenberg AFB..

• Mercury-Atlas working panels - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Mercury-Atlas working panels were reorganized into four groups: coordination, flight test, trajectory analysis, and change control. Each panel was composed of at least one representative from NASA (Space Task Group), McDonnell, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Space Technology Laboratory, and Convair-Astronautics.

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). First USAF Atlas R&D flight using all-inertial guidance system..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF.

• Recovery requirements for Mercury MA-1. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Space Task Group published recovery requirements for the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) flight test..

• Atlas squadrons 8 through 13 to have 12 launchers each. - . Headquarters USAF approved a 1 x 12 configuration for Atlas squadrons 8 through 13 - each squadron would have 12 individual launch facilities..

• Atlas E/F silo-based squadrons increased by one silo each. - . Atlas E/F silo-lift strategic missile squadrons were enlarged from 9-12 launchers to 10-13 each. In these units, the Atlas missiles would be maintained in hardened underground silos..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). Atlas 48D, intended to be the first closed-loop test of the Arma all-inertial guidance system, exploded immediately after launch release as a result of combustion instability in the MA-2 engine..

• Initial operational capability operational readiness test launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). SAC crews successfully fired the first Atlas missile (25D) to be launched from an operational horizontal "coffin" missile storage/launcher facility at Vandenberg AFB. .

• Initial operational capability operational readiness test launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

  Atlas 56D carried a 3,000-pound payload 7,859 nautical miles (9,040 statute miles) from Cape Canaveral to the target area in the Indian Ocean. This was the longest U.S. missile flight to date. Payload was an operational weight nose cone plus instrumentation. Missile attained an apogee of about 1,000 miles.

• Midas 2 - . Payload: Midas / Agena TV 1007. Mass: 2,300 kg (5,000 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Midas. Decay Date: 1974-02-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 43 . COSPAR: 1960-Zeta-1. Apogee: 494 km (306 mi). Perigee: 473 km (293 mi). Inclination: 33.00 deg. Period: 94.30 min.

  Missile Defense Alarm System. Test launch with W-17 sensor. The last Atlas D/Agena A booster to be used by the Air Force placed into orbit the MIDAS II infrared scanning satellite designed to detect and give early warning of missile launchings. Although intended to function for 40 months, the satellite's telemetry system failed on 26 May. MIDAS II was the first early warning satellite system placed in orbit.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Atlas flight test missile 54D completed the first successful demonstration of accuracy and reliability of the closed-loop Arma all-inertial guidance system. .

• Mercury MA-1 launch vehicle delivered - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle 50-D was delivered for the first Mercury-Atlas mission (MA-1)..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). 50th Atlas to be flown at AMR, successful.

• Research and development / ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Ballistic missile site activation moved to Air Materiel Command. - .

  Headquarters USAF assigned responsibility for management of all ballistic missile operational site activation work to Air Materiel Command. ARDC retained responsibility for activation of Atlas D squadrons - the 564th and 565th Strategic Missile Squadrons at F.E. Warren and the 566th at Offutt AFB - and for first-of-a-kind installations at Vandenberg AFB. Under these arrangements, AMC was to have responsibility for contractor direction and performance while AFBMD retained control of site installation design and some facets of technical engineering and configuration control.

• Atlas operational plans given high priority - . Nation: USA. M. Gen. Tom Gerrity appointed head of new BMC for operational site selection through turnover.

• Atlas F squadron 576A activated at Vandenberg AFB. - . The 576A Strategic Missile Squadron (Atlas F) was activated at Vandenberg AFB and assigned to SAC's First Missile Division..

• Initial operational capability operational readiness test launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

• Atlas D squadron 576B activated at Vandenberg AFB. - .

• Mercury MA-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 13 km (8 mi).

  The first Mercury-Atlas -D (MA-1) was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral to test the Mercury capsule and Atlas D booster for future use in NASA's Project Mercury manned orbital flight program. Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) was launched from the Atlantic Missile Range in a test of spacecraft structural integrity under maximum heating conditions. After 58.5 seconds of flight, MA-1 exploded and the spacecraft was destroyed upon impact off-shore. None of the primary capsule test objectives were met. The mission objectives were to check the integrity of the spacecraft structure and afterbody shingles for a reentry associated with a critical abort and to evaluate the open-loop performance of the Atlas abort-sensing instrumentation system. The spacecraft contained no escape system and no test subject. Standard posigrade rockets were used to separate the spacecraft from the Atlas, but the retrorockets were dummies. The flight was terminated because of a launch vehicle and adapter structural failure. The spacecraft was destroyed upon impact with the water because the recovery system was not designed to actuate under the imposed flight conditions. Later most of the spacecraft, the booster engines, and the liquid oxygen vent valve were recovered from the ocean floor. Since none of the primary flight objectives was achieved, Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) was planned to fulfill the mission.

• Exhaustive review of Mercury-Atlas after dual Atlas failures. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Because of the failure of the Big Joe Atlas test flight and the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) flight to attain all its mission objectives, the overall Mercury-Atlas program underwent an exhaustive review. . Additional Details: here....

• Warren AFB - . Complex 564A, designed to house three Atlas D missiles in horizontal "coffin" storage/launcher facilities, was completed at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, and transferred to SAC..

• Research and development / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Mercury MA-1 malfunction discussed. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chamberlin. Spacecraft: Mercury. Representatives of NASA, McDonnell, Ballistic Missile Division, Space Technology Laboratories, and Convair met at Cape Canaveral and later at Convair Astronautics (Aug. 30, 1960) to discuss the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) mission malfunction. . Additional Details: here....

