Aug 9 1967
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CLXXII into orbit with 301-km (187-mi) apogee, 202-km (125-mi) perigee, 89-min period, and 52° inclination. Equipment functioned normally. Satellite reentered Aug. 17. (Aero Tech, 8/14/67, 13; GSFC SSR, 8/31/67)
Explorer XXXV, launched July 19, had completed 33 orbits of the moon. Results from GSFC's magnetic field experiment aboard spacecraft indicated moon was not magnetized. Capture of interplanetary magnetic field lines by the moon and formation of lunar magnetosphere (theorized by T. Gold in 1966) was not substantiated. A lunar bow shock wave had not yet been observed when moon was located in the interplanetary medium or the magnetosheath of the earth. (NASA Proj Off)
A balloon carrying 9,000-lb instrumented payload for NASA was successfully launched from Chico, Calif., by Univ. of California Space Sciences Laboratory. Approximately 10 hrs later, however, parachutes failed to deploy after ground stations had commanded payload to separate and payload fell into the Pacific. Equipped with flotation gear, it landed within 20 mi of the recovery barge, but had not yet been located. Believed the heaviest ever carried by a balloon, payload contained instruments to: (1) measure cosmic radiation, nuclear interactions of primary particles, and interference background of secondary particles; and (2) gain information on mass and momentum of incoming particles. Scientists were uncertain whether instruments had survived the impact, but said they had obtained excellent telemetry data during 9«-hr flight. (NASA Release 67-218)
NASA had selected RCA Defense Electronics Products Div. for negotiation of a $5-million, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for 16 pairs of flight-qualified dual spacesuit communications (SSC) systems to be used by Apollo astronauts on the moon. SSC systems-each consisting of AM and FM transmitters and receivers, warning system, and related equipment-would (1) permit two Apollo astronauts on lunar surface to maintain constant voice communications with each other and with flight controllers on earth and (2) simultaneously transmit telemetry data from each astronaut back to the lunar module (LM) for relay to earth. Contract would be managed by MSC. Delivery of first two flight units was scheduled for October 1968. (NASA Release 67-214)
Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.) , Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, praised NASA's Lunar Orbiter program on the House floor: "In the short span of just under 1 year, all five Lunar Orbiters have been launched and have provided the world with more information about the moon than has been obtained in all previous history. Lunar Orbiter photography has certified four potential landing sites for our Apollo astronauts, and has provided detailed photographs for 99 percent of the front side of the moon and 60 percent of the back side. "Successful completion of the present mission Lunar Orbiter V will provide supplementary data for the certification of five more Apollo landing sites, detailed photography of virtually the entire moon's surface, front and back, and very close view of 36 areas of great scientific interest on the front face of the moon. "I wish to compliment the NASA team that has made the Lunar Orbiter program one of the most successful in the 9-year history of that agency. . . ." (CR, 8/9/67, H101175)
Informed sources said U.S.S.R. had launched Cosmos CLXX (July 31) and Cosmos CLXXI (Aug. 8) to test new parachute system designed to avoid the malfunction blamed for the death of Cosmonaut Vladimir M. Komarov. U.S.S.R. attributed the April 24 crash-landing of Soyuz I to a tangled parachute that failed to decrease spacecraft's speed during reentry. Both satellites had gone into orbit but had reentered the same day as launched. (AP, B Sun, 8/10/67; AP, C Sun-Times, 8/11/67)
French cabinet authorized France to sign U.N. space law treaty [see Dec. 8, 1966]. Signed by representatives of 62 nations Jan. 27, treaty now had about 80 signatories. (NYT, 8/10/67)
August 9-11: Officials from NASA Hq. and field centers and MSFC prime and local support contractors participated in MSFC conference on organizational communication. Purposes of conference were to: (1) review the state-of-the-art and current academic pursuits in organizational communication in government and industry; (2) exchange experiences and knowledge among NASA personnel; and (3) identify areas of common interest with MSFC contractors. Representatives from US. Civil Service Commission and selected universities attended as observers. (MSFC Release 67-154)
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