Dec 22 1966
From The Space Library
NASA named crews for second and third manned Apollo missions, scheduled for 1967. Prime crewmen for AS-205/208 were James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart; backup crew was Thomas P. Stafford, John W. Young, and Eugene A. Cernan. Prime crewmen for AS-503, first manned flight using Saturn V launch vehicle, were Frank Borman, Michael Collins, and William A. Anders; backup crew was Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Charles C.Williams, Jr. (NASA Release 66-326)
First free flight of NASA's HL-10 lifting body vehicle was successfully conducted at Edwards AFB. Air-launched from B-52 bomber flying at 45,000 ft. and 450 mph, vehicle was maneuvered by NASA test pilot Bruce A. Peterson to 200-mph landing three minutes later. Purpose of flight was complete design and systems checkout and evaluation of basic stability and control. NASA and AFFTC were studying lifting body concept inflight to help establish the technological base for design of future manned spacecraft capable of maneuvering inflight to pilot controlled ground landing. (FRC Release 29-66)
NASA announced sponsorship in 1967 of three specialized summer programs in systems engineering design for engineering faculty members. Undertaken as cooperative efforts between NASA research centers and adjacent universities, programs would enable faculty members from various engineering disciplines to work together as a team to design a complex space system. Fellowships would be available for about 70 faculty members. Participating universities and cooperating NASA centers: Stanford Univ. and ARC; Auburn Univ., Univ. of Alabama, and MSFC; and Univ. of Houston, Rice Univ., and MSC. NASA Release US. R&D funding in 1967 would total about $23.8 billion-$500 million more than in 1966-Battelle Memorial Institute said in its annual forecast. For the first time in a decade, the Government would not be the dominant factor in the growth; 80 per cent of predicted increase would come from industry, universities, and nonprofit institutions. (BMI Release 124-66)
Static test of Saturn V 2nd stage (S-II) at MTF was postponed 2 min. 31 sec. before ignition when electrical cable in one of its two engines short-circuited. (UPI, NYT, 12/23/66, 12; 12/25/66, 32; AP, Wash. Post, 12/23/66, A2)
Tests showed that as little as one or more inches of continuous snow cover could be reliably identified from satellite photos, ESSA's Office of Hydrology reported. Associate Director of the Weather Bureau William E. Hiatt commented: "An increased capability of assessing snow accumulations, especially in remote sections where observation stations are limited, could result in faster appraisal of river conditions and contribute to more timely release of river forecasts and flooding warnings." (ESSA Release 66-71)
Inactivity in Soviet manned space program could be explained by "strict economy" and preparations for ambitious new manned missions, Radio Prague's Moscow correspondent reported. The new missions--"flights of much higher standards"-would include "a flight of man to the moon and the creation of a large orbiting laboratory." Correspondent also predicted that the U.S.S.R. would launch a "group of rockets" presumably unmanned ones-toward Mars about Jan. 4. (NYT, 12/23/66, 12)
New York Times later editorialized: ". . . The possibility is raised that the Soviet strategy for a manned lunar landing may be based on a direct earth-moon trip. In that case there would be no need for the rendezvous and docking maneuvers.. . . Enormously powerful rockets would be required . . . but if Moscow has them they might make possible the spectacular achievement of a goal the Kremlin must want very much: a manned lunar landing on the moon by the fiftieth anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution next Nov. 7." (NYT, 12/26/66, 20)
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