May 11 1966
From The Space Library
NASA’s Surveyor spacecraft made first successful soft-landing under its own power in test at Holloman AFB. 36-sec. descent of spacecraft, which had been carried by balloon to 1,000-ft. altitude, was slowed from velocity of 55 fps to 5 fps at point of impact by its rocket engine. Test’s success was necessary prerequisite to May 30 Surveyor launch from ETR for soft-landing on the moon. (AP, NYT, 5/12/66, 39; AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 5/12/66, A16)
U.S.S.R. launched COSMOS CXVIII carrying scientific instruments for continued space research into circular orbit at 640-km. (398-mi.) altitude with 97.1-min. period and 65° inclination. Instruments were functioning normally. (Tass, 5/11/66)
NASA was negotiating two $300,000 contracts with SDS Data Systems and Perkin-Elmer Corp. for “design, development, and fabrication of two gas atmosphere sensor system” for future manned spacecraft operating for 45 days or longer. New system would give an accurate measurement of the mixed gases and information on presence of carbon dioxide and water vapor. By measuring partial pressure of each. component present, system would determine correct ratio required for controlling total atmosphere pressure. Manned spacecraft currently used a single-gas system operating on oxygen. Longer missions lasting 45 days or more might require a two-gas system composed of oxygen and either nitrogen, helium, or another inert gas for crew health and safety. Contracts would be managed by URC. (NASA Release 66-113)
May 11: USN successfully conducted first guided firing of Phoenix air-to-air guided missile over Pacific Missile Range. Missile, developed by Hughes Aircraft Co., was fired from USN A-3 aircraft against drone target. All test objectives were met. (USN Release)
NASA selected Dynatronics, Inc., to provide 18 additional pulse code modulated (PCM) telemetry decommutator systems for Project Apollo communications under $2.3-million fixed-price contract. Systems would receive, identify, sort, and prepare “real time” and “onboard stored” data. (NASA Release 66-114)
NASA would negotiate $800,000 contract with RCA for design study of improved TIROS Operational Satellite (Tos) for national operational weather satellite program. Proposed 500-lb., cylindrical satellite would be 5 ft. high and 4½ ft. in diameter-compared with current 300-lb. satellites 2 ft. high, 3½ ft. in diameter-and would incorporate camera system now carried in two operational spacecraft. Stabilized by flywheel and magnetic attitude control system, satellite would always point to earth, and its infrared radiometers would scan entire world’s cloud cover at night. (NASA Release 66-115)
ITT, RCA, and Western Union International requested FCC permission to build a $6-million ground station near Woodland, Ga., or at Moorefield, W.Va. The three carriers and AT&T also asked FCC to deny ComSatCorp’s request to build station at Moorefield. (V S J , 5/12/66, 1)
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