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Warren AFB - .

  The transfer of the three-missile Complex 564B, the first operational Atlas D (CGM-16D) squadron at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming. With this the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron, was turned over to the Strategic Air Command's 706th Strategic Missile Wing.

• Initial operational capability demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Atlas ICBM fired 9030 statute miles, from Cape Canaveral to the Indian Ocean off the Cape of Good Hope in 50 minutes, the second record distance flight..

• Mercury MA-3 launch vehicle delivered - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Atlas launch vehicle 67-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) reentry test mission..

• Pioneer (P 30) - . Payload: Pioneer P 30 / Able VA. Mass: 175 kg (385 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Pioneer. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft: Pioneer P 3. Decay Date: 1960-09-25 . Apogee: 1,290 km (800 mi). An attempt to launch a Pioneer satellite into lunar orbit failed when one of the upper stages of the Atlas- Able rocket malfunctioned..

• Roll-out of Mercury MA-3 launch vehicle - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The roll-out inspection of Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 77-D was conducted at Convair-Astronautics. This launch vehicle was allocated for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission, but was later canceled and Atlas booster 100-D was used instead..

• Initial operational capability demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). First E missile flown with MA-3 engine, unsuccessful.

• Samos 1 - . Payload: Samos E-1 no. 1. Mass: 1,845 kg (4,067 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1960-10-11 . First generation photo surveillance; radio relay of images; Satellite and Missile Observation Satellite..

• Initial operational capability demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). USAF Atlas launched at AMR placed nose cone containing three black mice 650 miles up and 5,000 miles downrange at 17,000 mph. Nose cone was recovered in target area near Ascension Island, the three mice surviving the flight in "good condition.".

• Air Force gives up on separate military man in space program. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Lunex.

  The Air Force no longer seriously entertained the prospect of a separate military man in space program. Instead the ballistic missile division became deeply involved in support activity for the civilian space agency, especially developing and supplying hardware for the Mercury program. As of this date, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division participation included the following: providing 16 Atlas D boosters to accept Mercury capsules and adapters, to be provided by the space agency, a modified guidance structure, an installed abort system to insure pilot safety, and telemetry. Air Force Ballistic Missile Division also furnished launch facilities at the Atlantic Missile Range Complex 14, and one-half of Hangar J and the necessary modifications thereto as requested and made necessary by booster requirements. Such work included installation of capsule umbilical and checkout cabling, telemetry, communications, and data transfer equipment required by the payload. The missile division also provided the guidance site and use of the range Atlas guidance computer (Mod III) for powered trajectory guidance and the special computations requested by the space agency. Air Force Ballistic Missile Division and several Air Force contractors provided, as of this date, 401 military and civilian personnel to the program. Much of the cost of this support activity was reimbursed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, but some was not. Air Force personnel costs, military and civilian; office space and equipment; and normal base support functions were provided at Air Force expense. Cost of a 14 booster "program (the additional two boosters were ordered too late to be included in this summary) was as follows:(Millions of Dollars)
  

  	Prior Years	FY 61	FY 62	Total
  Booster Hardware and Launch Service	19.769	15.324	5.924	41.017
  Engineering Modifications and Studies, Technical Direction, Booster Safety Program, etc.	3.436	6.367	1.362	11.165
  Miscellaneous, Propellant, Transportation, Travel, etc.	.466	1.133	.122	1.721
  Total Estimate	23.671	22.824	7.408	53.903

  
  (Msg, WDGP 17-10-5, AFBMD to Hq ARDC, 17 Oct 1960)

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Crash program instigated to get Atlas sites operational. - . Nation: USA. Golden Ram program accomplished at SMS 576-B2 & B3.

• Centaur tracking network test. - . Nation: USA.

  Under arrangements of the AACB (Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board), NASA will utilize existing NASA tracking stations for initial Centaur development vehicles and switch to the Advent network (which is to be planned, funded, and constructed by DOD) when Centaur is operational, perhaps as early as the fourth of 10 development launchings of Centaur.

• Atlas D/AIG All Inertial Guidance - . Nation: USA. Atlas D/AIG (All Inertial Guidance) scheduled design 95 % complete.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Mercury MA-3 spacecraft delivered - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 8 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) unmanned orbital mission..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Pioneer (P 31) - . Payload: Pioneer P 31 / Able VB. Mass: 175 kg (385 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Pioneer. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft: Pioneer P 3. Decay Date: 1960-12-15 . Apogee: 13 km (8 mi). The final launch in the Pioneer lunar probe program was unsuccessful; the Atlas-Able booster rocket went out of control and exploded at an altitude of 12,200 m off Cape Canaveral..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). The first ICBM operational reentry vehicle ever recovered was fished out of the Eniwetok Lagoon five days later..

• Operational ICBM RV recovered. - . The first ICBM operational reentry vehicle ever recovered was fished out of the Eniwetok Lagoon. It had been launched by an Atlas D from Vandenberg AFB on 16 December..

