Jun 1 1966
From The Space Library
Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) for GEMINI IX-A mission was successfully launched by Atlas booster from ETR into planned 185-mi. (298-km.) circular orbit, but officials were not certain glass fiber shroud protecting docking apparatus had been jettisoned-a maneuver essential for docking with GEMINI IX spacecraft. GEMINI IX-Titan II launch was postponed until June 3 when malfunction in electronics data-processing equipment blocked guidance signals being sent from KSC launch control center to Gemini spacecraft at T-3. NASA officials said postponement would not change objectives of the mission -extravehicular activity and rendezvous and docking with ATDA-but would cause some revisions in timing of events. (Wilford, NYT, 6/2/66,1)
Saturn V 3rd stage (S-IVB) was flown aboard Super Guppy aircraft from Douglas Aircraft Co.'s Huntington Beach, Calif., facility to company's Sacramento Test Center for static testing. The 33,000-lb. stage, 59 ft. long and 21« ft. in diameter, was second Saturn V upper stage to arrive at Douglas test site. (MSFC Release 66-126)
General Accounting Office released report to Congress charging that NASA had wasted $2.5 million on Surveyor program by continuing development of 11 types of scientific instruments for SURVEYOR I after 1962, when weight problems had forced their deletion from planned payload. NASA comments in report's appendix included letter from Deputy Associate Administrator Earl D. Hilburn stating: "Development of these experiments was not halted. . . to assure their availability for not only later Surveyor flights but other NASA missions as well." He called continuation "prudent in the light of development lead time for scientific instrumentation." SURVEYOR I had been launched May 30 from ETR on lunar transfer trajectory. (Text, Blair, NYT, 6/1/66,' 26; Av. Wk., 6/6/66, 25)
JPL scientists Richard W. Davies and Roy E. Cameron completed month long expedition in Atacama Desert in' Northern Chile and announced in Santiago that analysis of soil samples taken at altitudes up to 20,000 ft. would test theory that "more microorganisms are found under the surface than on it." If so, Davies said, NASA would "redesign its Mars exploration vehicles to look for subsurface life as well as surface life." Atacama region so resembled supposed surface of Mars, they said, that JPL team would attempt further studies in area, called by some the driest on earth. (AP, Balt. Sun, 6/2/66)
William L. Green, Jr., executive assistant in NASA's Office of Public Affairs and former USIA press officer, was appointed NASA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs. (NASA Release 66-140; AF)
Three-month NASA-USAF program to measure reactions of structures and people to varying types of sonic booms and jet engine noise began at AFFTC. Program-in which over 100 residents would participate as test subjects-would provide data for analysis and later application to supersonic transport development. (AFFTC Release 66-5-6)
Three college students set record by wearing fully pressurized spacesuits continuously for five days in research test conducted for NASA at Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories, Wright-Patterson AFB. Experiment-part of 90-day study to test food requirements for future manned space fights and emergency food concepts for lunar exploration broke 24-hr. record set at Aerospace Medical Div., Brooks AFB. (AP, NYT, 6/2/66, 30)
Astronaut Frank Borman, a 1950 graduate of West Point, gave Academy cadets a souvenir from space-the flag of the cadet company he had commanded-carried on his Dec. 4-18, 1965, GEMINI VII mission. (UPI, NYT, 6/2/66, 4)
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