Sep 27 1967
From The Space Library
President Johnson proclaimed Oct. 9 Leif Erikson Day to give national recognition to Leif Erikson today, when men of similar courage and imagination are confronting equally formidable challenges in the heavens and under the seas." (PD, 10/2/67, 1350)
Development of an advanced direct sensing system for the Nimbus-D Meteorological Satellite, scheduled for launching in 1970, was subject of NASA contract awarded to Radiation Inc., Melbourne, Fla. Interrogation Recording and Location System (IRLS) would involve development of a satellite-borne device and remote platform electronics to obtain measurements of atmospheric and other data from fixed and free floating sensory platforms, including balloons and buoys. Work would be performed under the direction of GSFC. (NASA Release 67-247)
NASA appointed an interim working group composed of Dr. Alfred J. Eggers, Dr. Floyd L. Thompson, and Gen. Jacob E. Smart (USAF, Ret.) to review NASA safety procedures and prepare a plan under which the Administrator could establish an Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. Gen. Mark Bradley (USAF, Ret.), Garrett Corp., would serve as a consultant to the chairman, Dr. Eggers. The action would implement Section 6 of Public Law 90-67 (the NASA Authorization Act for FY 68). Eggers was Special Assistant to the Administrator and Deputy Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology. Thompson, Director of NASA's Langley Research Center, served as chairman of the Apollo 204 Accident Review Board. Gen. Smart was NASA's Assistant Administrator for Policy. (NASA Release 67-249)
Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, Germantown, Md., had extended its contract with Aerojet-General Corp. for development of nuclear propulsion. Aerojet, which had been the prime contractor since 1961 on the NERVA project, would receive an estimated $14.7 million on the interim contract for work to be performed through Nov. 30. The Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, a joint operation of AEC and NASA, would receive $6.8 million of the funds on the contract extension from NASA, the balance from AEC. (NASA Release 67-250)
Rep. Theodore R. Kupferman (R-N.Y.), speaking on the House floor, expressed concern about the "noise pollution problem [see Feb. 1]. He quoted from a speech which he had presented on Sept. 12 to a luncheon meeting of the US. Chamber of Commerce, held in Washington, D.C.: "It is possible to have noise control and industrial development without penalty to each other. . . . The idea that noise is a necessary price of industrial and economic progress is as antiquated as is the belief that contaminated waters and a polluted atmosphere must also accompany civilization's material advances. . . . Noise pollution, however, unlike water and air pollution, is only now beginning to receive a proper share of public attention." (CR, 9/27/67, H12606-13)
Dr. Edward U. Condon, Director, University of Colorado's study of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOS) , said that "such studies ought to be discontinued unless someone comes up with a new idea on how to approach the problem." Condon said "it's been extremely difficult to gather information on this subject" and asked anyone with any "hard information to speak now---or forever hold your peace." He stated: "We have approached the problem in an unprejudiced way, seeking to find whatever there is to find by objective scientific means with no scientific results so far. Some of the difficulties associated with belief in visitors from outer space are well set forth in an article by Prof. William Markowitz in Science for Sept. 15 and should be studied by all who wish to be informed on the subject," he added. (Harkins, Boulder Camera, 9/27/67; AP, LA Times, 9/28/67)
September 27 - October 2: NASA launched for ComSatCorp the fourth of INTELSAT II series of commercial communications satellites (Intelsat II-D) -designated Pacific II-and second of them in the Pacific. Launch was from ETR by Thrust-Augmented Delta (DSV-3E) launch vehicle. Satellite went into transfer orbit over Pacific at approximately 176° east with 29,056-mi (37,105-km) apogee, 186-mi (299-km) perigee, 658.8-min period, and 26.4° inclination. Satellite would supplement services of and replace current Pacific satellite, Intelsat II-B (174°E), in event of its failure. NASA support nominally would terminate after about three days, subsequent to providing backup transfer orbit data and calculations. Final orbit and spin axis orientation would be made by ComSatCorp with onboard hydrogen peroxide system. Approximately 15 days after launch, satellite would be available for commercial use. Satellites could handle TV data transmissions, or up to 240 voice channels (480 circuits) between "first class" ground stations such as Andover. Part of satellite capacity would support NCS/NASCOM for Apollo program. It would serve as backup against interruption of satellite communications service and would add communications capability across the Pacific. On Sept. 30, apogee motor was ignited at 7:45 pm EDT, on command from ComSatCorp-operated earth station at Paumalu, Hawaii, and kicked new satellite from its elliptical transfer orbit into a planned, near-synchronous orbit over Pacific. Reorientation and velocity correction maneuvers were carried out Oct. 1 and 2 to place spin axis in orbit plane and to improve circularity with predicted orbit (resulting from these maneuvers) of apogee, 22,531 mi (36,260 km) , perigee, 21,805 mi (35,091 km), period, 1,430.5 min. drift rate, 1° east per day. As Intelsat II-D approached Intelsat II-B, launched Jan. 11, now located between 174° and 175°, drift rate would be reduced and intersatellite interference tests would be conducted to determine minimum angular separation which could be employed without mutual interference (NASA cooperating with ComSatCorp in planning tests) . The INTELSAT satellite system, in addition to this new Pacific II satellite, included the Pacific I satellite and two satellites serving the Atlantic area, EARLY BIRD 1, launched Apr. 6, 1965, and Atlantic II , launched Mar. 22, 1967. (NASA Proj Off; ComSatCorp Releases 67-45 and 67-48)
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