• USAF need for a space launch vehicle with 15,000 lb payload - . Headquarters USAF instructed AFBMD to continue its efforts to define the need for a space launch vehicle with a payload capacity between the Atlas/Centaur (9,000 lbs) and the early Saturn (19,000 lbs).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

  The flight testing of the Series D Atlas missiles was completed with the successful launch and flight of Atlas 90D from Cape Canaveral. This was the 32d Atlas D to be launched in the research and development series and the 55th Atlas missile to be flown since the first attempted launch on 11 June 1957. During the flight test series to date, 35 missiles were flown successfully and 20 were rated failures. Final test flight of USAF Atlas D traveled 5,000 miles to target down Atlantic Missile Range, representing 35 successes, 8 partials, and 6 failures in 49 test launchings for D model. 75th Atlas launched at AMR, successful

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

• Samos 2 - . Payload: Samos E-1 no. 2. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1973-10-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 70 . COSPAR: 1961-Alpha-1. Apogee: 557 km (346 mi). Perigee: 474 km (294 mi). Inclination: 97.40 deg. Period: 95.00 min.

  An Air Force Atlas D/Agena A was launched from Vandenberg and successfully placed the SAMOS II satellite into orbit. This was the last Air Force use of an Agena A upper stage vehicle. First generation photo surveillance; radio relay of images; micrometeoroid impact data. Poor results.

• Centaur development milestones set. - . Nation: USA. Meeting of NASA and contractor personnel held at NASA headquarters to review Centaur development program..

• Atlas Weapon System Project Office transferred to Norton AFB - . AFBMD's WS 107A-1 (Atlas) Weapon System Project Office was transferred to Norton AFB, California..

• Rules for the Mercury MA-2 - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft, mission, and launch vehicle flight safety rules for the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) mission were reviewed by Space Task Group personnel..

• Space Task Group selected severe flight trajectory for Mercury MA-2 - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Information was released by NASA Headquarters that Space Task Group engineers directing Project Mercury had selected the flight trajectory for the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) mission. . Additional Details: here....

• Mercury MA-2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 182 km (113 mi).

  Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) was launched from Cape Canaveral in a test to check maximum heating and its effects during the worst reentry design conditions. The flight closely matched the desired trajectory and attained a maximum altitude of 114.04 statute miles and a range of 1,431.6 statute miles. Inspection of the spacecraft aboard the recovery ship some 55 minutes after launch (actual flight time was 17.56 minutes) indicated that test objectives were met, since the structure and heat protection elements appeared to be in excellent condition. The flight control team obtained satisfactory data; and the complete launch computing and display system, operating for the first time in a flight, performed satisfactorily.

• Mercury MA-5 spacecraft delivered - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 9 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital primate (Enos) mission..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). Atlas missile 9E made the first successful flight test of the Series E Atlas missile. First successful Atlas E flight..

• Mercury MA-3 launch vehicle rolled out. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Factory roll-out inspection of Atlas launch vehicle No. 100-D was conducted at Convair-Astronautics. This launch vehicle was allocated for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission..

• Warren AFB - . The second Atlas D (horizontal storage/ launcher) squadron at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming - the 565th Strategic Missile Squadron was transferred to SAC's 706th Strategic Missile Wing..

• Mercury MA-3 launch vehicle delivered - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle 100-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

• The Mercury-Atlas Missile Range Projects Office designated as a staff function - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Mercury-Atlas Missile Range Projects Office, headed by Elmer H. Buller, was designated as a staff function of the Space Task Group Director's office..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Atlas SMS 566 operational. - . Nation: USA. Offutt AFB SMS 566 operational. The third and last Series D Atlas complex of nine missiles was turned over to SAC's 549th Strategic Missile Squadron at Offutt AFB, Nebraska..

• Mercury MA-3 - . Payload: Mercury SC8. Mass: 1,355 kg (2,987 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Decay Date: 1961-04-25 .

  Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) was launched from Cape Canaveral in an attempt to orbit the spacecraft with a 'mechanical astronaut' aboard. After lift-off, the launch vehicle failed to roll to a 70 degree heading and to pitch over into the proper trajectory. The abort-sensing system activated the escape rockets prior to the launch vehicle's destruction by the range safety officer after approximately 40 seconds of flight that had attained an altitude of 16,400 feet. The spacecraft then coasted up to 24,000 feet, deployed its parachutes, and landed in the Atlantic Ocean 2,000 yards north of the launch pad. The spacecraft was recovered and was found to have incurred only superficial damage; it was then shipped to McDonnell for refitting.

• MA-4 spacecraft delivered - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury spacecraft 8A was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) orbital unmanned (mechanical astronaut) mission..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Mercury MA-3 investigation board - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. An Atlas investigation board was convened to study the cause of the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission launch vehicle failure. Several possible areas were considered, and three were isolated as probable causes based on a review of test data..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Ranger 1 booster erected. - . Nation: USA. Program: Ranger. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft Bus: Ranger. Spacecraft: Ranger 1-2. Atlas booster 111-D, to be used for Ranger I, was erected on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral..

• Centrifuge training for Mercury-Atlas orbital missions. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. A 30 day centrifuge training program was conducted at the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory directed entirely toward training the astronauts for the Mercury-Atlas orbital missions..

• Prelaunch mission rules for MA-4 published. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Research and development Category II test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Atlas 27E was to be the first Series E operational test launch (OTL) from Vandenberg. However, the missile self-destructed over the launch pad due to a first stage engine failure at T+4 seconds. First E launched at SMS 576 from OSTF-1, unsuccessful.

• Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) recovery requirements were published. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

• MA-4 vehicle roll-out - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Factory roll-out inspection of Atlas launch vehicle 88-D, designated for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) mission, was conducted at Convair..

• First Atlas E operational complex - .

  Complex 576C (576C Strategic Missile Squadron), the first Atlas E operational complex, was transferred to SAC at Vandenberg AFB. The 576C consisted of one above ground horizontal coffin storage/launcher hardened to withstand 25 pounds per-square inch (psi).

