SPACE SUCCESS FOR CANADA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29942, 2 October 1962, Page 17

SPACE SUCCESS FOR CANADA

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copvripht) VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE (California), Sept 29 Canada’s Alouette satellite beeped back signals to earth today from what a spokesman said waa probably one of the most precise orbits yet achieved by a spacecraft

The 3001 b Alouette was launched late last night from this Pacific missile base by a Thor-Agena B booster combination in a co-operative effort with the United States. It mlaaed its orbit path by only 20 miles. This was described as “incredible accuracy.” United Press International reported. The successful orbit of the vehicle admitted Canada to membership in the exclusive world satellite fraternity of countries—the United States and the Soviet Union—that

have completely manufactured and equipped an orbiting satellite. Its near-circular polar orbit at an altitude of about 600 miles carried the Alouette around the earth once, every 105 minutes approximately. It was designed to investigate upper levels of the ionosphere and the space noise that disrupts long-range telecommunications.

“From a technological standpoint Alouette matches in complexity anything the United States has launched." a National Aeronautics and Space Administration spokesman said.

The chairman of the Canadian research project. Dr. A. H. Zimmerman, said it would be several days before scientists would release information. Alouette trailed a tissuethin strip of steel rolled to form a tube 150 feet long and it will trail another antenna 75 feet long.