Aug 7 1967
From The Space Library
NASA issued three modifications totaling $30.9 million to NAA's Saturn V 2nd-stage contract: first, valued at $5.5 million, provided for equitable adjustment of 2nd-stage changes previously ordered; second, valued at $5.8 million, covered seven changes involving KSC ground support equipment; and third, valued at $19.4 million, was for 12 changes covering alterations of selector switches and insulation of the entire 2nd stage. (NASA Release 67-212)
Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) , releasing testimony earlier submitted to Senate Appropriations Committee's Independent Offices Subcommittee, urged that $427 million be cut from NASA's FY 1968 authorization bill (S. 1296). "We have to establish our priorities, and when it comes to parceling out money the space program stands far below defense, education and many other vital programs." Specifically, Proxmire recommended: (1) temporarily delaying initiation of programs that would commit US. to a manned Mars mission and other deep-space probes; (2) cutting AA funds; and (3) cutting advanced missions funds. (Text)
USAF launched unidentified satellite from WTR using Thor-Agena D booster; satellite reentered Sept. 1. (Pres Rep 1967)
Congressional cuts in NASA's FY 1968 authorization bill (S. 1296) indicated that a new era was beginning for NASA and the US. space program, Robert Hotz suggested in Aviation Week editorial. "We do not think it was the intent of this Congress to either repudiate or emasculate the US. national space program. We think it was the aim of these legislators to mark the end of the era when NASA got everything it wanted simply because it asked for it in a strident and persistent voice. We think it was also the goal of Congress to put the national space program in a better perspective in relation to such other high-priority problems as the Southeast Asia war and the urban riots. . . ." Hotz predicted that the future of the space program as a valid, continuing national goal will depend in the long run on the successful development of its new hardware and the successful operation of this equipment on missions of increasing complexity and greater value. The most significant contribution that NASA and its industrial contractor complex can make to the future of the space program now is to bend their every effort to assure that the Apollo hardware will function flawlessly, not only for its missions to the moon but also for long-duration earth-orbital operations. . . ." (Hotz, Av Wk, 8/7/67, 17)
US. and Soviet delegates attending COSPAR's International Years of the Quiet Sun (IQSY) symposium in London [July 17-21] had recommended that cooperative solar studies begun during IQSY be extended into the period of maximum solar activity, Herbert J. Coleman reported in Aviation Week [see Jul. 17-21]. NRL scientist Dr. Herbert Friedman, President of the Inter-Union Commission on Solar Terrestrial Physics (IUCSTP) which initiated the proposal, said the application of new technologies, including space techniques, "had opened up new fields of investigation such as the relationship between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. A period of increased solar activity could provide valuable data." Soviet physicist R. V. Pushkov pledged full Soviet cooperation in extending the program. (Coleman, Av Wk, 8/7/67, 67)
ComSatCorp's plans to launch a satellite by 1970 for relaying VHF communications from transoceanic airliners might be delayed by high costs, Electronics reported. "As far as the FAA is concerned, the only issue is cost. The agency is still reeling from a Comsat proposal earlier this year pricing such communications services at $5 million per channel per year; the FAA told Comsat it was not interested at that price. To make matters worse, one FAA official says current estimates from hardware makers are even higher." (Electronics, 8/7/67)
Second phase of NATO's proposed comsat project (NATO/SatCom) [see July 9] was being delayed by dispute over which countries would develop satellite systems, Aviation Week reported. Several member countries reportedly opposed use of US.-supplied, Philco-Ford Co. Skynet satellites because it would eliminate participation by European avionics industry and give US. dominant role. Satcom officials were considering alternate plans in the event that agreement on original Phase II proposal could not be reached: (1) delaying satellite development until Phase III to allow sufficient time to reach agreement on the work-sharing formula; or (2) dropping satellite development from Phase II and constructing a ground station network compatible with DOD's IDCSP satellites which were being used temporarily during initial test phase. (Av Wk, 8/7/67,28)
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