May 15 1967
From The Space Library
Cosmos CLVIII was launched by U.S.S.R. into circular orbit with 850-km (528-mi) altitude, 100.7-min period, and 74' inclination. Equipment was functioning normally. (AP, NYT, 5/16/67)
NASA announced that OSO III Orbiting Solar Observatory, launched from KSC March 8, had not only achieved but exceeded its primary and secondary objectives. Primary objective was to obtain high-resolution spectral data from pointed solar experiments during major portion of one solar rotation and adequate operational support of spacecraft subsystems to carry out acquisition of these scientific data. Secondary objective was to obtain useful data from the non-pointed experiments, and to obtain data from pointed experiments during more than one solar rotation. OSO III had operated satisfactorily for over two solar rotations and was continuing to acquire useful scientific data from both pointed and wheel experiments. (NASA Proj Off)
NASA Nike-Cajun sounding rocket, launched from Point Barrow, Alaska, carried GSFC-instrumented grenade payload to obtain data on temperature, pressure, density, and wind between 22-59 mi (35-95 km) at transition from winter-time westerly to summer-time easterly circulation. Rocket and instrumentation performed well. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb, at White Sulphur Springs 86th Annual Meeting of Proprietary Association, presented social implications of the Nation's space program. He asked: "If our future is now more dependent than ever on human intelligence, and if these activities made possible by the rocket engine are adding large increments of grist for the human intelligence mill, and trained workers to use the result, how much more important is it today than ever before for leaders in an industry like yours to understand those institutions of organized society that will foster, encourage, and make proper use of the vast powers the human mind is deriving from its understanding and use of the forces, materials and forms and activities of life which are provided by nature in this universe?" He added : "The comprehension of space exploration and its implications for mankind is a tremendous human intellectual enterprise . . . and our capability to use it effectively is only limited by our ability to systematically order it into viable patterns." (Text)
NASA's NIMBUS II meteorological satellite successfully completed one year of operation and was still transmitting useful data. Spacecraft had taken more than one million weather photos since its launch from WTR May 15, 1966. (AP, B Sun, 5/15/67)
David S. Gabriel, former Program Manager for the Advanced Agena at Bell Aerosystems co., was named Deputy Manager of AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office (SNPO) . (NASA Ann; NASA Release 67-131)
Technique for predicting solar flares by the positions of the planets was described by Rex Pay in Technology Week. Predictions were made by calculating time rate of change of the gravitational field at sun's surface, taking into account local areas of persistent solar activity and their alignment with respect to earth. "Principal influences on rate of change of the gravitational field at the solar surface are the planets. Although their gravitational effects are many orders of magnitude less than that of the Sun itself, the time rate of change of the resultant planetary field vector appears to have some triggering effect on the release of solar flares. It appears, therefore, that solar flares can be predicted from the positions of the planets." Dr. Richard Head, ERC, told Technology Week that technique had been used to predict intense proton storm in late August 1966 which occurred shortly after NASA's Lunar Orbiter f had completed its photographic mission. (Tech Wk, 5/15/67, 35)
Scientists at National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) , Green Bank, W. Va., and Naval Research Laboratory successfully demonstrated new technique to obtain high-resolution pictures of quasars. Radio telescopes at both locations were focused simultaneously on a quasar 240 trillion mi away, and radio signals beamed to earth by the quasar were recorded on magnetic tape at both centers; processed by a computer; and matched to form a single, clearer tape. NRAO Director Dr. David Heeschen speculated that facilities even farther away could be combined for sharper pictures: "Using this technique, there's no reason why we can't link up two telescopes 1,000 miles apart and improve our resolution 100 times over what we had." (O'Toole, W Post, 5/25/67, D18)
U.S.S.R. planned to display two new jet passenger aircraft at Paris International Air and Space Show in late May, Tass announced. First was 24-passenger Yak-40, scheduled to replace propeller aircraft on Soviet secondary air routes; second was 164-passenger Tu-154, scheduled to be main medium-range Soviet passenger aircraft. (AP, C Trib, 5/16/67,3)
Washington Evening Star columnist Richard Wilson compared "cloud of suspicion over large undertakings" in both DOD and NASA programs: "An identical parallel is now disclosed between the award of the multi-billion dollar TFX fighter-bomber contract and the award of the very large contract for the Apollo capsule. In both instances the recommendation of the experts was rejected and a handful of public officials chose the contractor they favored. . . . In both instances many other facts and expert opinions were suppressed. "Contrary to the findings of expert boards and committees and of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the TFX contract was awarded to a company with good political connections which was temporarily in financial trouble. Contrary to the findings of a group of 200 space experts, the Apollo contract was awarded to North American Aviation, strongly represented in Washington's political life, instead of to the Martin Company. "Congress and the public need to know how these huge undertakings have been handled because there will be many more of them in the future." (Wilson, W Star, 5/15/67)
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