Dec 10 1968
From The Space Library
Cosmos CCLVIII was successfully launched by U.S.S.R. into orbit with 302-km (187.6-mi) apogee, 206-km (128-mi) perigee, 89.5-min period, and 64.9° inclination. Satellite reentered Dec. 18. (upi, W Star, 12/10/68, A6; AP, NYT, 12/11/68, 6; GSFC SSR, 12/15/68; 12/31/68)
Javelin sounding rocket launched by NASA from Churchill Research Range carried Syracuse Univ. Research Corp. payload to 520-mi (837-km) altitude to observe ionization levels of helium in exposure. Data would be related to aspects of sun and earth relative to payload. Rocket and instruments performed satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA announced award of $1,046,123 contract to Thiokol Chemical Corp.'s Elkton, Md., Div. for development of more powerful solid-fuel rocket for automated missions, including possible use as 3rd stage for Centaur and Delta. New 3rd stage was expected to be ready for use in 1971. (NASA Release 68-210)
NASA announced joint 1969 project with German Federal Ministry for. Scientific Research (BMwF) to photograph earth's magnetic lines of force high in space would involve release of barium vapor by NASA Scout rocket at 20,000-mi altitude. Scientists would use special optical equipment to view resultant glowing ionized cloud along magnetic field lines and visually map electromagnetic forces acting in barium area. Agreement on project called for BMwF to provide payload, two ground observer stations, and data analysis. NASA would furnish rocket, conduct launch from NASA Wallops Station, and provide tracking and communications services. (NASA Release 68-211)
MSC had awarded $16.4 million, one-year extension to cost-plus-awardfee contract with Lockheed Electronics Co. Div. of Lockheed Aircraft Corp., NASA announced. Award was for general electronic, instrumentation, and engineering support services, bringing total contract value to $46.4 million. (NASA Release 68-209)
Washington Daily News editorial commented on statement by physicist Dr. Ralph E. Lapp warning of possible dangers in Apollo 8 mission [see Dec. 14] : "There are perhaps sound reasons involving national prestige for trying to be the first nation to send men into a moon orbit. But surely no such reasons are compelling enough to cut corners on safety. The technical arguments advanced by Dr. Lapp are far too complex to be resolved by laymen. But after the tragic fire that took the lives of three of our Apollo spacemen two years ago it should not be necessary to urge that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration exercise all due prudence-even at the risk of losing the race around the moon." (W News, 12/10/68, 24)
Secretary of Defense Clark M. Clifford announced DOD had completed Project 693 (a $3-billion cutback in FY 1969 expenditures required by Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968) including $85-million reduction in MOL program. (DOn Release 1083-68; SBD, 12/11/68, 176)
Soviet Finance Minister Vasily Garbuzov told semiannual budget meeting of Supreme Soviet in Moscow that nominal U.S.S.R. defense spending in 1969 would increase 6%, from 16.7 billion to 17.7 billion rubles. Institute of Strategic Studies in London had estimated before Aug. 20 invasion of Czechoslovakia that real Soviet military spending for 1968 would be approximately equivalent to $50 billion. Thus, announced increases would bring total 1969 budget to some $53 billion, as against $80 billion for U.S., which had allocated $30 billion for costs of Vietnam War. However, Soviet figure did not include military R&D and investment in defense industries. Budget also disclosed continued expansion of government support for scientific research. (Shabad, NYT, 12/11/68, 1; Shub, W Post, 12/11/68, Al)
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