Oct 18 1967
From The Space Library
NASA's OSO IV (OSO-D) Orbiting Solar Observatory was successfully launched from ETR with three-stage Thor-Delta booster to study the sun and its influence on earth's atmosphere. Orbital parameters: apogee, 358.8 mi (577 km); perigee, 336.7 mi (542 km); period, 95.8 min; and inclination, 32.9°. Fourth of eight spacecraft in NASA's OSO program to provide direct observation of the sun during most of an 11-yr solar cycle, OSO IV weighed 599 lbs, carried nine experiments, was designed for a six-month lifetime, and had two main sections: the wheel (lower) section provided stability by gyroscopic spinning and housed the telemetry. command equipment, batteries, electronic controls, gas spin-control arms, and six experiment packages; the sail (upper) section was oriented toward the sun and contained solar cells and three solar pointing experiments. Primary purpose of OSO IV was to obtain high-resolution spectral data within the range 1A-1350A from pointed solar experiments in the spacecraft during major portion of one solar rotation and adequate operational support of spacecraft subsystems including raster scan of solar disk to carry out acquisition of these scientific data. Secondary objective was to obtain useful data from non pointed experiments and from pointed experiments during more than one solar rotation. Experiments, designed to continue and extend work of OSO I (launched March 7,1962) , OSO II (launched Feb. 3,1965) , and OSO III (launched March 8,1967) by collecting data on solar x-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation, and other solar activity, were provided by two American and two British universities, one U.S. Government agency, and one private company. OSO IV was first in series to carry foreign experiments and second (OSO II was the first) capable of scanning entire solar surface by means of a Solar Ultraviolet Scanning Spectrometer which could record a "picture" (digital number) of the sun and transmit it to receiving stations. Spacecraft also had an improved ground-control system which permitted it to receive up to 140 different commands-compared to 10 for OSO I, 70 for OSO II, and 94 for OSO III. Project officials at GSFC reported that satellite spin rate, power level, charge rate, and temperatures were normal and that both tape recorders were operating; all experiments were fully operational by Oct. 25. os0 program was managed by GSFC under OSSA direction. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 67-262)
U.S.S.R.'s Venus IV planetary probe (also designated Venera IV) entered atmosphere of planet Venus at 12:34 am EDT and ejected instrumented capsule intended for soft-landing on Venus. After aerodynamic braking, automatic parachute system provided gradual descent through 15-mi dense, hot, windy atmosphere, and capsule made [purported] soft-landing at 2:08 am EDT. Mstislav V. Keldysh, President of Soviet Academy of Sciences, later presented scientific proof for soft-landing [see Oct. 30]. Launched June 12, the 2,438-133 Venus IV had traveled trajectory of more than 210 million mi; 49 million mi would be covered by transmitted signals from capsule to earth antennas. According to Soviet scientists, atmosphere as recorded by instrumented capsule had almost whole carbon dioxide composition with about 1.5% oxygen and water vapors; no significant traces of nitrogen; and a temperature range of 104-536° F. Reports indicated no noticeable magnetic field and no radiation belt, but detectable weak hydrogen corona. "Because Venus rotates so slowly around its axis [purported to be once in 244 earth days] half the planet is cold," said Soviet scientist Josif Shklovski. Because the other half heated to "monstrous temperature," he said surface of Venus would appear to be "a dry hot desert." He noted that temperature extremes would cause constant winds on Venus of about 450 mph" [accounting for large amount of drift of capsule during descent]. Moscow news reports from Izvestia and Tass said: Venus IV's mission had been accomplished and instruments had ceased functioning after radioing data from soft-landing site on heat, pressure, and carbon dioxide hostile to most forms of life; mother spacecraft burned in Venus' atmosphere. Some reports did not claim soft-landing. Soviet astronomer Vitali Bronshtein's claim that radio contact was being maintained with instrumented capsule was unconfirmed. Also, cessation of signals from instrumented capsule received varied explanations from international sources. Tass reported antenna of package had failed to point in the right direction and that package's bulk had blocked direct contact with earth. Jodrell Bank Observatory Director Sir Bernard Lovell expressed doubt that any electronic device could withstand high temperatures on Venusian surface. (Friendly, W Post, 10/18/67, 1; Kamm, NYT, 10/19/67, 1; Bishop, WSJ, 10/19/6'7, 4; AI?, B Sun, 10/20/67; AP, W Star, 10/22/67, A3; SBD, 10/24/67, 283-5)
