May 7 1968
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. successfully launched Cosmos CCXX into orbit with 755- km (469.1-mi) apogee, 677-km (420.7-mi) perigee, 99-min period, and 74° inclination. All equipment was functioning normally. (SBD, 5/8/68, 39; AP, NYT, 5/8/68, 93; GSFC SSR, 5/15/68)
NASA successfully launched Canadian Black Brandt IV sounding rocket from NASA Wallops Station to 510-mi (820-km) altitude. Primary objective was to check out instrumentation to be carried later in 1968 on International Satellite for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS A), Canada's third ionosphere-probing satellite, and to confirm results of similar 1967 launch. Secondary objectives were to explore spectrum of VLF electromagnetic waves, measure electron density and temperature, and measure thermal gradients in vicinity of a skin depression. Launch was conducted when Canada's Alouette II was passing overhead, to permit comparison of data telemetered to earth by both vehicles. Good data were obtained. (NASA Rpt SRL; WS Release 68-10)
Lawrence A. Hyland, Vice President and General Manager of Hughes Aircraft Co., received NAA'S Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1967 on behalf of Hughes Surveyor Program Team, JPL, and other companies and organizations involved in project which citation said, had "put the eyes and hands of the United States on the Moon." Award was presented by Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey for greatest annual achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in U.S. In ceremonies at Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum, Humphrey called U.S. space program "a splendid challenge and a noble mission . . . one whose practical benefits for today are exceeded only by its promise for tomorrow. "I urge every American to support the future development of our space program, and I . . . shall do so with pride and vigor." Humphrey said Nation had decided to commit resources "to venture in space for one primary reason: We believe that this mission to the far-out will produce many down-to-earth benefits for men. . . . In fact ... the nation that is first in science and technology has a chance to be the first to overcome some of the perplexing problems that have beset mankind since the beginning of civilization." Space research "has vastly expanded our capabilities in navigation, communication and meteorology. It has given us new products and processes in such fields as agriculture, photography, metallurgy, and oceanography." Techniques "that are going to put a man on the moon are . . . exactly the techniques that we are going to need to clean up our cities . . .; the systems analysis approach . . . is the approach that the modern city of America is going to need if it's going to become a livable social institution. "So maybe we've been pioneering in space only to save ourselves on earth . . . maybe the nation that puts a man on the moon is the nation that will put man on his feet first right here on earth. . . . "I think a certain extravagance of objectives-a will to push back
Lawrence A. Hyland (right), Vice President and General Manager of Hughes Aircraft Co., looks at Surveyor model with Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey at Smithsonian Institution. Vice President presented Hyland 1967 Robert J. Collier Trophy (background) in Smithsonian ceremonies honoring Hughes Surveyor team, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and General Dynamics Corp. for program which "put the eyes and hands of the United States on the moon." the frontiers of the unknown-is the test of a vital society, a nation that intends to meet the challenge of tomorrow." (Text; AP, W Star, 5/8/68, A4; Aero Tech, 5/20/68, 19)
U.S. patent No. 3,381,917 was awarded to Wendell F. Moore, assistant chief engineer at Bell Aerosystems Co., and Edward G. Ganczak, research associate, for Bell Pogo and Flying Chair, flying platforms on which pilot could stand or sit on fuel tank. Engine was kerosene turbojet. Both had arm pieces with which pilot directed thrust. Pilot could disembark without encumbrance, advantage useful to soldiers, policemen, or firemen. (Jones, NYT, 5/11/68, 45)
Juan T. Trippe, founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Pan American World Airways, Inc., announced his retirement at annual meeting in New York. Board of Directors selected President Harold E. Gray, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Senior Vice President Najeeb E. Halaby, President. Citing Trippe 's 41-yr service with PAA, New York Times termed him "last of the aviation pioneers" to retire. One of four who forged major U.S. trunk airlines in industry's infancy, Trippe had led PAA to be first airline to fly across Pacific, first to fly across Atlantic, first to order and fly American-made jets, first to order Boeing 747, and first to order SSTs. New Chairman Gray, hired by PAA in 1929 as its 10th pilot, had made first scheduled transatlantic flight, in 1938. He had served as President since 1964. Halaby, pilot since age 17 and former FAA Administrator, had joined airline as senior vice president in 1965. (Hammer, NYT, 5/8/68, 63; 5/12/68, 16)
AEC refused comment on Science and Citizen report U.S. had set off 3 and U.S.S.R. 22 undisclosed underground atomic tests in 1964 through 1967, bringing total underground tests to 168 for past three years. Magazine, published by Committee for Environmental Information in St. Louis, Mo., said source of information was publication of Research Institute of Swedish National Defense and that three undisclosed U.S. tests had occurred in 1964. All subsequent U.S. tests had been reported. (W Post, 5/7/68, 7)
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