• McDonnell studies of the redesigned Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Gemini, Gemini Ejection, Gemini Parachute.

  Walter F. Burke of McDonnell summarized the company's studies of the redesigned Mercury spacecraft for Space Task Group's senior staff. McDonnell had considered three configurations: (1) the minimum-change capsule, modified only to improve accessibility and handling, with an adapter added to carry such items as extra batteries; (2) a reconfigured capsule with an ejection seat installed and most of the equipment exterior to the pressure vessel on highly accessible pallets; and (3) a two-man capsule, similar to the reconfigured capsule except for the modification required for two rather than one-man operation. The capsule would be brought down on two Mercury-type main parachutes, the ejection seat serving as a redundant system. In evaluating the trajectory of the two-man capsule, McDonnell used Atlas Centaur booster performance data.

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). Atlas missile 22E completed a flight of 7,863 nautical miles (9,050 statute miles), with the nose cone landing 1,000 miles southeast of Capetown, South Africa..

• Midas 3 - . Payload: Midas / Agena TV 1201. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Midas. USAF Sat Cat: 163 . COSPAR: 1961-Sigma-1. Apogee: 3,540 km (2,190 mi). Perigee: 3,343 km (2,077 mi). Inclination: 91.20 deg. Period: 161.40 min.

  MIDAS III (Missile Defense Alarm System) satellite was launched into polar orbit from Vandenberg AFB by the first Atlas D/Agena B booster (97D/#1201). This vehicle achieved a record 1,850-mile orbit and was the heaviest U.S. satellite put up to date. Missile Defense Alarm System.

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 88-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle 88-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) mission..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Centaur operational contracts initiated. - . Nation: USA. NASA directed Marshall Space Flight Center to enter contract negotiations with contractors for procurement of five operational Atlas-Centaur vehicles. These launchings were planned to begin in second quarter of 1964..

• Key personnel operational assignments for the Mercury MA-4 - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Key personnel operational assignments for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) unmanned orbital mission were made by the Space Task Group..

• Retrofire-from-orbit mission rules for Mercury MA-4 - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Retrorockets. Retrofire-from-orbit mission rules were published for the unmanned Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) orbital flight..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,400 km (800 mi). The first Series F Atlas missile (2F) was successfully launched from Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral and completed its test flight. First F flight, at AMR), successful.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

  The launch of Atlas 101D from Vandenberg AFB completed the initial operational capability (IOC) launch series for the Atlas D ICBM. In 11 launches, only five missiles were successful. The launch of Atlas 101D from Vandenberg AFB completed the initial operational capability (IOC) launch series for the Atlas D ICBM. In 11 launches, only five missiles were successful.

• Ranger 1 - . Payload: NASA P-32 (RA-1). Mass: 306 kg (674 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Ranger. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft Bus: Ranger. Spacecraft: Ranger 1-2. Decay Date: 1961-08-30 . USAF Sat Cat: 173 . COSPAR: 1961-Phi-1. Apogee: 446 km (277 mi). Perigee: 179 km (111 mi). Inclination: 32.90 deg. Period: 90.60 min.

  Lunar probe; failed to leave Earth orbit. Ranger 1, a test version of the spacecraft which would attempt an unmanned crash landing on the moon, was launched from the Atlantic Missile Range by an Atlas-Agena B booster. The 306 kg spacecraft did not attain the scheduled extremely elongated orbit because of the misfiring of the Agena B rocket. Although the spacecraft systems were tested successfully, only part of the eight project experiments could be carried out. Ranger 1 reentered on August 29 after 111 orbits. Ranger 1's primary mission was to test the performance of those functions and parts that are necessary for carrying out subsequent lunar and planetary missions using essentially the same spacecraft design.

• Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) unmanned orbital flight postponed. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Lockheed contracted for the Agena D upper stage. - . Lockheed was awarded an Air Force letter contract to develop and manufacture the first 12 flight models of the standardized configuration Agena D (Standard Stage OlA, SS-01A)..

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Samos 3 - . Payload: Samos E-2 no. 1. Mass: 1,890 kg (4,160 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1961-09-09 . First generation photo surveillance; radio relay of images..

• Mercury MA-4 - . Payload: Mercury SC8A. Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Decay Date: 1961-09-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 183 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Alpha-1. Apogee: 248 km (154 mi). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Inclination: 32.80 deg. Period: 88.40 min.

  Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) was launched from Cape Canaveral with special vibration and noise instrumentation and a mechanical crewman simulator aboard in addition to the normal spacecraft equipment. This was the first Mercury spacecraft to attain an earth orbit. The orbital apogee was 123 nautical miles and the perigee was 86 nautical miles. After one orbit, the spacecraft's orbital timing device triggered the retrograde rockets, and the spacecraft splashed in the Atlantic Ocean 161 miles east of Bermuda. Recovery was made by the USS Decatur. During the flight, only three slight deviations were noted - a small leak in the oxygen system; loss of voice contact over Australia; and the failure of an inverter in the environmental control system. Overall, the flight was highly successful: the Atlas booster performed well and demonstrated that it was ready for the manned flight, the spacecraft systems operated well, and the Mercury global tracking network and telemetry operated in an excellent manner and was ready to support manned orbital flight.

• Mission rules for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital flight. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mission rules for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital flight were published. Revisions were issued on October 16 and 25, 1961, and November 11, 1961..

• Mariner moved to Atlas-Agena due to Centaur delay. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mariner. Class: Venus. Type: Venus probe. Spacecraft Bus: Mariner. Spacecraft: Mariner 1-2. NASA announced that instrumented Venus probe to be launched next year would be launched by an Atlas-Agena B rather than a Centaur rocket as originally planned..

