Aug 13 1975
From The Space Library
Dr. Wernher von Braun-German-born rocketry pioneer and former Marshall Space Flight Center Director and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator-had undergone successful surgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore for removal of a malignant tumor, the Washington Post reported. (AP, W Post, 13 Aug 75)
The launch of Viking A had been postponed for the second time [see 11 Aug.] when Jet Propulsion Laboratory technicians discovered that the batteries had dropped from their normal charge of 37 volts to 9 volts. The batteries had been drained because a motorized rotary switch that should have remained off until 7 min before launch had accidentally turned on. The dangerously low voltage decided officials to remove the entire spacecraft from the launch vehicle and return it to the spacecraft assembly and encapsulation facility for troubleshooting. At the same time, the Viking-B spacecraft, in a planned holding mode before mating with its launch vehicle, would be moved to the launch complex to replace its ailing sistercraft and become the Viking-A mission. The launch had been rescheduled for 20 Aug., with the launch window opening at 5:22 pm. (Viking Status Bulletin No 10, 20 Aug 75; NASA Audio News, 14 Aug 75; O'Toole, W Post, 14 Aug 75, A23; McElheny, NYT, 14 Aug 75)
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