Apr 6 1966
From The Space Library
U.S,S.R. launched COSMOS CXIV with "scientific equipment designed for continuing the outer space research." Orbital parameters : apogee, 374 km. (232 mi.); perigee, 210 km. (130 mi.); period, 90.1 min.; inclination, 73". Equipment was functioning normally. (Pravda, 4/7/66, 10, USS-T Trans.)
MSFC had purchased 22 additional Saturn I-B H-1 rocket engines from North American Aviation, Inc., under $7,634,742 modification to previous contract. In addition to the 205,000-lb.-thrust engines, which would complete engine requirements for Saturn I-B/Apollo program, NAA would provide three years of support services. (MSFC Release 66-75)
Astronauts had made more than 1,000 "flights" in the Rendezvous Docking Simulator and other facilities at LaRC to help develop techniques for the operation of vehicles in space. Developed by LaRC scientists to explore, under controlled laboratory conditions, man's ability to complete a rendezvous in earth or lunar orbit during final 200 ft. of the space-docking maneuver, the simulator had been used extensively by GEMINI VIII Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David R. Scott, who performed world's first space docking March 16. (LaRC Release)
FAA's seventh annual report to the President and Congress described "significant cost reductions achieved while meeting increasing demands for aeronautical services." Activities for FY 1965 included: (1) advancement of supersonic transport (SST) program toward initial prototype construction by end of 1966; (2) issuance of new rules requiring greater safety margins during bad weather, higher operational standards for small aircraft, and new standards for passenger evacuation in emergencies; (3) beginning of field tests of a computerized air-traffic-control system; (4) commission of first Distance Measuring Equipment-Instrument Landing System (DME-ILS) combination to facilitate bad weather approaches; (5) establishment of General Aviation Jet Training Standards Board and issuance of regulation requiring biennial requalification of all flight instructors to assure pilot efficiency; and (6) $20-million savings from cost-reduction program and other substantial savings from increased employee productivity and joint use of equipment and wire communications services with DOD. (FAA Release 66-31)
DOD announced that USA, USN, and USAF would test British-built P.1127 aircraft-redesignated XV/6A V/Stol by US.-to determine aircraft's ability to meet requirements of each individual service. Evaluations, which would be completed by July 31, would be performed at Fort Campbell, Eglin AFB, Patuxent Naval Air Station, and aboard an aircraft carrier. (DOD Release 270-66)
Dr. Edmund P. Learned, Harvard Univ. professor of business policy, became adviser to FAA Administrator William F. McKee on "economic and financial aspects of the supersonic transport (SST) development program." (FAA; FAA Release 66-38)
ComSatCorp suggested separate meetings during week of April 18 with AT&T and Western Union to explore use of multipurpose domestic communications satellites and discuss ownership of ground stations. Dr. Joseph V. Charyk, ComSatCorp president, stated: "We believe that there are no inhibitions on Comsat's ability to provide domestic satellite service, and . . . we view earth stations as an integral and critical part of a satellite communication system which must be planned and operated in concern with the space segment. Accordingly, we feel that this responsibility must be reflected in ownership." (ComSatCorp Release)
AFSC achieved more than $1 million in savings or cost avoidance during the first year of its Internal Zero Defects Program, AFSC Commander Gen. Bernard A. Schriever said in an Andrews AFB ceremony where he presented AFSC Zero Defects Achievement Award to the Air Proving Ground Center, Eglin AFB. (AFSC Release 82.60)
Senegalese President Leopold Sedar Senghor, speaking at a press conference in Dakar, criticized the wealthy nations for spending money on space programs and abandoning the world's poor. He said that was the reason he had never cabled congratulations to heads of state for their countries' space exploits. (Reuters, Chic. Trib., 4/7/66)
London bookmaker William Hill, who had offered 1,000-to-1 odds against a manned lunar landing by the end of 1968, cut the odds to 10 to 1 after LUNA X entered a lunar orbit. (UPI, Wash. Daily News, 4/6/66)
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