Satellites To Detect Tests In Space

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30265, 18 October 1963, Page 11

Satellites To Detect Tests In Space

(K.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CAPE CANAVERAL (Florida), Oct. 16. The United States today launched two satellites from Cape Canaveral with the aim of detecting clandestine nuclear tests in outer space, the Associated Press reported. The launching came after two previous attempts, on Monday and Tuesday, had been called off because of technical difficulties. The At-las-Agena rocket lifted off its

pad with a tremendous burst of flame resembling a fireball, even from 20 miles away. It soared through the clear black night. belching fire from its tail, and could be easily seen for more than eight minutes after launching. The only statement from the Air Force was one sentence saying: “A United States satellite was launched tonight with an Atlas-Agena missile.” But usually-reliable sources said the rocket was carrying the twin satellites of the “Vela Hotel” project which is intended to monitor nuclear tests in outer space. The recently-concluded Nuclear Test-ban Treaty forbids tests in all environments except underground. Under a

United Nations agreement this week, the United States and Russia will ban nuclear weapons in outer space. Air Force officials refused to comment on these reports, basing their action on regulations calling for strict secrecy on military launchings.

Some Air Force officials are believed to have urged that the launching be opened to the press, but this was reportedly refused by senior Government officials, Reuter reported. It is the first time that officials have tried to keep a launching secret since 1958, when the “talking satellite,” carrying a Christmas message recorded by President Eisenhower, was launched.

Special sensors inside the satellites are expected to detect nuclear detonations more than 180 million miles away. They consist of 10 X-ray detectors, six gamma-ray detectors, and a neutron detector.

The Secretary of Defence (Mr McNamara) indicated at recent Senate hearings on the Nuclear Test-ban Treaty that monitor satellite launchings were imminent.

“As a practical matter, illegal clandestine . testing in deep space is not a reasonable proposition for the Soviet Union, and in any event it is one against which we can protect ourselves,” he said. “Megaton weapons tests, equivalent to a million tons of T.N.T. or more, would have to be conducted more than 20 million miles from the earth —80 times the distance to the moon—if they were to have a good chance of escaping detection by a ground-based system,” he said.

If the project is completely successful, the satellites will go into orbit about 57,000 miles from the earth and about 140 degrees apart. However, the success of the launching is not expected to be known for about two days. The satellites, mounted in tandem inside the nose-cone, will be carried by the AtlasAgena to the altitude of 57,000 miles where the nosecone will fall away and the two satellites will separate. A special injection motor will fire and send one of the satellites into circular orbit. The second satellite will make an elliptical orbit before a special motor will fire, sending it also into a circular orbit —but 100,000 miles distant from the first satellite. The distance between the satellites is intended to prevent any “false alarms.” Scientists say that even if natural radiation, such as a “cosmic shower” should take place it would be highly unlikely to reach both satellites if they were in different positions.

The 20-sided satellites, each weighing 4851 b, are four feet in diameter. They are covered with glittering solar cells to provide power to the electronic equipment