Aug 10 1966
From The Space Library
NASA's LUNAR ORBITER I (Lunar Orbiter A) unmanned spacecraft was successfully launched by Atlas-Agena D booster from ETR in first U.S. attempt to orbit the moon and photograph possible landing sites for Apollo astronauts [see Aug. 14-31]. Agena 2nd stage fired to boost 850-lb. spacecraft into 100-mi. (161km.) altitude parking orbit, reignited after 28-min. coast period, injecting spacecraft into 90-hr. translunar trajectory, and separated. On schedule, LUNAR ORBITER I deployed its four solar panels and two antennas and locked its five solar sensors on the sun. Only difficulty occurred when spacecraft's startracker failed to lock on Canopus and flight engineers were forced to lock it on the moon-a weaker navigational reference point. Assistant Project Manager James S. Martin, Jr., of LaRC was "still quite confident" about achieving lunar orbit, but noted it might be more difficult to obtain desired precision and exact positions required for optimum photos of lunar surface. At approximately 00:28 GMT Aug. 11 planned midcourse maneuver was successfully executed, and JPL scientists predicted spacecraft would miss original aiming point by only 50 mi. Primary objectives of NASA's LUNAR ORBITER I mission, first in series of five, were (1) to place three-axis stabilized spacecraft into lunar orbit; and (2) obtain high-resolution photos of various types of lunar surface to assess their suitability as landing sites for Apollo and Surveyor spacecraft and improve knowledge of the moon. Photos would cover 3,000mi. strip along moon's equator, concentrating on nine potential landing areas. Spacecraft would also attempt to photograph SURVEYOR I landing sites; provide precision trajectory information; and monitor meteoroids and radiation intensity in lunar environment. Lunar Orbiter program was managed by LaRC under direction of NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications. Tracking and communications were the responsibility of JPL-operated Deep Space Network. (NASA Release 66-195; Wilford, NYT, 8/8/66, 3; 8/11/66, 1, 12; 8/12/66, 51; O'Toole, Wash. Post, 8/11/66, A l; 8/12/66, Al; 8/13/66, Al; 8/14/66, A1, A6; AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 8/11/66, A3)
Senate passed FY 1967 Independent Offices Appropriation bill (H.R. 14921) 82-2 with NASA appropriation at $4,991,600,000 as reported by Committee on Appropriations. (NASA LAR V/130)
Rice Univ. scientists successfully launched 500-ft.-long helium-filled balloon from National Center for Atmospheric Research balloon flight station, Palestine, Tex., to obtain electronic data on radioactivity within the Crab Nebula. When balloon reached 132,000-ft. altitude, 900-lb. electronic gamma-ray telescope began recording data. Payload was dropped by parachute on electronic signal from ground and recovered near Midland, Tex. Study was third in series financed under $166,500 USAF grant and was termed "highly successful. (Houston Post, 8/11/66)
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