May 2 1969
From The Space Library
USAF launched two unidentified satellites from Vandenberg AFB by Thor-Agena booster. One entered orbit with 202.1-mi (325.2-km) apogee, 104.6-mi (168.3-km) perigee, 89.5-min period, and 64.9° inclination and reentered May 23. Second satellite entered orbit with 283.2-mi (455.7-km) apogee, 255.9-mi (411.7-km) perigee, 93.2-min period, and 65.7° inclination. Satellites reentered Feb. 16, 1970. (GSFC SSR, 5/15/69; 5/31/69; 2/28/70; Pres Rpt 70 {69])
Data from Mariner V flyby Oct. 19, 1967, indicated Venus was layered with deadly compounds of mercury, GSFC scientist Dr. S. Ichtiaque Rasool said in interview. Although bulk of its atmosphere was primarily carbon dioxide, mercury and halides-reactive chemicals including iodine, bromine, and chlorine-had boiled off planet's surface and combined to form clouds of poisonous gas and dust, often covered by water vapor. Findings, Dr. Rasool said, upset scientific notions of origin of Venus' heat as "greenhouse" effect-which might be occurring on earth with addition of carbon dioxide to atmosphere through burning of coal and oil. Clouds of carbon dioxide were assumed to retain heat, but planet covered with four layers of heavily colored atmosphere would never feel sun's heat. (Lannan, W Star, 5/3/69)
Basic research program conducted by Dr. Wilhelm Rindner had led to development of cardiovascular pressure transducer, ERC reported. Tiny device had been placed in arteries and hearts of laboratory animals to measure blood pressure while using 100 times less power than conventional devices. Medical team headed by Harvard Univ. cardiologist Dr. Bernard Lown, in collaboration with NASA, said device was significant advance in monitoring important blood flow changes. Eventually it should be possible to implant device in human beings to observe blood flow and pressure in persons suffering from hypertension and other blood pressure disorders, including heart attacks, Discovery of properties of device was made during ERC study of effects of pressure on semiconductors. Properties would also be important in space applications; sensing of acceleration already had been demonstrated. (ERC Release 69-9)
NASA. unloaded eight-ton airlock at MSFC for ground testing to qualify it as part of orbiting space station. Part of Apollo Applications program cluster to be launched in mid-1970s, 65-in-dia, 17-ft cylindrical unit was flown from McDonnell Douglas Corp.'s St. Louis plant to be joined to multiple-docking adapter. It would provide interconnecting passageway between S-IVB rocket stage and multiple-docking adapter in flight, condition environmental gases, and provide instrumentation, data management, intercommunication, and other services. (MSFC Release 69-124)
MSFC announced it had issued RFPs for experiment modules to be used with proposed manned space Station to orbit earth in 1970s. Study, under eight-month contract, would analyze scientific and engineering need for experiment modules and develop concepts for least number of modules needed. Study tasks included further defining candidate experiment groupings, developing preliminary module concepts, defining minimum number of concepts, developing preliminary design and cost analysis for each module concept, and making proposed plan schedule. Proposals were due May- 22. (MSFC Release 69-125)
At DOD news conference, Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., said current estimate of cost to Government of C-5A aircraft was $4.348 billion, increase of $882 million (25%) over original estimate of $3,466 billion on which Lockheed Aircraft Corp. contract was based. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Robert H. Charles said USAF had not disclosed Feb. 1, 1967, "cure order" to Lockheed on aircraft procurement contract because of concern over its effects on financial community. He maintained data on cost overruns had been developed too early in program to be solid enough for publication and that sub- sequent firmer cost estimates had been made public. (Transcript; Corddry, B Sun, 5/3/69, A4)
In editorial directed to "Americans who think Soviet Russia is 'mellowing' " and who opposed President Nixon's Safeguard ABM plan, New York News noted U.S.S.R. had paraded no military gear in Moscow May Day parade and limited oratory "to a peace-it's-wonderful speech" by Brezhnev. Paper then quoted April 30 issue of Partinaya Zhizn in which Marshal Matvey V. Zakharov, U.S.S.R. Chief of Staff, described Soviet stockpile of nuclear missiles: "These rockets are always prepared for immediate firing. Global rockets have unlimited range, and are able not only to carry colossal payloads but to overcome the antimissile defense of the adversary." (NY News, 5/2/69)
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