Apr 14 1967
From The Space Library
LaRC engineers successfully completed second of two planned orbit adjustments to place NASA's LUNAR ORBITER II and III spacecraft in favorable position for major solar eclipse April 24, by firing Lunar Orbiter II's velocity-control engine for three seconds and shortening spacecraft's period by 65 sec. Similar maneuver had been accomplished with Lunar Orbiter III April 12. (NASA Release 67-92)
Launch of ESRO's scientific satellite Esro II from WTR was postponed from April 27 until late May because of tape recorder malfunction. Satellite was first of two scheduled for launch by NASA under cooperative agreement with ESRO. (NASA Release 67-91)
MSFC had awarded one-year, cost-plus-incentive-award-fee contract extensions totaling more than $57 million for engineering, fabrication, and institutional support services for Saturn launch vehicle program. Recipients: Sperry Rand Corp., $12,695,727; Vitro Corp., $5,344,159; Brown Engineering Co., $12,350,140; Spaco, Inc., $5,971,638; Northrop Corp., $3,905,000; Hayes International Corp., $4,969,277; Management Services, Inc., $5,560,941; Rust Engineering Co., $599,090; and BCA Service Co., $5,749,907. (MSFC Release 67-81)
MSC awarded Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. a $97,000, cost-plus-fixed-fee study contract to evaluate Beta fiber, a noncombustible fabric, for possible use in Apollo spacecraft and crew systems equipment. (NASA Release 67-90)
Informed sources speculated that U.S.S.R. had been conducting heat-shield reentry tests with Cosmos satellites since November 1966 in preparation for manned flights to moon, the New York Times reported. Spacecraft on missions from moon would reenter earth's atmosphere at about 25,000 mph and heat to 5,000-6,000° F-too hot for heat shields currently used on earth-orbiting missions. (NYT, 4/15/67, 13)
Employment in the aerospace industry would reach 1,384,000 by September 1967-a 3.4% increase over September 1966-Aerospace Industries Assn. predicted. Forecast, based on survey of 60 companies representing 80% of entire aerospace industry, cited continuing demand for civilian aircraft; stable levels of missile and space sales; and increases in non aerospace activities as reasons for steady growth in number of employees. (AIA Release 67-17)
Former Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., had signed contract to appear in at least eight Wolper Productions' TV documentaries on great explorations in history, the New York Times reported. Series, beginning in January 1968, would include Henry M. Stanley's African search for David Livingstone, Captain James Cook's exploration of the South Pacific, and Roald Amundsen's expedition to the South Pole. (Gent, NYT, 4/14/67, 67)
NASA and USAF had completed loan agreement whereby USAF had loaned to NASA's FRC three F-104 aircraft to "support NASA projects." Agreement would terminate Dec. 31, 1968, unless extended by mutual arrangements. Logistical support of aircraft was included. (NMI-1052.89)
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