Mar 29 1966
From The Space Library
Launch of NASA Atlas-Centaur AC-8 rocket, on mission to perform first double-ignition of a hydrogen engine in space, was aborted at ETR seconds before liftoff when a power cord failed to disconnect from the booster. Failure automatically stopped the Atlas engines from firing and countdown was halted at two seconds. No new launch date was set. ‘‘(NASA Proj. Off.; AF’, Balt. Sun, 3/30/66)’’
ComSatCorp, on behalf of Intelsat-the international telecommunications satellite consortium-issued requests for proposals (RFP’s) for 210-lb. synchronous satellite capable of providing “airplane-to-ground-to-airplane” communications with two-way channels. Satellite would supplement high-density North Atlantic communications and “permit orderly expansion of the aeronautical service on a global basis.” ‘‘(ComSatCorp Release).
Wilhelm Forster Observatory (West Germany) reported that on 127th orbit, Soviet spacecraft COSMOS CXIII returned to earth and soft-landed at Baikonur, Kazakhstan. ‘‘(AP, Wash. Post, 3/30/66, A14)’’
U.S. Committee on Extension to the Standard Atmosphere (COESA) announced plans to publish new volume, U.S. Standard Atmosphere Supplements, 1966, which would tabulate and detail properties of earth’s atmosphere at all altitudes up to 600 mi.-information necessary to investigate atmosphere’s effect on aerospace vehicle operation and design. Sponsored by NASA, ESSA, and USAF Cambridge Research Lab., publication would be based on data gathered through tracking of artificial earth satellites and instrumented rockets and satellites. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-72)’’
Proposed crew transfer tunnel connecting a Gemini spacecraft and a MOL vehicle was tested at Arnold Engineering Development Center. ‘‘(AEDC)’’
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
