Apr 15 1968
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. successfully launched Cosmos CCXIII into orbit with 254-km (157.8-mi) apogee, 186-km (115.6-mi) perigee, 89.1-min period, and 51.6° inclination. At 1:21 pm Moscow time (3:21 Baikonur time) satellite was automatically docked with Cosmos CCXII (launched April 14). Tass later announced that satellites used "special closing-in systems, radio, technical and computing devices, to carry out an automatic mutual search, closing-in, docking, and rigid coupling to each other." Maneuver was second automatic docking in space and was filmed by TV cameras on board both satellites. U.S.S.R. had successfully accomplished first automatic docking Oct. 30, 1967. First successful manned docking had been conducted by U.S. March 16, 1966. Cosmos CCXII and Cosmos CCXIII remained docked in near-circular orbit 3 hr 50 min and were then separated automatically by ground command and placed into different orbits. Cosmos CCXII reentered April 19 and Cosmos CCXIII, April 20. (W Post, 4/16/68; NYT, 4/16/68; B Sun, 4/16/68; SBD, 4/16/68, 255-6; GSFC SSR, 4/15/68; 4/30/68)
Flight reenactment had revealed that USAF F-111A aircraft crash March 30 had been caused by malfunction of flight control system, press said informed sources reported. Second F-111A, which North Vietnam claimed to have shot down, was still missing; U.S. officials speculated that aircraft had crashed in Thailand jungle area. (UPI, NYT, 4/16/68, 22; W News, 4/16/68, 7)
Defense Projects Support Office (DPSO) was established in Special Programs Office at NASA Hq. to manage specialized tasks where NASA's unique capabilities could provide needed support to a limited number of DOD projects. M. J. Raffensperger, Director of Advanced Manned Missions Planning and Operations, Office of Manned Space Flight, was appointed Deputy Director of Special Programs Office and Acting Director of DPSO. (NASA Release 68-66; NASA Ann, 4/17/68)
Lawrence A. Hyland, Vice President and General Manager of Hughes Aircraft Co., was selected by NAA to receive Robert J. Collier Trophy for significant achievement in aeronautics and astronautics in 1967 as Hughes Surveyor program director. Trophy would be presented May 7. (NAA Release; AP, W Post, 4/16/68, A3)
Tass announced issuance of three stamps commemorating Soviet space achievements: March 18, 1965, space walk by Aleksey A. Leonov, Oct. 30, 1967, automatic docking of two Cosmos satellites; and Oct. 18, 1967, softlanding of Venus 4 on Venus. (W Post, 4/15/68, C20)
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