Nov 1 1967
From The Space Library
NASA Aerobee 150 sounding rocket launched from WSMR carried Princeton Univ. payload to 109 mi (176-km) altitude on flight to determine uv spectrum of extremely hot atmosphere and interstellar matter in direction of 05 star Tau Puppis-hottest of bright stars in sky. Excellent film exposure was obtained from the spectrograph; attitude control system stabilized properly. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA announced results from experiment with four "Yolo Wonder" pepper plants subjected to 45 hr of weightless flight aboard Biosatellite II (Sept. 7-9) to determine effects of space environment (weightlessness and radiation). Photographs made every 10 min (268 times) in 30 orbits appeared to demonstrate plants depend on gravity for their orientation. Plant leaves had failed to grow in normal, horizontal position, and stems had not held to the vertical position, even with supporting brackets. Disoriented condition of plants was observed when they were delivered to Dr. Samuel Johnson, principal investigator, North American Rockwell Corp. Further evidence of plants' gravity dependence came from wheat seedlings aboard Biosatellite II; Dr. Charles Lyon of Dartmouth College experimented with 75 seedlings which, grown from seed in weightlessness, had roots curving upward toward seedling shoots and out to the side. (NASA Release 67-279)
Continuing Brazil/U.S. space cooperation, experiment to measure airglow would be carried out by National Space Commission (CNAE) of Brazil and NASA, an Aerobee 150 to be launched from Brazil's Barreiro do Inferno range this fall [see Oct. 14-15]. A monochromator would measure day airglow in equatorial regions at altitude of about 130 mi in the range of 2,000 , One of two kinds of upper atmosphere's visible radiation (aurora being other), airglow existed when sunlight interacted with upper atmosphere to create visible radiation. CNAE would be responsible for preparation and operation of launching range and associated facilities, and for providing personnel for training. NASA would provide Aerobee rocket, payload, and mobile launch facility currently located in Brazil. (NASA Release 67-277)
ComSatCorp expressed its opposition to AT&T plan to build $70.4-million underwater cable to southern Europe by 1970's end in 92-page response to FCC inquiry on need for future communication facilities in the Atlantic basin area [see Oct. 4 & 30]. James McCormack, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ComSatCorp, stated that proposed addition of 720 international communication circuits via new transatlantic cable, designated TAT-5. would be "unnecessary in the public interest and would act as a serious detriment to the development of a really capacious and economical global telecommunications system." He said ComSatCorp planned to orbit, Intelsat IV by 1970 to provide at least 5,000 circuits initially that would accommodate TV, broadband, and other transmissions in serving smaller, developing nations as well as major, technologically advanced countries. (Text, ComSatCorp Release 67-54)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb appointed L/G August Schomburg (USA, Ret.) as a consultant. Schomburg, whose last duty assignment was Commandant of Industrial College of the Armed Forces, would work in areas of national security, NASA's interfaces with industry and defense, and education in industrial affairs for NASA's field centers. (NASA Release 67-280)
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