Mar 3 1967
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (2MB PDF)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CXLV into orbit with 2,135-km (1,327-mi) apogee, 220-km (137-mi) perigee, 108.6-min period, and 48.4ø inclination. Equipment was functioning normally. (Tech Wk, 3/20/67, 13)
NASA would delay scheduled 1967 launch of second Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) until late 1968 to incorporate changes made necessary after failure of OAO I, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell said in testimony before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications. Third OAO would be launched in 1969 and fourth in 1970 to continue studies in ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma-ray spectral regions. Dr. Newell explained that "the intensive investigations by NASA of OAO-I program development, test, and operations history have resulted in design and program modifications directed toward increasing the reliability and the operating efficiency of the OAO system in order to insure the success of the second OAO missions. . . . Although the remaining three approved missions have been delayed . . . the scientific goals of these missions will be accomplished . . . [and OAO] will continue to be the backbone of the NASA space astronomy program. . . .' (Testimony)
Successful 15-sec captive firing of ground test version of Saturn V 1st stage (S-IC) was conducted at MTF by Boeing Co., prime contractor, to prove operational readiness of new S-IC test stand and support facilities and of the Boeing test team. Stage was powered by five Rocketdyne F-1 kerosene-and liquid-oxygen-fueled engines capable of developing 7.5 million lbs thrust. (Marshall Star, 3/8/67,1)
Lockheed Aircraft corp. was evaluating under a $65,000 NASA contract the usefulness of slush hydrogen for three proposed long-distance vehicles: Uprated Saturn I 2nd stage (S-IVB) as a lunar logistics vehicle to land payloads or manned modules on lunar surface; cryogenic Service Module for manned Apollo flights; and "space tanker" to be filled with hydrogen and used for in flight orbit refueling by other space vehicles. (Lockheed Release M3367-11)
Rep. Chet Holifield (D-Calif.) challenged President Johnson's budget priorities and attacked Administration plans to develop a nuclear rocket system for interplanetary space exploration. He told newsmen that it would be a much greater tragedy to limit school aid than to have a Russian cosmonaut welcome US. astronauts to Mars. ". . . We can't be like the Roman Empire. They gave their people circuses when they needed bread. And that empire disappeared." (UPI, W Post, 3/4/67, A2)
Washington Evening Star writer William Hines criticized Apollo 204 Review Board's failure to consult Walter C. Williams, operating head of Project Mercury from 1958-63, in investigation of Jan. 27 flash fire. NASA has no ready answer . . . to questions about why Williams' name was omitted from the consultant panel. His standing in the space business is such that it could hardly have been due to chance oversight." Hines said Williams had left NASA in April 1964, reportedly after "disagreement with superiors over management policies. His relations with headquarters officials had been strained for six months prior to his departure, ever since a final report on Project Mercury was issued . . . [in which] Williams castigated industrial contractors, saying they had given poor attention to quality control on hardware for manned missions. . . ." (Hines, W Star, 3/8/67, A5)
AFSC was conducting five-month study of ways to convert excess Minuteman I ICBM's to launch vehicles, thereby saving millions of dollars. Results of study, to be completed by May, would determine feasibility of flight-test program in which two converted Minuteman boosters would launch instrumented payloads into circular orbits from ETR. Preliminary studies had already shown that converted Minuteman booster could place large payloads into 575-mi circular orbit, or smaller payloads into an elliptical orbit 172 mi by 57,500 mi. (AFSC Release 20-67)
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