May 23 1969
From The Space Library
USAF Titan IIIC booster launched from ETR successfully orbited five unmanned satellites-two Vela nuclear detection satellites and three orbiting vehicle research satellites. Launch was 17th for Titan IIIC and last in development program. Vela IX entered orbit with 69,387-mi (111,643.7-km) apogee, 68.653-mi (110,462.7-km) perigee, 6,718.5-min period, and 32.7° inclination. Vela X entered orbit with 69,614-mi (112,008.9-km) apogee, 68.774-mi (110,657.4-km) perigee, 6,707.6-min period, and 32.8° inclination. Velas would monitor nuclear weapon detonations and natural radiation sources. OV V-5 (ERS-29), OV V-6, and OV V-9 entered orbits with 69,427-mi (111,708.0-km) apogee, 10,480-mi (16,862.3-km) perigee, 3,119-min period, and 32.9° inclination to study particles and fields and solar processes. (Pres Rpt 70 [69] ; GSFC SSR, 5/31/69; um, NYT, 5/24/69, 6)
Apollo 8 Astronaut Frank Borman ended four-day visit to Czechoslovakia -first visit by U.S. astronaut to any Communist country. (UPI, W Post, 5/24/69, A3)
Press commented on personal qualities of Apollo 10 astronauts during crises and technological marvels. New York Times: "Their courage and high technical skill were evident. There was total absence of posturing or pomposity. Notable, too, was the absence of false patriotism or of any attempt to use the space feat as the basis for claims of national or ideological superiority. The astronauts' personal behavior added a warm human luster to the superb scientific and technological feats they were and are performing." (NYT, 5/23/69)
Washington Evening Star: ". . . the flight of Apollo 10 has shown something . . . about the durability of human nature. . . . However rigorous the training, however unworldly and unreal the surroundings, man is still capable of awe, error, fright, outrage and-when the occasion calls for it-profanity. It's good to know." (W Star, 5/23/69, A16)
Caution, the following audio files are up to 22MB, last up to 45 minutes and may take time to buffer
Click here to listen to Apollo 10 Mission Audio T+118.58 through T+120.26 May 23
Click here to listen to Apollo 10 Mission Audio T+122.41 through T+123.29 May 23
Click here to listen to Apollo 10 Mission Audio T+123.50 through T+124.04 Sy Liebergot Press Conference May 23
Click here to listen to Apollo 10 Mission Audio T+124.33 through T+124.55 Harrison Schmitt Press Conference May 23
Click here to listen to Apollo 10 Mission Audio T+124.55 through T+125.26 May 23
Project research method of supporting principal investigators' research within universities accounted for about 70% of NASA funds obligated to universities and was serving NASA and schools well, Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, said in speech at Ohio State Univ. More than 10% of project research support funds had been invested in equipment in university laboratories for continuing education and research. "More than 90% of balloon borne experiments, more than 40% of sounding rocket experiments, and more than 50% of satellite experiments flown on NASA vehicles had principal investigators or co-investigators in our universities. A large share of the significant discoveries in space science were made in university originated experiments." NASA "supports about 13,000 project oriented research grants and contracts in universities . . . [and] 32 universities in 21 states are now working with NASA on various aspects of the earth resources satellite program." (Text)
At Second Advanced Marine Vehicles Meeting in Seattle, Wash., Frank E. Rom, Chief of LeRC Advanced Nuclear Concepts Branch, discussed technical developments in reactor design which could make nuclear propulsion feasible for use on hovercraft. Water-moderated nuclear reactor would heat helium, which then would pass through heat ex- changer where water would be boiled. Resultant steam would drive 6,500-hp steam turbines to power lift and thrust fans. Nuclear propulsion would increase hovercraft range, reduce cargo hauling costs, and make vehicle competitive with freighters. (LeRC Release 69-26)
FAA Administrator John H. Shaffer announced allocations of $34,144,479 to construct and improve 177 U.S. airports under FY 1970 Federal-aid Airport Program. Appropriations, based on $30 million authorized by Congress and carryover funds from previous years, represented last year of funding authorized under current Federal Airport Act. Program stressed preservation and expansion of facilities at existing airports to accommodate high-performance, sophisticated aircraft; increasing airport capacity; relieving congestion; and continuing construction of airports initiated under earlier programs. (FAA Release 69-59)
Use of new "alphanumeric" system-computer-originated display of letters and numbers on radarscopes indicating aircraft identification, direction, altitude, speed, and flight attitude at FAA's Atlanta, Ga." control center-was described by Robert Lindsey in New York Times. System, in which each airliner constantly radioed flight data to ground where it was processed through computer and then displayed on radar screen, would eventually be used by FAA throughout its traffic control network. (NYT, 5/23/69, 92)
U.S.S.R. announced completion of rocket tests begun in Pacific April 17. Tests had been scheduled to end June 15. (SBD, 5/26/69, 109; W Post, 5/24/69, Al2)
May 23-24: NASA Astronomy Missions Board, chaired by Dr. Leo Goldberg of Harvard Univ." met at MSFC to evaluate potential astronomy missions for NASA. Board would submit formal recommendations for space astronomy to NASA later in year. (Release 69-135)
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