1958 (Cont.)
During the Month of June
additions, these specifications were used for the Project Mercury spacecraft contract with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. A working group of representatives from the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory and the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory was formed for the purpose of outlining a manned satellite program.[1]
NACA representatives were assigned to the Advanced Research Projects Agency, Manned Satellite Committee.[2]
July 9
General Electric Company personnel presented a briefing at NACA headquarters on studies related to manned space flight. The company held contracts let by the Wright Air Development Center for study and mock-up of a manned spacecraft. NACA made no official comment.[3]
July 15
Cooke Electric Company submitted a proposal to the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation as a part of a preliminary study and design effort by McDonnell for a manned satellite. McDonnell, prior to being awarded the Mercury prime development contract in February 1959, spent 11 months under a company research budget working on a manned orbital spacecraft concept.[4]
July 16
Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958.[5]
July 18
In a memorandum to Dr. James R. Killian, Jr., Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, Director of NACA, pointed out that NASA would inherit from NACA a rich technical background, competence, and leadership in driving toward the objective of a manned satellite program. For years NACA groups had been involved in research on such items as stabilization of ultra-high speed vehicles, provision of suitable controls, high temperature structural designs, and all the problems of reentry. In fact, a part of this work had been directed specifically toward the problem of designing a manned satellite. Also, the X-15 program had provided much experience in human factors applicable to the orbital flight of man. Therefore, Dr. Dryden concluded, in consonance with the intent of the Space Act of 1958, the assignment of the program to the NASA would be consistent.[6]
- ↑ Information supplied by Maxime A. Faget, July 9, 1963.
- ↑ Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.
- ↑ Memo for Files, Hugh Henneberry, NACA Space Flight Office, subject: Briefing by General Electric Representatives on Studies Related to Man-in-Space Program, July 17, 1958.
- ↑ Chronological statement filed by Cook Electric Company with NASA Hq., March 3, 1959.
- ↑ Public Law 85-568, 85th Congress, H.R. 12575, subject: National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, July 29, 1958.
- ↑ Memo, Dr. H. L. Dryden, Director, NACA, to Dr. J. R. Killian, Jr., subject: Manned Satellite Program, July 18, 1958.
