Apr 25 1970
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched eight Cosmos satellites with single booster for continued space research. Orbital parameters: Cosmos CCCXXXVI, 1489-km (925.2-mi) apogee, 1464-km (909.7-mi) perigee, 115.4-min period, and 73:9° inclination; Cosmos CCCXXXVII, 1554-km (965.6-mi) apogee, 1469-km (912.8-mi) perigee, 116.2-min period, and 74° inclination; Cosmos CCCXXXVIII, 1517-km (942.6-mi) apogee, 1472-km (914.7-mi) perigee, 115.8-min period, and 74° inclination; Cosmos CCCXXXIX, 1468-km (912.2-mi) apogee, 1450-km (901.0-mi) perigee, 115-min period, and 74°inclination; Cosmos CCCXL, 1468-km (912.2-mi) apogee, 1412-km (877.4-mi) perigee, 114.6-min period, and 74° inclination; Cosmos CCCXLI, 1470-km (913.4-mi) apogee, 1345-km (835.7-mi) perigee, 113.9-min period, and 74° inclination; Cosmos CCCXLII, 1470-km (913.4-m ) apogee, 1312-km (815.2-mi) perigee, 113.5-min period, and 74° inclination; and Cosmos CCCXLIII, 1468-km (912.2-min) apogee, 1379km (856.9-mi) perigee, 114.2-min period, and 74° inclination. All systems were functioning satisfactorily. (GSFC SSR, 4/30/70,; AP, W Star, 4/27/70, Al)
Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, released statement: "Red China has apparently become the fifth nation to launch an Earth satellite with its own booster following the Soviet Union, the United States, France and Japan. Working in close cooperation with the U:S., Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Australia, and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) have flown Earth satellites. This new development has been anticipated for some time.... It is a dramatic demonstration of the determination of the Chinese leaders, despite many problems, to put science and technology very high on their list of national priorities." (Text)
DOD and USAF scientists showed "marked lack of surprise at launch of first Communist Chinese satellite," AP said. It quoted unidentified DOD scientist as saying launch did not indicate, by itself, that Communist Chinese had achieved capability to fire ICBMs at U.S. Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird had told Congress Feb. 20 that he believed Chinese would attempt launch, AP said. (B Sun, 4/26/70, Al)
U.S. was engaged in close electronic monitoring of Communist Chinese satellite and booster launch to determine its characteristics and capabilities, UPI reported. Intelligence analysts estimated Communist China might be able to develop and deploy 10 to 25 intercontinental ballistic missiles by mid-1975, which could threaten U.S. (Daniloff, UPI, P Inq, 4/26/70)
Announcement of launch of first Communist Chinese satellite was greeted in Peking with crashing of drums and cymbals. Thousands of Chinese converged on Tien An Men Square in demonstration which Washington Post said had been "well organized" since launch had been expected for "some time." Groups of teenagers, children, and even grandmothers marched behind red banners and large portraits of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. People's Liberation Army group carried six-foot-high model of Chinese character for double happiness. Downtown office buildings were outlined in white lights when news was relayed by TV at 9:30 pin Peking time; colored bulbs lit trees along Boulevard of Eternal Peace. Firecrackers exploded everywhere, and crowds, said Post, "seemed very relaxed and grinned happily at foreigners." (Webster, W Post, 4/28/ 70, A12)
Vice Premier Chiang Ching-kuo of Nationalist China watched technicians track Communist China's first satellite at NORAD Hq. in Colorado Springs, Colo. (W Post, 4/26/70, A14)
NASA was "bracing itself for the inevitable backlash of opinion," now that "public jubilation" over Apollo 13's safe return had subsided, Economist said. "But so far the reaction has been surprisingly mild. The newspapers have generally argued that people had become too over-confident about the dangers of space travel and that the exploration of the moon must continue. President Nixon has made it clear where he stands; he announced to Dr. Thomas Paine... that he had 'a great organization' and that he himself was a firm believer in manned space flight." (Economist, 4/25/70, 43-4)
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