Jun 17 1966
From The Space Library
Washington, D.C., National Airport marked 25th anniversary facing ground congestion problems intensified by initiation of short haul jet service April 24. FAA Administrator William F. McKee told 13 airlines to restrict flights at National or risk restriction by agency edict. Flight statistics released by FAA June 3 had shown 16,109 more passengers at National in May than April. Dulles International Airport's passenger count had dropped by 14,456. (Golden, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/20/66, 1; Eisen, Wash. Post, 6/26/66, B1, B7)
U.S.S.R. launched COSMOS CXXI for continued space research into orbit with 354-km. (220-mi.) apogee, 210-km. (130-mi.) perigee, 72.9ΓΈ inclination, and 98.9-min. period. Instruments were functioning normally. (Tass, 6/17/66)
GSFC announced completion of OGO III checkout program. The 1,135-lb. spacecraft, orbited June 6, was "operating well" and 21 experiments onboard had recorded and transmitted more than 3,000 hrs. of data. Cause of continuing problem in receiving signals from range and range rate tracking beacon-method for precise determination of position in orbit-was under study, but use of alternate tracking system prevented serious effect on OGO III scientific mission. (GSFC Release; AP, NYT, 6/18/66, 12)
At MSC, NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., presented NASA Exceptional Service Medals to GEMINI IX-A Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan and to Richard E. Dineen (Col., USAF) who had helped solve problems in the Titan II booster that had launched the spacecraft. Referring to difficulties that occurred during the June 3-6 GEMINI IX-A flight, Seamans said: "We know that if we had been a little sharper, if we had worked a little harder, that this would not have happened. . . . We are. . . dissatisfied with ourselves when technical and procedural failures keep us from our goals." He added he had requested review of plans for Gemini X, XI, and XII missions for "tightening up" of procedures. Summarizing [Project Gemini]]'s results to date-"at the three quarter mark"-and forecasting its probable total impact on the space effort, Seamans said: "I am convinced that this program will be completed with far greater return to the nation in scientific information, technology, and operational experience than we had originally set out to accomplish when we began the program in 1961." (Wash. Post, 6/18/66, A2; Waldron, NYT, 6/18/66, 10; Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/20/66, A10)
GEMINI IX-A Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan held their first post-mission press conference. Cernan said that during his space walk he could not keep his feet from floating, was unable to use both hands while trying to don backpack containing maneuvering unit, and "had to work continually against the pressure suit. . . I was devoting 50 per cent of my work load just to maintain position." This extra effort saturated the environmental control system and led to fogging of his faceplate so that he could not test the maneuvering unit. About the same time, he felt his back becoming "extremely hot." It was later revealed some of the insulation had been ripped from his spacesuit. After recounting his adventures, Cernan said: "I found no new voodoo out there. . . . You're at home out there. . . I'm convinced we can do just about anything we want to do." (Wash. Post, 6/18/66, A2; NYT, 6/18/66. A10)
U.S.S.R. made public its draft treaty for preserving universe for peaceful exploration and research in interest of all mankind submitted to U.N. June 16. One difference from US. treaty proposal, also submitted to U.N. June 16, concerned settlement of disputes: Soviet plan called for consultation and negotiation among parties involved; U.S. proposal would refer disputes to International Court of Justice. Platon D. Morozov, acting head of Soviet delegation to U.N., asked to have draft circulated as document for inclusion on agenda of 21st session of General Assembly, to open Sept. 20. (Daniell, NYT, 6/18/66, 10)
Gemini XII crew was named. Prime crew: James A. Lovell, Jr., command pilot; Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., pilot. Backup crew: Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., command pilot; Eugene A. Cernan, pilot. Mission was scheduled for late October or early November 1966. (AP, NYT, 6/18/66, 10; A1, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/18/66, A2)
Praising June 16 flight of Titan III-C booster which injected eight satellites into orbit, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Harold Brown told Pentagon news conference that program cost included $33 million for satellites, $45 million for ground stations, and $10 to $20 million for other system elements. Launch costs were excluded since they were covered by Titan III-C development funding. Satellites were resistant to jamming or interference, but "anyone who puts up an antenna" of the right kind could listen in. What they would hear "may or may not be comprehensible to them" since traffic would be coded. Asked if U.S.S.R. could use satellite system, Dr. Brown replied affirmatively. However, DOD Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering Dr. Thomas F. Rogers stated: "We have arranged so that it would be very difficult for them to have assured use of it." (Transcript)
U.K.'s Cable & Wireless, Ltd., would build three ground stations-at Hong Kong, Bahrein Island, and an undisclosed site-for satellite communications, reported the Wall Street Journal. Hong Kong station would cost $7 million and would be operational by 1968. Seventeen firms-including seven US. companies-had been asked to bid on the project. (WSJ, 6/17/66, 12)
President Johnson signed into law Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966, establishing national goals for an expanding national oceanographic effort. Legislation, sponsored by Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) , provided for Cabinet-level National Council of Marine Resources and Engineering Development-and administrative and coordinating organization similar to NASC. Chairman would be Vice President. Bill also provided for 15-member Marine Science, Engineering and Resources Commission to conduct 18-mo. study of US. oceanographic capabilities and recommend Government organizational plan for oceanography. (CR, 6/2/66, 11490-92; Wash. Post, 6/19/66, A17)
June 17-18: Optical identification of x-ray source Sco X-1 was made at Tokyo Observatory. Photoelectric and spectroscopic observations continued at Mt. Wilson and Mt. Palomar Observatories through July; data indicated source might be "an uncatalogued old nova." Optical search had been based on information obtained from NASA-American Science and Engineering, Inc.-MIT experiment flown on Aerobee 150 sounding rocket launched March 8 from WSMR. (Astrophys. J., 10/66, 316-21)
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