• First Series E Atlas squadron operational - . The first Series E Atlas squadron became operational at Fairchild AFB, Washington (567th Strategic Missile Squadron, SAC)..

• Atlas SMS 567 operational. - . Nation: USA. Fairchild AFB SMS 567 operational.

• Factory roll-out inspection of Mercury Atlas booster No. 93-D - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Factory roll-out inspection of Atlas booster No. 93-D was conducted at Convair. This booster was designated for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) mission..

• Research and development / Pod 7 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).

• Cancellation of the Advent program. - . Spacecraft: Advent, IDCSP, . Because of delays in the Centaur upper stage development program and increasing management difficulties, Headquarters USAF recommended cancellation of the Advent program..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi). USAF Atlas fired 9,000 miles for Atlantic Missile Range into Indian Ocean, carrying dummy nuclear warhead and a data capsule which was recovered..

• Mercury Atlas booster No. 93-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Atlas booster No. 93-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital flight mission..

• Atlas SMS 548 operational. - . Nation: USA. Forbes AFB SMS 548 operational.

• Second Atlas Series E squadron operational - . The 548th Strategic Missile Squadron, the second Atlas Series E (CGM-16E) missile squadron, became operational at Forbes AFB, Kansas..

• Midas 4 - . Payload: Midas / Agena TV 1202. Mass: 1,800 kg (3,900 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Midas. USAF Sat Cat: 192 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Delta-1. Apogee: 3,763 km (2,338 mi). Perigee: 3,482 km (2,163 mi). Inclination: 95.90 deg. Period: 165.90 min. Missile Defense Alarm System. Deployed subsatellites..

• Westford - . Payload: Westford. Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft: WestFord Needles. USAF Sat Cat: 194 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Delta-3. Apogee: 3,963 km (2,462 mi). Perigee: 3,252 km (2,020 mi). Inclination: 95.85 deg. Period: 165.51 min.

• Research and development test / Pod 13 chemical release - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). USAF Atlas with capsule containing squirrel monkey destroyed by range safety officer at Atlantic Missile Range when main sustainer engine failed 15 seconds after launch..

• Mercury 5 launch postponed - . Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury-Atlas 5, scheduled for launch no earlier than November 14, ran into technical difficulties, postponing launch for several days..

• Ranger 2 - . Payload: NASA P-33 (RA-2). Mass: 304 kg (670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Ranger. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft Bus: Ranger. Spacecraft: Ranger 1-2. Decay Date: 1961-11-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 206 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Theta-1. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi). Perigee: 150 km (90 mi). Inclination: 33.30 deg. Period: 88.30 min.

  This was a flight test of the Ranger spacecraft system designed for future lunar and interplanetary missions. The spacecraft was launched into a low earth parking orbit, but an inoperative roll gyro prevented Agena restart resulting in Ranger 2 being stranded in low earth orbit. The orbit decayed and the spacecraft reentered Earth's atmosphere on 20 November 1961.

• RL-10 flight rating complete. - . Nation: USA.

  NASA announced the completion of the preliminary flight rating test of the Nation's first liquid-hydrogen rocket engine. The engine, the RL-10, was designed and developed by Pratt and Whitney, of United Aircraft, for the Marshall Space Flight Center, and 20 captive firings were competed within 5 days under simulated space conditions, consistently producing 15,000 pounds of thrust. RL-10, previously known as XLR-115, was initiated in October 1958 and over 700 firings were conducted in its development.

• Atlas SMS 549 operational. - . Nation: USA. Warren-3 AFB SMS 549 operational.

• Samos 4 - . Payload: Samos E-5 no. 1. Mass: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1961-11-22 . Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). First generation photo surveillance; return of camera and film by capsule; SAMOS type satellite..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,400 km (800 mi). Pod 3, 22 test / ionosphere / aeronomy mission.

• Warren AFB - .

  The third and final Series E Atlas missile squadron of nine missiles, the 566th Strategic Missile Squadron of the 706th Strategic Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, became operational. The wing now had three squadrons - two Atlas D and one Atlas E - and a total of 24 missile launchers.

• Mercury MA-5 - . Payload: Mercury SC9. Mass: 1,300 kg (2,800 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Decay Date: 1961-11-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 208 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Iota-1. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi). Perigee: 158 km (98 mi). Inclination: 32.60 deg. Period: 88.30 min.

  Atlas D (53D) was the first missile to be launched by SAC from Vandenberg in the operation test (Category III) launch program. Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5), the second and final orbital qualification of the spacecraft prior to manned flight was launched from Cape Canaveral with Enos, a 37.5 pound chimpanzee, aboard. Scheduled for three orbits, the spacecraft was returned to earth after two orbits due to the failure of a roll reaction jet and to the overheating of an inverter in the electrical system. Both of these difficulties could have been corrected had an astronaut been aboard. The spacecraft was recovered 255 miles southeast of Bermuda by the USS Stormes. During the flight, the chimpanzee performed psychomotor duties and upon recovery was found to be in excellent physical condition. The flight was termed highly successful and the Mercury spacecraft well qualified to support manned orbital flight.

• Operational missile test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Atlas D (53D) was the first missile to be launched by SAC from Vandenberg in the operation test (Category III) launch program. .

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 109-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle 109-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) first manned orbital mission..

• Research and development / Pod 23 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• Operational missile test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development / Pod 24 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Research and development/Pod Test/Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Pod 15, 25 chemical release / ionosphere / meteorite mission.

