Nov 29 1967
From The Space Library
Australia launched her first satellite, Wresat I (Weapons Research Establishment Satellite) , from Woomera Rocket Range, becoming seventh nation to place a satellite in space. Satellite-lO7-lb, 5-ft-long cone 2« ft in dia at its base-went into elliptical orbit with 1,249-km (776-mi) apogee, 170-km (106-mi) perigee, 98.9-min period, and 83.3° inclination. US. had provided three-stage Redstone launch vehicle. First attempt, on previous day, had aborted because failure of air conditioner to eject had prevented ignition. Wresat I , joint project of Australia's Adelaide Univ. Physics Dept. and the Dept. of Weapons Research at Salisbury, was sending back data on interaction of solar radiation, particularly x-rays and ultraviolet, with earth's outer atmosphere. NASA provided satellite acquisition and data reception. (SBD, 11/30/67,149; GSFC SSR, 11/30/67; GSFC Historian; Aero Tech, 12/4/67,17; Interavia, 12,67,1842)
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara would take new post as President of World Bank with approval of President Johnson, McNamara said. He explained that President George Woods of World Bank had offered him position Apr. 18 but, because of deep obligation to serve US. President, his decision had been deferred. President Johnson had informed him in October that nomination to succeed Woods would soon have to be made. Agreement that post would go to McNamara had been reached, but he would stay on job "at least long enough into next year to complete the work on the military program and financial budget for fiscal year 1969." (DOD Release 1130-67; NYT, 11/30/67,16)
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Paul C. Warnke, in hearings before Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, presented DOD views on ocean space activities by nations. He considered S. Joint Res. 111, introduced by Sen. Norris Cotton (R-N.H.), ranking minority member of Senate Committee on Commerce, and S. Res. 172 and 186, introduced by Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) , member of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He cited primary concern and interest of DOD to be US. use of the "ocean environment for purposes of maintaining or enhancing our national security." Pointing out deep ocean exploitation involved "unsettled areas" of international law-one area being `(the appropriate breadth of the continental shelf"-Warnke cited the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf and noted that congressional policy "in this field is manifested in the Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966." He stated that DOD supported the need for comprehensive studies on ocean exploration and exploitation reflected in Senate Joint Resolution 111. On security grounds, he specifically objected to Section IV of S. Res. 186 on "use of seabed and subsoil of ocean space for peaceful purposes only" until thorough studies could be completed leading to "a sound judgment consistent with security" of US. Further objection was voiced by Warnke on a "sea guard" which S. Res. 186 called for; his argument cited "the difficult political and military problems inherent in the organizing of international peacekeeping or enforcement agencies or forces." (Testimony)
NASA Nike-Apache sounding rocket, Lunched from Sonmiani, Pakistan, carried payload to peak altitude of 175 km (109 mi) to obtain atmospheric wind and temperature data up to 135 km (84 mi). Grenade and chemical cloud techniques were used by experimenters, Dr. D. Rees, London, England, and Mr. M. Rahmatullah, Karachi, Pakistan. Rocket performed satisfactorily; grenade-explosion timing sequence was late. (NASA Rpt SRL)
Reduction in total number of positions throughout NASA would approximate 5%, because of budget cuts, NASA announced. NASA would eliminate 1,700 jobs; it now employed about 32,000 persons. MSFC would lose 700 employees and JPL 550. Other reductions included: MSC, 189; GSFC, 96; LaRC, 246; LaRC, 191; ERC, 225; ARC, 79; Wallops Station, 21; Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, 2; and NASA Hq, 142. KSC would be the only NASA field center to add personnel in 1968, a total of 211. (Aero Tech, 11/20/67,3; von Braun, Marshall Star, 11/29/67,1; W Post, 11/30/67, A9; mi , NYT, 12/1/67,5; Av Wk, 12/4/67,31)
NASA awarded General Dynamics Corp. a one-year, $21.1-million, cost-plus-award-fee contract to provide management and engineering services for Centaur launch vehicle, ending Sept. 30,1968. This vehicle had been used successfully to launch six Surveyor spacecraft and would continue in use for lunar and planetary as well as earth orbital missions. LeRC was Centaur project manager. (LeRc Release 67-72)
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