Dec 6 1966
From The Space Library
NASA released summary of report on observatory-class earth satellites. Recommendations included: (1) redesign of outmoded electronic equipment that had performed poorly in space; (2) rigorous preflight testing with prototype models under simulated space conditions; (3) stronger management of observatory program within NASA; and (4) increased surveillance of performance at contractors' plants. Report was compiled by five-man board appointed April 21 by NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications Dr. Homer E. Newell and chaired by his Deputy for Engineering Robert F. Garbarini. It studied OAO I mission, which failed two days after April 8 launch because battery overheated, and reviewed Orbiting Solar Observatory (Oso), Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (Ogo) , and Nimbus meteorological satellite project practices. All programs were managed by GSFC. (NASA Release 66-313; UPI, NYT, 12/8/66, 53)
US. must continue to press for advanced technology to ensure The fundamental strength of our society for all purposes," Karl Harr, president of Aerospace Industries Assn., told Town Hall in Los Angeles. Because technological advance is largely indivisible, a nation either opts for technology or it doesn't. As some sister nations have learned, you either move with the tide of technological advance or you fall behind on all fronts. . . . Today the question becomes the same for us. It is not should we as a nation have space or other things, but rather can we have the `other things' if we reject the technological reach required by space. . . ." (Text)
USAF had successfully penetrated ion-sheath blackout phase of an Athena missile's reentry in test at WSMR, AP reported. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/7/66)
All F-104G Starfighter aircraft in West Germany's Air Force were grounded indefinitely as result of Nov. 28 air crash which killed pilot. Since 1962, 65 of Luftwaffe's 700 Starfighters had crashed, killing 37 pilots. Aircraft was manufactured by Lockheed Aircraft Corp. (Shabecoff, NYT, 12/7/66, 15)
December 6-7: NASA's ATS I (ATS-B), first satellite in Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) program, was successfully launched from ETR by Atlas-Agena D booster into elliptical transfer orbit with 22,831-mi. (36,758km.) apogee; 114-mi. (183-km.) perigee; 650-min. period; and 31ø inclination. At 16:30 GET, apogee motor was fired to place satellite into near-synchronous 22,300-mi.-altitude orbit. I t would be allowed to drift 12 days to stationary position over the Pacific at 151" west longitude. One of the most versatile satellites ever developed, 775-1b. ATS I carried 15 communications, technology, and scientific experiments, including camera systems for cloud-cover photos; two-way VHF transponder for voice communications between ground stations and aircraft in flight; electronically despun antenna to continuously direct a radio beam toward earth; and low-thrust resistojet which produced thrust of 450 millionths of a pound. Capable of multiple-access communications, satellite would be able to transmit TV and voice communications among stations in North America, Asia, and Australia. It would also be used to send weather data from ESSA facility at Suitland, Md., to Automatic Picture Transmission (Apt) stations in US., Japan, and Australia. Mission objectives were to inject spacecraft into synchronous orbit and place it on station; operate spacecraft for at least 30 days; and conduct experiments. ATS program-a five-satellite project managed by GSFC under OSSA direction-sought to investigate technology common to various spacecraft applications through flight experiments carried on spin-stabilized and gravity-gradient-stabilized spacecraft. (NASA Proj. Off.; NASA Release 66-308; Marshall Star, 12/7/66, 1, 4; Wash. Post, 12/8/66, A2; UPI, NYT, 12/9/66, 57; UPI, Wash. Post, 12/21/66, A15)
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