Apr 9 1968

From The Space Library

U.S.S.R. successfully launched Cosmos CCXI. Orbital parame­ters: apogee, 1,545 km (960 mi) ; perigee, 199 km (123.6 mi) ; period, 102.1 min; and inclination, 81°. Satellite reentered Nov. 10. (SBD, 4/10/68, 266; GSFC SSR, 4/15/68; 11/15/68)

NASA launched two Javelin sounding rockets from NASA Wallops Station. One carried GSFC payload to 497-mi (800-km) altitude to observe he­lium ionization levels in exosphere with vacuum-ion chamber and to observe helium and oxygen-ion resonance dayglow with filtered pho­tometer. Rocket and instrumentation performance was satisfactory. Te­lemetry signal was received for 16 min 40 sec. Second rocket carried Syracuse University Research Corp. vacuum-ion chamber to observe helium ionization levels in exosphere and Univ. of Southern California filtered photometer to observe helium- and oxygen-ion resonance day-glow to 497-mi (800-km) altitude. Rocket and instruments performed satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)

FAA awarded $3.8-million contract to IBM's Federal Systems Div. to modernize air traffic control at 100 U.S. facilities by installing printers and keyboards for faster coordination and reduction of controllers' oral and manual workload. Delivery of equipment, to begin April 15, would be coordinated with delivery of other automation components for National Airspace System. (FAA Release 68-24)

April 9-10: Electronic signals on medical condition of USMC volunteer pa­tient in Tokyo were transmitted between Tokyo, Houston, and Wash­ington, D.C., via satellite and ground equipment to show how world­wide diagnosis of complex medical problems could be achieved by ad­vanced communications. Intelsat-II F-2 (Pacific I) comsat and AT&T landline facilities were used in demonstration for 1968 National Telem­etry Conference of IEEE in Houston. Signals were relayed from Brew­ster Flat, Wash., earth station to Conference and to computer centers at U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C., and Univ. of Texas. Demonstration was directed by ITT World Communications, Inc., with cooperation of ComSatCorp and Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd., Japan. (ComSatCorp Release 68-17; AP, W Star, 4/10/68, A18; UPI, W Post, 4/12/68, A15)

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