Oct 3 1969
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
Ogo VI Orbiting Geophysical Observatory, launched into low-altitude polar orbit June 5, was adjudged successful by NASA. Spacecraft had completed first diurnal cycle and had provided data on global characteristics of neutral atmosphere; association of electric fields with ionospheric irregularities; airglow emissions associated with oxygen, sodium, and molecular nitrogen; and propagation of proton whistlers. Performance of Ogo VI subsystems had been excellent and instrumentation for 23 of 25 experiments was operational. Active three-axis stabilization had been maintained since initial acquisition and gas usage was consistent with one-year operation. To extend attitude-stabilized lifetime beyond one year, operations plan had been modified to include manual control of gas jet firing. (NASA Proj Off)
MSC announced appointment of Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper as Assistant for Space Shuttle Program in MSC's Flight Crew Operations Directorate. Cooper would be responsible for flight crew training program, astronaut inputs into design and engineering, and directorate's part in hardware development and testing for Space Shuttle. He would remain on flight status and eligible for space flight. (MSC Release 69/67)
MSFC announced that it had issued $10,751,000 contract to General Electric Co.'s Apollo Systems Div. for electrical support equipment for Apollo Telescope Mount and launch systems for Saturn V Workshop multiple docking adapter and airlock. Work was to be completed June 30, 1975. MSFC had also issued six-month $56,727 contract to Bionic Instruments, Inc." to develop lunar roving vehicle hazard locator. Locator, which would be installed on lunar rover or dual-model vehicle, would use laser beam to spot rocks, holes, and other, obstacles on lunar surface and display on screen warning of obstacles hidden from astronauts, view. (MSFC Releases 69-223, 69-224)
Spain awarded its Grand Cross of Aeronautic Merit to Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins. (UPI, NYT, 10/4/69, 23)
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