Apr 26 1968
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (2MB PDF)
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCXIX-10th Cosmos in April and 9th spacecraft in 12 days-into orbit with 1,747-km (1,085.5-mi) apogee, 225-km (139.8-mi) perigee, 104.7-min period, and 48.4° inclination. Soviet scientist Prof. Georgi Pokrovsky in Nedelya, Sunday supplement to Izvestia, predicted that interlinked satellites might some day form artificial Saturn rings around earth. NASA Executive Secretary Dr. Edward C. Welsh said U.S.S.R.'s launch activity April 14-26 made most active 12 days in space history of any nation and "a great acceleration" of Soviet space effort. "For some time we've had indications that they're putting in an increasing rate of men and resources." James J. Haggerty, Jr., wrote in Journal of the Armed Forces that U.S.S.R. satellite launches in 1968 might for the first time since 1957 exceed U.S. spacecraft orbited. Launches in Cosmos series, which included a variety of spacecraft, had continued to accelerate, he noted, with 34 Cosmos launches in 1966 and 59 in 1967. Satellite reentered March 2, 1969. (Cohn, W Post, 4/27/68, A15; UPI, NYT, 4/27/68, 15; J/AF, 4/27/68, 9; GSFC SSR, 4/30/68; 3/15/69)
Maj. William J. Knight (USAF) flew X-15 No. 1 to 209,600-ft altitude and 3,545 mph (mach 5.05) from Edwards AFB. Purposes of test flight were to check Saturn insulation horizon scanner and fixed ball nose. (NASA Proj Off)
A 15-lb pig-tailed monkey, like one scheduled to orbit earth for 30 days on board Biosatellite D in 1969, had successfully completed simulated space flight fully instrumented with some two dozen separate biological sensors. Test, first joining of instrumented primate and its complete array of biological instrumentation with flight-type spacecraft, met all objectives, including 15-day medical countdown, 3-day simulated flight, and 5-day monitoring. (NASA Release 68-76; W Post, 4/26/68, A19)
NASA established Aerospace Safety Research and Data Institute at LeRC to
Pig-tailed monkey was in good health after 3-day simulated test flight, with 15-day medical countdown and 5-day postflight monitoring. Monkey, identical to one scheduled for 30-day orbit of earth on NASA's Biosatellite D in 1969, had been instrumented with two dozen sensors. In photo, primate is seated in test fixture. maintain highest safety standards possible in national aerospace program by solving technical safety problems and providing NASA and its contractors with current information on safety data and procedures. Institute would be directed by I. Irving Pinkel, consultant on aircraft safety to USAF and FAA and former Apollo 204 accident investigator and consultant. (NASA Release 68-79; LeRC Release 68-32)
NASA published Constructing Inexpensive Automatic Picture-Transmission Ground Stations (NASA SP-5079), providing instructions for building from surplus parts $500 ground station that could receive local cloud-cover pictures anywhere in the world from U.S. meteorological satellites. Booklet was available from Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information. (NASA Release 58-77)
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