Mar 28 1968
From The Space Library
NASA Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Station carried GSFC experiment to 100.2-mi (161.2-km) altitude to test flight models of impedance measuring instruments to be flown on RAE-A satellite. Rocket and instrumentation performance was satisfactory. (NASA Rpt SRL)
Apollo 6 mission, second flight of Apollo/Saturn V space vehicle, would be launched from ETR on or after April 3, NASA announced. Primary mission objective would be qualification of launch vehicle for future manned flights; spacecraft objectives, including recovery, would be secondary. (NASA Release 68-54)
ARC Director H. Julian Allen had been elected Fellow of U.K.'s Royal Aeronautical Society for outstanding contributions to aeronautics, ARC Astrogram announced. Allen, who had served NACA and its successor NASA since 1936, had received NACA Distinguished Service Medal for originating concept of bluntness as aerodynamic technique for avoiding severe reentry heating, AIAA Sylvanus A. Reed Award, Air Force Assn.'s Air Power Trophy, and NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal. (ARC Astrogram, 3/28/68, 1)
DOD announced loss of F-111A aircraft with two crew members, presumably on mission to North Vietnam. According to Hanoi radio broadcast, F-111A, one of six based at Thailand, had been shot down near Laotian border. (AP, B Sun, 3/29/68, 1; AP, W Star, 3/29/68, A4; Kumpa, B Sun, 3/30/68, A2; Wilson, W Post, 3/30/68, A14)
USN announced compromise plan to purchase 8 F-111B aircraft instead of original 30 planned and to consider building alternate aircraft lighter and more maneuverable than F--111B. However, Senate Armed Services Committee voted 11 to 2 against additional funds for F-111B, dimming chances of continuing program at all. (Finney, NYT, 3/29/68, 1; Maffre, W Post, 3/29/68, 1; WSJ, 3/29/68, 6)
March 27-28: GSFC team headed by Dr. Henry H. Plotkin hit orbiting satellite Explorer XXXVI (Geos II) with laser beam but failed for two successive nights to relay Morse code on laser beam to satellite for replay to earth. First test to carry modulated 13-kc signal into space for detection by spacecraft was unsuccessful because satellite was so low on horizon it passed out of range before scientists had time to send coded message. Second attempt at message delivery failed because of overcast. (NASA Release 68-56; W Star, 3/28/68, 1; W Post, 3/29/68, A18)
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