Jan 18 1967
From The Space Library
USAF Titan III-C booster launched from ETR successfully inserted eight Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program (IDCSP) comsats into random equatorial orbits. Powered flight of Titan III-C was close to planned parameters. Transtage and payload were inserted into parking orbit with 113-mi (182- km) apogee and 106-mi (171-km) perigee where first transtage burn made necessary course corrections. Second transtage burn 66 min later moved stage and load into transfer orbit with 21,000-mi (33,810-km) apogee and 120-mi (193-km) perigee. Third burn put satellite dispenser frame and eight satellites into near-synchronous, 21,000-mi- altitude orbit. At 6 hours 11 min GET, the 100-lb satellites were ejected separately into slightly different orbital paths. USAF officials reported all satellites were functioning properly. Eight new satellites, combined with seven others launched by USAF June 16, 1966, would reinforce DOD'S worldwide communications system and provide reliable, full-time radio link between Washington, D.C., and U.S. troops in Vietnam and other distant outposts. (UPI, NYT, 1/19/67, 7; AP, B Sun, 1/19/67, 1; Av Wk, 1/23/67, 32)
NASA appointed Francis W. Kemmett to succeed Dr. James T. Hootman as Executive Secretary of the Inventions and Contributions Board, Office of Industry Affairs. (NASA Ann)
NASA Astronauts M. Scott Carpenter and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., tested space simulator at Martin Co.'s plant near Littleton, Colo. Unit, which provided 6ø of freedom, was linked to computer that determined exertion forces on astronaut as he performed simple tasks in simulated weightless environment. (Denver Post, 1/19/67)
NASA-USAF XB-70 flight research program should be exploited because it could contribute greatly to understanding operational problems of the SST, Alvin S. White, formerly an NAA XB-70 test pilot and currently TWA's Manager of Flight Research and Development, told Aviation Daily. "I think that airplane [XB-70] has tremendous potential . . . it can provide the least expensive way to do a lot of things. We could feed the B-70 into the air traffic control system to learn how it can cope with SSTs. `We could test fly prototype engines at very high speeds, and it could contribute a lot to understanding sonic boom problems over air routes." (Av Daily, 1/18/67)
Najeeb Halaby, Pan American World Airways, Inc., Vice President and former FAA Administrator, praised the Johnson Administration's "carefully calculated risk" in the development of the SST, in a speech before the Wings Club in New York. He suggested that as a result both the Government and industry involved in producing the aircraft "are in a position to make a better decision and a better plane than . . . France, Britain, and the Soviet Union." Halaby said aviation industry had a duty "to help the President and the Congress make the most prudent and the most temporary investment of public funds in a national interest venture." (NYT, 1/19/67,57)
Sun's illumination of a missile's shock wave had caused strange aerial phenomenon seen throughout southwestern U.S. Jan. 17, USAF officials at Vandenberg AFB reported. (AP, NYT, 1/19/67)
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