Mar 3 1969
From The Space Library
March 3-13: NASA's Apollo 9 (AS-504), first manned flight of Apollo lunar module, was successfully launched from KSC Launch Complex 39, Pad A, at 11:00 am EST by Saturn V booster-for extensive LM tests, extravehicular activity, and CSM -LM separation, rendezvous, and docking to simulate activities after lunar landing. Flight carried LM -3 and CSM -104. Launch had been postponed three days because crew had virus respiratory infections. Primary objectives were to demonstrate crew, space vehicle, and mission support facilities performance during manned Saturn V mission with CSM and LM ; demonstrate LM and crew performance, demonstrate performance of nominal and selected backup lunar orbit rendezvous (Lox) mission activities; and assess CSM /LM consumables. Multispectral photography experiment was carried for first time.
March 3-13: Apollo 9, first manned flight of the Apollo lunar module, successfully tested in space CSM -LM separation, rendezvous and docking, and extravehicular activities to simulate actions after a manned lunar landing. David R. Scott, pilot of the cm, stood in the open hatch of the docked cm with the earth as a backdrop, photographed by LM pilot Russell L. Schweickart from the porch of the LM. to provide photos of earth resources using several different film-filter combinations. Launch events occurred as planned and spacecraft, carrying Astronauts James A. McDivitt (commander), David R. Scott (CM pilot), and Russell L. Schweickart (LM pilot), entered initial orbit with 119.5-mi (192.3-km) apogee and 117.6-mi (189.3-km) perigee. After post-insertion checkout CSM, code-named "Gumdrop," separated from Saturn V 3rd stage ([[Saturn IVB|S-IVB ]] ) and LM, code-named "Spider." Crew successfully transposed and docked with LM, and docked spacecraft was separated from 3rd stage with RCS burn. Two S-IVB burns placed stage on earth-escape trajectory. Crew conducted first docked SPS burn. On second day crew tracked landmarks, conducted pitch and yaw roll maneuvers, and increased apogee by firing SPS engine three times. On third day, McDivitt and Schweickart entered LM through docking tunnel, evaluated LM systems, transmitted first telecast, and conducted first manned firing of LM descent propulsion system (DPS ). They then returned to and conducted fifth SPS burn to circularize orbit. McDivitt and Schweickart reentered LM on fourth day and transmitted second telecast. Schweickart, recovered from earlier nausea, spent 37 min outside spacecraft, walking between LM and hatches, maneuvering on handrails, and standing in "golden slipper" foot restraints. He commented on sun's brightness, photographed spacecraft and earth, and described rain squalls over KSC before he and McDivitt returned to . Scott opened CM hatch and retrieved thermal samples from CSM exterior. McDivitt and Schweickart reentered LM on fifth day to perform CSM -LM rendezvous. Scott separated from LM and fired reaction control system thrusters to place spacecraft about 3.4 mi (5.5 km) apart. LM DPS was ignited twice to set up rendezvous. LM descent stage was jettisoned and LM ascent propulsion system (APS) was fired to set up conditions for circularization. Although problems were encountered with crewman optical alignment sight (COAS) because of extremely bright reflections, radar and optical sightings backed up by earth tracking enabled spacecraft to dock successfully after being up to 114 mi (183.5 km) apart during 61/2-hr separation. After McDivitt and Schweickart returned to , crew jettisoned LM ascent stage and maneuvered to safe distance while stage burned to propellant depletion and entered orbit with 4,309-mi (6,934.5-km) apogee and 142.2-mi (228.8-km) perigee. By end of fifth day 97% of Apollo 9 objectives had been successfully accomplished. On sixth through ninth days crew conducted sixth and seventh SPS burns to alter apogee, tracked NASA's Pegasus III meteoroid detection satellite (launched July 30, 1965), took multispectral photos of earth, tracked landmarks, exercised spacecraft systems, and prepared for reentry. Final SPS burn for deorbit on 10th day was delayed one revolution because of unfavorable weather in planned landing area. CM -SM separation, parachute deployment, and other reentry events were nominal; spacecraft reentered during 152nd revolution and splashed down in Atlantic 180 mi east of Bahamas at 12:53 pm EST March 13, 241 hrs 53 secs after launch, within sight of recovery ship