Aug 12 1966
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 2 was flown by Maj. William J. Knight (USAF) to 3,473 mph (mach 4.90) and 231,000-ft. altitude to conduct startracker experiment and base drag study and test alternate pitot static system. (X-15 Proj. Off.; AP, NYT, 8/14/66, 8)
Comprehensive report on June 8 collision of XB-70 and F-104 aircraft near Barstow, Calif., compiled by two investigative boards-one to determine causes, the other to examine command responsibility-was transmitted. to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara by Secretary of the Air Force Harold Brown. Inadvertent movement by F-104 into position "from which recovery was virtually impossible" was cited as "most probable cause" of collision; failure of Maj. Carl Cross (USAF) to eject from XB-70 before crashing was attributed to an escape system malfunction. Among report's recommendations were: improvement of AFFTG's operational procedures; modification of XB-70's escape system; and establishment of standards for formation flights. In accompanying memorandum, Secretary Brown said that Col. Joseph F. Cotton (USAF), XB-70 test director; Col. James G. Scott (USAF), Edwards AFB information officer; and John S. McCollom, Director of Research Vehicles for Aeronautical Systems Div., had been reprimanded and Col. Albert M. Cate (USAF) relieved of duties as Deputy for Systems Tests at AFFTG. (CR, 8/15/66, 18505-10; WI, NYT, 8/16/66, 15; Maffre, Wash. Post, 8/16/66, 6)
New absorption bands, probably caused in part by reduced gases in the Martian atmosphere, had been found in near-infrared spectrum of Mars by Fourier spectroscopy, Lewis D. Kaplan, JPL, and Janine and Pierre Connes, Observatoire de Meudon and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France, reported in Science. The authors believed the presence of such constituents might have "important implications for the possibility and nature of life on Mars." (Science, 8/12/66, 739 40)
NASA had selected Honeywell, Inc., for negotiation of $5-million contract to design, fabricate, and test attitude-control and scan-control subsystems for two Mariner spacecraft to be launched in 1969. (NASA Release 66-216)
Boeing Co. awarded subcontracts totaling $1.5 billion to Avco Corp., Martin Co., North American Aviation, Inc., Northrop Corp., Fairchild Hiller Corp., and LTV, Inc., for work on SST prototype. (Boeing Release s-8928)
Dr. T. L. K. Smull resumed his duties as Director of the Office of Grants and Research Contracts, NASA announced. Since Dec. 1, 1965, he had been on leave from that Office, serving as Special Assistant to the Administrator on NASA-university relationships. (NASA Ann., 8/12/66)
M2-F2 lifting body vehicle, with NASA research pilot Milton O. Thompson as pilot, was successfully air-launched from B-52 aircraft at $5,000-ft. altitude in third glide flight from Edwards AFB. Purposes of flight were determining effect of increasing mach number and minimum damper requirements, and testing of longitudinal and lateral stability and control. (NASA Proj. Off.)
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