Oct 21 1969
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCCIV into orbit with 760-km (472.2-mi) apogee, 742-km (461.1-mi) perigee, 99.8-min period, and 74.0° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 10/31/69)
NASA's Annual Honor Awards Ceremony was held in Washington, D.C., with keynote speaker. Dr. Charles H. Townes, Univ. of California at Berkeley physicist and member of President's Task Force on Science Policy. Recipients of NASA Distinguished Service Medal were: L/G Frank A. Bogart (USAF, Ret.), MSC Associate Director; Robert E. Bordeau, Assistant Director for Projects, GSFC ; Dr. John F. Clark, GSFC Director; Charles W. Mathews, Deputy Associate Administrator, OMSF; Ozro M. Covington, Assistant Director for Manned Flight Support, GSFC ; George H. Hage, Boeing Co. Vice President for Product Development and former NASA Apollo Program Deputy Director; Dr. George E. Mueller, NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight; Dr. John E. Naugle, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications; Rocco Petrone, Apollo Program Director; L/G Samuel C. Phillips, Commander of USAF Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) and former Apollo Program Director; Julian W. Scheer, Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs; Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., Secretary of the Air Force and former NASA Deputy Administrator, Willis H. Shapley, Associate Deputy Administrator; and Gerald M. Truszynski, Associate Administrator for Tracking and Data Acquisition. Distinguished Public Service Medal was awarded to Dr. Harry H. Hess (posthumously), former Princeton Univ. geologist and Chairman of NAS-NRC Space Science Board, and to Dr. Townes. Exceptional Bravery Medal was awarded to Charles J. Beverlin and Billy B. McClure of General Dynamics Corp. at KSC, each for prompt action during "accidental depressurization of an Atlas launch vehicle" which "prevented destruction of a Mariner Mars space vehicle and potential injury to his comrades." Special recognition given to employees of NASA and leading aerospace industries for their role in successful Apollo lunar landing resulted in largest number of annual awards to date. Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal was awarded to 25 persons, Exceptional Service Medal to 97, and Public Service Group Achievement Award to 29. Other awards included Group Achievement Award, Public Service Award, and Certificate of Appreciation. (Program; NASA Release 69-143; NASA Personnel Div)
MSC Director, Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, announced appointment of Dr. Gene Simmons, MIT professor of geophysics, to new position of MSC Chief Scientist and of Anthony J. Calio as Director of Science and Applications. Dr. Simmons would divide his time between MIT and NASA, reporting directly to MSC Director. At MSC Dr. Simmons would attempt to emphasize strong role of science in future manned flights and lunar exploration and to effect close ties between NASA programs and scientific community. (MSC Release 69-72)
Visiting Cosmonauts Georgy T. Beregovoy and Konstantin P. Feoktistov received Presidential pens and bronze inaugural medals from President Nixon during brief stop at White House. Later they flew to MSC, where they were honored at dinner by 30 astronauts. Apollo 8 Astronaut Frank Borman showed cosmonauts NASA T-38 jet aircraft. (PD, 10/27/69, 1485; AP, W Star, 10/22/69, A3)
Richard W. Cook, Deputy Director for Operations in Science and Engineering Directorate, MSFC, would become Deputy Director, Management, to MSFC Director, Dr. Wernher von Braun, MSFC announced. He would succeed Harry Gorman, new NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight (Management), for one or two years, or until permanent replacement became available. (MSFC Release 69-232)
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