First static test of James Wyld's regeneratively cooled rocket thrust chambers, which achieved 90-pound thrust. References: 17 .

The Air Force created a Directorate of Astronautics to manage and coordinate astronautical research programs, including work on satellites and antimissile-missile weapons. Brigadier General Homer A. Boushey was named to head the office. Later in the month the order was rescinded by James H. Douglas, Secretary of the Air Force, who considered the creation of such a group before the activation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency to be premature. References: 483 .

The Army Ballistic Missile Agency completed and forwarded to higher authority the first edition of A National Integrated Missile and Space Vehicle Development Program, which had been in preparation since April 1957. Included was a "short-cut development program" for large payload capabilities, covering the clustered-engine booster of 1.5 million pounds of thrust to be operational in 1963. The total development cost of $850 million during the years 1958-1963 covered 30 research and development flights, some carrying manned and unmanned space payloads. One of six conclusions given in the document was that "Development of the large (1520 K-pounds thrust) booster is considered the key to space exploration and warfare." Later vehicles with greater thrust were also described. References: 16 .

Successfully fired at 1936 hours EST from AMR. The missile followed the trajectory very closely and impacted on target. All missions were successfully accomplished. The predicted impact range was 141.895 nm. The miss distance has bean certified as 153 meters radial, 94 meters over, and 121 meters to the left of the predicted impact point. The primary objective of the rest was to flight test Hardtack adaptation kit components as passengers. Missed aimpoint by 209 m. References: 439 .

Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On the Development of Research on Cosmic Space-future of Soviet space program (piloted. interplanetary, spaceplane)' was issued. References: 474 .

Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 1386-618 'On the Creation of AMS for Landing on the Moon. and Flights to Venus and Mars-- approving automated lunar and interplanetary spacecraft' was issued. References: 474 .

Representatives of the Langley Research Center briefed members of STG on the lunar orbit method of accomplishing the lunar landing mission. References: 16 .

First flight for X-15 # 3. Maximum Speed - 4026 kph. Maximum Altitude - 24700 m. References: 38 , 49 , 97 .

NASA Administrator James E. Webb, in a letter to the President, explained the rationale behind the Agency's selection of lunar orbit rendezvous (rather than either direct ascent or earth orbit rendezvous) as the mode for landing Apollo astronauts on the moon. Arguments for and against any of the three modes could have been interminable: "We are dealing with a matter that cannot be conclusively proved before the fact," Webb said. "The decision on the mode . . . had to be made at this time in order to maintain our schedules, which aim at a landing attempt in late 1967." References: 16 .

Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced cancellation of the X-20 Dyna Soar project at a news briefing at the Pentagon. McNamara stated that fiscal resources thereby saved would be channeled into broader research on the problems and potential value of manned military operations in space, chiefly the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) project. These decisions on the X-20 and MOL had been discussed and coordinated with NASA, and, although the Air Force received responsibility for the MOL project, NASA would continue to provide technical support.

McNamara announces start of MOL, cancellation of Dynasoar. References: 26 .

Launch vehicle test. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Maximum Speed - 5913 kph. Maximum Altitude - 34503 m. References: 38 , 49 , 97 .

Measured luminosity of starry sky. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .

At-sea operational qualification tests, using boilerplate 29 to simulate spacecraft 009, were completed. All mechanical system components performed satisfactorily, except for the recovery flashing light. Additional Details: Apollo at-sea operational qualification tests completed. References: 16 .

Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 93 .

Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 93 .

Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; deployed science capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Solar probe. Solar Orbit (Heliocentric). Launched by the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. Helios A (Helios I). Heliocentric orbit 190 days, 0.309 x 0.985 AU x 0 deg. Exploration of the interplanetary space between the earth and the sun and study of solar influences on that area. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On adoption of the Tselina-D into armaments' was issued. References: 474 .

Military-Industrial Commission (VPK) Decree 342 'On development of the Topaz-1 thermionic nuclear reactor for Plasma-A spacecraft' was issued. References: 474 .

Complete overland roadway construction, Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base References: 15 .

Manned two crew. Docked with Salyut 6. Carried Yuri Romanenko, Georgi Grechko to Salyut 6; returned crew of Soyuz 27 to Earth. Conduct of joint experiments with the Salyut-6 scientific station. Recovered January 16, 1978 11:25 GMT. References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 32 , 33 .

Military navigation satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

First automatic landing from 4000 m altitude. Time 24 minutes. References: 81 .

Stationed at 128 deg E. Provision of telephone and telegraph radiocommunications and television broadcasting. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 67 , 274 .

Stationed at 99 deg E. Transmission of Central Television programmes to a network of receivers for collective use. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 67 , 274 .

Swedish Space Corporation micro-satellite Astrid-2 was ejected from the Nadezdha 5 COSPAS satellite at 15:25 GMT and was to measure the auroral electromagnetic fields and particle environment.

ESA's X-ray Multi-Mirror space observatory was the biggest science satellite ever built in Europe. Complementary in characteristics to NASA's Chandra satellite, the spacecraft were expected to make major new astronomical discoveries.