Jan 18 1968
From The Space Library
USAF launched unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB by Titan III-B-Agena D booster. Satellite entered orbit with 254-mi (408.8-km) apogee, 77-mi (132.9-km) perigee, 89.8-min period, and 111.4° inclination and reentered Feb. 4. (SBD, 1/19/68, 98; GSFC SSR, 1/31/68; Pres Rpt 68)
Study of Northern Lights, auroras, and polar cap airglow by coordinated use of aircraft flights from Churchill Research Range, sounding rocket launches, satellite overpasses, and ground observations was begun by NASA. During two extended periods (Jan. 18-Feb. 8 and Feb. 21-March 12) NASA airborne laboratory, Convair 990 jet aircraft, would fly over Churchill area and beyond, from Alaska to Greenland. Three flights would be coordinated with sounding rocket launches from Churchill; many flights would be coordinated with passes of Ogo IV, containing 12 experiments for studying auroral and polar cap phenomena. Aircraft would carry spectrometers, photometers, wide-angle cameras, radio frequency receivers, and magnetometer to study magnetic field activity and time and space variations of auroras and polar gap airglow. NASA's 1968 Airborne Auroral Expedition would be directed by ARC's Airborne Science Office and managed by ARC'S Louis C. Haughney; 14 universities and research organizations in Canada and US. would participate. (NASA Release 68-9)
Complete draft of treaty to ban spread of nuclear weapons was submitted by U.S. and U.S.S.R. to 17-nation U.N. Disarmament Conference, which would report to U.N. General Assembly by March 15. Agreement had been reached on international inspection and controls to detect any violations of treaty's provisions. West. Germany and other nations contended proposed controls would interfere with peaceful atomic development. European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) had refused to take part in negotiations and said it would not sign treaty. (NYT, 1/19/68, 1; 1/20/68, 8)
Proposal for four additional basic Block II Apollo spacecraft command and service modules would be made by NAR Space Div. in accordance with NASA request. Action would bring total purchase to 19 for flights on Saturn IB and Saturn V launch vehicles. Delivery would start in 1970. (NASA Release 68-12)
Northrop Corp. scientists G. M. Andrew and M. S. Cahn told news conference discharge of electricity into air ahead of supersonic aircraft might not only lessen sonic boom intensity but also reduce aerodynamic drag, saving fuel. Scientists said NASA and Boeing Co. were interested in new line of SST research. Electrical discharge-up to 30,000 volts in tests to date-would repel molecules of air and remove them from aircraft's path; molecules would then flow smoothly around aircraft instead of bunching ahead to cause sonic boom. Scientists admitted electrical discharge could interfere with radio and TV broadcasts and with communications between aircraft and ground. (AP, W Post, 1/19/68, A5)
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. received $5,700,000 USAF contract for Agena launch services at Vandenberg AFB from Oct 1, 1967, through Sept. 30, 1968. (Dm Release 64-68)
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