Feb 7 1966
From The Space Library
In summary of NASA-USAF X-15 flight operations, FRC revealed that the three rocket-powered aircraft had completed 253 fight operations since first glide flight June 8, 1959: 156 were actual flights, eight were planned captive flights, and 89 were canceled because of weather or mechanical problems. The three aircraft had flown over 24 hrs. of free flight; 6 hrs. 29 min. faster than mach 3; 4 hrs. 13 min. above mach 4; 56 min. above mach 5; and 11 sec. above mach 6. On nine separate occasions, five different pilots had flown over the 50-mi. astronaut qualifying altitude: L/Col. Robert M. White, L/Col. Robert A. Rushworth, and Capt. Joseph H. Engle, all USAF; and Joseph A. Walker and John B. McKay, both NASA civilians. Four flights terminated in emergency landings, two of which seriously damaged the aircraft, but all three aircraft were still being flown. One flight had been made with modified X-15 No. 2 using external propellant tanks. Six current X-15 pilots included: L/Col. Robert A. Rushworth, Maj. William J. Knight, and Capt. Joseph H. Engle, all USAF; and William H. Dana, John B. McKay, and Milton O. Thompson, all NASA civilians. ‘‘(FRC Release 2-66)’’
Jodrell Bank Experimental Station received signals transmitted from Soviet space tracking station in the Crimea via Venus. Experiment, similar to one conducted Jan. 8, was part of a program between Jodrell Bank and Soviet station to send signals via Venus for an entire 225-day Venusian year. ‘‘(Reuters, Wash. Post, 2/8/66, A8)’’
NASA Lunar Orbiter, scheduled to orbit moon in spring 1966, might photograph LUNA IX to gain perspective dimensions of lunar surface and determine spacecraft’s size and extent of damage caused by landing, the New York Times speculated. LUNA IX’s landing area, the Ocean of Storms, was not included in original flight plan of 10 regions to be photographed. ‘‘(NYT, 2/7/66,4).
Research pilots of the X-15, in front of X-15 No. 2 at Edwards, Calif.: Capt. Joseph H. Engle (USAF), Maj. Robert A. Rushworth (USAF), John B. McKay (NASA), Capt. William J. Knight (USAF), Milton O. Thompson (NASA), and William H. Dana (NASA).
Contact Feb. 6 with LUNA IX after its scheduled research had been completed was explained by Tass: “Since the craft still had a certain amount of power left in excess of rated level an additional 2-hr. commutation session was held. . . . “During the transmission period the station exhausted practically all its remaining supply of electric energy and further radio communications with Luna 9 will be discontinued.” Moscow television showed photos of a circular panorama of the lunar landscape obtained from LUNA IX’s television system during communications period Feb. 6. Panorama showed LUNA IX to be resting on comparatively even area of the lunar surface close to the equator on the eastern extremity of the Oceanus Procellarum. Surface of moon around station was very uneven with many hollows and hillocks. Some stone type formations were scattered at different places, Small cavities could be seen in different parts of the panorama, specifically at its right end. Slightly hilly area could be seen along the horizon. Parts of the spacecraft, including antennas of receivers, transmitters, and dihedral mirrors reflecting sections of the lunar surface, were visible in forefront of panorama. At the bottom, lying on the ground, was section of rocket which had been thrown aside during landing. ‘‘(Grose, NYT, 2/8/66, 1, 20; AP, Wash. Eve. Star 2/7/66, A1., A5)’’
House passed H.R. 6125 amending Air Museum Act to authorize construction of a National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., to replace the National Air Museum. Museum, to be completed in five years at an estimated $40 million, would house permanent exhibits of space exploration and be part of the Smithsonian Institution. The NASA Administrator would serve on its advisory board. ‘‘(NASA LAR V/20)’’
Dr. Gerald W. Johnson, Lawrence Radiation Laboratories, was named director of Naval Laboratories. ‘‘(DOD Release 114-66)’’
AEC had developed standby capability to test nuclear weapon research devices at high altitudes and in space if the 1963 international test ban treaty were abrogated, Aviation Week reported. Standby capability, based on large launch vehicles developed as nuclear device carriers and small instrumentation rockets for diagnosis, would concentrate on atmospheric testing of ICBM and ICBM systems and effects of nuclear detonations on these systems. ‘‘(Av. Wk., 2/7/66, 31)’’
LUNA IX’s revelations of the moon’s surface had deprived Iranian poets of a source of inspiration thousands of years old, Ebrahim Sahba, speaking for the Iranian Poets Assn., told AP: “Now, with the ugly and coarse surface, Iranian poets must search for something else to describe beauty.” ‘‘(AP, Wash. Post, 2/8/66, A8)’’
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