1969

From The Space Library

Johnson Space Center Press Releases. (4MB PDF)

In 1969-the year man first set foot on another celestial body -U.S. orbited 54 spacecraft and U.S.S.R., 70. U.S. total included 31 orbited by DOD. NASA's 23 included 2 satellites orbited for DOD as secondary payloads. Highlight of 1969 was achievement of major goal in NASA's Apollo Program -to land man on the moon and return him safely to earth. Lunar landing system completed final phases of test and demonstration when Apollo 9 demonstrated operation of LM in earth orbit and Apollo 10 demonstrated operation of complete Apollo spacecraft in lunar orbit, with LM making two passes within 47,000 ft of lunar surface. Apollo Program climaxed with Apollo 11, July 16-24, when LM Eagle landed on moon and Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. -first men on the moon-performed tasks on lunar surface, redocked with CSM in lunar orbit, and returned safely to earth with lunar samples. Apollo 12 successfully accomplished second manned lunar landing with pinpoint accuracy, touching down close to Surveyor III, which had landed on moon April 19, 1967. Crew set up first ALSEP on lunar surface and returned safely to earth with lunar samples and parts of Surveyor III. Unmanned Mariner VI and Mariner VII passed within 2,000 mi of Mars, transmitting more than 200 times more data about Mars than were obtained by Mariner IV in 1964. Spacecraft measured chemical composition and temperature of atmosphere and surface and took 198 high-quality pictures, providing new insight into Mars surface characteristics.

Other scientific achievements included orbiting of OSO V, OSO VI, Ogo VI, and Explorer XLI. Applications satellites included Intelsat-III F-3, Intelsat-III F-4, and Intelsat-III F-5 for ComSat-Corp; ESSA IX meteorological satellite for ESSA; Nimbus III; and Ats V. Biosatellite III provided significant biological data on instrumented monkey on board, but mission was terminated early after monkey's physiological condition deteriorated, and monkey died shortly after recovery. Pioneer E, scheduled to enter solar orbit, and its secondary payload TETR-C were destroyed shortly after launch when Delta booster malfunctioned. Some 189 meteorological sounding rockets, 85 scientific sounding rockets, and 60 high-altitude balloons were launched. NASA-USAF XB-70 and X-15 programs were concluded and new joint program was initiated to continue aeronautical R&D, using YF-12 supersonic aircraft. First operational C-5A, military cargo transport and world's largest aircraft, was delivered to USAF and by November seven C-5As had accumulated 1,320 hrs flying time. Aeronautical R&D continued to improve quality and quantity of options available in aircraft technology, and aircraft industry made first flights of several wide-bodied jumbo jet transports for civil use, including Boeing 747.

New SST design with delta wing was approved by FAA and prototype construction was recommended by President Nixon. NASA's HL-10 lifting-body vehicle completed 3 successful glide flights and 15 powered flights included first supersonic flight at mach 1.1 and 54,000-ft altitude. USAF's X-24 A lifting-body vehicle completed 7 flights. DOD space program included orbiting of 2 Vela nuclear-detection satellites, 7 Orbiting Vehicle research satellites, Tacsat I tactical comsat, Egrs XIII (Secor XIII) geodetic satellite (launched by NASA), and U.K.'s Skynet A comsat (launched by NASA). Titan IIIM development was terminated and USAF's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL ) program was canceled because of budget cutbacks. NASA and AEC completed ground tests of XE experimental rocket engine with 28 successful startups and 2.8 hrs of operation, including 3.5 min at full thrust, and validated test stand No. 1 in Jackass Flats, Nev. SNAP-27 generator was used as electrical power source for Apollo 12 experiments left on moon and SNAP-19 was auxiliary power system for Nimbus III. SNAP-29 program was terminated. New liquid-propellant rocket engine was developed and new tripropellant system produced record performance for chemically powered engines. U.S.S.R.'s 70 payloads included 55 Cosmos satellites and 2 Inter-cosmos, 2 Meteor, 1 Luna, 1 Zond, 5 Soyuz, and 2 Venus spacecraft, and 2 Molniya I comsats. Manned Soyuz IV docked with manned Soyuz V and two cosmonauts transferred from Soyuz V to Soyuz IV before returning to earth. Manned Soyuz VI, VII, and VIII, launched on three successive days, rendezvoused in orbit and performed experiments including photography, communications, and welding. Luna XV, apparent unmanned challenger to NASA's Apollo 11 for first lunar landing and return, crashed onto lunar surface in July. U.S.S.R.'s Tu-144 delta-wing supersonic transport successfully reached speeds up to 900 mph and was demonstrated publicly in 90-min test flight. (Pres Rpt 70 [69] ; NASA Release 69-161; GSFC SSR, 12/31/69)

