Dec 5 1967
From The Space Library
USAF launched OV III-6 research satellite from Vandenberg AFB by Scout booster into orbit with 275-mi (439-km) apogee, 254-mi (408-km) perigee, 93-min period, and 90.6° inclination. The 219-lb satellite, designed for 256-day lifetime, carried two main experiments: mass spectrometers and ion density gauges to measure density, temperature, and composition of the upper atmosphere and its variation .with latitude. (Pres Rep 1967; GSFC SSR, 12/15/67; SBD, 12/5/67,176)
USAF launched an unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB toward polar orbit using Titan III-Agena D booster. (UPI, W Post, 12/6/67, A24)
NASA Aerobee 150A sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Station carried 300-lb payload containing two white rats to 85-mi (137-km) altitude in first of four experiments to study behavior in an artificial gravity field and determine minimum level of gravity needed by biological organisms during space flight. Two arms of payload were extended after rocket burnout, producing a centrifuge with artificial gravity levels between 0.35 and 1.65 g. During five minutes of free fall, rats selected their own gravity levels by walking dong tunnel runway. Data on their movement and position were telemetered to g o m d stations. Payload impacted 70 mi downrange in the Atlantic; no recovery was attempted. (WS Release 67-36; NASA Release 67-290; NASA Rpt SRL)
Aerobee 150 sounding rocket launched by NASA from WSMR carried 14-in telescope with new STRAP III stellar pointing control to 96.8-mi (155-km) altitude in Johns Hopkins Univ. experiment to measure vacuum spectral emission lines from atmospheres of Venus, Jupiter, and Regulus. STRAP III (used for first time) rocket and other instruments performed satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket was launched from Churchill Research Range, Canada, in experiment on vertical and horizontal variation of auroral light emissions. Peak altitude was not obtained because of heavy fog effect on radar tracking. Rocket and experiment performance was satisfactory. (NASA Rpt SRL)
ELDO's Europa I rocket was launched from Woomera Rocket Range but was automatically destroyed in mid-air after French Coralie 2nd stage failed to ignite. U.K.'s Blue Streak 1st stage performed satisfactorily. Purpose of suborbital flight test was to evaluate performance of the Coralie and separation of the three stages. (AP, NYT, 12/6/67,16; SBD, 12/7/67,189)
MSFC awarded IBM Corp. a $1,292,218 supplemental contract for configuration management of 27 instrument units for Saturn V and Uprated Saturn I . Agreement, effective through June 1970, brought total value of contract to $200,644,441. (MSFC Release 67-236)
Gerald J. Mossinghoff, Director of the Office of Legislative Planning at US. Patent Office, was named director of Congressional Liaison Div. in NASA's Office of Legislative Affairs. (NASA, Release 67-297)
December 5-6: New York Academy of Sciences held ceremonies marking its 150th anniversary. Dr. Hilliard V. Paige, General Electric Co. Vice President and general manager of Missile and Space Div., compared role of the space program in stimulating technological development to that of World Wars I and II. World War I, he said, marked real beginning of American-aviation activities. World War II led to current U.S. leadership in production of jet aircraft. Space program was current counterpart of this stimulus, he noted, but program was declining because of crippling budget and program cuts. Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter (Cdr., USN) described his experiences living in Sealab II [see Aug. 28, 1965] and plans for a larger Sealab III in 1968. In addition to Sealab experiment, series of special vehicles would be tested, he said: Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV-1) to rescue men from disabled submarines resting on ocean floor; Deep Submergence Search Vehicles (DSSV) to conduct research on ocean floor, collecting and surfacing small objects; Nuclear Powered Deep Submergence Research and Ocean Engineering Vehicle (NR-1) which would run along ocean floor on wheels; and Large Object Salvage System (LOSS) to develop a variety of tools, from surface craft with strong lifting ability to equipment enabling swimmers to operate effectively in deep water. (Sullivan, NYT, 12/6/67, 35; 12/24/67, E3; NY Academy of Sciences PIO)
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