Dec 13 1967
From The Space Library
NASA's PIONEER VIII (Pioneer C) , third in series of five spacecraft designed to provide continuing measurements over the solar cycle at widely separated points in interplanetary space, was successfully launched from ETR by Thrust-Augmented Thor-Delta booster into orbit around the sun. Orbital parameters: aphelion, 1.0080 astronomical units (au) or 101.2 million mi (162.8 million km); perihelion, 0.9892 au or 91.5 million mi (147.2 million km); period, 386.6 days; and inclination, 0.057°. Primary mission objective of the 145-lb drum-shaped satellite was to collect scientific data on interplanetary phenomena, including magnetic field, plasma, and cosmic ray measurements for two or more passages of solar activity. As secondary mission PIONEER VIII would: (1) investigate continuously characteristics of the magnetosheath, investigate the geomagnetospheric tail, and acquire data when a highly significant solar event occurred; (2) refine primary determinations of earth and moon masses, the astronomical unit, and osculating elements of earth`s orbit; (3) provide synoptic study of solar-interplanetary relations; and (4) provide target for checkout and training of MSFN equipment and operations personnel by launching a Test and Training Satellite (TTS) as secondary payload. The 40-lb TTS I, carried pickaback on 2nd stage, was successfully ejected after 3rd-stage burnout, and entered orbit with 303-mi (488-km) apogee, 187-mi (301-km) perigee, 92-min period, and 33° inclination. PIONEER VIII separation, boom deployment, and initial solar orientation occurred as planned; all seven experiments-including an interplanetary dust detector and a radio propagation experiment-functioned satisfactorily; and on Dec. 15 spacecraft successfully completed maneuver which orientated the spin axis perpendicular to ecliptic plane. PIONEER VI (launched Dec. 16,1965) and PIONEER VII (launched Aug. 17,1966) were currently 144 million mi a d 68 million mi, responsively, from earth and were still returning excellent data. Pioneer program was managed by ARC under OSSA direction. (NASA Releases 67-293, 67-310; NASA Proj Off; W Post, 12/14/67, A17; AP, B Sun, 12/14/67,1)
Dr. John S. Foster, Jr., Director of Defense Research and Engineering, discussed importance of defense R&D and problem of choosing among new technological developments available. Speaking before the Dallas Chapter of the Assn. of the US. Army and the Dallas Council on World Affairs, he noted that over 80% of all the scientists and engineers who had ever lived were alive today; scientific and technical manpower had increased 400%, compared to 50% for labor force; and of all U.S. R&D supported national defense. Current defense R&D funding was $8 billion. Discussing selection of proposed projects, he described a new tool and procedure called the Development Concept Paper, "a short, single document . . . [which] requires that . . . parties agree to a common document that states the issues, the assumptions, the alternative courses of action available, the pros and cons for each." With this type of presentation, he said, the Secretary of Defense could more easily and more objectively decide whether to approve or reject a project, and if approved, the paper could be transmitted to project's implementers as a guide. This new tool, he indicated, would be used in future to avoid repetition of past inappropriate decisions in which precious resources were wasted, such as air-launched Skybolt missile and B-70 aircraft which proved too vulnerable after $2 billion had been spent on their development; and C5-A subsonic transport aircraft, currently being produced for operation in 1969, whose production had been delayed since late 1950's pending development of a system to utilize it. From such cases, Dr. Foster noted, "we have repeatedly learned that money is not enough. That enthusiasm is not enough. That technical innovation is not enough. We need critical analysis of purposes, missions, threats, and requirements. We also need realistic tested advanced alternatives produced by our investment in research. And to gain wise management decisions, we must join these together in constructive confrontation." (Text)
U.S.S.R. and Communist-bloc countries-including Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia-had agreed to conduct "a program of joint launchings of sputniks and rockets," Evert Clark reported in the New York Times. Yugoslavia had declined admission to the group, choosing instead to join INTELSAT. U.S.S.R. reportedly had constructed or would construct tracking stations in Cuba, U.A.R., Mali, and "some other countries of Asia and Africa." Since U.S.S.R.'s land mass stretched over 2/3 of earth's circumference, U.S.S.R. had less need for tracking stations in other countries than US., and assigned little or no responsibility to nation where station was located. NASA, however, had bilateral agreements with more than 70 nations covering joint activities from student exchanges to satellite launches. (Clark, NYT, 12/14/67,26C)
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