Jul 31 1968
From The Space Library
NASA issued Apollo Status Summary: Apollo 7 prime crew, Astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham, successfully completed nine-hour test in spacecraft in KSC altitude chamber July 26 at 226,000-ft simulated altitude, with cabin pressurized first with 60% oxygen and 40% nitrogen, then with 100% oxygen at 5 psi, normal orbital atmosphere. Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, John W. Young, and Eugene A. Cernan had completed successful manned altitude test in KSC chamber July 29 with cabin pressurized with 60/40 mixture at start and oxygen to replenish atmosphere during test. Saturn lB launch vehicle stages were mated at Complex 34 with sequence malfunction tests scheduled for Aug. 1. Propellant utilization system modifications had been completed on 2nd stage. In Apollo/Saturn 503 program, Lunar Module 3 ascent and descent stages were being modified to correct radar lock-on problem in rendezvous radar subsystem. Saturn V launch vehicle 1st and 2nd stages were mated, with pogo suppressor modification kits on 1st stage being verified. Third-stage propulsion subsystem checks were in progress. In South Atlantic Anomaly Probe, computer analysis had confirmed radiation levels presented no hazard to low-altitude manned Apollo orbital flights. (Text)
Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Station carried Univ. of Maryland and Johns Hopkins Univ. experiments to 186-mi (300-km) altitude to investigate role of electrons in producing day airglow. Rocket and instrumentation-which included five-wavelength filter-wheel photometer with special sunshade, 3- to 800-ev electron spectrometer, and electron retarding-potential analyzer-performed satisfactorily. Data correlating ionospheric electron density distribution with day airglow emissions in ionosphere were obtained. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA announced award of $31,270,300 contract to General Electric Co. for continuance of general support services at Mississippi Test Facility through September 1969, bringing total value of basic contract to $190,810,713. (MSFC Release 68-170)
Dr. Henry J. Reid, former Director and Senior Staff Associate at NASA Langley Research Center, died in Gloucester, Va., after heart attack at age 72. He had become LaRC Director in 1926 and retired in June 1961, after 34 yr continuous service. (AP, W Post, 8/1/68, B10)
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