Feb 28 1968

From The Space Library

NASA Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket launched from Churchill Research Range carried Univ. of Alaska experiment to 183- mi (295-km) altitude to obtain data on horizontal and vertical spatial variation of auroral light emission and relationship between their in­tensities and volume emission rates. Rocket and instruments performed satisfactorily. Experiment was successful. (NASA Rpt Sm.)

NASA Aerobee 150 MI sounding rocket launched from WSMR carried Cor­nell Univ. experiment to 106-mi (170.6-km) altitude to study far in­frared in spectral range from five to several hundred microns, using mercury-,,copper- and gallium-doped germanium and antimonide detectors. Nikon F camera monitored instantaneous rocket aspect. Rocket and instrumentation performance was satisfactory. (NASA Rpt SRL)

XB-70 research aircraft flown by NASA test pilot Fitzhugh L Fulton, Jr., and L/C Emil Sturmthal (USAF), reached mach 0.50 and 18,500-ft alti­tude. Primary objectives were not accomplished because main landing gear valve malfunctioned; low speed stability data were obtained dur­ing 1-hr 51-min flight. (NASA Proj Off)

Second anniversary of Essa II, first spacecraft in Tiros Operational Sat­ellite (TOS) system and first to carry Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) equipment for cloud-cover photos. Satellite was still operating satisfactorily. (GSFC Historian)

Press conference on preliminary scientific results from NASA'S Surveyor VII, which landed on moon Jan. 9, revealed spacecraft could make safe landing in highland area with "major ejecta blanket" (rim of debris ejected from center of crater). Data indicated Tycho region of moon's surface contained larger rocks, fewer craters, and thinner debris layer than did maria. Fine particles and rocks near Tycho crater had higher albedo, or lighter color. Iron content was lower, accounting for lower density. In Tycho region, where iron group of elements was less con­centrated, reflection of light from moon's surface was greater than from area where iron group elements existed in greater concentration. Low iron content was "probably strongest direct evidence" that moon had undergone chemical fractionation, suggesting it "has been hot, has been melted at least partially, and has been differentiated into different types of rock." (Transcript; Sehlstedt, B Sun, 2/29/68, A8; W News, 3/21/68)

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