Nov 12 1969
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCCIX from Plesetsk into orbit with 353-km (219.3-mi) apogee, 191-km (118.1-mi) perigee, 89.9-min period, and 65.4° inclination. Satellite reentered Nov. 20. (GSFC SSR, 11/15/69; 11/30/69; SBD, 11/14/69, 59)
Oso VI Orbiting Solar Observatory (launched Aug. 9) was adjudged successful by NASA. All spacecraft systems had operated satisfactorily and all primary objectives had been met. Spacecraft had been operating at slightly lower than expected temperatures and elevation motor current was higher than on previous flights. As result, elevation servo jitter was less than 2 arc secs, zero to peak, best achieved on any OSO flight. (NASA Proj Off)
Countdown for Apollo 12 lunar landing mission continued at KSC despite discovery of leak in fuel tank. Officials said launch crews would have ample time to replace tank and check out replacement without delaying liftoff Nov. 14. (O'Toole, W Post, 11/13/69, Al)
Observers on earth would have two opportunities to see Apollo 12 after launch Nov. 14, NASA announced. During first opportunity, 57 min after liftoff, oxygen release from Saturn V 3rd stage (S-IVB ) would be visible on east coasts of North and South America and western Europe and Africa. During second opportunity, about 15 hrs after liftoff, spacecraft would be visible during translunar coast through telescopes in U.S, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, and western Africa. (NASA Release 69-148C)
Dr. Kurt H. Debus, KSC Director, announced resignation of Albert F. Siepert, KSC Deputy Director (Management), effective Dec. 1. He would become Program Associate at Univ. of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and project manager for large-scale organizational research study sponsored by General Motors Corp. Siepert had been executive officer at National Institutes of Health before joining NASA and had received HEW's Distinguished Service Award (1955), Arthur S. Flemming Award (1950), NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1968), and NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1969). (KSC Release 464-69)
Rep. Joseph E. Karth (D-Minn.), Chairman of Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, addressed National Space Club in Washington, D.C.: "During the entire spectrum of our second and third decades in space, manned space flight has not merely been emphasized, but has literally cannibalized any hope for major scientific planetary, interplanetary, communications, meteorological, oceanographic (in cooperation with satellites), earth resources satellite programs, etc.! I must conclude . . . that the only valid justification for early development of the [space] shuttle is to supply the newborn 50-100 crew manned space stations and the manned exploration of Mars." From 1958 to 1969 U.S. had launched approximately 750 spacecraft, Karth said: USAF, 380; NASA, 241; USN, 91; and joint USAF-USN, 37. (Text)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced new FAA regulation establishing maximum noise level for new subsonic transport aircraft at 93-108 effective perceived noise decibels-up to 10 epndbs less than those for noisiest aircraft already in service. Regulation would be effective Dec. 1, but aircraft like Boeing 747 with high-bypass-ratio engines for which application for type certificate was made before Jan. 7, 1967, would be granted additional time to comply. (DOT Release 69-124)
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