Mar 24 1966
From The Space Library
Initial tests of first liquid-hydrogen and liquid-oxygen turbopumps for NASA’s 1.5-million-lb.-thrust M-1 rocket engine technology program had been successfully completed at LRC. Pumps, driven by 200,000-hp gas generator, were largest ever built for handling propellants for high-energy rocket engine. ‘‘(LRC Release 66-10)’’
A $50-million, l8-mo. flight research program involving AFSC’s supersonic XB-70 experimental aircraft was scheduled to begin in spring 1966, AFSC announced. Joint USAF-NASA effort would acquire experimental data on flight dynamics, flight loads, structures, propulsion and air induction, and environmental factors. Overall direction would be by AFSC’s Aeronautical Systems Div. (ASD); technical direction would be by NASA. ‘‘(AFSC Release 15.66)’’
First of fleet of nine, 135-ft. NASA barges for transport of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen had been placed in service on inland waterways between New Orleans and MSFC’s Mississippi Test Facility, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., announced. Company had designed double-walled cryogenic tanks for mounting on modified existing hulls according to requirements of NASA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Coast Guard. The three 250,000-gal.-capacity hydrogen barges and six 105,000-gal.capacity oxygen barges could carry “the largest quantities of the two liquids ever transported in individual vessel. Docking facilities in test stand area at MTF would permit pumping of liquids directly into rocket fuel tanks. ‘‘(APN Release, 3/24/66)’’
NASA Nike-Cajun meteorological sounding rocket launched from Sonmiani, Pakistan, carried 25-grenade payload to estimated 84-mi. (135-km.) altitude. 20 grenades successfully ejected and exploded in experiment, conducted for British National Space Research Committee and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Committee, to obtain wind, temperature, and other meteorological data at 31-93-mi. (50-150-km.) altitudes. All grenade flashes were photographed by K-24 ballistic camera network; 20th explosion occurred at about 54 mi. (87 km.). ‘‘(NASA Rpt. SBL)’’
NASA would negotiate two incentive-fee contracts totaling $315 million with Boeing Co. and North American Aviation, Inc., for procurement of additional Saturn V 1st (S-IC) stages and F-1 rocket engines: Boeing Co. would supply five S-IC stages, costing $165 million; North American Aviation, Inc., would handle production, support, and sustaining engineering of 33 F-1 engines for $150 million. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-69; WSJ, 3/25/66, 10)’’
GEMINI VIII’s GATV had developed a “pretty serious problem,” MSC Agena systems engineer Melvin Brooks revealed. The trouble, apparently in a yaw hydraulics system, had developed when mission controllers decided to fire the rocket system by remote control to shift the orbit from 186-mi. (299.5-km.) apogee and 184-mi. (296.3-km.) perigee to circular orbit at 253-mi. (407.33-km.) altitude-leaving it as a rendezvous target for the flight of future Gemini spacecraft. Rocket reached 330-mi. (531-km.) and then 442-mi. (701.6-km.) altitudes. Brooks called these “pretty serious off headings, serious misalignments.” Eventually, the desired orbit of 253 mi. (407.33 km.) was obtained. GATV was expected to drop gradually to orbit of about 184 mi. (296.3 km.). GEMINI VIII flight director John D. Hodge said short circuit that had locked a yaw thruster on the Gemini instrument module into wide-open position, forcing emergency landing of the spacecraft March 16, had not been found. ‘‘(UPI, NYT, 3/25/66; WSJ, 3/25/66, 1)’’
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