Jun 17 1969
From The Space Library
Apollo Program Director, Samuel C. Phillips (USAF), gave go-ahead to Apollo 11 lunar landing mission for launch July 16. Nine-hour flight readiness review had revealed only one major problem-in guidance system. "Although this problem is not completely resolved at this time," Gen. Phillips said, "I am confident this will not become a constraint to the July launch." (AP, W Star, 6/18/69, Al)
Dr. Arthur Rudolph, former Saturn V Program Manager at MSFC, was honored by W. Randolph Lovelace II Award at American Astronautical Society banquet in Denver, Colo. Award was presented for his sustained contribution to space travel in directing Saturn V launch vehicle program 1963 through 1968. It was accepted for Dr. Rudolph by Dr. Helmut G. Krause of MSFC. (Release 69-144)
Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Secretary of the Air Force, discussed need for improved manned bomber at joint national meeting of American Astronautical Society and Operations Research Society of America, in Denver, Colo.: "Those who criticize the bomber as an obsolete system in the missile age are often the same people who refer to our alleged 4-to-1 superiority over the Soviets in individually targeted warheads." Ratio would be "nearly 1-to-1, with total payload running heavily against us, if it were not for our bomber force with its multiple weapons on each aircraft. If our bombers are to continue to provide deterrence, they must be able to survive an attack and then penetrate the ever-improving Soviet defenses. The B-52 is still a good aircraft, but the prototype was flying in 1952 and the latest models were produced in 1962. An advanced bomber will take advantage of the many improvements that have been made in airframe and engine design. It would have short take-off and landing capability needed for dispersal and payload, structure, and speed necessary for penetration." In security terms, space age presented dangers, but also afforded opportunities for increasing strategic stability. "Each generation of space vehicles will provide additional improvements in our ability to monitor enemy activities. We are now working on a satellite early warning system that would detect missiles as they are launched from land or sea. With the aid of such a warning system a dispersed bomber force would be able to take off from its bases before the impact of enemy weapons, even if the time of flight of the latter were greatly reduced." (Text)
Australian marathon runner Bill Emmerton left Houston, Tex., on 1,034-mi jog to Cape Kennedy, Fla., where he would watch Apollo 11 launch. He would travel on foot approximately 40 mi per day, arriving morning of July 16. Purpose of run was to publicize benefits of physical conditioning, pay tribute to fitness of lunar crew, and commemorate Apollo 11 flight. (Spaceland News, 6/69, 11; PMR Release 916-69)
Sen. Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass.), for 37 cosponsors, introduced on Senate floor S.R. 211, "sense of the Senate" resolution urging President Nixon to propose to U.S.S.R. immediate suspension by U.S. and U.S.S.R. of flight test of multiple missile warheads and strongly supporting prompt negotiations with U.S.S.R. on weapon issues. (CR, 6/17/69, S6538)
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