Year 1969 was one of critical decision and realignment of programs for NASA as primary goal of first decade was achieved through Apollo Program. Post-Apollo planning had preceded the coming of the Nixon Administration and Apollo 11. Budget retrenchment accelerated throughout Government as cost of Vietnam war continued high and White House sought to lessen inflation by fiscal economy. Nationwide reevaluation of societal priorities emphasized problems of pollution, poverty, and crime. Successful lunar landings of Apollo 11 and12-seen and acclaimed worldwide-mushroomed U.S. enthusiasm for manned space achievement. NASA announced development of plans for further lunar missions and post-Apollo planetary exploration. But year was turning point, with completion of a major goal and examination of possible new goals and priorities for the next decade. Phasing down of Apollo Program after climax brought shifts in program emphasis and in personnel. Most of initial Saturn V launch vehicles had been completed. Hardware requirements would decrease as missions slowed. Peak costs during 1960s had built NASA base of people, technology, and facilities as national capability to conduct space missions. Future space objectives and budget options were examined, within Government and outside, for balance between more manned missions and more unmanned scientific exploration and applications of knowledge already gained. Criticism of past emphasis on engineering rather than on science was partly answered by decision to provide more time for scientific study and planning between the next Apollo lunar missions. Program plans included Apollo Applications, missions to Mars and Jupiter, long-range studies of Venus-Mercury mission and three- planet grand tours, development of permanent space station, joint NASA-DOD studies of space transportation system with reusable shuttle, and accelerated aeronautics activities. NASA FY 1970 appropriation of $3.697 billion was $181 million below budget proposed by outgoing President Johnson and $19 million below President Nixon's amended request for $3.716 billion. Cutbacks in Government spending forced NASA to announce 1970 closing of Electronics Research Center and DOD to cancel Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL ) program. Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, told ERC employees in December that agency had to "effect reductions and consolidation across the board if we are to shape our programs to meet the nation's future needs in aeronautics and space." Reductions in work force-largely in contractor personnel-were brought by planned phasing out of Apollo Program as well as by budget cuts. Year of man's first landing on moon, despite its global impact, ended with space goals and levels of effort for the next decade an open question. (Pres Rpt 70 [69] ; A&A 69)

