Aug 28 1968
From The Space Library
Cosmos CCXXXVIII was launched by U.S.S.R. into orbit with 210-km (130.5-mi) apogee, 203-km (126.1-mi) perigee, 88.6-min period, and 51.7° inclination. Satellite reentered Sept. 1. (GSFC SSR, 8/31/68; 9/15/68)
NASA announced award to Bendix Corp. of $1,567,550 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for development, test, and delivery of one prototype and five flight-model ATM star trackers in 15-mo period. ATM, part of Apollo Applications program, would be launched into earth orbit and docked with Saturn I Workshop being developed by MSFC for 28- to 56-day astronaut stays in space. Astronauts would use ATM to study sun from above earth's atmosphere. (MSFC Release 68-196)
August 28-30: AIAA and American Bar Assn. held joint Impact of Aerospace Science and Technology on Law and Government Conference in Washington, D.C. Dr. Edward C. Welsh, NASC Executive Secretary, asserted U.S. could afford multibillion dollar space program; "at least as much as President Johnson proposed this year-nearly $7,000,000,000-and perhaps an appreciable amount more." (Figure included all Government spending, not just NASA funds.) Persons advocating big cuts in space program were "doing this country a disservice." Much of high U.S. gross national product was result of prior investment in R&D. "This Nation invests more per capita in research than any other nation in the world and that is a major reason why we have a higher standard of living. The space program is the most active, economical, and productive stimulus to research and development in history. We cannot afford to slow it down . . . unless we think we can afford less investment in the elimination of poverty, less expenditure for health improvement, less income for an expanding population, and less readiness in the realm of national security." Space program cost, though large, was "not really so expensive when we figure that we are spending less than 1% of our Gross National Product for a technological capability that increases the rate at which this Nation becomes wealthier and more powerful by many times 1%." (Text; B Sun, 8/29/68, A5; AP, LA Times, 8/29/68)
Dr. Charles S. Sheldon II, Library of Congress Research Specialist, said U.S.S.R. was launching more military espionage satellites than any other spacecraft and therefore had softened complaints about U.S. espionage satellite activity. Tracing political and social implications of Soviet space program, Dr. Sheldon said U.S.S.R. accepted "importance of basic research on the cosmic scale" and vigorous exploitation of space applications for civil purposes was definite goal. In long-term outlook, U.S.S.R. talked of "future automated, cybernetics-aided industrial state . . . in which space applications, space travel, and use of extraterrestrial resources play a vital part." He also credited NASA program of international cooperation with some influence on recent Soviet shift toward increased cooperation within and without Soviet bloc, though joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. program for space exploration would probably prove inoperable even if it could be established. (AIAA Paper 68-900; AP, NYT, 8/30/68, 7)
M/G Jewell C. Maxwell (USAF), director of FAA SST development, said cost of designing and developing two prototype commercial SSTs would amount to $1.587 billion. Government share in total spending from 1963 through 1972 would be $1.239 billion, or 78%. Contractors, Boeing Co. and General Electric Co., would pay $287.8 million, or 18%, and customer airlines would contribute $59.5 million, or 4%. Principal problem in financing, he said, was protection of manufacturers against catastrophic failure. This would require "some limitation of recourse of creditors . . . in event of program failure." In addition, Gen. Maxwell forecast $2.5-billion to $5-billion market risk for period starting in 1972 and $15 billion commercial risk for period between start of sales and end of century. (AIAA Paper 68-916; AP, NYT, 9/1/68, 22)
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