1958 (Cont.)
December
squirrel monkey had withstood the space flight and reentry phase without any adverse physiological effects. Gordo was in a weightless state for 8.3 minutes, he experienced a 10g pressure in takeoff, and a 40g pressure upon reentry at 10,000 miles per hour.[1]
December 17
Dr. T. Keith Glennan referred to the manned satellite project as Project Mercury in a policy speech for the first time.[2]
December 29
A contract was awarded to North American Aviation for design and construction of the Little Joe airframe.[3]
December 30
Space Task Group’s technical assessment teams completed the evaluation of industry proposals for design and construction of a manned spacecraft and forwarded their findings to the Source Selection Board, NASA Headquarters.[4]
December 31
The letter-of-intent was placed with North American Aviation for the fabrication of the Little Joe Test vehicle airframe. Delivery of the airframes for flight testing was scheduled to occur every three weeks beginning in June 1959. Space Task Group had ordered all of the major rocket motors, which were scheduled for delivery well ahead of the Little Joe flight test schedule. The spacecraft for this phase of the program was being designed and construction would start shortly. Thus the Little Joe program should meet its intended flight test schedule.[5]
During the Month of December
A draft checklist, entitled "Overall Technical Assessment of Proposals for Manned Space Capsule," was prepared by the Space Task Group for use by the Source Selection Board.[6]
1959
January 5
Qualifications were established for pilot selection in a meeting at the NASA Headquarters. These qualifications were as follows: age, less than 40; height, less than 5 feet 11 inches; excellent physical condition; bachelor's
- ↑ Akens, Origins of MSFC, Dec. 1960; House Rpt. 67, 87th Cong., 1st Sess., Mar. 8, 1961.
- ↑ Memo, George Low to Dr. Silverstein, NASA Hq., subject: Change of Manned Satellite Name from "Project Mercury" to "Project Astronaut," Dec. 12, 1958.
- ↑ Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 4, Project Mercury, Jan. 12, 1959.
- ↑ Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.
- ↑ NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period Ending January 31, 1959, March 1959.
- ↑ Source as cited.
