Premier of German movie film, Frau im Mond (The Girl in the Moon) directed by Fritz Lange, which assisted popular awareness of rocket potentials in Germany. References: 17 .

Third and final launch in Project Backfire, with allied observors. Glushko, Sokolov, Pobedonostsev; Korolev and Gaidukov kept outside fence; Von Karman, Merrill, Seifert, Pickering from US. References: 86 .

Russian and China sign New Defense Technical Accord, whereby Russia will supply China with protoype atomic bomb and two R-2 missiles, and related technical data. References: 87 .

First of a series of three X-15 experimental rocket-powered manned research aircraft was rolled out at the Los Angeles plant of North American Aviation, Inc., in the joint USAF-USN-NASA program. References: 17 .

The third attempt to launch a nuclear warhead using a Thor IRBM. At 86 seconds after launch a booster failure occurred and the missile began tumbling. Range safety destroyed the errant booster at 156 seconds after launch. Some radioactive fallout from the warhead was detected on Johnston Atoll.

NASA announced that five additional Ranger spacecraft would be added to the lunar exploration program, raising the total to 14 to be launched through 1964. References: 16 .

The analysis of scientific measurements made by the Ranger III lunar probe showed that gamma-ray intensity in interplanetary space was ten times greater than expected, NASA reported. Measurements were taken by gamma-ray spectrometers on Ranger III after it was launched on January 26. NASA scientists, however, did not believe that gamma-ray intensity was "great enough to require any changes in the design of radiation shielding for manned spacecraft." References: 16 .

Maximum Speed - 4904 kph. Maximum Altitude - 25878 m. First flight with X-20 INS and wing tip pods. References: 38 , 49 , 97 .

Dual launch with LCS 2; upper stage broke up. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Dual launch with OV2-1; upper stage broke up. References: 5 , 126 .

Extreme UV solar observations. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

AMSAT-OSCAR 6 was launched piggyback with ITOS-D (NOAA 2). AO-6 was the first phase 2 satellite (Phase II-A). Weight 16 kg. Box shaped 430 x 300 x 150 mm. Quarter-wave monopole antennas (144 and 435 MHz) and half-wave dipole antenna (29 MHz). Firsts: complex control system using discrete logic; satellite-to-satellite relay communication via AO-7; demonstrated doppler-location of ground station for search and rescue; demonstrated low-cost medical data relay from remote locations. Equipped with solar panels powering NiCd batteries, AO-6 provided 24 V at 3.5 W power to three transponders. It carried a Mode A transponder (100 kHz wide at 1 W) and provided store-and-forward morse and teletype messages (named Codestore) for later transmission. AO-6 lasted 4.5 years until a battery failure ceased operation on June 21, 1977. Subsystems were built in the United States, Australia, and Germany. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

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

X-ray observatory. Cosmic X-ray astronomy. Injection point: 2.7S, 58.2E. Anticipated life: 5 years. Time of launch: 07:47:00.25 GMT. Decay also (belatedly) noted in ST/SG/SER.E/216. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Photo surveillance; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Space Launch Complex 6, site of future Space Shuttle operations, declared operational. However, much additional work and testing required. References: 88 .

Maximum speed 300 kph. References: 81 .

First attempted launch of full load of Strela-3 military store-dump communications satellite fails to reach orbit. References: 5 , 105 , 279 .

Replaced Cosmos 1596. Covered Oko constellation plane 9 - 233 degree longitude of ascending node. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 100 .

Time 19 minutes. References: 81 .

Remote sensing; sun-synch orbit. References: 2 , 5 , 6 .

Attached to Cassini References: 4 .

En route Venus References: 4 .

The astronauts connected cables between Z1 and Unity, relocated the SASA S-band antenna on Z1, and deployed Z1's SGANT Ku-band antenna. They then took the port ETSD (EVA stowage) box from the Spacelab pallet and installed it on Z1.