Word: orbiter
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...superb physical condition, and physical and psychological attributes suited for space flight. Last week Keith Glennan, boss of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, announced that NASA had found no to fill the bill, that from their ranks would be chosen the first American to be shot into orbit...
...discovery was made by careful observation of the Vanguard satellite Beta 1958. Last summer Ann Eckels, also of the Theoretical Division, noticed slight peculiarities about Vanguard Beta's orbit. Sometimes it moved a little slower than expected; sometimes it moved faster. Since a satellite's speed reflects the earth's gravitational pull, the changes of pace were interpreted to mean that gravitation varies over broad areas in an unexpected...
Except for peeks at the optical display and conversation with the ground, the pilot will have little to do in his orbit around the earth. An automatic attitude sensor will operate the gas jets that keep the capsule from rolling. Then, at a signal from the ground or from the pilot himself, the jets will somersault the capsule, turn it so that its retrorockets can fire and slow its speed...
...series of instrument-carrying capsules will be fired to gradually increasing heights. Then primates (the NASA no longer calls them apes or monkeys) will get lengthening rides. On about the seventh shot, a man will be sent up 70 miles, landing 200 miles away. Next a manned capsule will orbit the earth once. Final step: to put a man in orbit for 24 hours and bring him back alive...
...coveted Government contract for the first space capsule designed to carry a man into orbit around the earth (see SCIENCE) went last week to St. Louis' McDonnell Aircraft Corp. The contract itself was modest-only $15 million-but the prestige is enormous. Twelve topflight companies submitted plans and bids on the project. McDonnell won because its president, James S. (for Smith) McDonnell Jr., and his engineers had long since anticipated the Government's needs. They had been working on the project with their own money for more than a year, before the Government decided to go ahead. When...