Apr 18 1969
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., dressed in full landing attire, rehearsed simulated lunar landing at MSC for the 2 hrs 40 min they would spend walking and working on lunar surface in July. Astronauts practiced scooping rock and soil samples, unfurled umbrella-like antenna, and deployed seismometer to detect quakes and array of mirrors to serve as laser target for astronomers on earth. (Wilford, NYT, 4/19/69; UPI, P Bull, 4/19/69)
MSFC announced it had issued RFPs for assistance in producing 320 completed solar "arrays" to convert solar energy into electrical power to operate Saturn I Workshop. Two wings covered with 120 modules each, for total 1,200-sq-ft area, would produce 12,000 w for Workshop. Pre-proposal conference was scheduled at MSFC May 1. (Release 69-116)
INTELSAT Consortium had selected Atlas-Centaur launch vehicle for Intelsat IV program, ComSatCorp announced. First Intelsat IV -18-ft-high, 8-ft-dia comsat with 5,000 two-way voice grade circuits-would be launched in early 1971. ComSatCorp would negotiate with NASA for purchase and Launch of two Atlas-Centaur boosters with option for two more. Atlas-Centaur was manufactured by General Dynamics Corp. Convair Div. and managed by LeRC. (ComSatCorp Release 69-19; Lewis News, 4/25/69, 1)
ComSatCorp announced earnings of $1,525,000, or 15 cents per share, for first quarter of 1969. It had earned $1,798,000 (18 cents per share) for similar period in 1968. Expected decline followed increased operating expenses from expansion of satellite and earth station system. (ComSatCorp Release 69-18)
Having started from "near zero" in 1961, West Germany was spending about $90 million annually on space activities, said D. S. Greenberg in Science, with rise to $150 million expected within few years. About 40% was in international programs like ELDO and ESRO but emphasis was on building domestic facilities. All-German satellite was being built for launch by NASA and Germans were working with French on comsat for 1972 Munich Olympic Games coverage. "With no manned space effort or aspirations to divert their resources, and with the military barred from space, whatever the Germans muster in space activity goes directly into scientific research or commercial applications," Greenberg said. (Science, 4/18/69, 281-3)
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