Jun 19 1966
From The Space Library
TIROS VII meteorological satellite had operated successfully in orbit three years, traveled more than 445,000,000 mi., and had taken 123,000 pictures of cloud formations, storms, hurricanes, and typhoons with two wide-angle vidicon TV cameras. Orbited from AMR (now ETR) June 19, 1963, it tracked major hurricanes and provided information aiding Ranger, Mariner, and Gemini missions. (AP, Balt. Sun, 6/19/66)
Calculations by computer at Astronomisches Rechen Institut, Heidelberg, Germany, and Yale Univ. Observatory had helped astronomers rediscover Tempel-Tuttle Comet responsible for Leonid meteor showers each November. Comet had been found 100 yrs. ago and not seen again until summer 1965. Meteor shower was expected to be spectacular in November 1966; it would occur close to time of comet's return to vicinity of earth. (Sci. Serv., NYT, 6/19/66, 26)
Discussing military satellite as "necessity, not adventure," article in Houston Post said DOD had reoriented space research toward "development of a many-purpose military satellite." DOD Deputy Director of Office of Defense Research and Engineering Daniel J. Fink was quoted as saying proposed vehicle could: (1) locate military units precisely; (2) speed military communications; (3) carry weather observation and reporting equipment; (4) furnish early warning against nuclear attack; and (5) detect unannounced nuclear tests. (Houston Post, 6/19/66)
NASA's "new policy of calling a spade a spade-and a failure a failure-in discussing the results of its manned operations in space" was noted by William Hines in the Washington Evening Star: "NASA has been subjected to harsh criticism-some of it bordering on ridicule-for the past disinclination of its officials to admit . . . that things occasionally had gone wrong. . . . Seamans' outspoken evaluation [June 17] of the Gemini IX-A flight was regarded here as a signal to other NASA officials to lay the facts on the line when things do not go exactly according to plan." (Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/20/66, A10)
Stages in development of facilities at KSC for Saturn/Apollo launches were described in Aviation Week editorial by Robert Hotz. Now that the mission was "moving so close to realization," he said, bold and far reaching decisions were needed "to insure in the post-Apollo decade the full utilization of these Apollo launch facilities and the superb technical team that operates them." Citing "dramatic progress" made by US. in first decade of space age, Hotz added: ". . . it is hard to understand why the highest level of national leadership now shrinks from making the decisions today that are necessary to insure this nation's capability for tomorrow." (Hotz, Av. Wk., 6/20/66, 21)
Martin Marietta Corp. was receiving $7,622,000 fixed-price contract from AFSC for work on Titan III booster. (DOD Release 536-66)
Proposed compromise by ELDO reducing U.K.'s share of financing was reported in Aviation Week. If accepted at July 7-8 ELDO ministerial conference in Paris, financial participation was expected to be: U.K.27% of future ELDO costs, a reduction from the 38.79% initially agreed upon in 1962-63; West Germany-27%, increased from 22.01%; France, 25%, increased from 23.93%; Italy, 12%, increased from 9.78%; Netherlands and Belgium would share 9%, increased from Belgium's 2.85% and Netherlands' 2.64%. (Av. Wk., 6/20/66, 30)
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