Jul 3 1969
From The Space Library
European Launcher Development Organization (ELDO) attempt to place Italian ELDO F-8 spacecraft into polar orbit from Woomera Rocket Range failed when West German 3rd stage of Europa booster malfunctioned. U.K. 1st stage and French 2nd stage performed satisfactorily. (SBD, 7/16/69, 14; AP, W Star, 7/3/69, A3; NASA Int Aff)
Apollo 11 booster, spacecraft, and Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., completed final countdown rehearsal test. Astronauts achieved simulated liftoff at 9:32 am EDT-exact time of scheduled July 16 launch. Final countdown for manned lunar landing mission would begin July 10. (AP, B Sun, 7/4/69, A10)
Apollo 11 astronauts would leave three items on lunar surface to commemorate landing, NASA announced. Silicon disc, 11/2-in-dia, would carry statements by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon; messages of goodwill from leaders of 73 countries; list of leaders of Congress and members of four congressional committees responsible for NASA legislation; and names of NASA's top management, past and present. Statements, messages, and names had been etched on disc by process used to make microminiature electronic circuits. Each message had been reduced 200 times, to barely visible dot. Three- by five-foot nylon American flag with tubing along top edge would be erected on eight-foot aluminum staff on airless moon. Two other U.S. flags and flags from 136 nations and 50 U.S. states would be carried to moon and returned to earth. Plaque left on LM descent stage would bear images of two hemispheres of earth and inscription "Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon thc moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." It would bear names of Apollo 11 crew-Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins -and President Nixon. (NASA Releases 69-83E, 69-83F, 69-83H)
At Leningrad news conference during U.S.S.R. tour, Astronaut Frank Borman said he hoped U.S. and Soviet spacemen would fly together in joint mission by mid-1970s. (Reuters, W Post, 7/4/69, A3)
Editorial in Washington Post entitled "Our Man on the Moon" criticized White House decision to leave on moon plaque on Apollo 11 LM descent stage with signature of President Nixon: "The proposed plaque would state that 'we came in peace for all mankind., That message, together with the names of the three brave men who made the voyage would seem to us to be enough." Editorial erroneously cited April 1968 article by NASA Historian Eugene M. Emme, "Historical Perspectives on Apollo," saying that nowhere did Mr. Nixon's name appear. Name did appear with reference to post-Sputnik statements in October 1957 and to promises of lunar landing by 1971 in 1960 election campaign. (W Post, 7/3/69, A14; Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 4/68, 369-81)
Apollo 11 might signal end to KSC area's economic boom, Wall Street Journal said. NASA had announced slack in Apollo launchings and cut in KSC employment from 23,500 to 18,500 persons. Brevard County (site of KSC ) housing construction had fallen some 40%, from 3,438 units in 1967 to 2,080 in 1968, and was currently down another 40%. (Prugh, WSJ, 7/3/69, 28)
Message from President Nixon was read at opening of summer session of 18-nation Disarmament Committee in Geneva: . .. draft agreements have been submitted by the United States and by the Soviet Union to prevent an arms race on the seabeds. Although differences exist, it should not prove beyond our ability to find common ground so that a realistic agreement may be achieved that enhances the security of all countries. . . Our goal should be to present a sound seabed arms control measure to the 24th General Assembly of the United Nations." (PD, 7/7/69, 929-30)
At Paris press conference Sud-Aviation President Henri Ziegler denied reports that France was dropping Concorde supersonic transport project for economic reasons. Milan aerodynamic system developed for Mirage supersonic fighter-bomber was being tested on French prototype. It consisted of two small nose wings which shortened takeoff and landing runs and retracted in flight to reduce resistance. (NYT, 7/5/69, 28)
An actor lands by helicopter in Dreher park in West Palm Beach Florida dressed as Major Matt Mason to promote the Mattel toys at the local JC Penney store.
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