Sep 5 1968

From The Space Library

Cosmos CCXXXIX was launched by U.S.S.R. into orbit with 262-km (162.8-mi) apogee, 198-km (123-mi) perigee, 89.1-min period, and 51.8° inclination. Satellite reentered Sept. 13. (GSFC SSR, 9/15/68)

Washington Daily News story by London Express Service said scientists "have told the military that a new infra-red sensing device tested in a secret American reconnaissance satellite may be able, from space, to detect the elusive submarines as they lurk under water. And the inven­tion is said to work whether the quarry is moving, hovering in mid-water, or even lying silently on the bottom. . . . More tests are to be made. But it . . . seems fairly certain that the system will be put into full operation soon." (W News, 9/5/68, 6)

USAF announced Aug. 25 discovery of new F-111A problem during fa­tigue test at General Dynamics-Convair plant, San Diego, Calif., would extend restrictions on aircraft. Problem was failure of steel fitting on which swing-wings pivoted. Technical officers believed crack in metal plate was caused by faulty bolt hole rather than serious design defi­ciency. DOD said it would take 10 to 14 days to complete analysis. (Aero Daily, 9/6/68; W Post, 9/6/68, 1; AP. W Star, 9/6/68, C5; Sehlstedt, B Sun, 9/7/68, A7)

President Johnson issued Executive Order 11428 terminating President's Advisory Committee on Supersonic Transport, which had been estab­lished April 1, 1964. (PD, 9/9/68, 1309)

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