1966

From The Space Library

Johnson Space Center Press Releases. (7MB PDF)

In 1966, NASA attempted 36 major launches with 34 successes. Of 29 NASA missions, 22 were successes. DOD orbited 70 payloads in 43 launches. U.S.S.R. launched 43 payloads and France, one. Highlighting NASA space achievements were closeup photographs of the moon provided by SURVEYOR I and LUNAR ORBITERS I and II, the soft-landing on the moon by SURVEYOR I, and the five two-man Gemini space flights. SURVEYOR I transmitted more than 10,000 photographs of the moon; the two LUNAR ORBITERS returned a total of 635 lunar photo. graphs. Engineering data from these spacecraft indicated Apollo Lunar Module (LM) could land and operate safely on the lunar surface. In Project Gemini, NASA conducted five two-man space flights, successfully concluding the project [see Nov. 15] and bringing US. manhours in space to 1,993 hrs. 34 min. (compared to 507 hrs. 16 min. for U.S.S.R.). Major ground and flight tests in Project Apollo accelerated preparatory to 1st three-man Apollo/Saturn spaceflight, planned for early 1967. Three Uprated Saturn 1's were launched; Saturn V stages for the 1st flight model passed their final ground test firings. Atlas-Centaur liquid-hydrogen-fueled booster completed its development testing, demonstrating restart capability in space. Applications satellites launched were NIMBUS II meteorological satellite, three ESSA satellites inaugurating ESSA's operational meteorological satellite system, and INTELSAT II-A communications satellite for ComSatCorp. The first Applications Technology Satellite, ATS I, was launched into synchronous orbit.

Scientific achievements included orbiting of OGO III, PAGEOS I, EXPLORERS XXXII and XXXIII satellites, and PIONEER VII interplanetary spacecraft. More than 300 meteorological sounding rockets and 100 scientific sounding rockets were launched. A total of 20 flights of the X-15 research aircraft were conducted; X-15 No. 2 piloted by Maj. William J. Knight set a new record speed of 4,233 mph (mach 6.33). NASA-USAF flight research investigating sonic booms got underway in six flights with XB-70 aircraft; research for the U.S. supersonic transport program continued. M2-F2 lifting-body vehicle made 14 unpowered flights, and HL-10 lifting body made its first flight.

Among the highlights in propulsion technology was static test firing of the 260-in.-dia. solid-propellant rocket motor, producing 3.5 million lbs. of thrust. Two test series of NERVA nuclear reactors were conducted. One, in 110 min. of power operation, demonstrated stability and controllability of the hot-bleed cycle nuclear rocket engine. The other involved first successful full-power operation and a restart operation, ending the program with an accumulation of more than 105 min. of reactor operation at full or near-full power.

USAF flight tested its powerful Titan III booster and used it to orbit the first seven IDCSP satellites of an eventual worldwide military comsat system. Of the 43 Soviet payloads, 34 were Cosmos satellites and five, Luna spacecraft. Notable among these were COSMOS CX, orbiting two dogs for prolonged period; COSMOS CXXII, apparently first Soviet weather satellite; LUNA IX, achieving first soft-landing on the moon; and LUNA X, achieving first orbit of the moon. Also orbited were two MOLNIYA I comsats and the 12-ton PROTON III unmanned spacecraft used for cosmic-ray research; Yantar I ion-engine payload was flown in suborbital spaceflight test. France orbited her first instrumented scientific satellite, DIAPASON I, the second satellite built and launched by France. (NASA Release 66-319; Major NASA Launches; NASC; Tass; U S . Aeron. & Space Act., 1966, passim; A&A 1966, passim)

International space events were highlighted by the U.N.'s agreement on a space treaty to govern "activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies." The draft treaty-suggested by President Johnson May 7-was negotiated by the Legal Subcommittee of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. On December 19 the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution endorsing the treaty, subject to ratification by five nations including US., U.S.S.R., and U.K. By the end of 1966, 72 countries had cooperated with the US. in space research activities. Six countries joined the International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (Intelsat), bringing the total membership to 54. France and U.S.S.R. entered into agreement on cooperative space research, including experiments in astronomy and communications. (US. Aeron. & Space Act., 1966, passim; A&A 1966, passim)

Click here to listen to an official year-end report from NASA.