• Samos 5 - . Payload: Samos E-5 no. 2. Mass: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1962-01-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 218 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Lambda-2. Apogee: 310 km (190 mi). Perigee: 187 km (116 mi). Inclination: 89.60 deg. Period: 89.40 min.

  First generation photo surveillance; return of camera and film by capsule; SAMOS type satellite. Reached orbit but failed to deorbit and be recovered. In his memoirs Sergei Khrushchev recounts recovery of what he believed to be a recoverable Samos, except the date given is the winter before tests of this configuration actually started. He relates that a second American capsule was recovered in the spring of 1961. It was equipped with a 30 cm lens and 100's of metres of 10 cm wide film. Also recovered were a pear-shaped module made of fibreglass, and an inertial orientation system powered by electric motors. It may have been a SAMOS prototype. The capsule was found by tractor drivers, who disassembled it and used the film to wrap around the frame of their outhouse to provide some privacy in the treeless area. Unfortunately this ruined the film, preventing the Russians from developing it and discovering the technical capabilities of the system.

• Recovery swimmers trained for Mercury MA-6. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Recovery area swimmers were trained at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, for use in the Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) manned orbital mission. Instruction included films, briefings, auxiliary flotation collar deployment, and jumps from a helicopter..

• Mercury spacecraft 16 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft 16 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the third manned (Schirra) orbital flight, Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8)..

• Operational missile test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Operational missile test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Ranger 3 - . Payload: NASA P-34 (RA-3). Mass: 327 kg (720 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Ranger. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft Bus: Ranger. Spacecraft: Ranger 3-4-5. USAF Sat Cat: 221 . COSPAR: 1962-Alpha-1.

  Lunar impact probe; missed the moon by 36,874 km and went into solar orbit. A malfunction in the booster guidance system resulted in excessive spacecraft speed. Reversed command signals caused the telemetry antenna to lose earth acquisition, and mid-course correction was not possible. Some useful data were obtained from the flight. Of four scientific experiments only one was partially completed: gamma-ray readings of the lunar surface. Attempts to relay television pictures of the moon and to bounce radar signals off the moon at close range were unsuccessful.

• Mercury MA-6 postponed at T-minus 29 minutes - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) manned orbital flight was postponed at T-minus 29 minutes due to weather conditions..

• Mercury MA-6 postponed - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) mission was postponed because of technical difficulties with the launch vehicle..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

  Atlas 40E, the 18th and last Atlas E research and development flight test missile to be launched from the Atlantic Missile Range, completed its programmed 7,000-mile flight downrange. Of the 18 missiles launched, nine were successes, seven partials, and two failures. Last Atlas E R&D flight.

• Mercury MA-6 postponed. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Unfavorable weather conditions caused the Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) manned orbital mission to be postponed..

• Operational missile test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• NASA announced Project Fire - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Apollo CSM. Spacecraft: FIRE.

  NASA announced Project Fire, a high-speed reentry heat research program to obtain data on materials, heating rates, and radio signal attenuation on spacecraft reentering the atmosphere at speeds of about 24,500 miles per hour. Information from the program would support technology for manned and unmanned reentry from lunar missions. Under the management of the Langley Research Center, Project Fire would use Atlas D boosters and the reentry package would be powered by an Antares solid-fuel motor (third stage of the Scout).

• Mercury MA-6 - . Call Sign: Friendship 7. Crew: Glenn. Backup Crew: Carpenter. Payload: Mercury SC13. Mass: 1,355 kg (2,987 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MA-6. Spacecraft: Mercury. Duration: 0.21 days. Decay Date: 1962-02-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 240 . COSPAR: 1962-Gamma-1. Apogee: 265 km (164 mi). Perigee: 159 km (98 mi). Inclination: 32.50 deg. Period: 88.60 min.

  The 6555th Aerospace Test Wing launched the Mercury/Atlas D (MA-6), "Friendship 7," that placed the Mercury capsule containing LtColonel John Glenn, USMC, into orbit for the first Project Mercury manned orbital flight. "Friendship 7" completed three orbits before successful reentry and recovery in the Atlantic Ocean. First US manned orbital mission. John Glenn finally puts America in orbit. False landing bag deploy light led to reentry being started with retropack left in place on heat shield. It turned out that indicator light was false and a spectacular reentry ensued, with glowing chunks of the retropack whizzing by the window. After four hours and 43 minutes the spacecraft reentered the atmosphere and landed at 2:43 pm EST in the planned recovery area NE of the Island of Puerto Rico. All flight objectives were achieved. Glenn was reported to be in excellent condition. Beause of failure of one of the automatic systems, the astronaut took over manual control of the spacecraft during part of the flight. With this flight, the basic objectives of Project Mercury had been achieved.

• Operational missile test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Factory roll-out inspection of Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 107-D. - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MA-7. Spacecraft: Mercury. Factory roll-out inspection of Atlas launch vehicle 107-D, designated for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) manned orbital mission, was conducted at Convair..

• Research and development Category II test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

• Rendezvous radar and transponder system for the Gemini spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Gemini, Gemini Radar, Gemini Agena Target Vehicle.

  Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Baltimore, Maryland, received a $6.8 million subcontract from McDonnell to provide the rendezvous radar and transponder system for the Gemini spacecraft. Purpose of the rendezvous radar, sited in the recovery section of the spacecraft, was to locate and track the target vehicle during rendezvous maneuvers. The transponder, a combined receiver and transmitter designed to transmit signals automatically when triggered by an interrogating signal, was located in the Agena target vehicle.

