Sep 30 1970
From The Space Library
NASA successfully launched 134.7-kg (296-lb) RAM C-111 (RAM C-C) spacecraft from Wallops Station at 4.06 pill EDT by four stage Scout booster. Spacecraft reached 209.2-km (130-mi) altitude, reentered atmosphere at 7.6 km per sec (25 000 fps), and splashed down in Atlantic 277.8 km (172.6 m) northeast of Bermuda after eight-minute flight. Primary objective was to determine relative effectiveness of water and freon in restoring communications during reentry blackout period. Preliminary data, obtained by Langmuir probes on board, indicated all downrange telemetry stations received signals before and after blackout and intermittent signals during blackout. RAM C-III, was third and last mission in NASA's RAM (Radio Attenuation Measurement) program to study problems of communicating through plasma sheath around reentering spacecraft. Results could be applied to advanced lifting-body vehicles, Space Shuttle, and other reentering spacecraft. RAM C-I had been launched Oct. 19, 1967, and RAM C-II Aug. 22, 1968. (NASA Proj Off; WS Release 70-13)
Last in series of 15 Saturn V 1st stages (S-IC-I5) was successfully captive-fired for 2 min 15 secs at MTF. Captive testing of S-IC stages had begun at MTF May 16, 1967, to check out and flight-certify stages for manned lunar missions. (MTF Release 70-35)
Flight Crew Health Stabilization program to minimize possible exposure of Apollo flight crews to disease or illness would be introduced before Jan. 31, 1971, Apollo 14 mission, NASA announced. Program provided that crew health be stabilized through epidemiology, clinical medicine, and immunology programs and limitation of outside contacts with flight crews; prime and backup crew members reside solely in KSC crew quarters for 21 days before launch; access to primary training areas used by crew members be controlled; access to areas during crew occupancy be limited; crew activities be limited to primary areas of Manned Space Operations Building and Flight Crew Training Building, flight line at Patrick AFB, Fla., and launch pad white room during 21-day prelaunch period; and crew members use personal vehicles when traveling between primary areas. If crew members were required to go to MSC for training, they would live in crew reception area of LRL or in their own residences, where they would be excluded from contact with everyone but their wives. During 60 days before launch, all illnesses in family members of prime, backup, and support crews and close contacts of these families would be reported to medical officials. (NASA Release 70-159)
ESSA announced it had assumed control of Solar Particle Alert Network (SPAN) from NASA. Network, which originated in 1966 in support of NASA space flight programs, included observatories in Ca nary Islands and Carnarvon, Australia, and at ESSA's Space Disturbance Laboratory in Boulder, Colo. Under ESSA management, principal observatories would have identical optical and radio solar telescopes to provide continuous coverage of sun. Three stations were connected by voice-quality communications links to allow real-time transmission of data and observations, and all stations were equipped to photograph sun in hydrogen (H-alpha) light, Stations could be supplemented by standby observatory at MSC. ESSA also had accepted responsibility for processing, storing, and distributing photographic data and radio data from SPAN observations. (ESSA Release 70-74-238)
Space Business Daily reported DOD had confirmed that U.S.S.R.'s Cosmos CCCLXV (launched Sept. 25) had been FOBS test launched by modified SS-9 booster. (SBD, 9/30/70, 129)
NASA announced selection of Bendix Field Engineering Corp. to receive $85-million, cost-plus-award-fee contract for operation of 10 stations of NASA's Manned Space Flight Network. Contract covered three years with two one-year options. (NASA Release 70-161)
Soviet and West German talks on future cooperation in science and technology would begin in Moscow in November, Hans Leussink, Minister of Science and Education in Bonn, West Germany, said at news conference. (NYT, 10/1/70, 6)
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