Aug 17 1966
From The Space Library
NASA's PIONEER VII (Pioneer B), second in new Pioneer series, was successfully launched from ETR's Launch Complex 17A by Thrust Augmented Improved Delta booster into orbit around the sun where it would chart magnetic fields emanating from the sun; measure the quantity, energy levels, and direction of the solar wind; and differentiate between solar and galactic cosmic rays. The 140-lb., drum-shaped satellite had perihelion of 1.01 astronomical units (au), or 93.93 million mi. (151 million km.); aphelion of 1.125 au, or 104.625 million mi. (168.45 million km.); period of 402.95 days; inclination of 0.09460. All systems were reported turned on and operating satisfactorily. Two days following launch, PIONEER VII successfully completed maneuver which locked its high gain antenna on earth and stabilized its orbital path. First of five flights in current Pioneer program-managed by ARC -was PIONEER VI, launched Dec. 16, 1965. Overall program objective was to provide continuing measurements over the solar cycle at widely separated points in interplanetary space. (NASA Release 66-211; NASA Proj. Off.; AP, Wash. Post, 8/18/66, L1; Wilford, NYT, 8/18/66, 15; UPI, Wash. Post, 8/20/66, A9)
Aerobee 350 sounding rocket was launched by NASA from Wallops Station on second development flight of series. The 53-ft.-long rocket developed 60,000 lbs. thrust and reached 222-mi. (357-km.) altitude before impacting in Atlantic Ocean some 106 mi. from launch site. Preliminary examination of data indicated rocket's performance was close to predicted. Direction of sounding rocket program was under OSSA. (NASA Release 66-221; Wallops Release 66-44)
U.S.S.R. announced that COSMOS CXXII, launched June 25, was collecting meteorological data which would be sent to other nations in accordance with 1962 agreement with U.S. Satellite carried "instruments for taking TV pictures of the clouds, cameras to photograph clouds by infrared rays on the day and night sides of the earth, and instruments to measure radiation in the earth's atmosphere." (Tass, 8/17/66)
Dr. Carl Schreiber, Procurement Specialist with NASA Hq. Office of Industry Affairs since Aug. 2, 1964, died in Washington, D.C. Dr. Schreiber, NACA employee since 1939, had been Assistant Procurement and Supply Officer from 1958-64. (NASA Hq. Bull.)
Soviet Air Marshal V. A. Agaltsov claimed in Tass interview that the U.S.S.R. could fire long-range nuclear missiles from aircraft. He said this meant Soviet bombers could be beyond limits of enemy's antiaircraft defense zone and accurately fire missiles from distance of several hundred miles. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 8/17/66, 18)
Martin Co. had been awarded a three-month, $75,000 contract to design and develop a flight-qualified, lightweight, hand-held lunar core driller for use on Apollo missions, MSC announced. Similar contract, also for $75,000, had been awarded Northrop Space Laboratories. (Chic. Trib., 8/18/66)
August 17-18: Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications held hearings concerning Ford Foundation's Aug. 1 proposal to FCC to create a nonprofit domestic satellite system which would carry "an extensive schedule" of educational television programs financed by transmission of commercial TV programs. Ford Foundation president McGeorge Bundy said that although the use of profits from a commercial business to finance a noncommercial undertaking might be novel to television, creation of a special carrier service in the public interest was not without precedent. He cited the Government's granting of special mailing privileges to newspapers and magazines. Bundy disclosed the Ford Foundation was planning to arrange "a series of meetings in various parts of the country with potential users of a noncommercial satellite system." Fred W. Friendly, TV consultant to Bundy, described what he said was the underlying irony of modern TV: commercial networks had the money to do qualitative public service but lacked sufficient time on the air, while educational TV had the time but lacked the money. ComSatCorp chairman James McCormack said the heart of the Ford proposal called for the "funneling of savings" that might be enjoyed by commercial communications carriers into support of a cultural undertaking. While acknowledging the value of educational TV, McCormack said he felt only Congress could rule whether one segment of a diversified society could be compelled to support another segment without benefit of specific legislation to that end. AT&T vice president Richard Hough, ITT executive Bertram B. Tower, and Western Union Telegraph Go. vice president Earl D. Hilburn challenged the proposal saying that any such communications system should adhere to the common carrier principle of serving all users rather than any particular group such as broadcasters. While these witnesses supported the objective, they questioned the feasibility of the plan on economic and technical grounds. Tower suggested that consideration be given to permitting special rates for educational TV services through existing common carriers. Hilburn said that rate adjustments in favor of educational broadcasters might be authorized if some form of subsidy were determined to be in the national interest. Sen. John O. Pastore (D-R.I.), who had called the hearings, said they were a "prelude" to action by FCC and noted that Congress almost certainly would want to explore the implications of the Ford proposal as it related to a private corporation. Hearings were completed Aug. 23. (ComSatCorp Releases; Gould, NYT, 8/18/66,59; Wash. Post, 8/18/66, A12; AP, Wash. Post, 8/19/66, A2)
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