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 107-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle 107-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission..

• Samos 6 - . Payload: Samos E-5 no. 3. Mass: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1963-06-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 259 . COSPAR: 1962-Eta-3. Apogee: 686 km (426 mi). Perigee: 236 km (146 mi). Inclination: 90.90 deg. Period: 93.90 min. First generation photo surveillance; return of camera and film by capsule; SAMOS type satellite. Failed to return camera and film. Samos film return project cancelled; remaining 4 cameras placed in warehouse and later used on KH-6 Lanyard..

• Carpenter replaces Slayton on Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MA-7. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA Headquarters publicly announced that Scott Carpenter would pilot the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) manned orbital mission replacing Donald Slayton. The latter, formerly scheduled for the flight, was disqualified because of a minor erratic heart rate..

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

  An Air Force crew launched Atlas 134D during the visit of President John F. Kennedy to Cape Canaveral. This was the first time that a President had witnessed a live ICBM launch. President John F. Kennedy visited Vandenberg AFB and witnessed the launch of Atlas 134D.

• Crash program completed to clear Atlas configuration problems. - . Nation: USA. Golden Ram follow-on completed at all Atlas D operational bases.

• Atlas F training facility activated. - . Nation: USA. VAFB Atlas F training facility turned over to SAC.

• Symposium on the results of Mercury MA-6 - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA sponsored a 1-day symposium in Washington on the results of the Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) three-orbit flight of John Glenn. One of the items of particular interest was Glenn's 'fire-flies,' or luminous particles, and their possible origin..

• Midas 5 - . Payload: Midas / Agena TV 1203. Mass: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Midas. USAF Sat Cat: 271 . COSPAR: 1962-Kappa-1. Apogee: 3,405 km (2,115 mi). Perigee: 2,784 km (1,729 mi). Inclination: 86.70 deg. Period: 152.90 min. Missile Defense Alarm System..

• West Ford Drag - . Payload: West Ford Drag Experiment. Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft: WestFord Needles. Decay Date: 1962-05-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 272 . COSPAR: 1962-Kappa-2. Apogee: 2,729 km (1,695 mi). Perigee: 99 km (61 mi). Inclination: 86.64 deg. Period: 114.09 min.

• Research and development launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF.

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Ranger 4 - . Mass: 328 kg (723 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Ranger. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft Bus: Ranger. Spacecraft: Ranger 3-4-5. Decay Date: 1962-04-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 280 . COSPAR: 1962-Mu-1.

  The 6555th Aerospace Test Wing launched an Atlas D/Agena B vehicle that carried NASA's Ranger IV to the moon. This was the first U.S. instrument package to impact on the moon. Ranger IV was launched by an Atlas-Agena B booster from the Atlantic Missile Range, attained a parking orbit, and was fired into the proper lunar trajectory by the restart of the Agena B engine. Failure of a timer in the spacecraft payload caused loss of both internal and ground control over the vehicle. The Goldstone Tracking Station maintained contact with the spacecraft until it passed behind the left edge of the moon on April 26. It impacted at a speed of 9,617 km per hour, the first American spacecraft to land on the lunar surface. The Agena B second stage passed to the right of the moon and later went into orbit around the sun. Lunar photography objectives were not achieved.

• Samos 7 - . Payload: Samos E-6 no. 1 / Agena B 2401. Mass: 1,588 kg (3,500 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1962-04-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 286 . COSPAR: 1962-Pi-1. Second generation photo surveillance; radio relay of images; Satellite and Missile Observation Satellite. Poor results..

• FTV 2401 RV - . Payload: E-6 RV. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. COSPAR: 1962-Pi-xx.

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Swimmer training for Mercury MA-7 - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Swimmer training was started for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) manned orbital mission recovery area. Instruction consisted of films, briefings, exercises in deploying the auxiliary flotation collar, and jumps from a helicopter..

• Contract to the Thor DSV-2C. - .

  Space Systems Division awarded a letter contract to the Douglas Aircraft Company for the design, development, fabrication, assembly, and pre-flight testing of one Douglas Space Vehicle 2C (DSV-2C). This was originally proposed by the company in June 1961. The DSV-2C, later SLV-2A in Air Force nomenclature, was the Thrust Augmented Thor (TAT) that was the first attempt to combine solid and liquid fuel engines in a single space booster. Intended to fill the gap between the basic Thor booster (LV-2) and the Atlas (SLV-3), the TAT was to use three TX-33-52 solid-pro-pellant Sergeant rocket motors installed around the engine section and attached to the three main thrust beams. Each of the solid-rocket motors would generate 54,500 pounds of thrust for 27 seconds after lift-off. This increased the total thrust of the vehicle to over 330,000 pounds, vastly improving its payload capabilities. The new TAT would have a 50 percent improvement in payload capacity since it could place 1,450 pounds into a 300-NM circular orbit when launched from Cape Canaveral - a 500-pound increase over the present Thor/Agena booster.

• Small working group to discuss the feasibility of making the Gemini telemetry system a full PCM system. - . Nation: USA.

