Dec 6 1968

From The Space Library

Aerobee 150 MI sounding rocket launched by NASA from WSMR carried American Science and Engineering, Inc., payload to 92.6-mi (149-km) altitude to collect data on celestial x-ray sources in 1- to 20-key range. Rocket and instruments performed satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)

NASA announced first successful orbital operation of two low-thrust space engines during five separate tests in two-month lifetime of Ats IV spacecraft. Ion, or electrical engines, producing thrust of less than 20 micropounds, had been fired for total 23 hr and performed perfectly. Ion engines for future spacecraft were ideal systems for countering gravitational attraction between spacecraft, moon and sun, and ellipti­cal equatorial section-to keep satellite stationary for conducting com­munications, meteorological, and navigational experiments. They had controllable thrust level and direction, higher fuel efficiency, and longer fuel life than Chemically propelled engines. Reservoir of 1/10 lb cesium could keep synchronous satellite stationary for more than three years. Before test, propulsion experts had expected ion engine firings might create radio frequency interference. Test showed no interference. Two more ion engines were planned for testing aboard ATS-E, scheduled for August 1969 launch. (NASA Release 68-205)

In major organizational changes at Marshall Space Flight Center, Dr. W. R. Lucas, Director of Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Labora­tory, was named Director for Program Development, effective Dec. 16; Dave Newby was named Director of Center Operations; and Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, Director of Space Sciences Laboratory, was named Asso­ciate Director for Science. All were new positions. MSFC Research and Development Operations would become Science and Engineering, with Hermann K. Weidner remaining Director; Industrial Operations would become Program Management under same director, E. F. O'Connor. Dr. Wernher von Braun, MSFC Director, said major function of new Program Development organization would be to "harden" complete package plans for new programs, such as space station. Director for Program Development would "help chart the course for this Center in the post-Apollo period, keeping in mind our Apollo program require­ments and AAP obligations." (MSFC Release 68-276; Marshall Star, 12/11/68, 1)

Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., received Kitty Hawk Memo­rial Trophy for distinguished achievement in aeronautics at annual Wright Brothers memorial banquet in Beverly Hills, Calif. Banquet commemorated 65th anniversary of flight of Kitty Hawk. (UPI, W Star, 12/7/68, A2)

ComSatCorp filed application for authority to construct earth station for satellite communications in Alaska, 90 mi north of Anchorage near Talkeetna Village. (ComSatCorp Release 68-68)

In Washington Post, Thomas O'Toole said Howard R. Hughes organiza­tion's holding company, Hughes Nevada Operations, had requested public disclosure of alleged DOD study by Harvard Univ.'s Dr. George Kistiakowsky and MIT's Dr. Jerome Wiesner and James Killian. Com­pany claimed Special Report on Underground Testing concluded there was no reason for continued underground atomic tests. Dm spokesman denied existence of study, while Science Adviser to President Johnson, Dr. Donald F. Hornig, said only that he had met with top physicists in November to discuss safety of underground testing. "We may make a public report on it. The subject seems to be of enough importance to warrant a public airing." (W Post, 12/6/68, 87)

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• 1969