Feb 3 1966
From The Space Library
ESSA I (TIROS OT-3), first meteorological satellite in TIROS Operational Satellite (TOS) series, was launched from ETR for Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) by NASA with three-stage Thor-Delta booster into nearly polar, sun-synchronous orbit to provide cloud coverage of entire sunlit portion of the earth at least once daily. Before achieving orbit, spacecraft performed three precise “dogleg” maneuvers initiated by airborne autopilot system, injecting it into orbit: apogee, 523 mi. (842 km.); perigee, 433 mi. (697 km.); period, 100 min.; inclination, 97.9°. During first orbit, ESSA I was spin-stabilized at 10 rpm with spin axis in plane of orbit. Entering second orbit, spacecraft responded to ground control command to begin turning on its side into cartwheel position. Maneuver was expected to be completed 24 hrs. after launch; television cameras would be turned on 36 hrs. after launch. Cartwheel shaped, ESSA I contained two ½-in. vidicon cameras mounted 180° apart on each side so they could view earth every six seconds. Camera system could send pictures directly to command and data acquisition stations at NASA Wallops Station and Gilmore Creek, Alaska, or store photos on its tape recorder for readout when satellite passed within 1,500-mi. radius of a ground station. ESSA I (Environmental Survey Satellite No. 1) was 11th successful TIROS (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) to be launched by NASA in 11 attempts. It was first of two TOS operational meteorological satellites planned and financed by ESSA to provide daily cloud-cover pictures to ground stations on a global basis. ESSA (at that time US. Weather Bureau) had also funded TIROS X (OT-1), launched by NASA July 2, 1965. ‘‘(NASA Proj. Off.; ESSA Release 66-7; UPI, NYT, 2/4/66, 37)’’
First soft-landing on moon was made by U.S.S.R. when LUNA IX spacecraft soft-landed an instrument package near Ocean of Storms west of the Reiner and Marius craters. Instrument package began relaying telemetric signals to earth immediately and Tass said “information received from the station is being processed and studied.” Landing sequence, as later described by Tass, began 8,300 km. (5,155. mi.) above moon approximately one hour before touchdown when LUNA IX was oriented vertically to the moon. At 77-km. (47-mi.) altitude, 48 sec. before touchdown, radar system aimed at lunar surface turned on the retrorocket and shock-absorbing system was prepared. Less than one second before impact, after spacecraft had been slowed to less than 10 mph, instrument capsule was ejected. Rocket crashed and 4 min. 10 sec. after instrument capsule had landed, its petal-like covering and antennas opened and radio transmissions began. Jodrell Bank Experimental Station announced LUNA IX had transmitted facsimile pictures of the moon from the time it landed at 1:45 p.m. EST until 2:05 p.m. EST, gone off the air, and then resumed signals shortly after 9:00 p.m. EST. Soviet spokesman declined to confirm report. British scientists were unable to translate signals into pictures but recorded them on magnetic tapes. U.S.S.R.’s four previous attempts to soft-land spacecraft on the moon had failed: LUNA V, launched May 9, 1965; LUNA VI, launched June 8, 1965; LUNA VII, launched Oct. 4, 1965; and LUNA VIII, launched Dec. 3, 1965. ‘‘(Tass, Pravda, 2/4/66, 1, USS-T Trans.; Simons, Wash. Post, 2/4/66, A1, A13; Grose, NYT, 2/4/66, 1, 37; AP, Wash. Eve. Star. 2/4/66, A1, A6; 2/6/66, A14)’’
President Johnson sent a telegram to Nikolay Podgorny, Chairman, Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, U.S.S.R., on the success of LUNA IX: “You and the people of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are to be congratulated for the great success of Luna IX. Your accomplishment is one that can benefit all mankind. And all mankind applauds it. Your scientists have made a major contribution to man’s knowledge of the moon and of space.” ‘‘(Pres. Doc., 2/7/66, 166)’’
Breadboard version of NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application) was successfully tested for the first time by NASA and AEC at Nuclear Rocket Development Station, Jackass Flats, Nev. Four hours after initial ignition, engine restarted itself under test conditions simulating lower temperatures of space, thereby demonstrating its capability to start using only self-contained energy. Engine system was tested below peak power and temperature levels: exhaust temperature was 2,000°F compared with 3,500°F design temperature; reactor power was 440 mw compared with 1,100-mw design power. Test was first of a series scheduled by NASA-AEC Space Nuclear Propulsion Office as part of the Rover program to develop nuclear propulsion for space exploration. ‘‘(AEC Release 5-35; Atomic Energy Programs, 1966)’’
First static test firing of production version of Apollo spacecraft launch escape solid-propellant rocket motor, key component of emergency Launch Escape System (LES), was conducted at Redlands, Calif., by Lockheed Aircraft Corp. All test objectives were met, with motor producing scheduled 155,000 lbs. thrust for programmed eight seconds to become first major Apollo spacecraft subsystem to complete NASA qualification tests for future manned flights. ‘‘(Lockheed Release)’’
Two NASA Nike-Cajun sounding rockets launched 7 hrs. 23 min. apart from NASA Wallops Station reached estimated 81-mi. (131-km.) and 95-mi. (152-km.) altitudes. Experiment, conducted for Univ. of Michigan, measured ambient air density from 19-75 mi. (30-120 km.) by radar track of two falling Mylar spheres ejected from each rocket at +72 sec. Spheres ejected as programmed in first launch, but radar was unable to track first sphere until +14 min. Preliminary indications were that it did not inflate properly. Radar tracked second sphere for 18 min. During second launch, both spheres ejected and inflated properly, and radar tracking was continuous for 20 min. Diurnal variations of the measurements were compared to measure solar heating effects. ‘‘(NASA Rpt. SRL)’’
Statement reaffirming US. demand that liability for individual air passenger fatalities be raised from $16,600 to $100,000 was delivered by chief US. delegate A. F. Lowenfeld at a special meeting of International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal. Lowenfeld said US. might withdraw from Warsaw Convention if higher liability limit were rejected. ‘‘(NYT, 2/4/66, 53)’’
“Informed British and French sources” predicted costs of developing supersonic airliner Concorde would reach $1,112,000,000 compared with August 1964 estimate of $924,000,000. Development costs were being divided equally between the two countries and sources said that “despite rising costs . . . the two Governments are going ahead.” ‘‘(WSJ, 2/4/66,19; Farnsworth, NYT, 2/4/66,53)’’
According to count by North American Air Defense Command’s (NORAD) Space Defense Center, NASA’s launch of ESSA I (TIROS OT-3) meteorological satellite brought total of objects currently in orbit to 1,000. Of 209 earth-orbiting payloads, U.S. had 162; U.S.S.R., 41; France, two; U.K., two; and Canada, two. NORAD counted nine US. deep-space probes and debris of eight others; U.S.S.R. had ten, with debris of two more. Remaining objects were “space debris” or “junk.” Space Defense Center had catalogued 1,982 objects, but nearly half had decayed or had been intentionally deorbited. ‘‘(NORAD Release 66-2-2)’’
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