Feb 24 1970
From The Space Library
NASA's X-24A lifting-body vehicle, piloted by Maj. Jerauld R. Gentry (USAF), successfully completed ninth glide flight over South Rogers Lake Bed, Calif. Objectives were to obtain stability and control data with flap and rudder settings that would be used on powered flights, obtain expected angle of attack and mach number for powered flights, and determine effects of modifying nose-gear door to reduce pitch-down tendency at gear deployment. Pilot flew X-24A through turbulence without difficulty and landing gear door modification apparently alleviated pitch-down. Next X-24A flight would be powered. (NASA Proj Off)
Challenge and objectives of space science and applications program for next decade were outlined by Dr. John E. Naugle, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications, before House Committee on Science and Astronautics during NASA FY 1971 authorization hearings: "In the allocation of its scarce resources NASA is emphasizing those projects which help solve immediate problems and deferring to a later year those major new starts whose objectives are primarily to gain the new knowledge. Obviously, we cannot continue to defer such promising scientific projects indefinitely without mortgaging the economic health, the technical progress, and the security of this Nation. "In the immediate future these postponements are tolerable because of our active ongoing program, Future Aeronomy and Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) Explorer missions will be directed at the earth's environment: improved OSO's will study the sun and provide data for correlation with ecology studies; the Small Astronomy Satellites (SAS) will start giving us continued data on galactic x-rays and gamma-rays; and future missions of the OAO will continue the successful observation program begun with OAO-2. Before the middle of the decade, we will visit two additional planets, Jupiter and Mercury. We will orbit Mars in 1971 and land in 1976. Under our supporting programs, we are analyzing space data, developing theories to explain the findings; we are conducting relatively less expensive but very productive investigations with sounding rockets and airplanes; and are developing concepts and investigations for future missions." Establishing scientific priorities, allocating proper resources to research, and deciding between various expensive scientific projects would continue to be "a most difficult problem." NASA would work with in-house scientists, advisory groups, and NAS and NAE "to be sure that the scientific projects we are undertaking are sound and worthy of support." (Testimony)
Donald P. Hearth, Director of Planetary Programs, OSSA, testified on continuation of Mars program before Committee: "The results of the Mariner 6 and 7 missions have affected very little the probability that life, in some form, may exist and they have not dampened the enthusiasm of the biologist to search for life on Mars. The apparent low nitrogen content in the atmosphere can be tolerated by many organisms. In fact, biota can be readily conceived which do not directly utilize gaseous nitrogen at all. The results have increased the geological interest in Mars primarily due to the discovery of the chaotic and featureless terrains. An understanding of these geological differences could shed new light on the origin and evolution of Mars and, thereby, on the origin and evolution of the solar system as a whole. We are, therefore, continuing the Mars program. . . . However because of the need to minimize expenditures. . .it has been necessary to delay the Viking missions from 1973 to 1975." (Testimony)
R. B. Marsten, Director of Communications Programs, OSSA, testified on broadcast service of NASA advanced flight experimentation in satellite communications: "Broadcast services come in three classes-the distribution class, which, through a relatively small satellite, would broadcast program material to large receivers, perhaps co-located with local broadcast transmitters for rebroadcast in the conventional mode; a somewhat larger satellite in the community mode, which would broadcast to moderate size receivers located in village squares, or in remote areas and connected to a cable distribution system for redistribution of the program material to viewing sets; and. . .direct broadcast mode, in which multi-kilowatt power level satellites broadcast directly to the user, who may have a conventional TV receiver. This application has the potential of providing instant national service where there is no ground infrastructure, and is much talked about now for educational purposes." (Testimony)
Jesse L. Mitchell, Director .of Physics and Astronomy Programs, OSSA, said in submitted statement that research with instrumented aircraft was integral part of NASA program. "This research helps to bridge the gap between groundbased experiments and those that require the more expensive rockets and space vehicles. We have conducted auroral and airglow research observations of the solar corona during total eclipses and infrared observations. The ability to investigate interstellar dust and other celestial objects by observing their infrared emissions is opening up a promising line of research. A small jet aircraft has been used to take a 12-inch [305-mm] infrared telescope to 50 000 feet [15 200 m] above the earth. At this altitude, much of the infrared radiation from the universe is observable; in contrast, at the surface of the earth it is obscured by water vapor. Investigators from the University of Arizona have used a Lear jet from ARC for observations of planets, stars, and galaxies at wavelengths from 30 to 300 microns." They had discovered centers of galaxies were bright in infrared. Because of importance of this area of astronomy, "3b-inch [914-mm] telescope is presently being constructed to be placed in a C-141 jet airplane. This plane and the larger telescope will constitute a unique and effective airborne astronomical observatory." (Testimony)
Joseph B. Mahon, Director of Launch Vehicle and Propulsion Programs, OSSA, submitted statement on NASA plans for use of Titan IIIC and Titan-Centaur booster configuration. Titan IIIC would be used to launch ATS-F and ATS-G into synchronous orbit. Introduction of Titan-Centaur configuration in time scale to support Viking mission would represent "vital portion of the effort associated with the Centaur Program in Calendar Years 1971,1972, and 1973." NASA and USAF had concluded basic management agreements for operation of Titan IIIC and Titan-Centaur systems. USAF would act as Titan IIIC launch vehicle systems manager, responsible to NASA mission direction. NASA would be Titan-Centaur launch vehicle systems manager but would use selected elements of existing USAF contractor organizations. Titan III complex at ETR would be modified to provide single launch pad capability for supporting planetary opportunities with two launches from the same pad. Plans for Titan III-Centaur included engineering proof flight of all-up Viking configuration late in 1973. First operational use was planned for 1974 to support Helios-A solar probe, subject to discussions with West Germany. During FY 1970, preliminary design and program definition effort for Titan III-Centaur would be completed and final design and qualification effort initiated, as well as action for procurement of proof-flight vehicle and supporting hardware. (Testimony)
Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, began six-day visit to Australia to discuss space program cooperation. (Reuters, W Post, 2/13/ 70)
Monique, elk fitted with electronic collar Feb. 19 to transmit data on elk migration to orbiting Nimbus III, died of pneumonia-like disease. NASA would select another elk and continue the tracking experiment. (SBD, 2/26/70, 254)
NASA announced designation of Apollo Applications program as "Skylab." (NASA Release 70-30)
Arcas sounding rocket was launched by NASA from Churchill Research Range carrying Univ. of Houston experiment to study ionosphere. Mission was partially successful and met minimum scientific requirements. (SR list)
Apollo 12 astronauts arrived in Luxembourg and met with Grand Duke during 40-day, 21-nation tour. (AP, W Star, 2/25/70, A5)
Boeing 747 had emerged "as the most thoroughly tested transport in history," Charles Yarborough said in Washington Evening Star. For year Boeing Co. had been subjecting complete 747 minus operating systems to total destruction, "flexing its great wings upward 29 feet [9 m] and applying wing-airframe stresses of 116 percent of the ultimate design load." Test figures had shown aircraft withstood 174% of maximum load anticipated in normal operations. Aircraft, in operation, was encountering problem of wake turbulence. French government had threatened to ban inauguration of 747 service to Paris on March 1 because of "troubled air its massive engines leave behind." U.K. had warned all aircraft to follow FAA rule calling for 16 km (10 mi) horizontal separation between 747 and other aircraft. Normal separation was three to five miles (five to eight kilometers). FAA edict, applicable only in U.S., also called for 600-m (2000-ft) vertical separation. (W Star, 2/24/70, A9)
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