Communist Party and Soviet government leaders hailed Venus IV instrument package landing on planet Venus as honor to Bolshevik Revolution's 50th anniversary, Nov. 7. (Shub, W Post, 10/19/67, A9)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CLXXXIII into orbit with 212-km (132-mi) apogee, 145-km (90-mi) perigee, 89.9-min period, and 49° inclination. Equipment and instruments functioned satisfactorily. Satellite reentered same day. (UPI, NYT, 10/20/67,40; GSFC SSR, 10/31/67)
A total lunar eclipse began at 3:10 am EDT; the earth cast an almost 900,000-mi-long moving shadow on its journey around the sun. A meteor shower-the Orionids-added to the meteorological event. Weather permitting, these events would have been visible over most of North America. Schedule for meteor shower was Oct. 16-21. During eclipse, infrared studies of lunar soil were made by MSFC Space Sciences Laboratory and Univ. of Georgia research team. Perfect weather at Athens, Ga., permitted 20 traverses of moon during the eclipse. Using university observatory equipment-infrared radiometer attached to large telescope-to look for volcanic hot spots, scientists saw crater Tycho against cooler background during eclipse. The more general radiation pattern would be heat being radiated from lunar surface, including anomalies. Results were highly successful, reported Space Sciences Laboratory's deputy director Gerhard B. Heller. (W Star, 10/15/67, B6; McCandlish, NYT, 10/19/67,49; MSFC Release 67-214)
JPL scientists Robert J. Parks and Jack N. James were awarded Franklin Institute's Stuart Ballantine Medal for 1967 by Institute President Wynn L. LePage. Parks and James were cited for excellence in systems engineering and extraordinary skill in applying techniques of electromagnetic communications to first successful reconnaissance on Mars by MARINER IV. The Ballantine Medal was awarded for outstanding achievement in the fields of communication and reconnaissance which employed electromagnetic radiation. (JPL Lab-Oratory, 11/67, 3)
California study of education in urban poverty communities and accompanying social problems was made by Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. and California State Dept. of Education's Office of Compensatory Education. Systematic Effort to Analyze Results (Project SEAR) used systems approach and aerospace techniques in studying impact of compensatory education on students, parents, and communities. (Lockheed Release)
Government authority to ground private planes during poor weather would lead to a substantial reduction in accidents, Flight Safety Foundation President M/G J. D. Caldara (USAF, Ret.) told fourth biennial convention of National Assn. of Air Traffic Specialists in Atlantic City. Study of 5,300 general aviation accidents in 1965 showed 250 charged to pilots who took off, lost control, or continued visual flight in poor weather. (AP, NYT, 10/19/67,81)
U.S.S.R. and North Vietnam signed agreement to establish a satellite tracking station in North Vietnam and cooperate in synchronic photography of earth satellites. (Reuters, NYT, 10/19/67,9)
October 18-19: National Security Industrial Association Symposium was held in Washington, D.C. Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, spoke on role of Congress in R&D in 1970s. Citing increasing "Government concern for the involvement of science and technology in the welfare and security of the American people," he said it was increasingly obvious that science and technology, a prime source of many environmental problems, must be means by which they are solved. He also called for realism in minimizing influence of competition between political philosophies on implementation of scientific knowledge for human problems. "We must direct more and more attention . . . to the effects of urbanization, such as the pollution of air, water and the land, the practical control of population, to offsetting the constantly decreasing supply of natural resources such as fresh water, arable land, and fuels." (Text)
Gen. Bernard A. Schriever (USAF, Ret.), speaking on techniques for forecasting technological advances, emphasized need for enlightened and comprehensive planning and bold, imaginative management. He described technological forecasting as one of most valuable new tools for planners and managers. Indicating that forecasting must go beyond advanced planning, he called for its use in determining long-range implications of technological progress. If a manager, keeping a program open to possible advances in technology, chose improved performance, then he could be assured that when his truly advanced item entered the market or the military inventory, it would be effective for the maximum number of years. (Av Wk, 12/4/67,21)
October 18-22: NAS President Frederick Seitz cabled congratulations on Venus IV to President of U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences M. V. Keldysh, adding, "As our two nations enter the era of direct planetary exploration, we affirm the increasing need for full and prompt exchange of scientific data and our willingness to further such exchange through all appropriate international media." Keldysh replied, "On behalf of the USSR Academy of Sciences, I thank you for your congratulatory message and in my turn congratulate American scientists and technicians on . . . MARINER V." (NAS-NRC-NAE News Report, 11/67, 6)
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