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Show December 1, 1963 ! | Salt Lake City, Utah - Sunday Morn* Castor Boosts Thrust of 54,000 Pounds Castor has a 54,000 pound thrust and 40-second burning time, While thrust of the Recruits are 34,000 pounds each. Second stage will come in two configurations, says the magazine, including a 63,000 pound thrust Thiokol TX261-2 for low-angle reentry and a Hercules Powder Co. X259-A4 with 21,000 Ibs. thrust and a 35-second burning time. THIS LATTER ENGINE IS for high angle reentry. An Aerojet General 8,000 pound thrust solid fuel rocket engine makes up third stage and a Hercules Ranger motor with 5,000 pound thrust is the fourth stage. These latter-two stages make up the "velocity" package. Athena Vehicle 50 Feet in Length The four-stage, all-solid pro-pellant Athena vehicle is 50 feet long and will weigh at one of the two pads for this launching program at 15,750 pounds. Radar towers will track the missile in flight over Utah and New Mexico and an instrumented Boeing KC135 (jet) will fly along the path of launch measuring trajectory and other factors. f{.|jHli Missile Base Spurs Emery's Economy Salt Lake Tribune, Tuesday, December 31, 1963 Dates Still Pend On Utah Site Rocket Firings By Associated Press WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (AP)-A White | Sands Missile Range spokesman said Monday it will be February or March before the Air Force begins launching Athena rockets from Green River, Utah, to White Sands targets. PUBLIC A P F AIK S Officer Jack Kroehnke said an influx of about 30 military and civilian technicians at the Green River site Sunday and Monday prob-j ably had stimulated reports that firing dates had been set. Mr. Kroehnke said the new group arrived at the site only to inspect facilities. By Robert W. Bemick Tribune Business Editor Sometime in February a multistage rocket will take off from I launching pad now being completed at Green River, Utah, It will roar 200 to 250 miles into the atmosphere, to descend on target 470 miles to the southeast at White Sands, N.M., Proving Range. This is the Athena program of the United States Air Force-a method of low-cost simulation of reentry problems for ballistics missiles. According to Atlantic Research Corp. of Alexandria, Va., and Duarte, 'Calif., this program will involve expenditure of some 20 million dollars (their contract) and employment of L more than 200 people over the*fiext few Mr. Bernick years. **" ... IN ALL, SOME 77 VEHICLES will be launched into space. But what is important to the people of southeastern Utah Is that this program-also involving launchings from Blanding, San Juan County-involves what very likely will be a permanent "extension" of the White Sands, N.M., Proving Grounds operated by the United States Army. (The Air Force is flying down an Army range, in this case). 'Small Size Cape Kennedy Comple^' "I see no refeson why this Green River complex could hot become a small sized Cape Kennedy or Edward Air Force Base," l spokesman for Atlantic Research told The Tribune Saturday. There are many missiles which could be safely tested on such n range and doubtlessly will be, he added. SOME OF THEM ARE CLASSIFIED systems on which research and management groups like Atlantic are positioning themselves for bid, of course. But, once installed, it is probable that Atlantic would be <n a better location to carry forward on any such plan. $250,000 Payroll for Green River Green River Base manager A. J. Goehle (who resides at Price) says Atlantic now employs some 136 persons and with construction work of subcontractors, Green River is receiving a $250,000 payroll. As subcontract personnel decreases, the employment by ARC Is expected to increase proportionally, he said. A BLOCKHOUSE AND THREE launch pads at the site about five miles southwest of Green River are rapidly nearing completion by the Corps of Army Engineers, Mr. Goehle said. Officer in charge for the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) Is Maj. V. J. Culbert at Green River while the ballistics division of the USAF is represented by Major E. J. Ochs. ..$ Personnel Locating Homes at Green River ARC has nearly a full block of trailer type offices in operation at Green River and the bulk of the personnel have and are finding homes in the area, said" Mr. Goehle. ; "•-•'&&:•?: Others live at Price, Dragerton and Moab. •*'.'' .THE .MULTISTAGE MISSILES will be inspected and then put together at the former uranium upgrading facility at Green Eiver of Union Carbide Corp. According to Aviation Week, the first stage of the Athena rocket being integrated by Atlantic Research is a Thiokol XM33-8 Castor, augmented by two Thiokol XM19-EL Recruits, These engines are all produced by the Wasatch Division of Thiokol near Brigham City, |
