Feb 26 1969
From The Space Library
NASA successfully launched ESSA IX (TOS-C) ninth meteorological satellite in ESSA's Tiros Operational Satellite (TOS) system from ETR by three-stage Thrust-Augmented Thor-Delta (DSV-3E) booster. Primary NASA mission objective was to place and operate spacecraft in sun-synchronous orbit with local equator crossing time between 2:15 pm and 2:35 pm so that daily advanced-vidicon-camera-system (AVCS) pictures of entire globe could be obtained regularly and dependably. Satellite achieved nearly polar, sun-synchronous, circular orbit with 934.6-mi (1,503.8-km) apogee, 884.4-mi (1,423.9-km) perigee, 115.2- min period, and 101.8° inclination. An advanced version of cartwheel configuration, 320-1 cylindrical ESSA IX carried flat plate radiometer to measure atmosphere's heat balance and two AVCS cameras for daily global weather coverage. Photos would be stored on board satellite on magnetic tape until readout by ESSA's Command and Data Acquisition (CPA) stations at Fairbanks, Alaska, and Wallops Island, Va. Satellite was backup to ensure full coverage after failure of one AVCS camera on ESSA VII (launched Aug. 16, 1968) and would be primary stored-data satellite in TOS system. Spacecraft was placed in wheel mode and spin rate was adjusted. Only anomaly was 20 rpm spin rate (rather than expected 10 rpm) after spacecraft spin-down. ESSA financed and managed TOS system and would operate spacecraft after NASA completed checkout in month. GSFC was responsible for procurement, launch, and initial checkout of spacecraft in orbit. (NASA Proj Off; ESSA Release ES-69-9)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCLXVII from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Orbital parameters: apogee, 331 km (205.7 mi) ; perigee, 202 km (125.5 mi) ; period, 89.8 min; and inclination, 65°. Satellite reentered March 6. (GSFC SSR, 2/28/69; 3/15/69; SBD, 2/27/69, 212; C Trib, 2/27/69)
LeRC announced it had completed assembly of Brayton Cycle space power generating system, which appeared promising as source of electrical power for space flights up to five years long. Self-supporting, closed-loop system operated when mixture of helium and xenon was heated to 1,600°F and circulated to drive turbine. Turbine operated alternator providing electric power and also compressor that helped circulate gas through system. Cycle would undergo tests in simulated space environment in summer. (LeRC Release 68-9)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced President Nixon had nominated John H. Shaffer, Vice President of TRW Inc." as Federal Aviation Administrator. Shaffer would replace Acting FAA Administrator, David D. Thomas, who would remain as Deputy Administrator. (DOT Release 2469)
MSFC announced it had extended contract with Mason-Rust for continued support services at Michoud Assembly Facility for six months. Contract modification amounted to $3,786,203, (MSFC Release 69-46)
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