Oct 4 1967
From The Space Library
10th anniversary of the space age, inaugurated with the launching of first man-made satellite, U.S.S.R.'s 184-lb Sputnik I. During first decade of space age 803 spacecraft were successfully orbited: US. orbited 529; U.S.S.R., 269; France, 4; and Italy, 1. US. total included 14 manned orbital space flights with 677 orbits and 1,993.4 man hours; U.S.S.R. had 9 flights with 310 orbits and 532.5 man hours. Of 45 worldwide flights related to the moon, 20 were successful including 5 soft-landing-providing high-quality photos and on-site analyses of lunar surface. Some 24 planetary flights provided close-up photos of Mars and atmospheric data on Mars and Venus. Some 17 bioscience payloads, including mice, dogs, mold spores, plants, insects, a chimpanzee, and an anthropomorphic dummy, were successfully launched and recovered, providing data on effects of space flight on living systems. Space applications satellites totaled 292; advanced technology satellites, 26; and military support and observation satellites, 158. (EH; Sheldon, "Review of the Soviet Space Program," Report of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics)
To commemorate first decade of space age, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior S. Fred Singer, first Director of US. Weather Satellite program, wrote in the Washington Post under dateline, "Oct. 4,2007": "It is now a half century since the first man-made satellite went into orbit around the earth, and an opportune time to examine how space technology and exploration have contributed to the economic development of the United States and to human welfare generally. The effects have been subtle none of the early spectacular predictions have come to pass: the planets have been explored but not colonized; rockets have become more powerful but rocket transportation has not replaced aircraft and ramjet vehicles." He cited three major technological changes as a result of space program: increased reliance on electronic computer and data processor; a managerial revolution which created highly trained technologist-managers; and increased understanding of natural environment. (Singer, W Post, 10/1/67, F1)
U.S.S.R.'s Academician Dr. Anatoli A. Blagonravov, chairman of Soviet [Commission for Exploration and Use of Outer Space, reviewed first decade in space in AP article: "The Space Era is not a chance phenomenon in the development of natural sciences. It is a legitimate and indispensable stage in the history of development of human society." (Blagonravov, AP, W Star, 10/1/67, C3)
NASA test pilot William H. Dana flew X-15 No. 3 to 250,000-ft altitude and 3,886 mph (mach 5.35) at Edwards AFB. Purpose of test flight was to check : ultraviolet exhaust plume; solar spectrum measurement; micrometeoroid collection; air density; x-ray air density; ARC boost guidance; and tip-pod camera. (NASA Proj Off)
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's decision to go ahead with "thin" Nike-X antiballistic missile (ABM) system was criticized by Rep. W. J. Bryan Dorn (D.S.C.) on floor of House: ". . . the best defense is an offense. Command of the skies, space, and the seas is the way to keep war and destruction from the shores of our homeland." He recommended use of "sea-based anti-ballistic missile intercept system." (CR, 10/4/67, A4923)
MSFC used AEDC facilities to investigate preparation of spent rocket stage for human occupancy in space by dumping. 840 gal of super-cold liquid nitrogen through "dead" or inactive J-2 rocket engine. Simulating 100,000-ft altitude, dumping experiment would pave way for astronauts to move inside orbiting stage and use tanks as living quarters for space station. (MSFC Release 67-203)
Static launch from motionless rocket sled of F-111 aircraft's crew escape module at Air Force Missile Development Center (AFMDC) was successful. Under severe conditions pilot might encounter in emergency before takeoff, module would allow crew to escape. (Av Wk, 10/16/67, 19)
For the Saturn V program NASA purchased nine S-IVB stages from McDonnell Douglas Corp. for $146.5 million, fulfilling requirements for currently approved 15 Saturn V and 12 Uprated Saturn I launch vehicles. Delivery would begin in April 1968 and end in May 1970. Purchase brought total S-IVB contract for both vehicles to $957,182,093. McDonnell Douglas also received a $24-million, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract extension for S-IVB launch services at KSC, which increased total value of contract to $34 million. Included were stage receipt, checkout, launch, and launch evaluation. (NASA Releases 67-258, 67-259)
U.N. Secretary General U Thant stated that "the very important treaty governing the activities of states in outer space, on the moon and other celestial bodies, forged in the conference room of the United Nations, has reaffirmed the principle first stated in the General Assembly that outer space is the province of all mankind." [Space law treaty signed Jan. 27 would go into effect Oct. 10.] (NYT, 10/5/67)
NASC Executive Secretary Dr. Edward C. Welsh was interviewed by Christian Science Monitor's Neal Sanford. Comparing American and Soviet space budgets, he expressed belief that U.S.S.R. was spending more than twice the US. percentage of gross national product on space. "Their [GNP] is less than half of ours. While they are spending about the same amount of money that we are on space it is about twice the percentage of GNP. They are putting a greater priority on space than we are." Soviet space program for 1967 had been "the most active in . . . [their] history, so far as launches go,,' he said. "I don't know if they are cutting [their budget] back. They are going along at a good rate . . . [and] from the progress they are making, we assume they are going along at about the same funding." (Sanford, CSM, 10/4/67, 5)
News on failures of Soviet manned space flights was "at least in part, `managed' by Washington," Julius Epstein, research associate at Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace, wrote in Los Angeles Times: "According to reliable information, the CIA submitted a confidential document to the White House early this year reporting the deaths of at least 11 cosmonauts in addition to that of Komarov. The Washington decision not to disclose information on . . . failures was made during the last days of the Eisenhower Administration, presumably to protect intelligence sources." This decision, he said, was recorded in DOD-NASA agreement, Jan. 13,1961. Mr. Epstein asked that the US. give an honest accounting of what it knew about Soviet space losses, so that U.S. losses could be assessed with proper perspective. (Epstein, LA Times, 10/4/67)
FCC's concern for future communications facilities in Atlantic basin area was expressed in letters to ComSatCorp, AT&T , and international telegraph carriers. Data were requested on the various requirements, to permit evaluation of proposals for launching Intelsat IV in 1970 time frame and laying TAT V cable between US. and Spain about same time. Response and exchange of comments were requested by end of October. (Text)
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
