Apr 7 1970
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCCXXX from Plesetsk into orbit with 538-km (334.3-mi) apogee, 517-km (321.3-mi) perigee, 95.1-min period, and 74.0° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 4/30/70; SBD, 4/13/70, 201)
Edward C. Polhamus of LaRC Stability and Performance Branch testified before Senate Committee on Government Operations Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations during F-111 hearings. Extensive wind-tunnel tests of F-111 during aircraft's development stage had led LaRC engineers in 1963 to conclude F-111 would not meet USAF specification for primary mission dash requirement; aircraft would not develop maneuver capability at supersonic speeds specified by contractor; and aircraft's directional stability was extremely low at supersonic speeds. Primary mission shortcoming had been "associated with a high drag level which required significant design changes to solve." Polhamus said contractor, General Dynamics Corp., had insisted F-111 would exceed primary mission requirement "and did little in the way of airframe modification." (Testimony; P Inq, 4/8/70, 2)
U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Feb. 16 appeal by atheist Mrs. Madalyn Murray O'Hair of District Court decision rejecting her suit against NASA to ban prayer in space. (Reuters, B Sun, 4/7/70, A6)
Senate passed S.C.R. 49 to provide Congressional recognition of Dr. Robert H. Goddard and Goddard Rocket and Space Museum. (CR, 4/7/70, S5153)
Comet Bennett, discovered Dec. 28, 1969, by J. C. Bennett of Pretoria, South Africa, had been visible to naked eye for several hours before dawn, New York Times said. It was expected to fade by end of April and might never be seen again. (NYT, 4/7/70, 11)
FAA-DOT Certificate of Commendation was presented by FAA Administrator John H. Shaffer to Col. A. B. McMullen (USAF, Ret.) for outstanding contribution to development of general-aviation airports throughout U.S. and for his lifelong dedication to advancement of airport facilities throughout the world. Certificate was presented during ceremonies at National Aviation Club in Washington, D.C. (FAA Release 70-30)
MSFC announced award of 10-mo contract extension at $6.4 million to Brown Engineering Co. for engineering and operation support to MSFC Astronautics Laboratory. (MSFC Release 70-70)
James J. Kilpatrick in Washington Evening Star criticized Administration's intention to invest additional $290 million in SST: "Except for speed, the SST offers not a single advantage in range, comfort, passenger volume, profits, safety, ease of handling-none of these. And unlike the Boeing 747, which the industry developed at its own expense, the SST would cost the taxpayers a fortune in subsidies unlikely ever to be recouped." (W Star, 4/7/70, A7)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
