Jan 26 1969
From The Space Library
NASA launched two sounding rockets from Wallops Station. Aerobee 350 carried MSC experiment to 168.4-mi (271-km) altitude to produce artificial aurora with electron accelerator. An 85-ft-dia aluminum mylar foil, deployed as planned at 60-mi (96.5-km) altitude, acted as current selector for ionospheric electrons and electrically neutralized experiment. Series of 100 beam pulses aimed downward toward Wallops ground station by accelerator were recorded on film by very sensitive TV camera and observations of artificial aurora were observed visually by scientists on ground. Analyses were under way to determine if auroral intensity, location, and shapes were as predicted. Nike-Tomahawk, launched 148 secs later to study acceleration beam from Aerobee 350, carried DeHavilland antenna and Langmuir probe to 11.8-mi (19-km) altitude. Second stage failed to ignite; no useful data were obtained. (WS Release 69-2; NASA Rpts SRL)
NASA launched Nike-Cajun sounding rocket from Point Barrow, Alaska, carrying GSFC grenade experiment to collect data on atmospheric parameters. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (NASA Proj Off)
In New York Times, Walter Sullivan said data returned by OSO V and other OSO satellites had begun to deepen understanding of sun. "It has become sufficient so that, from information gathered in space, as well as by a globe-encircling network of stations, those in charge of the Apollo 8 flight to the moon and back last month were able to ignore a variety of ominous manifestations on the sun during the flight. ' He said enough radiation measurements had been made during previous "space storms" to indicate Apollo astronauts were reasonably safe as long as they remained inside their spacecraft. (NYT, 1/26/69, E6)
Observers in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Illinois reported sighting large meteorite or space debris flashing across sky and burning itself out as it entered earth's atmosphere. Several airline pilots had seen it at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago. Northwestern Univ. astronomer James Wray said it probably was large meteor breaking up in atmosphere. UFO expert Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Chairman of North-western's Astronomy Dept., said flash could also have been reentering debris of U.S. or Soviet space rocket. (UPI, W News, 1/27/69, 30; AP, W Star, 1/27/69, B4)
In Washington Evening Star, William Hines said, "If a successful farmer suddenly started economizing on seed, his neighbors and family would begin to doubt his judgment, if not his sanity. Yet this is precisely what Uncle Sam is doing in cutting back the financing of scientific research. Despite denials from budget officials in the past weeks, federal support of science in fiscal 1970 continues on an alarming down-trend that has been apparent for several years. It has been said that in an advanced economy like ours, research expenditures are 'seed money' and the analogy is apt. Like individual seeds in a field, not every research dollar germinates, and not all those that do mature. But total return is vastly greater than outlay-and that is the story of science as well as of agriculture." (W Star, 1/26/69, C4)
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