Aug 1 1967
From The Space Library
NASA's Lunar Orbiter V (Lunar Orbiter E) unmanned spacecraft was successfully launched by Atlas-Agena D booster from ETR on mission to photograph the lunar surface [see Aug. 5-27]. Agena 2nd stage fired to boost 860-lb spacecraft into parking orbit of 100-mi (161-km) altitude, reignited after 30-min coast period to inject spacecraft on 89-hr translunar trajectory, and separated. On schedule, Lunar Orbiter V deployed its four solar panels and two antennas and locked its five sensors on the sun. On Aug. 2 the star tracker encountered slight difficulty in locating Canopus because of "glint" from the sun and "earthshine," but obtained a fix at 18:34 GET, before midcourse maneuver. At 06:00 on Aug. 3 midcourse maneuver with 26-sec engine burn was successfully conducted to slow spacecraft's speed and alter its aiming point slightly. Primary objectives of NASA's Lunar Orbiter V mission were: (1) to place three-axis-stabilized spacecraft into high-inclination lunar orbit; and (2) to obtain photography of selected scientifically interesting areas on lunar surface and supplemental photography of candidate Apollo lunar landing sites. Photos would cover five Apollo sites, 36 scientific sites, and areas of the moon's hidden side previously unphotographed. Spacecraft would also provide precision trajectory information to refine definition of lunar gravitational field, monitor micrometeoroids and radiation intensity in lunar environment, and serve as a target for tracking operations by Manned Space Flight Network stations. Last in series of five spacecraft designed to improve knowledge of the moon, Lunar Orbiter V differed from four earlier missions because it would concentrate on targets of primary interest to science. LUNAR ORBITER I (launched Aug. 10,1966) , Lunar Orbiter 11 (launched Nov. 6, 1966), and Lunar Orbiter III (launched Feb. 4, 1967) were in direct support of Apollo and Surveyor programs, identifying at least eight areas suitable for manned landings. Lunar Orbiter IV (launched May 4, 1967) completed broad photographic survey of 99% of moon's front face with 10 times finer resolution than best existing telescopic views. Lunar Orbiter program was managed by LaRC under OSSA direction. Tracking and communications were the responsibility of JPL-operated Deep Space Network. (NASA Proj .Off; NASA Release 67-192)
NASA announced that MARINER V Venus probe8,225,000 mi from earth, 86,830,000 mi from sun, on trajectory toward Venus-had detected two solar flares of medium intensity. Data transmitted to JPL from spacecraft via Goldstone, Calif., tracking station showed large increases in measurements of solar radiation at 1:30 pm and 8:47 pm EDT. Occurrence of flares was confirmed by visual observations at Solar Geomagnetic Monitoring Service, Ft. Belvoir, Va. (NASA Release 67-209)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Science. Research. and Development Subcommittee released report, Science, Technology, and Public Policy during the Eighty-Ninth Congress, January 1965 through December 1966. Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D-Conn.) , subcommittee chairman, emphasized : "Congress does indeed recognize the impact of science and technology on modern society and is moving expeditiously to meet its challenge and shape its potential on behalf of human welfare [and] . . . is becoming aware of the difficulties and dangers which technologically applied science may carry in its genes-and is searching for effective means to counter them." NSF Director Dr. Leland J. Haworth, in statement before Subcommittee, said: "In all honesty, it must be admitted that thus far there have been no broad, systematic, and intensive studies designed to develop an understanding of alternative policy structures and options open to the Nation as a whole and to assess the associated opportunities and risks, as well as the impact, which such policies and choices might have on the individual agencies, disciplines and the Nation's goals." Haworth referred to the major lack in the studies concerning long-range national needs. (Text)
KSC held dedication ceremonies for its $1.1-million Visitor Information Center. One hour later a visitor purchased the 500,000th ticket for the center's guided tour. (LaMont, Cocoa Trib, 8/1/67)
B/G Harold C. Teubner (USAF), formerly with Hq. USAF comptroller's office, became AFSC Deputy Chief of Staff for Comptroller, succeeding M/G Wendell E. Carter, who was being reassigned to the Pentagon as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller/Information) . (AFSC Release 152.67)
Miami's Opa Locka Airport was the Nation's busiest airport in FY 1967, with a record 596,949 takeoff and landing operations, FAA reported. Chicago's O'Hare International was second with 588,527 operations. (FAA Release 67-61)
Scientists at Royal Aircraft Establishment, near Farnborough, U.K., were firing bullets at raindrops because they believed damage inflicted on a bullet impacting with a raindrop was same as damage that would be inflicted on an aircraft flying at high speed through a squall. Scientists feared raindrops, relatively minor' problem to subsonic aircraft, might cause serious fuselage and wing erosion to the Concorde SST. (Reuters, NYT, 8/1/67,29)
Cost estimates for developing Anglo-French Concorde supersonic transport had risen to $1.47 billion, House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts revealed in a report. Additional $75.4 million would probably be incurred by Ministry of Technology in R&D costs directly connected with the aircraft. Estimates for development costs were $476 million in November 1962 when Concorde project began. (NYT, 8/3/67, 44)
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