  Small working group to discuss the feasibility of making the Gemini telemetry system a full PCM system. Following a Lockheed briefing on pulse-code-modulation (PCM) instrumentation systems, representatives of Goddard Space Flight Center and Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) formed a small working group to discuss the feasibility of making the Gemini telemetry system a full PCM system. PCM was a digital telemetry system which could provide more channels of information, faster data rates, improved accuracy, and less weight of equipment per data channel. Goddard had already reviewed several PCM ground station proposals and had concluded that such a system could handle future NASA programs. All who attended the meeting agreed that a full PCM telemetry system, airborne and ground, could be implemented in time to support the Gemini program. Gemini Project Office approved the formation of an MSC-Gemini PCM Instrumentation Working Group to be responsible for the implementation and compatibility of the airborne and ground PCM system for Gemini. On June 27, Walter C. Williams, MSC Associated Director, notified Goddard of NASA's decision 'to utilize a PCM telemetry system for Gemini and Agena real time data.' Ten sites were selected for the installation of PCM equipment; each of these also received dual acquisition equipment, dual digital command system, and pulse coders for distinguishing between the manned Gemini spacecraft and the Agena target when both were in orbit.

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 6.00 km (3.70 mi).

  The first attempt to launch an Atlas/Centaur from the Atlantic Missile Range was unsuccessful when the Centaur stage blew up at T+55 seconds due to a second stage structural failure. Despite this failure, the launch marked the first U.S. use of a space vehicle fueled by a liquid hydrogen engine. First Centaur flight (unsuccessful).

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Mercury MA-7 - . Call Sign: Aurora 7. Crew: Carpenter. Backup Crew: Schirra. Payload: Mercury SC18. Mass: 1,349 kg (2,974 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MA-7. Spacecraft: Mercury. Duration: 0.21 days. Decay Date: 1962-05-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 295 . COSPAR: 1962-Tau-1. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). Perigee: 154 km (95 mi). Inclination: 32.50 deg. Period: 88.50 min.

  BSD's 6555th Aerospace Test Wing launched Mercury/Atlas 7 (MA-7), "Aurora 7", into orbit carrying Navy Commander M. Scott Carpenter. This was the second U.S. manned orbital flight mission. Scott Carpenter in Aurora 7 is enthralled by his environment but uses too much orientation fuel. Yaw error and late retrofire caused the landing impact point to be over 300 km beyond the intended area and beyond radio range of the recovery forces. Landing occurred 4 hours and 56 minutes after liftoff. Astronaut Carpenter was later picked up safely by a helicopter after a long wait in the ocean and fears for his safety. NASA was not impressed and Carpenter left the agency soon thereafter to become an aquanaut.

• Standardized Agena D upper stage for use with Atlas and Thor. - .

  The Defense Department and NASA signed a joint agreement that authorized the Defense Department to develop a standardized Agena D upper stage for joint use with Atlas and Thor booster stages. The Agena would use present flight-proven equipment, stress simplification of vehicle design, permit adaptability to advanced components without any basic changes, and permit production at lower costs.

• Samos 8 - . Payload: Samos E-2 no. 2 / Agena B 2402. Mass: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1962-06-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 307 . COSPAR: 1962-Psi-1. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi). Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Inclination: 96.20 deg. Period: 88.40 min. First generation photo surveillance; radio relay of images; Satellite and Missile Observation Satellite. Poor results..

• FTV 2402 RV - . Payload: E-6 RV. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. COSPAR: 1962-Psi-xx.

• NTMP K-1 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). K-1 Nike-Zeus intercept of Atlas ICBM. First launch of an Atlas from Vandenberg AFB as a target for an Army Nike-Zeus from Kwajalein..

• Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

• Research and development Category II test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). After two consecutive failures, the first successful launch and flight by an Atlas E (67E) from Vandenberg AFB took place. .

• Samos 9 - . Payload: Samos E-2 no. 3 / Agena B 2403. Mass: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1962-07-25 . USAF Sat Cat: 342 . COSPAR: 1962-A-Zeta-1. Apogee: 234 km (145 mi). Perigee: 184 km (114 mi). Inclination: 96.00 deg. Period: 88.60 min. First generation photo surveillance; radio relay of images; Satellite and Missile Observation Satellite. Poor results..

• FTV 2403 RV - . Payload: E-6 RV. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1962-07-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 343 . COSPAR: 1962-A-Zeta-2. Apogee: 215 km (133 mi). Perigee: 163 km (101 mi). Inclination: 96.10 deg. Period: 88.30 min.

• NTMP K-2 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). K-2 Nike-Zeus intercept of Atlas ICBM. Date differs in records..

• Mariner 1 - . Payload: Mariner R-1. Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mariner. Class: Venus. Type: Venus probe. Spacecraft Bus: Mariner. Spacecraft: Mariner 1-2. Decay Date: 1962-07-22 . Venus probe..

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle No. 113-D accepted - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle No. 113-D was inspected at Convair and accepted for the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) manned orbital mission..

• Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,400 km (800 mi). The first Atlas F missile (15F) was launched from Vandenberg on an operational test flight. First successful Atlas F flight at operational site, SMS 576E (15F).

• Samos 10 - . Payload: Samos E-6 no. 2 / Agena B 2404. Mass: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1962-08-06 . USAF Sat Cat: 361 . COSPAR: 1962-A-Lambda-2. Apogee: 203 km (126 mi). Perigee: 201 km (124 mi). Inclination: 96.20 deg. Period: 88.50 min. Second generation photo surveillance; radio relay of images; Satellite and Missile Observation Satellite. Poor results..

• FTV 2404 - . Payload: AFP-201 PVP 854. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. Decay Date: 1962-08-06 . USAF Sat Cat: 361 . COSPAR: 1962-A-Lambda-1. Apogee: 203 km (126 mi). Perigee: 203 km (126 mi). Inclination: 96.30 deg. Period: 88.50 min.

• FTV 2404 RV - . Payload: E-6 RV. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: Samos. COSPAR: 1962-A-Lambda-xx.