Jul 8 1968

From The Space Library

Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Special Consultant to NASA Administra­tor and former NASA Deputy Administrator, had been elected to board of trustees of Aerospace Corp. (Aerospace Release; SBD, 7/8/68, 10)

Approximately 36 Soviet Air Force flights with more than 85 bombers had been identified off northern coasts of North America during first half of 1968, six times scale of operations reported during last half of 1967, according to Charles W. Corddry in Baltimore Sun. Soviet air­craft had cruised over international waters. DOD reportedly considered flights routine. (B Sun, 6/9/68, 1)

In joint communique, Dr. Donald F. Hornig, Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and Alexandru Birlandeanu, member of Romanian Politburo touring U.S. scientific institutions, an­nounced agreement to broaden scientific and technological ties, including exchange of scientists and possible collaboration in atomic energy field. Romania had asked U.S. for technical and financial aid toward construc­tion of its first nuclear power plant by 1973. (Grose, NYT, 7/9/68, 1)

New York Times editorial on June 21 emergency meeting of scientists to protest cuts in Federal support for basic research: ". . deep slashes in basic research funds are likely to be extremely costly in the years ahead. The fundamental lesson of the history of science is that basic research is the indispensable seed bed for all future technology, the ul­timate source of the new wealth and of the improved capacity to save lives that future technology could bring. . . . Those in Congress and the Executive Branch who are now applying the axe to Government spending would be wise to proceed as gently as possible in this small area that is so essential for the nation's future." (NYT, 7/8/68, 36)

NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, Dr. George E. Mueller, addressed joint meeting of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) in Montreal: Systems engineering concept applied to manage­ment "was pioneered and developed in aerospace programs and is being increasingly applied as a powerful tool in the management of other major enterprises." In NASA most extensive application was in Apollo program. Factors unique to manned space flight had contrib­uted to management approach, including "sheer size of Apollo pro­gram, larger in . . . lead time, money, organization and technological development than any previous program." Special feature was high re­liability and safety required. And space program had been executed under scrutiny of press, public, Congress, and scientific community. Weight and volume budgeting were critical. High cost of flight-test­ing space vehicles made maximum ground testing necessary, as well as all-up (concurrent rather than sequential) flight testing. Vehicle was as complete as practicable for each flight, to obtain maximum information from minimum number of flights and provide earliest possible system readiness. Open-ended mission concept was used to accomplish as many flight objectives per vehicle as consistent with safety and mission suc­cess. Review of status throughout mission determined length of mis­sion. Redundant, or alternate, means of operation reduced ability of single failure to endanger crew or mission. Prime design consideration in all manned space flights was safety. (Text; UPI, H Chron, 7/10/68)

NASA board investigating fatal accident at North American Rockwell Corp.'s Downey, Calif., plant Oct. 5, 1967, announced it had found that laboratory employees had ignored important safety procedures. "Most probable cause" of explosion which had killed two workmen and in­jured 11 was "frictional or impact force created while barium-Freon TF slurry was being transferred from a laboratory container to a ship­ping container." Although NAR had issued safety instruction requiring barium-used in NASA sounding rocket experiments-be handled only under dry argon atmosphere, it had been washed and sieved in open air. Board recommended full recognition of chemical hazards of com­bining metals and chemicals such as Freon TF and upgrading of pre­cautions, manuals, and procedures. NAR had altered procedures, would process barium only under remote control. (NASA Release 68-122; AP, NYT, 7/9/68,27)

Inauguration of direct air service between New York and Moscow had been set for "on or after July 15" by letters between U.S. Moscow Em­bassy and U.S.S.R. Foreign Ministry. Soviet airline Aeroflot announced 11-62 jet aircraft service would start from Moscow July 15. U.S. car­rier Pan American World Airways expected to start Boeing 707 service from New York same date. Bilateral air agreement of Nov. 4, 1966, had stipulated once-weekly return flights over 4,700-mi route. May 6, 1968, agreement added intermediate stop at Montreal, Copenhagen, Stockholm, or London. (CAB Docket 6489; State Dept Release 94; AP, NYT, 7/9/68, 65; Ward, B Sun, 7/9/68,1; AP, W Post, 7/9/68, A15)

July 8-9: Two major solar flares were detected within 25-hr interval by U.S. Space Disturbance Forecast Center scientists in Boulder, Colo. First had interfered with short-wave transmissions worldwide, accord­ing to ESSA Chief of Forecast Services, Robert Doeker; second had seemed weaker. Scientists were watching for effect of cloud of electrons spawned by first solar flare, biggest and brightest since 1966. (AP, LA Her-Exam, 7/10/68; AP, NYT, 7/10/68, 17)

Nine astronauts participated in life support training for aircraft pilots at Perrin AFB, Tex. They were second astronaut group to attend USAF course. (NASA Apollo Status Summary, 7/10/68)

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