Mar 31 1970
From The Space Library
First U.S. satellite-14-kg (30.8-lb) Explorer I, launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., by Jupiter C booster Jan. 31, 1958- 1958-reentered atmosphere over South Pacific. Satellite had discovered Van Allen radiation belts, had completed 58 408 revolutions of the earth, and traveled 2.67 billion km (1.66 billion mi). Dr. Wernher von Braun, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning, who was Director of Army Ballistic Missile Agency at time of launch, said: "By today's standards Explorer l was a feeble, first step in space. But in its day it was an outstanding accomplishment, done on short notice to place the free world in the space race.... We have come a long way from that tiny Explorer, demonstrated by the fact that the Saturn V we are now flying can place in Earth orbit about 10,000 times as much payload as the little Jupiter C that launched Explorer I." (NASA Release 70-49; GSFC Mission & Analysis Div)
In first public appearance since assuming duties at NASA Hq. as Deputy Associate Administrator for Planning, Dr. Wernher von Braun held press conference on NASA planning procedures: Skylab program would consist of four flights. First would be an unmanned flight boosted by two-stage Saturn V-only first and second stage, with third stage replaced by orbital workshop, now called Skylab. "It will be this country's first orbital space station. Attached to this Skylab is an airlock module, and a multiple docking adapter, to which arriving command and service modules can dock for crew exchange. And also attached to it is the ATM... a manned solar observatory that will be serviced by the people living in the Skylab. One day after this Skylab as been launched into orbit and has deployed its solar panels, both on the ATM and the Skylab itself, it will be visited by a [Saturn IB]] - launched command and service module, bringing the first crew complement of three. The command module will dock to the multiple docking adapter, the crew will slip through the docking adapter and the airlock, into the workshop. . . . And the men will stay up there for 28 days." Crew would then "crawl back into their command module, detach... use the service module to deboost themselves, and the command module will reenter the ocean and make a normal Apollo landing. "About three months after the first flight, another flight will go up, and this time the crew stay... will be extended to 56 days.... And finally, there will be a third revisit, again of 56 days, after which the third crew will descend. The Skylab will then go into storage and can potentially be reactivated any time thereafter if more revisits are planned." Even without budget restraints; it would be "something like 1977 before we could have a [space] shuttle flying" NASA was "in continuous touch with the Air Force" in Space Shuttle and space station field. "The armed forces... have the duty to look into everything that may have a defense aspect; and so it is entirely proper that they want to understand the ramifications of space." (Transcript)
Click here to listen to Wernher von Braun Press Conference, Skylab, Space Shuttle March 31 1970 Pt 1
Click here to listen to Wernher von Braun Press Conference, Satellites, NERVA March 31 1970 Pt 2
Click here to listen to Wernher von Braun Press Conference, March 31 1970 Pt 3
First powered launch of USN's solid-propellant Condor air-to-surface missile was successfully conducted at China Lake, Calif. Missile flew preprogrammed trajectory to impact after launch from F-4A Phantom jet at high altitude and mach 0.58. All test objectives were met. (NR News. 4/3/70, l)
Christian Science Monitor editorial commented on transfer of ERC to DOT for use as Transportation Systems Center: "However glamorous it may be, travel in space is of little immediate importance to the average man. But travel on earth becomes daily more important and often more difficult. . . . This is an extraordinarily important and welcome move. It means that, perhaps for the first time in the United States, there will be continuous, large-scale research into all aspects of land, sea, and air transportation by a large and highly competent staff." (CSM, 3/31/70)
U.S.S.R. announced successful completion of carrier rocket tests begun in Pacific March 21. Tests, scheduled for completion April 10, had been protested by Japanese government March 30. (AP, W Post, 4/1/70, A17)
DOD announced USAF contract awards for operation and maintenance of Air Force Satellite Control Facility tracking stations: $4 300 000 initial increment to Lockheed Aircraft Corp. under $7 772 050 contract and $3 078 000 initial increment under $4 578 444 contract; and $4 500 000 initial increment to Philco-Ford Corp. under $8 424 250 fixed-price contract. (DOD Release 241-70)
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
