Feb 15 1967
From The Space Library
France launched Diademe II (D-1D) geodetic satellite from Hammaguir Range with three-stage Diamant booster into orbit of 1,897-km (1,179-mi) apogee, 592-km (368-mi) perigee, 110.4-min period, and 39.9ΓΈ inclination. Planned apogee was 1,500 km (932 mi), with 635-km (395-mi) perigee. Companion to Diademe I (D-1C) , launched Feb. 8, satellite was last to be orbited from Hammaguir Range, which would be shut down March 31. All future launches would be from new bases near Bordeaux and in French Guiana. Scientific mission of Diademe series was geodesy by three different means for cross-checks: Doppler effect experiment, laser experiment measuring distance to satellite from three ground stations, and photography of satellites against star background for direction-finding. (W News, 2/16/67; Av Wk, 2/20/67,25; Wetmore, Av Wk, 3/27/67,50-58)
NASA's Biosatellite I, carrying more than 10 million tiny living organisms, reentered earth's atmosphere and apparently landed "in the vicinity of Australia." On Feb. 22 NASA announced that search for capsule had been canceled. Launched Dec. 14,1966, from ETR, Biosatellite I had been scheduled to reenter earth's atmosphere by parachute and be recovered Dec. 17, but it` remained in orbit after retrorocket failed. It was first of three spacecraft in NASA's Biosatellite program to study physiological effects of weightlessness and radiation on organisms. (NASA Release 67-25; Reistrup, W Post, 2/14/67, A4; 2/23/67, A3; AP, P Inq. 2/16/67,3)
GAO report found LeRC innocent of alleged irregularities in construction of $25-dlKon tank chamber at Plum Brook Station but was critical of some of NASA's managerial practices. GAO said it had been advised by NASA "that closer construction management controls had been established. . . .', Allegations, brought by Plum Brook employee and referred to GAO by Rep. Charles A. Mosher (R-Ohio), had been denied by LeRC Director Dr. Abe Silverstein Jan. 19. (Text, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/15/67)
Boeing Co. would spend $165 million and General Electric Co. $65 million in Phase III (prototype construction) of SST program, M/G J. C. Maxwell (USAF) , FAA Director of Supersonic Transport Development, told American Marketing Assn., in Los Angeles. Total cost of Phase III work was estimated at $1.1 billion; most of the difference would be supplied by Government and the small remainder by several U.S. airlines. Boeing and GE contracts would not be effective until President Johnson's authorization to begin Phase III. (Reddig, Jr., W Star, 2/16/67, A17; WSJ, 2/16/67,4)
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