Sep 10 1968
From The Space Library
USAF launched unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB by Titan III-B booster into orbit with 200-mi (321.9-km) apogee, 89- mi (143.2-km) perigee, 89.1-min period, and 106° inclination. Satellite reentered Sept. 25. (Pres Rpt 68; GSFC SSR, 9/15/68, 9/30/68)
XB-70A, flown by NASA test pilots Donald L. Mallick and Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr., reached 63,000-ft altitude and mach 2.54 in flight from Edwards AFB. Accomplished successfully were ILAF systems check; exciter vane tests; evaluation of stability, control, and handling qualities; and observation of duct turbulence. (NASA Proj Off)
USAF announced successful completion on Aug. 6 of initial flight phase of C-5A jet transport, after which aircraft had been put into six week planned layup for "configuration update and instrumentation for flutter testing." It had accumulated 23 hr 48 min in flights on June 30; July 13, 20, 25, and 31; and Aug. 1 and 6. During evaluation, C-5A had flown at maximum gross weight of 557,000 lb, logged gross maximum taxi weight of 732,000 lb, and reached 250-knot top speed and 11,000-ft maximum altitude. C-5A Galaxy was designed to operate at long-range cruise speed of 440 knots with basic mission weight of 712,000 lb. (Aero Daily, 9/11/68)
Astronomer Dr. Gerritt L. Verschuur, with aid of National Radio Astronomy Observatory, had measured for first time strength of Milky Way's magnetic field as it existed in far reaches of the galaxy, to help explain theories of star formation, radio wave propagation, and cosmic ray acceleration unprovable previously. (W Post, 9/10/68, A10)
Col. Albert J. Wetzel (USAF, Ret.), Director of Sponsored Programs at Tulane Univ., was sworn in as consultant to NASA Administrator James E. Webb. Former technical assistant to Director of Defense Research and Engineering and former Titan ICBM program director, Col. Wetzel would advise Webb on NASA Project Management System and other technical and personnel management activities. (NASA Release 68-156)
NASA Deep Space Network celebrated 1,000th tracking and data acquisition support pass of Pioneer VI spacecraft, launched Dec. 16, 1965, as first of successful series. Pass was monitored by 210-ft antenna at Goldstone, Calif., where Pioneer Tracking and Data Systems Manager, Dr. N. A. Renzetti, congratulated members of JPL Pioneer Operations Team. (JPL Lab-Oratory, 10/21/68, 2)
NAA selected Sen. Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) to receive its 1968 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for "more than two decades of dynamic leadership in developing national and international policy that has assured United States preeminence in aeronautics throughout the world and has contributed immeasurably to the health and vitality of America's economic structure." Trophy would be presented Dec. 17 at Annual Wright Brothers Memorial Dinner in Washington, D.C. (NAA Release)
George C. Wilson in Washington Post wrote: "No one is willing to predict what form a new Soviet psychological sputnik would take . . . [but] it was a gut feeling among space leaders that the United States will pay the price eventually for cutting back on its space program while the Soviets move right ahead on all fronts with theirs." Even Saturn V rocket "does not look big enough to close the thrust gap. NASA Administrator James E. Webb-one of the most underrated administrators in Washington-warns that the Soviets are about to fly a rocket much bigger. . . ." By-product of big boosters was luxury of weight they allowed comsats. U.S. was using satellites weighing 357 lb at launch and 192 lb in orbit. U.S.S.R. was talking about 1,000-lb comsats for competing international communications system. "The Soviet Union's bigness in boosters and payloads will be an advantage in this contest between the two users of space." (W Post, 9/10,/68, 14)
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