Mar 19 1969
From The Space Library
USAF launched two unidentified satellites from Vandenberg AFB by Thor-Agena booster. One entered orbit with 156.6-mi (252.0-km) apogee, 102.5-mi (164.9-km) perigee, 86.6-min period, and 82.9° inclination and reentered March 24. Second entered orbit with 318.8- mi (513.0-km) apogee, 312.8-mi (503.3-km) perigee, 94.7-min period, and 83.0° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 3/31/69; Pres Rpt 70 [69] )
Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird presented to Senate Armed Services Committee FY 1970 defense budget reduced from Johnson Administration proposal of $80.6 billion to $78.5 billion. He said FB-111 bomber program would be cut off with aircraft already on order and work would be speeded up on advanced manned strategic aircraft expected to replace B-52s. (Testimony)
Project Tektite civilian aquanauts Richard A. Waller, Conrad V. M. Mahnken, John G. Van Derwalker, and Dr. H. Edward Clifton set 32-day record for remaining under water in "habitat" off St. John Island in Caribbean. Previous record was held by former Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, who had remained submerged 30 days in 1965. In Project Tektite, aquanauts were trying for 60-day submersion. (DOD Release 204-69; UPI, W Post, 3/20/69, A2)
At Geneva luncheon during meetings of Disarmament Conference, U.S. and U.S.S.R. opened exploratory talks on proposed treaty banning use of seabed for stationing nuclear weapons. (UPI, W News, 3/20/69, 2)
March 19-21: Air Force Assn. held 23rd Annual Convention in Houston, Tex. Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator-designate, said national defense aspects of permanent space station in earth orbit was "a question which should not be considered only from the narrow standpoint of special operational systems requirements that can be clearly established as necessary today. The lead times are too great. The uncertainties as to the future world situation and the precise nature of future defense needs are also too great. I believe that the approach should be to consider carefully what our long-term national security posture would be ten to fifteen years from now if by then the United States has developed a space station capability and the logistics or 'space shuttle' system necessary to utilize it, and compare this posture to what it might be if we do not then have the capability, and the Soviet Union has developed and are fully utilizing such capability." NASA planned to work closely with Defense establishment for "national program for the development of a permanent space station and a logistic support system in a way that will not only serve the needs and goals of the civilian space program, but will also be capable of supporting future defense research and developments as needs become clearly defined." (Text)
Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Secretary of the Air Force and former NASA Deputy Administrator, said: "Although similar space technology is used in Apollo Applications and the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, there is no unnecessary duplication in the experiments planned. These activities require different equipment, different orbits and different timing. I believe that any attempt to combine the two programs would jeopardize the returns to each agency and would ultimately increase the cost. There is a distinct need to continue with manned space operations under both military and nonmilitary auspices. Cooperation between NASA and DOD has been close, and will continue." (Text)
AFA's highest award, Henry H. Arnold Trophy, was presented to Apollo 8 Astronauts Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and William A. Anders. NASC Executive Secretary, Dr. Edward C. Welsh, received Gill Robb Wilson Trophy for Arts and Letters for his part in interpreting aerospace role in modern society. AFA's Citation of Honor went to L/G Samuel C. Phillips (USAF) for his management of NASA Apollo Program, and to Maj. William J. Knight (USAF) for "outstanding contributions to the Air Force and the nation for being the first to achieve hypersonic winged flight while piloting the X-15 aircraft to a speed of 4,534 miles per hour." (AFSC News review, 3/69, 1; AFJ, 3/8/69, 30)
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