Apr 25 1968

From The Space Library

U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCXVIII into orbit with 209.2-km (130-mi) apogee, 143.2-km (89-mi) perigee, and 50° inclination. Period was not disclosed Satellite reentered same day. Simultaneously, U.S.S.R. disclosed April 24 launch of Cosmos CCXVII. There was widespread speculation that U.S.S.R. would soon attempt new space spectacular. Evert Clark had suggested in New York Times that U.S.S.R. was secretly testing "a maneuverable rocket stage that could be used to guide bombs down from orbit or to send instruments to the moon." AP said Soviet failure to reveal period of Cosmos CCXVIII suggested spacecraft might have reentered before completing one orbit to test fractional orbital bomb system (FOBS) described by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara Nov. 3, 1967. (Clark, NYT, 4/3/68, 1; AP, B Sun, 4/26/68, 2; GSFC SSR, 4/30/68)

NASA Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket launched from Churchill Re­search Range carried TRW, Inc., experiment to measure: total flux en­ergy, including spectrum of precipitated energetic H atoms; spectrum of precipitated energetic protons and electrons, fluctuating and DC electron fields; H light-intensity altitude profile; and location and in­tensity of ionospheric current systems. Rocket and instrumentation per­formance was satisfactory. (NASA Rpt SRL)

In statement to Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Milton Klein, Manager of NASA-AEC Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, summarized progress of nuclear rocket program. Major milestone has been achieved with "operation in late 1967 of a single reactor for 60 minutes at its design power of 1,100 megawatts, a duration capability adequate for most missions." Technology phase of NERVA program was nearing completion and next step was to develop engine to flight capa­bility, funds for which were included in FY 1969 budget request, he said. No action deferring this step could be taken without losing a major portion of capability in this field. Nuclear rocket was "a focal point for pushing forward frontiers of technology . . . [and] only major advanced propulsion program in the Nation." High performance of nuclear rockets had been demonstrated in nine consecutive power reactor tests. Solid base of data and underrating had been built for development of flight-rated NERVA engine. "Development of the NERVA engine at this time," Klein stressed, "would capitalize on this investment and provide a major fundamental advance in propul­sion capability. Its high specific impulse will provide a broad mission versatility for the high-payload, high-energy missions . . . inevitably included in a viable space program." (Testimony)

Dr. Norris E. Bradbury, Director of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, testified at Rover Program Hearing of Senate Committee on Aeronauti­cal and Space Sciences that, since project's basic reactor performance goals had been demonstrated along with basic elements of complete engine system, major emphasis of Rover Program should shift to devel­opment of overall flight engine. LASL would continue to support NERVA program chiefly in development and evaluation of improved fuel ele­ments and other reactor core components. "Deep space has always been known to be the true domain of nuclear energy for both power and propulsion; it is my belief that the atom will be the work horse of near space as well." (Text)

Addressing Women's National Democratic Club in Washington, D.C., Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director of Marshall Space Flight Center, said: ". . . we must not seriously impair or hamper our progress in space because we cannot foresee immediate payoffs to offset the invest­ment we are making." He urged that U.S. "come to grasp the unlimited opportunities and the promise of space exploration." (Text; SBD, 4/26/68, 321; W Post, 4/26/68, C3)

ESRO announced cancellation of TD-1 and TD-2 solar astronomy satel­lites, which were to have been built under $20-million contract by an international consortium and launched from U.S. by Thor-Delta rock­ets. Italy had refused to pay its share of costs, feeling its share of work too slight to justify contribution, John L. Hess later reported in New York Times, Earlier U.K. had refused to contribute to proposed budget expansion of ELDO, partner with ESRO in plans for European satellite communications system [see April 161. (Reuters, NYT, 4/26/68, 16; Hess, NYT, 4/28/68, 24)

FAA announced allocations of $74.7 million for construction and im­provement of 397 public civil airports under Federal-Aid Airport Pro­gram (FAAP) for FY 1969. Program, developed from record 773 re­quests for aid by public agencies, provided $67.7 million to improve 356 existing airports and $7 million to construct 41 new public air­ports. (FAA Release 68-28)

FAA awarded $57,345 to McDonnell Douglas Corp., $52,663 to Western Co., and $28,000 to Bureau of Mines for additional research on use of thickened safety fuels to reduce chances and severity of post-crash fires in survivable aircraft accidents. (FAA Release T 68-15)

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