Feb 28 1966
From The Space Library
ESSA II (Tos OT-2), second meteorological satellite in TIROS Operational Satellite (Tos) system, was launched by NASA from ETR for ESSA with three-stage Thor-Delta booster. Launch vehicle performed three “dogleg” maneuvers before injection into near-polar, near-circular, sun-synchronous orbit. Initial orbital parameters : apogee, 885 mi. (1,425 km.); perigee, 843 mi. (1,357 km.); period, 113.5 min.; inclination, 101.16°. A cylindrical, 18-sided polygon, 290-lb. ESSA II was equipped with two Automatic Picture Transmission (Apt) camera systems for photographing local cloud cover. During first orbit, spacecraft was spin-stabilized at 10.9 rpm with bottom of spacecraft toward earth; during second orbit, orientation maneuvers initiated by ground command began to turn satellite on its side; after 18 orbits-approximately 33 hrs. after launch -ESSA II would be in cartwheel position. Combination of cartwheel configuration and near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit would permit 100% photographic coverage of earth’s cloud cover during daylight hours with a given area photographed at the same local time each day. Primary objective of ESSA II (Environmental Survey Satellite No. 2) flight was to provide direct readout to worldwide network of Apt receiving stations. ESSA financed, managed, and operated the Tos systems. GSFC managed NASA participation in the project. Tracking operations were responsibility of STADAN. First satellite in Tos system, ESSA I, was launched Feb. 3. ‘‘(ESSA Release 66-14; NASA Proj. Off.; AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 2/28/66, A l; UPI, Wash. Post, 3/1/66, ALE)’’
NASA Administrator James E. Webb, testifying before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences as it began hearings on NASA’s FY 1967 budget authorization, said U.S.S.R. would become unchallenged leader in space exploration unless US. soon decided to support post-Apollo missions. Webb reviewed U.S.S.R.’s very active year in space and said: “More important to us than any other indication from Soviet space activity is the clear commitment to a long-term effort. The fact that they are making such a commitment shows the importance they attach to advancing their capabilities in space. Unless we soon decide to follow through with a strong program in the years after we have achieved a manned lunar landing, we cannot avoid a gap in our flight schedule while they forge ahead as the unchallenged contestant in the field.” Webb noted FY 1967 budget for NASA reflected a Presidential decision “to hold open for another year decisions which cannot be delayed beyond the period of the FY 1968 budget.’’ He added: “The programs we are now carrying out so successfully, the new knowledge we are acquiring so rapidly, the ending of the period of uncertainty as to what both Russian Cosmonauts and American Astronauts can achieve in space, and the growing utilization of the long term values that our investments have created in reliable launch vehicles, spacecraft, and assembly test and launch complexes, all point toward decisions to use rather than lose the values we have worked so hard and spent so much to create. And so I believe that our presentation of this 1967 Budget marks not just assertion to you that we have built well as we have created a foundation for space power, but also marks the beginning of a momentous era in which we must decide how we will use this power in future years.” He assessed the national space program: “. . . we have demonstrated that we can do the tasks we set out to do. An important value of the space program is this demonstration of national capability in science and technology. That we have this capability is no longer a matter of opinion but a demonstrated fact that is clear to all who concern themselves with the power nations can and do develop for many purposes from the mastery of a new environment or a new technology. We have put it on view for all the world to see. The world knows today that the United States can digest the space-related problems of long lead-times, can hold its position in a demanding competition, and can forge ahead simultaneously in both aeronautics and space and in those advanced technologies of which space is the leading symbol.” ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 15-17)’’
Testifying to Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences on NASA’s FY 1967 budget, NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., said: “We are presenting the budget that reflects our best balanced provision for four essential priorities, priorities which must rank together as the core of the NASA program: The need to press forward the development of the Nation’s capability for major Manned Space Flight operations, to be demonstrated by a manned lunar landing within this decade. “The need to continue those important projects in space sciences and space applications that are already underway and that have already made such valuable contributions to our fundamental understanding of the universe and to the use of space systems for human benefit. “The need to maintain the flow of advanced research and technology effort that is at the heart of the Nation’s ability to undertake future projects in aeronautics and space explorations. “The need to take certain steps now to avoid an otherwise certain gap in future space capabilities and achievements.” ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 64-65)’’
Summarizing NASA’s launch vehicle and propulsion program in testimony before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics’ Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell reported that in 1965 “there were 18 successful orbits out of 20 attempts for a 90% success record.” Looking to the future, Newell said: “in order to assure that the launch vehicle space transportation evolves a logical and economical fashion for the more demanding. . .missions which are beyond the capability of present vehicles, it is essential that some effort continuously be put into advanced studies of future vehicles and into some of the critical launch vehicle technology areas.” He described research in behavioral biology, outlining prospective experiment to determine whether for pocket mice in earth orbit “circadian rhythm of either temperature or locomotion changes when all geophysical variables other than light and temperature are either removed or sensed by the animals with a period of about 90 minutes (orbital period) instead of 24 hours.” By the end of FY 1966, NASA’s sustaining university program would be supporting 64 projects at 54 institutions throughout US., Dr. Newell testified. In FY 1967 it would support approximately 70 projects at 60 universities at a cost of $12 million. It was expected that 3,681 students would be in the predoctoral training element of the program by September 1966 and the number of participating universities would be 152. ‘‘(NASA Auth. Hearings, 487, 568, 581, 589)’’
