Jan 1 1969
From The Space Library
Washington Evening Star editorial said of success of Dec. 21-27, 1968, Apollo 8 mission: "Modern science undercut man's bland belief that he was the center of the universe, and modern philosophy reduced him to a trivial atom of matter in the larger cosmos. To be able to sail around at will in that vast cosmos may give man back some of the confidence he once had, not the arrogance of thinking that he understands the whole pattern, but the quiet sense that he will not flinch from what he may yet learn." (W Star, 1/1/69, A15)
U.S.S.R. disclosed that converted MiG fighter was prototype used for testing design features and performance of Tu-144, Soviet supersonic aircraft. Soviet aviation writer for Pravda K. Raspevin said four-man crew aboard Tu-144 maiden flight Dec. 31, 1968, was one of most experienced in U.S.S.R. Pilot was Eduard V. Yelyan. Copilot Mikhail V. Kozlov had won title Hero of the Soviet Union for testing Tu-22 supersonic strategic bomber. Tu-144 was constructed of light alloys with titanium on leading edges and other areas subjected to high temperatures. At cruising speed, outside skin temperature was 150° C. Air conditioning system cooled cabin. Tail unit was minus horizontal guiding surface. Crew members had catapult seats as safety precaution during test flights. (NYT, 1/2/69, 7)
World Data Center A for Rockets and Satellites, established at National Academy of Sciences in June 1958, moved to location adjacent to National Space Science Data Center at GSFC. (NAS-NRC-NAE News Rpt, 2/69, 11)
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