OCR Text |
Show U of U Builds Space Age Aids The University of Utah is actively engaged in a space program that calls for 25 rocket and satellite launchings in 1962 at a cost of a half million mil-lion dollars. The Upper Air Research Laboratory at the school is under contract with the Air Force's Cambridge Research Re-search Laboratories. The construction of tiny alumnium shelled spheres designed de-signed to measure the density of the atmosphere and special impeder.ce probes to measure electron densities ' is headed by Prof. Obed Haycock. It is hoped the probe packages pack-ages seven inches in diameter and weighing four pounds -will help chart the paths of space travel. The "falling sphere" experiment as it is referred to measures conditions condi-tions in the upper atmosphere from 20 to 80 miles out. Im-pedence Im-pedence probes start at 40 miles. Rockets and satellites are used to transport the instrument instru-ment capsules to their work location. The last launch made several weeks ago with a Nike Cajun rocket originated originat-ed at England Air Force Base Florida. The test measured atmospheric density from 400,- 000 down to 100,000 feet. When the rocke't reached an altitude cf 200,000 feet the seven-inch sphere containing telemetry instruments and a time-of- 1 1 i g h t acceleratometer was ejected from the nose cone. V he sphere continued upward to 603,000 feet or 100 miles. As it descended, its relative deceleration caused by atmospheric atmos-pheric drag was measured and telemetered to tracking stations. sta-tions. Professor Haycock says we are obtaining data of importance impor-tance to all experiments in outer space. "We like to feel," he said, "that in some way we cortributed to the successful orbital flight of Col. John Glenn Jr." |