Gemini Astronauts Charles A. Bassett II and Elliot M. See, Jr., were killed when their T-38 aircraft overran St. Louis Municipal Airport in rain and fog and crashed into the McDonnell Aircraft Corp. building which housed GEMINI IX and 10 spacecraft. The jet, cleared for an instrument landing, was left of center in its approach to the runway when it turned toward the McDonnell complex 1,000 ft. from instrumented landing strip. It struck the roof of Building 101, bounced into an adjacent courtyard, and exploded. Several McDonnell employees in Building 101 were treated for minor injuries. See and Bassett, en route to McDonnell for two weeks training in space simulator, were followed later by GEMINI IX backup crew Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan, who landed safely. NASA Hq. officials announced that the backup crew would fly the GEMINI IX mission on schedule. ‘‘ (Wagner, Wash. Post, 3/1/66, A1, A4)’’
Discussing the Apollo/Saturn I-B program’s future, Dr. Joseph F. Shea, director of Apollo spacecraft development at MSC, told Missiles and Rockets that the hoped-for early end of the program (after a total of seven flights, including four manned missions) would depend on availability of the Saturn V booster, as well as success of Saturn I-B missions: “We plan to end the series at Apollo-207 if the Saturn V is available on schedule. If not, we will probably continue with Saturn I-B flights for the Apollo-208 and 209 missions.” ‘‘(Taylor, M&R, 2/28/66, 17)’’
Joint Chiefs of Staff believed U.S.S.R. was accomplishing much more in advanced weaponry than Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara was giving them credit for, reported Aviation Week. Gen. John P. McConnell, USAF Chief of Staff, was said to be especially concerned about Soviet developments in antimissile missiles and their radars, maneuverable warheads for ICBMS, military space systems, and advanced aircraft. During hearings on the FY 1966 budget, General McConnell had said the decision on whether to proceed with full-scale development of the advanced manned strategic aircraft (AMSA) should be made in FY 1967. Aviation Week pointed out McNamara did not make that decision in the FY 1967 budget and dropped Amsa one category-from engineering development to advanced development. Also, in a posture statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, McNamara appeared to contradict Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Harold Brown’s view that the FB-111 was only a stop-gap bomber until Amsa was approved. Comparison of Boeing B-52C through F models, McNamara reportedly said, showed “the FB-111 is not an interim aircraft but is, indeed, a truly effective strategic bomber.” ‘‘(Wilson, Av. Wk., 2/28/66, 16)’’
Astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Jr., and Frank Borman and their wives met with Chinese Nationalist President Chiang Kai-shek in Taipei, and gave him a letter from President Johnson and a color photograph taken in space. Chiang gave each astronaut wings of the Chinese National Air Force. Astronauts then flew to Bangkok, Thailand, to begin a three-day visit during which they would give a series of lectures and be received by the King and Queen of Thailand. ‘‘(AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 2/28/66, A2; NYT, 3/1/66, 19)’’
AFSC awarded General Electric Co., Pratt & Whitney Div., United Aircraft Corp., and Curtiss-Wright Corp. contracts totaling $41,750,000 for development of vectored-thrust cruise propulsion system (lift-cruise engine) for aircraft systems including V/Stol. ‘‘(AFSC Release 13.66)’’
William J. McWilliams, president of Republic Supply Co., was sworn in as consultant to NASA Administrator James E. Webb and NASA Secretariat. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-46)’’
ComSatCorp requested FCC authority to build six 250-lb. advanced synchronous satellites, for global commercial communications system. Launches would begin in 1968. ‘‘(ComSatCorp Release)’’
Comparing US. and U.S.S.R. Mars exploration efforts in Science, Bruce C. Murray, Gal Tech Associate Professor of Planetary Science, and Merton E. Davies, RAND Corp., said of NASA’s MARINER IV July 14, 1965, flyby: “The American scientific community should, and evidently does, feel proud and gratified that the Mariner mission to Mars, through successful utilization of national resources, not only accomplished a remarkable technological feat but also discovered extraordinary new facts . . . beyond the reach of earth-based instruments.” Authors termed “disappointing” US. decisions to terminate Mariner program, fly extra Mariner C spacecraft to Venus in 1967, drop plans for 1971 Voyager launch, and “fill the gap” with an abbreviated 1969 Atlas-Centaur program. U.S.S.R., they noted, had spent “between five and ten times as much on flight programs for planetary exploration” as U.S. and, in spite of “six consecutive failures in their efforts to explore Mars,” may have developed a reliable 2,000-lb. spacecraft for Mars flyby. Authors predicted U.S.S.R. would launch two Zond spacecraft in December 1966: “It will be surprising to us if at least one. . . does not reach the planet and return new facts about it.” They suggested 1971 as earliest likely date for Soviet landing of survivable payload on Martian surface and concluded that by 1967 “the US. will be ready to make an enduring national commitment to the exploration of the planets, and be ready to demonstrate intellectual appreciation of discovery as well as enthusiasm for technological achievement.” ‘‘(Science, 2/25/66, 945-54)’’
Week of February 28: NASA delegation extended President Johnson’s invitation for European participation in U.S. manned and unmanned space programs in discussions with officials of West Germany, France, U.K., and Italy. Delegation had been instructed not to make any offers or commitments but to express potential opportunities of participation in future US. space flights on equal basis with U.S. scientists. ‘‘(Normyle, Av. Wk., 2/28/66, 23)’’
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