Jun 23 1966
From The Space Library
NASA's PAGEOS I (Pageos A Passive Geodetic Earth-Orbiting Satellite) was launched with Thrust-Augmented Thor-Agena D booster from WTR into near-circular polar orbit: 2,645-mi. (4,258-km.) apogee, 2,603-mi. (4,191-km.) perigee, 182-min. period, and 87ΓΈ inclination. PAGEOS I was an aluminum-coated Mylar balloon of the ECHO I type. Balloon was folded and packaged inside spherical canister ejected into space as launch vehicle reached orbital velocity. Canister then separated in half by explosive device, and folded satellite automatically inflated to 100-ft.dia. sphere. PAGEOS I carried no instruments. By reflecting sunlight, satellite would provide orbiting point source of light to be photographed over projected five-year period to determine size and shape of earth to a degree never before possible; in orbit, satellite should be as bright as star Polaris. Simultaneous observations from 41 portable camera stations around world would be used to construct three-dimensional geodetic reference system. Resulting satellite triangulation network would make it possible to obtain distance between two surface points on earth 3,000 mi. apart to an accuracy of 32 ft. Project was managed by LaRC. (NASA Release 66-150; ESSA Release 66-32; NASA Proj. Off.; LaRC Researcher, 7/1/66, 1, 6; Wash. Post, 6/24/66, A5)
NRX-A5 nuclear reactor-operated at full power June 8 at Jackass Flats, Nev. was restarted and operated an additional 14% min. at design power of 1,100 mw (55,000 lbs. thrust). Tested by Aerojet-General and Westinghouse Corp. under joint NASA-AEC program, reactor consumed 218,000 gal. liquid hydrogen. (AEC Release J-160)
NASA would negotiate six-month study contracts totaling $200,000 with General Electric Co. and RCA to determine "feasibility of a satellite capable of broadcasting directly to conventional home FM radio and/or short wave radios." Contracts would be managed by NASA OSSA. (NASA Release 66-161)
NASA and Vocational Rehabilitation Administration signed agreement "to accelerate the application of new technology to the problems of the disabled" by making results of aerospace research available for application to rehabilitation "on a continuing basis." This would involve evaluation of NASA technology by VRA scientists; adaptive engineering to apply that technology to needs of disabled persons; demonstration of resulting devices, systems, and procedures; and commercial introduction of new devices and services. (NASA Release 66-160)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics reported favorably H.R. 14832 incorporating changes and improvements in organization and operation of NSF recommended in Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development report, "The National Science Foundation-Its Present and Future." (House Rpt. 1650)
FCC ruled that users of satellite communications must operate through common carriers instead of dealing directly with ComSatCorp to prevent "serious adverse effects upon the well-being of the commercial telecommunications industry and the general public it serves." Ruling, which resolved controversy between ComSatCorp and common carriers, would protect carriers from reduced traffic volume resulting from direct user-ComSatCorp relations. (FCC; VSJ, 6/24/66, 6)
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