Aug 11 1965
From The Space Library
NASA Atlas-Centaur 6 launched a dummy Surveyor spacecraft along a simulated lunar trajectory in the fourth successful vehicle flight of six made to date. The Atlas booster operated as planned; Centaur ignited, burning for 7 min. 12 sec, and injected the dummy Surveyor spacecraft into a highly elliptical simulated lunar transfer orbit with apogee, 509,829 mi. (820,824 km.); perigee, 105 mi. (169,15 km.) period, 31 days; inclination, 28.55°, Speed of injection into orbit was 23,700 mph. The 2,084-lb. metal payload continued on a path toward a point 240,000 mi. from earth which would simulate a lunar transfer orbit. The target zone was on the path the moon follows as it orbits the earth. The 113-ft. 303,000-lb, launch vehicle produced 389,000 lbs, thrust at liftoff. The Centaur 2nd stage was powered by two RL-10 liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen engines with a thrust of 15,000 lbs, each. The AC-6 mission, sixth in a series of eight scheduled Centaur development flights, was a rehearsal for the AC-7 flight scheduled for later 1965 in which an engineering model of Surveyor was to make a soft landing on the lunar surface. Flight was designed to obtain data on several new Atlas-Centaur features and to continue evaluation of other components and systems tested during previous missions. Atlas-Centaur vehicle development for direct ascent missions was complete, and the vehicle was now capable of supporting fully operational Surveyor missions. (NASA Release 65-235; KSC Spaceport News, 8/12/65, 1; AP, NYT, 8/12/65, 11; NASA Proj. Off,)
A sounding rocket for study of ultraviolet radiation was fired from Salto di Quirra AFB in Sardinia, the Italian Defense Ministry announced. The rocket was one of 400 to be fired by the Italian Air Force in collaboration with the European Space Research Organization (ESRO). (AP, Wash, Post, 8/11/65, 15)
Indonesia successfully launched the second (of ten) Japanese Kappa 8L two-stage meteorological sounding rocket from a site near Bandung, West Java. The 62-kg. (136-lb.) rocket reached an altitude of 90 km. (56 mi,). First firing had been Aug. 7. (Interavia Air Letter, 8/16/65, 5)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center announced it had selected four companies for feasibility studies for experiments in applications satellite technology. Contracts awarded were: Control Data Corp, $45,000 to examine a technique for determining a satellite's orbit by using only spacecraft observation; Philco Corp, $50,000 to study a device capable of determining attitude of a spin-stabilized spacecraft from star measurements; Bell Aerospace Corp., $47,000 to study an electrostatic accelerometer which could provide information about the relative motion of a gravity gradient stabilized spacecraft; and Electro Optical Systems, Inc., $37,000 to study measuring of degradation of optical characteristics of materials in space, Studies should be completed in eight weeks. (GSFC Release G-20--65)
A blotting material to absorb excess moisture, which might have caused the eye and nose irritation of Astronauts Edward H. White (L/Col. USAF) and James A. McDivitt (L/Col. USAF) during the June 3 GEMINI IV flight had been eliminated from the GEMINI V spacecraft, MSC spokesmen said. (Houston Chron., 8/11/65)
GSFC announced management changes "designed to meet the increasing demands of advanced space programs by strengthening lines of authority and responsibility at the Center." Dr. John F. Clark was Acting Director and John W. Townsend, Deputy Director: Three additional Assistant Directorships and a Chief of Advanced Plans Staff were created, GSFC personnel were appointed to fill these posts: Herman E. LaGow, Assistant Director for Systems Reliability; Daniel G. Mazur, Assistant Director for Technology; George F. Pieper, Jr, Assistant Director for Space Sciences; Robert E. Bourdeau, Acting Assistant Director for Projects; and William G. Stroud, Chief, Advanced Plans Staff, Dr. Michael J. Vaccaro and John T. Mengel continued as Assistant Directors, Dr. Vaccaro's responsibilities were expanded to include Technical Services as well as Administration, Mengel's position as Assistant Director for Tracking and Data Systems was unchanged. (GSFC Release G-22-65)
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