Oct 6 1967
From The Space Library
NASA announced that Ogo IV Orbiting Geophysical Observatory, launched from WTR July 28, had passed its primary test objective of collecting scientific data while remaining stable in all three axes for more than 50 days and was continuing to radio data from 18 of its 20 experiments. Unexpected oscillation in 60-ft-long experiment boom, apparently caused by heat from the sun, had been controlled by manually operating satellite's control system and thus expending less control-jet fuel than with automatic control. (NASA Release 67-252)
Senate, in approving (60-5) NASA FY 1968 appropriations bill (H.R. 12474) of $4.7 billion, accepted figures of Senate Committee on Appropriations. Measure would go to conference to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions. NASA FY 1968 funding in three categories tallied : R&D Senate appropriation of $3.955 billion was increase of $96.0 million over House appropriation, decrease of $152.1 million from authorization, and decrease of $356.5 million from budget. Construction of Facilities Senate appropriation of $55.4 million was increase of $19.5 million over House appropriation, decrease of $14.6 million from authorization, and decrease of $21.3 million from budget. Administrative Operations Senate appropriation of $628.0 million was decrease of $20.0 million from House appropriation, decrease of $20.2 million from authorization, and decrease of $43.3 million from budget. Sen. John C. Stennis (D-Miss.), Chairman, Senate Committee on Armed Services' Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee, said : "Ten years ago we did not have the knowledge or the equipment to meet the Russian challenge. . . . But today. . . we are at the crossroads of decision as to what our space program is going to be in 1970 and beyond. . . ." Sen. Margaret C. Smith (R-Me.) , ranking minority member, Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, stated that President's signing of FY 1968 authorization bill "clearly signaled a new policy of relegating the space program to a secondary position." (Testimony; CR, 10/6/67, $2436742)
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's decision to go ahead with "thin" Nike-X antiballistic missile (ABM) system was criticized by Sen. Gale W. McGee (D-Wyo.), member of Senate Appropriations Committee, on floor of Senate: ". . . there is a touch of tragedy involved. It lies in the fact that such a system, designed to guard us against possible attack by the unstable Chinese nation, can be effective in neutralizing the danger of nuclear holocaust but not the danger of continued guerrilla warfare as practiced by Mao-Tse-tung and his followers." (CRY 10/6/67, 594359)
Vexing problem of the direction and period of Venus' rotation had acquired a new dimension in recent ultraviolet photographs, according to an article in Science by Bradford A. Smith of the New Mexico State Univ. Observatory. Smith recounted the history of 60 yrs of visual and spectroscopic observation of Venus that produced inconclusive evidence. Radar observation begun in 1961 by 1967 had produced what was considered firm evidence that the solid globe of Venus in 244 days rotated once in a direction retrograde to that of its planetary neighbors earth and Mars. Recent ultraviolet photos taken at the New Mexico State Univ. Observatory with a new 61-cm reflector indicated that ultraviolet clouds of the Venusian atmosphere rotated retrograde in five days. This large discrepancy between movement of the globe and atmosphere of Venus could be explained only by the existence in the Venusian atmosphere of a persistent and widespread planetary wind system blowing at more than 180 mph, Smith said. Although earth`s jet stream reached such speeds, it was narrow and zonal, in contrast to the massive system that would have to exist on Venus if these observations were correct. (Science, 10/6/67, 114-6)
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