Chronology - Quarter 4 1948

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Previous Home Next 1948 October 1 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E14 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1948 October 10 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-1. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Range achieved 300 km. Successful flight. References: 2. 1948 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: R-1. R-1 flight. Nation: USSR. First R-1 flight with scientific experiments. References: 283, 344. 1948 October 13 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. First flying wind tunnel test. Nation: USA. First launching of a rocket-propelled "flying wind tunnel" model by NACA Langley's PARD at Wallops Island, to measure roll damping of wings at transonic speeds. References: 17. 1948 October 13 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-9. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1948 October 15 - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: NATIV. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Nativ. Nativ Launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). On the most successful Nativ launch, the missile reached Mach 2.23 and an altitude of 18 km. References: 2. 1948 October 19 - First views of earth from near-orbital height. Nation: USA. Photographs of the earth's surface taken from altitudes between 60 and 70 miles by cameras installed in rockets, were released by the Navy. References: 17. 1948 October 21 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-6. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1948 October 23 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-10. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1948 November 1 - XS-1 Flight 95 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 38. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Hoover. NACA flight 18. Stability and control. Mach 0.9. Number 4 cylinder failed to fire. References: 49, 97. 1948 November 1 - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: NATIV. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Nativ. FAILURE: Failure. Final Nativ launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1948 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-3. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1948 November 1 - 14:24 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. Model: Bumper-WAC. LV Configuration: Bumper-WAC Bumper 4. FAILURE: Failure in first stage due to break in alcohol piping. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). V-2 reached 5 km, 390 m/s; WAC destroyed. References: 2. 1948 November 3 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-12. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1948 November 4 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-2. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1948 November 5 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 I-11. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Ninth and last launch of first R-1 test series. References: 2. 1948 November 13 - British Interplanetary Society manned lunar landing mission Nation: UK. Spacecraft: BIS Lunar Lander. A paper read to the British Interplanetary Society by H. E. Ross described a manned lunar landing mission which would require a combination of the earth orbit and lunar orbit rendezvous techniques. Three spacecraft would be launched simultaneously into earth orbit, each carrying a pilot. After rendezvous, the crew would transfer to ship A, which would refuel from ships B and C. Ship C would be discarded completely, but ship B would be fueled with the surplus not needed by A. The spacecraft would then be fired into a translunar trajectory. Upon reaching the vicinity of the moon, the spacecraft would go into lunar orbit, detach fuel tanks, and descend to the lunar surface. To return to earth, the spacecraft would rendezvous with the fuel tanks, refuel, and fire into a transearth trajectory. On approaching the earth, the spacecraft would rendezvous with ship B, the crew would transfer to ship B, and descend to earth. The ability to rendezvous in space was seen to be the essential element of such a project. The total payload weight at launch would be 1,326 tons equally divided among the three ships as compared to 2.6 times this weight required for a direct ascent and return from the moon. References: 16. 1948 November 13 - British Interplanetary Society's H. E. Ross described a manned satellite station. Nation: UK. Spacecraft: BIS Station. In a paper presented to the British Interplanetary Society, H. E. Ross described a manned satellite station in Earth orbit that would serve as an astronomical and zero-gravity and vacuum research laboratory. (Ross' bold suggestions also included schemes for a manned landing on the Moon and return to Earth through use of the rendezvous technique in Earth orbit and about the Moon.) Ross' suggested design comprised a circular structure that housed the crew of the space laboratory (numbering 24 specialists and support personnel) as well as telescopes and research equipment. The station, he suggested, could be resupplied with oxygen and other life-support essentials by supply ships launched every three months. 1948 November 15 - XS-1 Flight 96 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 39. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Hoover. NACA flight 19. Stability and control. Also pressure-distribution survey. Mach 0.98. References: 49, 97. 1948 November 18 - 22:35 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 44. Hermes B Solar/Biological mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA/GE. Apogee: 145 km (90 mi). Launched 15:34 local time. Reached 145.6 km. Carried biological (Harvard), solar radiation (Naval Research Lab), composition (Signal Corps Engineering Lab, University of Michigan) experiments for General Electric. The warhead section was replaced with an instrumented full-scale replica of the cylindrical GE A-4 ramjet duct planned for the Hermes B ramjet missile. References: 2. 1948 November 23 - XS-1 Flight 97 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 40. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Champine. NACA flight 20. Pilot familiarization. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution. References: 49, 97. 1948 November 29 - XS-1 Flight 98 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 41. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Champine. NACA flight 21. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution. Mach 0.88. References: 49, 97. 1948 November 30 - XS-1 Flight 99 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 42. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Champine. NACA flight 22. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution. References: 49, 97. 1948 December 1 - XS-1 Flight 100 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 58. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Yeager. AF flight 36. Handling qualities and wing and tail loads at mach 1. References: 49, 97. 1948 December 1 - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: ZEL. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Matador. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). References: 2. 1948 December 2 - XS-1 Flight 101 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 43. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Champine. NACA flight 23. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution. Plane exceeded mach 1 briefly. References: 49, 97. 1948 December 2 - 22:01 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: MX-774. FAILURE: Vibration closed valve early. MX-774 Flight 3 Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Third (last) MX-774 launched, WSPG; shut down at 51 seconds attaining an altitude of 48 km. Self-destructed at high altitude. References: 2. 1948 December 9 - 16:08 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 42. Aeronomy / solar x-ray / biology mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA/SCEL. Apogee: 108 km (67 mi). Launched 09:08 local time. Reached 108.7 km. Carried Winds, pressure, temperature; solar radiation (Naval Research Lab) experiments for Signal Corps Engineering Lab, University of Michigan. References: 2. 1948 December 13 - XS-1 Flight 102 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 59. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Yeager. AF flight 37. Handling qualities and wing and tail loads at mach 1. References: 49, 97. 1948 December 14 - Robert H. Goddard Chairs established Nation: USA. Jet Propulsion Centers established at Princeton University and the California Institute of Technology by the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation to provide research facilities and graduate training for qualified young scientists and engineers in rocketry and astronautics. Robert H. Goddard Chairs were established at each center. References: 17. 1948 December 23 - XS-1 Flight 103 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 60. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Yeager. AF flight 38. Wing and tail loads during supersonic flight at high altitudes. Mach 1.09. References: 49, 97. 1948 December 23 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. D3 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1948 December 28 - Launch Vehicle: G-1, R-2. G-1 and R-2 designs evaluated by Soviet State Commission. Nation: USSR. The team defended the G-1 draft project on 28 December 1948. The State Commission found the G-1 to be superior to Korolev's R-2 design in many respects. However the Russian designers managed to convince the government to put the R-2 rather than the G-1 into production by arguing that the manufacturing technology of the G-1 could not be mastered immediately by Soviet Union. Several of the design concepts (integrated propellant tanks, radio-controlled cut-off, forward liquid oxygen tank) were however used by the Russians in their R-2 and R-5 rockets. 1948 December 29 - Truman told of earth satellite program. Nation: USA. The first Secretary of Defense, James V. Forrestal, in his initial report to President Harry Truman, included a brief item indicating that the earth satellite program, which was being carried out independently by the military services, was assigned to the Committee on Guided Missiles for coordination. References: 483. 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