Sep 25 1967
From The Space Library
The scientific data required for the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO IV ) primary mission had been obtained, and extended data acquisition with three-axis stabilization was continued. With the exception of two experiments which had ceased operating after several weeks in orbit and an oscillatory perturbation introduced by an experimental antenna, all observatory systems were functioning and operating well. From July 31 to Sept. 17, OGO IV had acquired over 19,000 hours of data on latitude-dependent atmospheric phenomena, energetic particle characteristics, VLF noise and magnetic fields, and incoming solar radiation. Initial reports from experimenters were impressive and underscored the importance of interdisciplinary measurements and global coverage for studies of the near-earth environment. OGO I, II, and III were functioning and had obtained useful data. On Sept. 19, all four OGOs were transmitting data, in over 50 experiments providing high-data-rate measurements at widely separated spatial locations within the magnetosphere. The period of coordinated operation of four OGOs would continue for the next several weeks. (NASA Proj Off)
USAF launched unidentified satellite from WTR on Scout launch vehicle. (Pres Rep 1967)
Plumbing leaks in the first model of LEM had delayed flight testing at Cape Kennedy. Portions of the plumbing system had been sent back to the plant of the main contractor, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp., Bethpage, N.Y. The plumbing leaks had virtually eliminated any chance of launching this year the first model of the craft that would land American astronauts on the moon. (AP, W Post, 9/26/67, A9)
Congressional cuts in the NASA budget had forced an agency-wide hiring freeze, Aerospace Technology reported. No job vacancies might be filled or new positions created unless there were exceptionally mitigating circumstances. JPL expected to lose about 200 engineers during the freeze, but no estimates had been released by NASA field centers. There was no indication of how long the freeze would last. (Aero Tech, 9/25/67,3)
Airport development sparked the economy of five communities in Texas, South Carolina, California, Maryland, and Minnesota, the FAA had reported. "The Airport - Its Influence on the Community Economy," a study report related economic growth to general aviation (lion-airline) airport development at Hereford, Tex.; Sumter, S.C.; Hayward, Calif.; Frederick, Md.; and Fairmont, Minn. Public airports had been developed or improved in each of the communities with Federal assistance under the Federal-Aid Airport Program administered by FAA. (FAA Release 67-70)
USAF Space and Missiles Systems Div. had awarded a contract to Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., for $1.2 million for Agena launch services at Vandenberg AFB Oct. 1,1967, through Sept. 30,1968. (DOD Release 896-67)
September 25-30: International Astronautical Federation 18th Congress was held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Detailing systems engineering activities of U.S. manned space flight program, NASA Saturn Apollo Applications Director Charles W. Mathews said that efforts had encompassed three flight systems-Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo-and included many other aspects, worldwide instrumentation and communications networks, control centers, recovery support elements, and scientific and technical experimental equipment. Thus, systems engineering had had to be all inclusive in providing for logical development of flight hardware, successful conduct of flight operations, and achievement of maximum benefits from each mission. (Text)
T. J. Gordon, L. M. Dicke, and J. S. Nieroski of McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s Douglas Missile & Space Systems Div. (MSSD) presented "Economies of Commercial Space Stations." Space station would pay its own way by taking a share of increased customer profits. According to MSSD representatives, customers would be "those enterprises who, by virtue of their use of the orbital services, can offer new or higher quality profits or services, or lower operating costs for existing products or services." Possible space station uses were described as locating fish, reducing ocean shipping transit time and hazards, locating petroleum and mineral reserves, controlling and routing air traffic, reducing air and water pollution by detecting sources, improving fresh water reserves by surveying sources, and improving agricultural and forest productivity by use of detectors of disease, damage, and other factors. (Haggerty, J/Armed Forces, 11/25/67, 9)
Soviet Academician L. I. Sedov described "Ten Years of Space Exploration in the Soviet Union" and said: "Cosmic systems have become necessary not only for the study of fundamental problems of physics and the Universe, but also for various practical purposes of importance to national economies [and] there is no doubt that cooperation will favourably affect many sides of international life. We hope that this cooperation and its benefits will grow deeper in the future." (Text)
Worldwide cooperation in space was urged by MSFC's former advanced mission planner, Dr. Hermann H. Koelle, now professor of space technology at Technical Univ. of Berlin. To get around tremendous costs and avoid reduction in space activity in all countries, he urged "international organizations to plan and coordinate advanced manned missions in the 1980s." He said space powers should begin by increasing coordination of mission objectives in their national space programs. For a cooperative concept, he called for annual investment of $4 billion and work force of 350,000 persons, with 200,000 persons from U.S., 60,000 from U.S.S.R., 60,000 from Western Europe, and 30,000 from rest of world. (Fink, Av Wk, 10/2/67, 21-2; Van Osten, Aero Tech, 10/9/67, 43-7)
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