May 29 1969
From The Space Library
Cosmos CCLXXXIV was launched by U.S.S.R. into orbit with 297-km (184.6-mi) apogee, 204-km (126.8-mi) perigee, 89.5-min period, and 5L7° inclination. Satellite reentered June 6. (GSFC SSR, 5/31/69; 6/15/69)
Specific objectives of lunar exploration were discussed in testimony by NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, Dr. George E. Mueller, before Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. Evaluation of natural resources on 14.6-million-sq-mi lunar surface would include minerals of yet undetermined nature and unique combination of high vacuum and gravitational field one-sixth as strong as earth's. "On the results of our evaluation will depend our decision some years from now as to whether there is sufficient potential to justify establishing a lunar base." NASA also would investigate use of moon as "island near our shores to which we can voyage . . . to develop man's potential to function as an explorer throughout the solar system." (Testimony)
NASA selected Martin Marietta Corp. for $280,000,000 cost-plus-incentive. fee/award-fee contract for Viking lander system and technical integration of project to send two instrumented spacecraft to Mars during summer of 1973. (NASA Release 69-82)
At USN Symposium on Military Oceanography in Seattle, Wash., Naval Oceanographic Office scientists Paul E. La Violette and Sandra E. Seim said pictures taken by astronauts during Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions had been of greater value than expected. "The high resolution of these color photographs has shown a wealth of detail impossible to duplicate by television pictures." Surface and near-surface conditions "appear as sea Scars, rips, sea state, bathymetric features. . . ." Many of these features had been shown to exist over large areas on a scale previously unimagined. (AP, NYT, 6/1/69, 82)
NASA published Significant Achievements in Space Science 1967 (SP-167). Among achievements described were discovery of strong x-ray-emitting objects in stellar astronomy; controlled, quantitative testing of biological hypotheses provided by Biosatellite II data; increased use of remote-sensing radio techniques in ionosphere and radio physics; acquisition of data on surface temperature, total pressure, atmospheric composition, exospheric temperature and composition, and strength of magnetic field of Venusian atmosphere by Soviet Venus IV and simultaneous flybys of U.S. Mariner V in planetology. Developments in solar physics had led to revision of existing set of numbers and had repercussions on interpretation of measurements from sun. (Text)
If NASA'S Apollo 11 successfully landed on moon July 20, "it will be a proud moment for Americans and a costly one for British bookmakers, who will pay out at least $172,000 in bets they wish they had never made," Karl E. Meyer reported in Washington Post. Big winner would be David Threlfall of Preston, Lancashire, who in April 1964 bet £10 ($24) that man would land on moon before January 1971. Since odds were 1,000 to 1, Threlfall would collect $24,000 from William Hill Organization betting firm. As one broker explained: "When you think about it, it's a bit ridiculous. This is one of the few times we've made a mistake-the man in the street knew more about space than we did." (W Post, 5/29/69, A4)
Terre Haute [Ind.] Star said: "In backing Columbus, according to Samuel Eliot Morison, historian, Queen Isabella had two motives: To make a buck in the spice trade, and to open new territories for her Catholic missionaries. It did not occur to her that she was about to change the history of mankind. That is the way of most turning points in human history. The Manhattan Project which resulted in the atomic bomb was basically a defensive move against the danger of Germany's doing it first. It launched the atomic age. Johann Gutenberg found a way to print with movable type for the simple reason that he wanted more people to read the Bible. He had no idea that he was introducing mass literacy. These great human adventures had two things in common: They were done for practical reasons, and most contemporaries said, 'who needs it?' The space program began for practical, everyday reasons. Russia's Sputnik scared the pants off most Americans. The initial goal of catching up with the Russians has been achieved, and this is part of the reason why there is now a slowing interest. However . . . this country now has the potential of changing the world. . . . The U.S. should continue in the forefront of space exploration, with a well-funded and stable program. Space should continue to have a permanent, though not extravagant, position in the priority of national goals." (Terre Haute Star, 5/29/69)
Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Development transmitted to House Committee on Science and Astronautics Centralization of Federal Science Activities. Report, prepared by Library of Congress Science Policy Research Div., described centralization and potential organization of Federal science activities, summarized arguments for and against centralization, examined major functions of Federal Government in dealing with science and technology and present organization, and presented historical summary of evolution of Federal organization for science and of proposals for reorganization and consolidation. (Text)
Wendell F. Moore, assistant chief engineer at Bell Aerosystems Co. and developer of rocket belt which could lift man and carry him length of football field, died in Niagara Falls, N.Y." at age 51. He had won John Price Wetherill Medal of Franklin Institute of Philadelphia in 1964 for his invention, first flight-tested in 1961. (UPI, NYT, 5/30/69)
May 29-June 8: 28th Salon Internationale de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace -Paris Air Show-featured nearly 550 exhibitors representing 14 nations. U.S." with largest pavilion, emphasized space achievements, taking "Countdown Apollo" as theme. On opening day biggest display attraction, said United Press International, was Apollo 8 spacecraft, which Apollo 9 Astronauts James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart unveiled in ceremony attended by U.S. Ambassador to France, R. Sargent Shriver. U.S. exhibit also included F-1 and J-2 engines of 1st and 2nd stages of Saturn V rocket and full-scale model of Apollo 11 LM. French prototype of Concorde 001 supersonic transport was flown over Paris for first time and later took its place on apron at Le Bourget Airport among 150 aircraft, helicopters, and gliders. Opening day also marked signing of agreement for joint development of short-haul airbus by French Transport Minister Jean Chamant and West German Economics Minister Karl Schiller. Spokesman for U.K. manufacturer Hawker Siddeley said firm was still negotiating on building wings for 250-seat airbus. U.S. exhibited 490-passenger Boeing 747 but did not show Lockheed C-5A, world's largest aircraft. U.K. exhibits at Air Show included Concorde 002, British prototype; Hawker Siddeley Harrier VTOL jet fighter; and Hawker Siddeley Nimrod, maritime reconnaissance version of Comet. French exhibits included Dassault Mirage fighters and Dassault Hirondelle turboprop. U.S.S.R.'s chief entry was 500-passenger An-22 turboprop airliner. (Amer Av, 5/26/69, 33-6; UPI, W Star, 5/29/69, A10; Reuters, NYT, 5/30/69, 40)
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