Dec 24 1969
From The Space Library
Tiros Operational Satellite (TOS) System-joint effort of NASA and ESSA to provide systematic, daily, worldwide cloud-cover observations-was adjudged successful by NASA. TOS system was operated in support of National Operational Meteorological Satellite System (NOMSS). It included four advanced vidicon-camera-system stored-data spacecraft for remote global cloud-cover observations and five automatic-picture-transmission (APT) direct-readout spacecraft for local cloud-cover observations. Nine spacecraft had been successfully launched and operated in orbit; tenth had been qualified but had not been launched because of extended life of earlier spacecraft (NASA Proj Off)
Nimbus III, launched by NASA April 14, was adjudged successful. Spacecraft had achieved primary and secondary objectives July 14 when it completed three months in orbit with all experiments operating successfully. Spacecraft had acquired representative number of global samples from which vertical temperature profiles of atmosphere were derived, mapped global radiative energy balance of earth atmosphere and cloud cover, demonstrated feasibility of surface tracking and-obtaining remote data from platforms on earth's surface and in atmosphere via IRLS system and temperature profile determination by infrared spectrometry, and demonstrated SNAP -19 as auxiliary power system. (NASA Proj Off)
Ats V Applications Technology Satellite, launched Aug. 12, was adjudged unsuccessful by NASA. Primary objective-deployment and exercise of gravity-gradient stabilization system-had not been achieved because spacecraft failed to despin properly. Secondary objectives, except for operation of ion engine, were being achieved. (NASA Proj Off)
NASA's Biosatellite III, launched June 28, was adjudged unsuccessful by NASA. Although data obtained from mission had been significant, primary objective-to operate spacecraft for more than 15 days to provide suitable physiological environment for instrumented monkey-had not been achieved. Spacecraft had been deorbited after 81/2 days because of monkey's rapid physiological deterioration. Monkey had died shortly after recovery July 7. (NASA Proj Off)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics, Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications published Future of the Bioscience Program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Report concluded bioscientific experimentation on man and animals in first decade of space flight had been "relatively meager." Scientific research on manned flight had been "minimal" and had not included biomedical experimentation of kind done in Biosatellite program. More research was urgently needed on biological influence of zero gravity and effects of change or elimination of rhythmic daily periodicity of animal and plant life on earth. Space technology now permitted advanced scientific research on these and related biological factors. While professors exchanged scientific theories freely, NASA representatives inclined toward "protecting jurisdiction authority and extending organizational power within the framework of their agency." Complete information exchange should prevail, especially in bioscience, "which eventually may affect human life." "Rivalry" between science and engineering was "real." In NASA, science was "used" but "rarely accepted in its own right by the engineering management" While knowledge from 14-day missions was adequate to proceed with planning of 28-day AAP mission, it was inadequate to proceed safely with proposed 56-day flight or longer planetary flights without monitoring astronauts on 28-day mission in experiments "beyond any yet undertaken in manned flight." Further biosatellite exploration with primates and instruments was "merited if not indeed prescribed." Final evaluation of Biosatellite III would determine new mechanisms and improved monitoring of test mammals to be programmed. Subcommittee endorsed proposal of Dr. W. Ross Adey, NASA's principal investigator for Biosatellite III, that basic measurements be required on all flight crews and recommended reinstitution of biosatellite experiments with animals in earth orbit, extension of bioscience research to planets when technologically feasible, uprating of science role as mission objective, and NASA and Congress delegation of "highest relative priority" to "bioscience programs which offer the most immediate return to the taxpayers through . . . medicine and physiology." Subcommittee further recommended NASA examine and implement "to fullest practicable extent" recommendations of President's Scientific Advisory Panel for "new level of biomedical research capability," that OMSF conduct biomedical experiments on astronauts during 28-day AAP missions, and that 'NASA's scientific investigations be planned "with close and continued participation of the academic research institutions." (Text)
USAF changed Dec. 22 temporary suspension of F-111A aircraft to complete ban on all F-111A flights as result of investigation to date of Dec. 22 crash at Nellis AFB, Nev., which killed two pilots. Preliminary study indicated cause of crash as "failure of its left wing prior to its impact with the ground." (CSM, 1/5/70; W Star, 12/25/69, A3)
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
