Jan 14 1970
From The Space Library
January 14-16: Intelsat-III F-6 was successfully launched by NASA for ComSatCorp on behalf of International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium, after series of delays including misfiring Jan. 10. The 293.9-kg (648-lb) cylindrical satellite, launched from ETR at 7:16 pm EST by four-stage long-tank, thrust-augmented Thor-Delta booster, entered elliptical transfer orbit with 35 871.2-km (22 289.3mi) apogee, 289.5-km (179.9-mi) perigee, 634.5-min period, and 28.05° inclination. All systems were functioning normally. Apogee motor was fired at 8:29 am EST Jan. 16 to place satellite in near-synchronous orbit of 3'5 900-km (22 300-mi) altitude over Atlantic and antenna was deployed. Full-time commercial service was scheduled to begin Feb. 1, with 955 circuits carrying telephone and telegraph traffic between 17 earth stations in Atlantic region. Satellite could also carry TV traffic at same time and had 1200-circuit capacity. Intelsat-III F-6 was fourth successful launch in Intelsat III series. Last successful mission, Intelsat-III F-4 (May 21-23, 1969), had been followed by Intelsat-III F-5 (July 25, 1969), which failed to reach planned orbit. (GSFC Dir Wkly Rpt; ComSatCorp Releases 701,70-4, 70-6; Proj Off)
January 14: USAF launched unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB by Titan IIIB-Agena D booster. Satellite entered orbit with 407.2km (253-mi) apogee, 125.5-km (78-mi) perigee, 89.8-min period, and 109.9° inclination and reentered Feb. 1. (Pres Rpt 71: GSFC SSR, 1/15/70; 2/15/70)
At NASA Hq. briefing, NASA and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory officials displayed and described 10-kg (22-lb) meteorite found by Prairie Network ;[see Jan. 9]. Observatory's Dr. Richard McCrosky said meteorite was "not sucked into earth by gravity." It had flamed through atmosphere on direct collision course and was "almost a direct hit. Earth's gravity had a very little role." Eight billion meteors struck earth's atmosphere daily, but most burned out and only few remaining ones were discovered. NASA official said Lost City, Okla., meteorite was "freshest" ever examined. (NASA PAO; W Post, 1/14/70, A7)
Cancellation of 8,743,070 first day covers of moon landing postage stamp-nearly trebling previous top of three million covers canceled-was announced by Postmaster General Winton M. Blount. Requests for souvenir envelope commemorating July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 lunar landing had been received from 100 different countries and reached 60,000-80,000 daily within days after stamp was announced July 9, 1969. Stamp sales totaled 9 614 685, with value of $96,468.50. Previous record had been set in 1962 for stamp commemorating first U.S. earth-orbiting flight by Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr. (PO Dept Philatelic Release 3)
Former President Lyndon B. Johnson was briefed on Apollo 12 mission by Astronauts Alan L. Bean, Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Charles Conrad, Jr.; at LBJ ranch near Stonewall, Tex. (P Bull, 1/15/70)
FAA Administrator John H. Shaffer said in speech before Aviation/ Space Writers Assn. in New York that FAA was not satisfied with Boeing 747 jumbo jet emergency evacuation system after Jan. 13 tests at Roswell, N. Mex. If problem of chute failure was not solved by Jan. 21, scheduled start of Pan American World Airways' 747 service between New York and London might be delayed. (Lindsey, NYT, 1/15/70,77)
U.S.S.R. had agreed in December to build comsat station in Cuba, Philadelphia Inquirer reported, Experts had said purpose could be to monitor and track U.S. missiles. Officially station was to permit exchange of radio and TV between Moscow and Havana. (P Inq, 1/14/70)
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