Sep 20 1967
From The Space Library
In informal remarks at Kennedy Space Center, NASA Administrator James E. Webb predicted that congressional cuts in the space budget would slow up the launch rate and lead to the phasing out of Apollo equipment after man landed on the moon. Webb said that only nine of the 15 Saturn V launch vehicles could be launched before 1970, instead of 13 planned launchings. "I don't think there's any doubt that to absorb this cut for $500 million, after already having absorbed a $600 million cut back in 1964, means that we will have to slow up the launch rate," he stated. The cut had also knocked out any new planetary missions before 1975. Space budget cuts would likely mean the elimination of the Saturn I-B from the middle-term space program, Webb explained in a brief press conference. NASA was committed to the purchase of 16 Saturn I-B launch vehicles. Three had been flown; the next one would propel the first manned Apollo into earth orbit in mid-1968. NASA planned to switch manned flights to the three-stage Saturn V as soon as possible. The first Saturn V flight, an unmanned test, was scheduled f m Oct. 19. The Saturn I-B had been planned for continued use on flights not requiring the huge power of the Saturn V, but Webb said that emphasis instead would switch to the Air Force's Titan IIIM launch vehicle, being developed for the military Manned Orbiting Laboratory. Webb listed several future checkpoints: (1) fewer orders for new Apollo spacecraft equipment after the moon landing, in such programs as Apollo Applications; (2) definition of the next system after Apollo, which could be a 100,000-lb space station, or something bigger, launched with Saturn V, or a new launch vehicle; (3) development of new and better concepts since planetary missions have been knocked out until 1975; and (4) massive reorganizational changes a possibility for NASA. Webb and West Germany Minister for Scientific Research Dr. Gerhard Stoltenberg, at the press conference, stated jointly: five West German scientists would participate in studying Apollo program results, and two research satellites and a solar probe would be launched in West German-U.S. cooperative program. Stoltenberg also said that West German industry would be main contractor for an ESRO satellite for 1969 launching, the "first German satellite." Webb said Associate Administrator Dr. Homer E. Newell had been asked to examine question "How do we . . . decide whether a mission should use man or not use man?" (Text, UPI, W Star, 9/21/67; Hill, H Chron, 9/22/67)
NASA Arcas sounding rocket, launched from Barking Sands, Hawaii, to 33-mi (53-km) altitude, third in NOTS series to measure incident solar ultraviolet irradiance in support of OGO IV's mission, achieved excellent results. Rocket and payload performed properly. (NASA Rpt SRL)
U.S. public and communications users would be deprived of "early attainable `benefits" if ComSatCorp's proposed pilot program for domestic satellite services were delayed, ComSatCorp stated. "In the end, a pilot scale demonstration is essential, and nothing is gained by postponing for over a year the planning and building of the demonstration model," James McCormack, ComSatCorp's chairman said. Comments had been filed before the FCC in the pending domestic satellite case, in reply to the Ford Foundation, which had asked FCC on Sept. 18 to withhold approval of ComSatCorp's pilot program. ComSatCorp argued that valuable experience could be gained by implementation of the pilot program, that this would supplement, not hinder, the work of the Task Force appointed recently by President Johnson to develop national telecommunications policy. Mr. McCormack had said the pilot program would provide vital experience for voice, broadcast, data, and the press in the economical utilization of high-capacity satellite and earth station facilities. (ComSatCorp Release 67-47)
ComSatCorp announced the selection of Vanguard Construction Corporation, NYC, as contractor for general construction work ($864,990) on the new earth station near Cayey, about 30 miles south of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The earth station would serve the Atlantic area, including communications between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and would be capable of sending and receiving all forms of international communications via commercial satellites-television, telephone, telegraph, and data. The station would be in operation in the fall of 1968. (ComSatCorp Release 67-44)
New rules designed to improve substantially the passengers' chances for surviving airplane crashes were announced by the FAA. For the first time, airplane manufacturers would have to demonstrate a 90-sec emergency evacuation (instead of present two-minute evacuation) using a full and representative passenger load before they would be issued type certificates. The new rules ("Crashworthiness and Passenger Evacuation Standards for Transport Category Airplanes") would require extensive safety improvements in both airline equipment now in service and in designs of new planes not yet type-certificated. In general, the new rules would take effect October 24, 1967. Aircraft now in service or already type certificated would have to meet most of the retrofit changes required under the new rules by October 1, 1969. (FAA Release 67-67)
The Soviet Union had urged the U.N, Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to take action on the Soviet draft treaty on rescuing cosmonauts in emergencies, reported Space Business Daily. The Soviets had expressed regret that the Legal Subcommittee had not completed action on the proposal. Soviet representative P. D. Morozov said the Soviets would not object to amendments. He praised the recent U.N. space treaty as "a great achievement of the progressive forces on the road of using outer space in the interests of mankind. It is a serious step forward in the development of cooperation and mutual understanding between states and peoples." Morozov also noted that the April meeting of "experts of the socialist countries outlined new steps for broader Cooperation in space meteorology, biology and medicine," as well as communications. (SBD, 9/20/67,100)
Japanese defense specialists had expected the first Red Chinese test of an intercontinental missile by the end of this year, reported Washington Star. Before they would test a full-scale missile, Chinese would test-fire the first stage of missile. This could come at any time. However, Prof. Tetsushi Okamoto of Tokyo Institute of Technology believed that Peking regime would first launch a satellite, probably on Oct. 1. Fear of China's progress toward a system that could deliver a nuclear bomb lay behind Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's Sept. 18 announcement that US. would begin production of a limited antiballistic missile system designed to guard against a Chinese attack. China's ICBM was expected to be fired from a site at Shwangchengtse, north of Chiuchuan in Lanchow, central China. (Axelbank, W Star, 9/20/67)
France and Quebec would launch a joint communications satellite for relaying French television programs to Canada, UPI reported. The satellite would permit programs to be relayed without depending on existing American Early Bird satellites, informed sources said. (UPI, C Trib, 9/2 1/67)
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