U.S.S. Guadalcanal. Crew was picked up by helicopter and flown to recovery ship within one hour after splashdown. Astronauts were welcomed by Guadalcanal crew and received congratulatory telegram message from President Nixon which said: "The epic flight of Apollo Nine will be recorded in history as ten days that thrilled the world. You have by your courage and your skill helped to shape the future of man in space. The three of you and the great team which enabled you to complete your successful mission have shown the world that the spirit of man and his technological genius are eager to begin an age of adventure, an age which will benefit all the people on this good earth." All primary Apollo 9 objectives were achieved and anomalies were not serious enough to alter mission operations or flight plan significantly. First manned flight of LM qualified last major component for lunar landing mission. Apollo 9 was sixth Apollo mission to date and third manned Apollo mission. Earlier unmanned Apollo flights had yielded all spacecraft information possible without crew on board. Apollo 4 (launched Nov. 9, 1967) and Apollo 5 (launched Jan. 22, 1968) had both been highly successful, completing inflight tests of all major pieces of Apollo hardware. Apollo 6 (launched April 4, 1968), despite launch vehicle problems, had attained four of five primary objectives with spacecraft recovered in excellent condition. First manned Apollo mission, Apollo 7 (Oct 11-22, 1968), had achieved all primary objectives and verified operation of spacecraft for lunar-mission duration. Second manned mission, Apollo 8 (Dec. 21-27, 1968), proved capability of Apollo hardware and systems to operate out to lunar distances and return through earth's atmosphere. Apollo Program was directed by NASA Office of Manned Space Flight; MSC was responsible for Apollo spacecraft development, MSFC for Saturn V launch vehicle, and KSC for launch operations. Tracking and data acquisition was managed by GSFC under overall direction of NASA Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Releases 69-29, 69-33; PD, 3/17/69, 400)
March 3: Following successful Apollo 9 launching, President Nixon issued statement: "The successful launching of the Apollo 9 spacecraft marks another milestone in the journey of man into space. The hopes and prayers of mankind go with Col. James A. McDivitt, Col. David R. Scott, and Mr. Russell Schweickart on their courageous mission. The genius of the American scientist and technological community, which created and designed the Saturn V, the command ship, and the lunar module, once again stirs the imagination and gratitude of the world. We are proud of this American adventure; but this is more than an American adventure. It is an adventure of man, bringing the accumulated wisdom of his past to the task of shaping his future. The 10-day flight of Apollo 9 will, we hope, do something more than bring America close to the moon; it can serve to bring humanity closer by dramatically showing what men can do when they bring to any task the best of man's mind and heart." (PD, 3/10/69, 356)
After watching Apollo 9 launch at KSC, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -NASC Chairman-told press he would be special advocate for space program. "I will lend whatever thrust I can to nudge the President into an awareness of what I consider of overriding importance." His interest in space was heightened by "the wonderful experience of visiting with astronauts, preparing for future missions," and seeing dedication of workers in all jobs connected with program. (B Sun, 3/4/69, A6)
Aerobee 150 MI sounding rocket launched by NASA from WSMR with VAM-20 booster carried GSFC experiment to 101.5-mi (163-km) altitude to search for cosmic x-ray radiation near Scorpius and north pole of galaxy. Rocket and experiments performed satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)
USAF announced it had selected TRW Inc. for initial increment of $14 million to estimated $37,653,090 contract to design new, synchronous comsats for Phase II of Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS). New satellites would be used with small surface terminals. Steerable, narrow-beam antennas would focus portion of satellite energy to areas of 1,000- or 2,000-mi dia and could be steered to different locations on earth's surface in minutes. Satellites could be moved to new position in days as needed. (DOD Release 148-69)
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