May 16 1968
From The Space Library
Iris I (Esro II-B) International Radiation Investigation Satellite, designed, developed, and constructed by European Space Research Organization under July 8, 1964, NASA-ESRO agreement, was successfully launched by NASA from WTR by four-stage Scout booster. Orbital parameters; apogee, 673.7 mi (1,084.2 km) ; perigee, 204.1 mi (328.5 km) ; period, 98.9 min and inclination, 97.2°. Primary NASA mission objectives were to place Iris I into planned polar orbit and provide tracking and telemetry support. The 164-lb, 351/2-in high, 30-in-dia cylindrical satellite carried seven experiments for solar-astronomy and cosmic-ray studies representing six different organizations from U.K., France, and the Netherlands. Six experiments were operating as planned and their scientific objectives were being achieved. Iris I was backup spacecraft to ESRO II-A, which had been launched May 29, 1967, but had failed to achieve orbit because of Scout 3rd stage malfunction. ESRO was responsible for experiment instrumentation, delivery of spacecraft to launch site, equipment and personnel necessary to mate spacecraft to launch vehicle, and spacecraft testing. NASA provided Scout launch vehicle, conducted launch operations, and supplied data and tracking acquisition support. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 68-75; UPI, W Post, 5/17/68, D13; W News, 5/17/68, 5; GSFC SSR, 5/31/68)
In cooperative program, NASA launched Iris I (Esro II-B) International Radiation Investigation Satellite, for European Space Research Organization from WTR by four-stage Scout booster. In April photo, Iris I is prepared for mission to orbit seven solar-astronomy and cosmic-ray experiments from six organizations. • First recording of pulsar signals at short wavelengths, 2293 mc, was made by Drs. Alan Moffet, Ronald D. Ekers, and Richard M. Goldstein of Cal Tech, using 210-ft Mars dish antenna at Goldstone Tracking Station operated by JPL for NASA. Signals' energy indicated origin from natural source such as white dwarf stars or neutron stars. CP-1919, one of three pulsars observed, was weakest source ever recorded. At 2293 mc, signal was one-hundredth that of other two, though at longer wavelengths signal was one of two strongest of four known pulsars. ("CP" referred to Cambridge pulsar list; number indicated location.) Dr. Moffet placed pulsars 100 to 10,000 light years from earth, in Milky Way Galaxy. Although signal strengths varied, periods remained constant. (Cal Tech Release; Pasadena Jndependent, 5/15/68)
President Johnson announced intention to nominate following for appointment to six-year terms on National Science Board: R. H. Bing, Chairman, Dept. of Mathematics, Univ. of Wisconsin; Harvey Brooks, Dean of Engineering and Applied Physics, Harvard Univ.; William A. Fowler, professor of physics, Cal Tech; Norman Hackerman, President, Univ. of Texas at ' Austin. Philip Handler, Chairman, Dept. of Chemis- try, Duke Univ. Medical Center; James G. March, Dean of Social Sciences, Univ. of California at Irvine; Grover Murray, President, Texas Tech; and Frederick E. Smith, professor of zoology, Univ. of Michigan. (PD, 5/20/68, 802)
In last of three McKinsey Foundation lectures NASA Administrator James E. Webb discussed "Executive Performance and Evaluation." NASA program at peak level had employed more than 400,000 full-time workers and 20,000 contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers and drawn on more than 150 universities, in addition to 8,000 NASA-supported professors, scientists, and technicians. It had worked with urban communities on problems, reclaimed wasteland, constructed massive buildings, and developed new transportation means. NASA would not be viewed in history as unique but was likely "to prove a prototype." As Administrator, Webb said, his purpose was to work toward environment within which NASA could be as innovative in the management of all its activities as it was in its scientific and technical work. Large-scale endeavor required executives of unusual type and had to be designed to enable executives to perform in an unusual way. (Text)
New York Times editorial urged congressional passage of legislation to ban sonic booms: "While technical and budgetary difficulties have slowed development of an American supersonic aircraft, the British and French are progressing with their joint-venture model. It is important to have some protection on the law books before the booms come crashing down on the nation's ears. . . . Developers . . . say they 'assume' it will fly at supersonic speed only over water but this is too important an issue to be left to anyone's assumption." (NYT, 5/16/68, 46; 5/25/68, 32)
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