Aug 23 1969
From The Space Library
USAF launched unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB by Titan IIIB -Agena booster. Satellite entered orbit with 234.3-mi (377.0-km) apogee, 85.8-mi (138.1-km) perigee, 89.6-min period, and 108.1° inclination and reentered Sept. 7. (GSFC SSR, 8/31/69; 9/15/69; SBD, 8/26/69, 190)
Chemical analysis of moon rocks at Lunar Receiving Laboratory had disclosed their age might range from 2 billion to 4.5 billion yrs-far greater than most scientists expected-lunar scientists in touch with LRL colleagues said. It was "almost conclusive evidence that it has been billions of years since these rocks crystallized." Finding might settle difference between geologists who had viewed lunar surface as having had continuous history and those like Dr. Harold C. Urey who believed moon was ancient, undisturbed place made of material which would help unfold history of early planets. Later, MSC Director of Science and Applications, Dr. Wilmot N. Hess, said Dr. Oliver A. Schaeffer and Dr. John Funkhouser of State Univ. of New York, Dr. Joseph Zahringer of Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg, and Dr. Donald Bogard of MSC had measured solar particles trapped in lunar rocks to determine lunar material's age. (Cohn, W Post, 8/24/69, Al; W Star, 8/25/69, A4)
Ten space pioneers were named to first National Space Hall of Fame. Honorees, chosen by Houston City committee, would be feted at first annual awards dinner in Houston, Tex., Sept 27. They included Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., first American to journey in space; former Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., first American to orbit in space; late Astronaut Edward H. White II, first man to walk in space; Dr. Wernher von Braun, MSFC Director; late Rep. Albert Thomas (D-Tex.), staunch supporter of space program; Dr. Kurt H. Debus, KSC Director; late Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, former NASA Deputy Administrator; Dr. Maxime A. Faget, Director of Engineering and Development at MSC ; Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, MSC Director; and late Dr. Robert H. Goddard, father of rocketry. Hall was in Albert Thomas Center in Houston. (UPI, NYT, 8/25/69, 8)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