In its international cooperation program, NASA successfully launched three foreign satellites-Canadian Isis I, third of series to conduct ionospheric measurement; Boreal (Esro IB) for European Space Research Organization on reimbursable basis; and West German Azar under cooperative project to conduct radiation belt measurements. Agreements for new projects were reached with U.K., Italy, Netherlands, and Canada. U.K. agreement called for 1971 launch of satellite on NASA Scout vehicle to measure ionospheric particles and radio noise and experiment to fly on board NASA'S Nimbus-E in 1972. Italian agreement provided for 1970 launch of San Marco-C satellite on NASA Scout vehicle from Italian San Marco range in Indian Ocean and use of range for launching NASA spacecraft into equatorial orbit. Under Netherlands agreement two Dutch scientists would participate as observers in OAO program. Canadian agreement called for reimbursement launching of Canadian comsat. Project Helios, cooperative endeavor with West German Ministry for Scientific Research to place two solar probes (1974-1975) closer to sun than any other spacecraft, would obtain data on solar processes and earth-sun relationship. Under another agreement with West Germany, Project Aeros, NASA would launch German-developed satellite in 1972 for aeronomy measurements. In agreement with Indian space agency, ATS-F satellite would be made available for experimental educational TV broadcasting directly and by relay to receivers in 5,000 Indian villages. Additional cooperative projects during 1969 included launch of one Italian, two U.K." and two French experiments; continuation of sounding rocket projects with Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, Spain, and Sweden; inclusion of Canadian and French experiments on Convair 990 flights to study auroras in northern latitudes; and extension of aeronautical research projects with Canada, France, West Germany, and U.K. Agreement with Spain for NASA Madrid tracking station was extended in June until 1984 and negotiations were begun with Australia for extension of tracking arrangements until same year. Lunar surface material returned by Apollo 11 astronauts was distributed to 39 principal investigators from nine countries-Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, West Germany, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland, and U.K. International highlights in 1969 included around-the-world tour of Apollo 11 astronauts to dramatize conviction that successful lunar landing was triumph for all mankind; travels of NASA Administrator, Dr. Thomas O. Paine, to inform ministerial and space agency officials abroad of U.S. space plans and invite their participation; and participation of foreign experts in NASA conference on space shuttle concepts. Efforts by NASA to develop cooperative programs with U.S.S.R. continued during 1969, but met with limited success. (Pres Rpt 70 [69] )

Drone aircraft was reportedly impaled with spear of light from experimental laser and destroyed in three milliseconds at Air Force Special Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N. Mex. Account in Aviation Week & Space Technology was later denied by USAF officials. Tri-service laser weapon research programs, principally sponsored by ARPA, were studying number of military applications of lasers, according to magazine. USAF had increased planned funding of high-energy gas laser development in FY 1969 from $0.5 million to $2.5 million to make use of power output increase achieved by United Aircraft Corp. in 1968. And $1.5 million had been given to exploratory development of high-power solid-state lasers. For FY 1970 USAF had asked $8 million to exploit United Aircraft development. (Av Wk, 1/12/70, 16-7; USAF PIO; A&A, 4/70, 16-21)

Aerospace industry sales of $28.3 billion in 1969 were second highest in industry's history despite anticipated decline of 4.1% from 1968 record of $29.5 billion. All areas of aerospace endeavor leveled off except nonaerospace sales by aerospace companies, which increased. Commercial aerospace sales, principally jet transports, were $5,800 million, down from $6,429 million in 1968. Trend resulted from phasing out of current transport models while jumbo jet production was beginning. Sales by aerospace industry to DOD were $16.2 million in 1969 and $16.6 billion in 1968. Military aircraft sales totaled $10 billion in 1969 and $10.7 billion in 1968. Space sales dropped to $4,499 million from $5,108 million in 1968, because of approaching completion of Apollo Program hardware phase and cancellation of MOL. (Aerospace, Winter, 1970)

U.S. scheduled airlines carried 159 million passengers; in 1949 they had carried less than 17 million. In 1969 airlines accounted for 75% of common carrier passenger-miles between U.S. cities; in 1949 they had accounted for 14%. In 1969 18.3 million passengers flew between U.S. and other countries; in 1949 there were 2.2 million. U.S. scheduled airlines produced 3.2 billion ton-miles of air freight service in 1969, increase of 15.7% over 1968. (1970 Air Transport Facts & Figures)

Air carrier accidents decreased from 73 in 1968 to 68 in 1969. Accident rate was down from 1.12 per 100,000 hrs flown to 0.98. Fatal accidents had dropped from 16 to 10 and total fatalities from 352 to 160, lowest since 1957. Fatality rate was 23 per 100,000 hrs flown; it had been 5.4 in 1968. Total air carrier accidents had declined steadily from 102 in 1959 to 1969's 68. (FAA Release 70-2)

Number of active pilots in U.S. reached 720,028, rise of 4% over 1968 total. Student pilots dropped 3% from end of 1968, to 203,520 at end of 1969. (FAA Release 70-37)

Best seller of books published by New York Times during year was We Reach the Moon by John Noble Wilford. Book sold 1 million copies in U.S. and abroad. (NYT, 2/22/70)

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