Dec 15 1966
From The Space Library
Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey presented 1966 Harmon International Aviator's Trophy in Washington, D.C., to GEMINI VI Astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Jr., and Thomas P. Stafford and GEMINI VII Astronauts James A. Lovell, Jr., and Frank Borman for achieving first rendezvous in space by two separately launched maneuverable spacecraft Dec. 15, 1965. After the ceremony, the Vice President told newsmen he was one of those "manning the ramparts" against those who failed to see any direct public benefit from space exploration. He thought the space program had resulted in a superior educational system, increased industrial competence, new products, "and if it hasn't done anything else it has taught us to manage" vast undertakings. (Clark, NYT, 12/16/66, 21)
President Johnson's waning interest in space was postponing NASA's decision on a post-Apollo program, William Hines suggested in the Washington Evening Star. "NASA . . . is more to be pitied than censured for this silence. The agency has been led down the primrose path by . . . [President Johnson] who suddenly lost interest in the now shopworn ingenue. "NASA has no plans because . . . [he] has permitted it to make none; aspirations yes, but plans no. . . . " (Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/15/66, A2 3)
NASA would negotiate $l5-million fixed-price incentive contract with Douglas Aircraft Co. for 14 improved 2nd stages for Delta launch vehicle. GSFC would manage contract. (NASA Release 66-321)
AFSC announced awards to four aerospace companies: Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., $2-million initial increment to a $14-million fixed-price contract for production of Agena launch vehicles; Douglas Aircraft Co., $2.5-million initial increment to a $17.5-million fixed-price letter contract for production of Thor launch vehicles; and Aerojet-General Corp., $2.9-million initial increment to a $54.5-million contract, and TRW Inc., $2.9-million initial increment to a $50-million contract, both for R&D in an unmanned space technology program. (DOD Release 1048-66; WSJ, 12/16/66, 4)
December 15-16: ComSatCorp and AT&T filed separate plans with FCC to establish domestic comsat system. AT&T would orbit three synchronous satellites starting in 1969, eventually replacing them with four satellites of advanced design by 1976; under AT&T plan, ComSatCorp would own the satellites, and common carriers, the earth stations. ComSatCorp, in its filing, proposed launching four-satellite system beginning in 1969; more powerful comsats would be launched into synchronous orbit over equator and spaced over Nation's time zones in 1973 and 1978. Both AT&T and ComSatCorp objected to Ford Foundation's Aug. 1 proposal for nonprofit comsat system whose income would be used to support educational TV. (ComSatCorp Release; NYT, 12/16/66, 85M; 12/17/66, 59; Wash. Post, 12/17/66, C16; Wash. Eve. Star, 12/16/66, A24)
News briefing on Project Apollo was held at MSC. Dr. Joseph F. Shea, manager of NASA Apollo Spacecraft Office at MSC, said NASA hoped to launch three manned Apollo missions in 1967 involving "essentially every test that needs to get done in order to insure that the lunar operation is proper." He outlined the flights: (1) AS-204 three-man, earth-orbital mission of up to 14 days to check out crew, spacecraft, and ground equipment; (2) AS-205/208-10-to 12-day flight in which Uprated Saturn I boosters would launch an Apollo spacecraft with three-man crew and an unmanned Lunar Module (Lm) on successive days for rendezvous mission; and (3) AS-503-full-duration lunar mission rehearsal in earth orbit in which single Saturn V would launch manned Apollo spacecraft and Lm. Shea warned against undue optimism about a manned lunar landing in 1968. "It is literally true that there is no. planned date at the present time for the lunar operation. . . and I don't see how there can be until we have had hardware in orbit to understand what vestigial problems still remain." Donald Slayton, MSC Director of Flight Crew Operations, said that third, non flying crew had been added to each Apollo mission for additional ground support. He also revealed that training for astronauts selected for Apollo lunar missions would be 40 weeks-14 weeks longer than Gemini training course. Comparing Mercury and Apollo training programs, AS-204 Command Pilot Virgil I. Grissom said: "When we started training for Mercury, we didn't know what to train for. So we did everything. . . . Training for Apollo has been pretty straight forward. We know what we need to know and we know that we have to learn about the spacecraft, how to operate it and get our flight plan and our mission rules squared away. Back early in Mercury.. . we were worried about whether a man could live and survive . . . so we did a lot of things like spinning around in 3 axis machines that we don't feel you really need anymore. . . ." Grissom confirmed that AS-204 mission would carry camera for live television coverage. (Text, Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 12/7/66, A3)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
