Aug 8 1968
From The Space Library
Explorer XXXIX (Air Density balloon) and Explorer XL (Injun V) were successfully launched by NASA from WTR by single four-stage Scout booster. Primary mission objective was to place spacecraft in near polar orbits to extend studies of atmospheric density, geomagnetically trapped particles, and down-flux of these particles into atmosphere. Expected lifetimes were one year each. Explorer XXXIX entered orbit with 1,548-mi (2,492.3-km) apogee, 425-mi (683-km) perigee, 117.9-min period, and 80.6° inclination. The 20.5-1b, 12-ft-dia inflatable sphere was covered with aluminum foil to reflect sunlight and radio beacons and was coated with painted white spots for temperature control. It would extend measurements of latitudinal, seasonal, and solar cycle variations in upper air density and compare previous satellite measurements for further insight into sources of atmospheric heating. Explorer XL, 29-in-high, 30-in-dia, 153.1-lb hexagon, entered orbit with 1,573-mi (2,530-km) apogee, 424-mi (677-km) perigee, 118.3-min period, and 80.6° inclination. Satellite's primary purpose was to measure directly down-flux of charged particles into atmosphere; study geomagnetically trapped charged particles, emphasizing spectra, spatial distribution, and time variations; and correlate VLF radio emissions and measurements of low-energy positive electrons with more energetic particle measurements. Mission was second NASA launch of two spacecraft by one Scout booster. First dual launch successfully injected Explorer XXIV (Air Density balloon) and Explorer XXV (Injun IV) into orbit Nov. 21, 1964. LaRC designed, developed, and constructed Air Density Explorer and Univ. of Iowa designed, developed and constructed Injun V and provided all but one of its experiments. Program was managed by LaRC under OSSA direction. (NASA Proj Off; SBD, 8/12/68, 177; GSFC SSR, 8/15/68)
NASA announced "interim operating plan" for FY 1969 designed to achieve $3.85-billion budget. Agency would reduce staff by 1,600 and contract employees by 2,000. Purchase or construction of four Saturn boosters had been canceled [see Aug. 2], plans for 1973 instrument payloads on Mars had been substantially reduced, lunar exploration programs had been halted, and development of NERVA nuclear rocket engine would be put back until next fiscal year, at least. Apollo Applications program would be reduced $300 million from budget request of $440 million and would include only two spacecraft-Saturn I Workshop and Apollo Telescope Mount-with boosters and backup equipment. "Work toward post-Apollo lunar exploration and toward Saturn V Workshop will be limited to studies." (NASA Release 68-141)
NASA Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Station carried Univ. of Michigan payload to 94.7-mi (152.4-km) altitude to measure neutral atmosphere density and temperature profile in 17.4- to 63.4-mi (28- to 120-km) -altitude range, compare day measurements with night measurements by rocket to be launched Aug. 9, and flight-test and evaluate new second-generation Pitot probe system flown without ejectable nose tip. Rocket and instrumentation performed satisfactorily. Pitot tube performed well and seemed capable of reaching higher apogees, even without nose-cone tip, than old system. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA announced Astronaut James A. Lovell, Jr., had replaced Astronaut Michael Collins as prime command module pilot for third manned Apollo mission. Lovell had held same position on mission's backup crew. Collins had undergone successful spinal surgery July 23 and would require three to six months recuperation. Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., backup lunar module pilot, had been moved to command module pilot position on backup crew. Astronaut Fred W. Raise, Jr., had been assigned to backup crew as lunar module pilot. Lovell joined Astronauts Frank Borman and William A. Anders on prime crew for mission scheduled for first quarter 1969. (MSC Release; KSC Release KSC-374-68; AP, NYT, 8/9/68, 14; UPI, W Star, 8/9/68; W Post, 8/9/68, A7; SBD, 8/9/68, 169; MSC Roundup, 8/16/68, 1)
GSFC team headed by Peter Minott was studying amount of energy absorbed by atmosphere through experiments with laser beam directed at Explorer XXXVI. Reflectors on satellite returned beam to its starting point on earth while laser detector on satellite radioed back data on the strength of its light as it passed through atmospheric conditions. NASA laser expert Dr. Henry Plotkin said, "Some day we figure that with a laser we can build a space-to-earth communications link that won't fade the way radio waves do." Laser experiments also were being conducted with Explorer XXII, XXVII, and XXIX, and two French satellites. (Kehoe, W Post, 8/8/68, Fl)
ComSatCorp, on behalf of INTELSAT, issued RFP for aeronautical communications satellites for two-way simplex voice communication between transoceanic aircraft and fixed earth stations. Spacecraft were to be active repeater VHF comsats with minimum five-year life for emplacement in synchronous equatorial orbit. (ComSatCorp Release 68-38)
August 8-9: Two NASA Nike-Tomahawk sounding rockets launched from NASA Wallops Station reached 178-mi (286.5-km) and 199-mi (320-km) altitudes in Univ. of Michigan experiments to obtain thermosphere structure measurements of N2 density and temperature. Rockets and instrumentation performed satisfactorily. All scientific objectives appeared to have been met. (NASA Rpts SRL)
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