Apr 14 1969
From The Space Library
NASA's Nimbus III (Nimbus-B2) meteorological satellite was successfully launched from WTR by Long-Tank, Thrust-Augmented Thor (Thorad)-Agena D booster after three-day postponement because of fuel leak. Satellite entered orbit with 703-mi (1,131.1-km) apogee, 662.2-mi (1,065.5-km) perigee, 107.3-min period, and 80.1° inclination. Nimbus III carried USA's Egrs XIII (also called Secor XIII) Sequential Collation of Range satellite as secondary payload on Agena 2nd stage and injected it into orbit with 704-mi (1,132.7-km) apogee, 667-mi (1,073.2-km) perigee, 107.3-min period, and 99.9° inclination. Primary objectives were to inject Nimbus III into orbit and demonstrate satisfactory operation of active, three-axis, earth-oriented spacecraft for at least three months and to acquire representative global samples of infrared spectra for vertical temperature profiles of atmosphere. As secondary objectives spacecraft would make global maps of radiative energy balance of earth atmosphere and cloud cover over at least one seasonal cycle; demonstrate feasibility of surface pressure and tropospheric wind measurements by infrared interferometer spectrometer system and temperature profile determination by infrared spectrometry; make global maps of earth and day-and-night cloud cover for three months from image-dissector camera system and high-resolution infrared radiometer; and demonstrate SNAP -19 system as auxiliary power system for three months. Spacecraft carried seven meteorological experiments-most ever carried on U.S. meteorological satellite-and was first capable of measuring emitted infrared energy that would permit inference of atmospheric profile on global basis. Interrogation, recording, and location system (IRLS) would pinpoint position of special electronic platforms on fixed land sites and moving objects such as buoys, balloons, aircraft, and elk in Yellowstone National Park. Butterfly-shaped 1,269-lb Nimbus III was fourth in series of seven spacecraft designed to develop significantly improved meteorological satellite, prove applicability of instrumentation, and fulfill special data requirements of atmospheric sciences research community. It was replacement for Nimbus B, which failed to enter orbit May 18, 1968, when launch vehicle malfunctioned. Nimbus I (launched Aug. 28, 1964) had operated for one month before solar-array drive system malfunctioned. Nimbus II (launched May 15, 1966) had exceeded six-month lifetime, operating successfully until Jan. 18, 1969. Nimbus program was managed by GSFC under OSSA direction. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 69-50)
NASA's Apollo 10 lunar orbital mission was proceeding well toward launch readiness for 11:49 am EST May 18, Deputy Apollo Program Director George H. Hage told NASA Hq. briefing. Flight readiness test had been successfully completed April 9. Countdown demonstration test (CDDT) would begin April 27, completing cryogenic propellant flow May 2; crew participation in CDDT would begin May 3. Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (commander), John W. Young (CM pilot), and Eugene A. Cernan (LM pilot) would be launched from KSC Launch Complex 39, Pad B-being used for first time-on eight-day mission in which crew would enter lunar orbit, separate LM from , and pilot LM to within 50,000 ft of lunar surface. Mission would include 11 different crew operations on TV and Westinghouse Electric Corp.-developed "experiment involving color TV if we can develop it and get it prepared to fly in time to support this mission. If we are able to ... we would do most of the pictures with color TV rather than black and white. . . ." (Transcript)
Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong would be first man to step on moon, according to NASA plans for July 16 Apollo 11 mission, Apollo Program Manager George M. Low told press conference. Armstrong, mission commander, followed by Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr." LM pilot, would leave LM and spend 2 hrs 40 min walking on lunar surface, gathering rock samples, setting up experiments, and taking pictures within 100 ft of LM. Astronauts would not go farther, Low said, because "all that we need to carry out in deploying the experiment in doing all of the activities that we have to do on the surface the first time . . . can be done within the first 50 or 100 ft from the LM and we see no reason to go any further and use up a lot of energy walking as opposed to doing those things that we would like to do. . ." (Transcript)
Apollo 11 CSM and LM were mated with Saturn V (SA-506) launch vehicle at KSC in preparation for July 16 lunar landing mission. (SBD, 4/15/69, 209)
Aerobee 150 MI sounding rocket with VAM-20 booster launched by NASA from MR carried GSFC payload to 116.5-mi (187.5-km) altitude. Primary objective was to obtain solar x-ray spectra from 2 to 400 A. Secondary objective was to obtain integrated solar flux from 8 to 20 A. Data would be used to check calibration of spectrometer on board OSO V (launched Jan. 22). Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)
Nixon Administration was responding to NASA requests for $200 million supplemental R&D funds by "emphatically ordering future reductions" in FY 1970 budget, said William J. Normyle in Aviation Week & Space Technology. BOB had told NASA Administrator, Dr. Thomas O. Paine, to plan on $140-million loss despite conclusions of House subcommittees that NASA's R&D should be increased $234.4 million. Until Nixon decisions on U.S. space future, cut would "wipe out" work on space stations, shuttle/logistics vehicles, and manned lunar exploration. Feasible future programs, were being studied by President's ad hoc committee which would report in September. (Av Wk, 4/14/69, 27-8)
General aviation's impact on U.S. economy in 1980 would be $7.1 billion, 222.7% above $2.2-billion industry contribution to GNP in 1967, according to The Magnitude and Economic Impact of General Aviation, study by R. Dixon Speas Associates for AIA. Study said 1980 airports and airways system must be prepared to accept 260,000 general-aviation aircraft making 241 million takeoffs and landings and carrying 317 million passengers. (AIA Fact Book; Bramley, Amer Av, 4/14/69, 17-9)
In Duke Univ. lecture, Dr. Peter van de Kamp, Director of Sproul Observatory at Swarthmore College, Pa., described discovery of fourth planet-like body found outside solar system. Existence had been deduced from 30 yrs telescopic observation of irregularities in Barnard's Star, six light years from earth. (NYT, 4/15/69, 16; AP, W Post, 4/17/69, F13)
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