Feb 5 1969
From The Space Library
February 5-16: Intelsat-III F-3 was successfully launched by NASA for ComSatCorp on behalf of International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium. The 632-lb cylindrical satellite, launched from ETR by Long-Tank Thrust-Augmented Thor (LTTAT) -Delta (DSV-3M) booster, entered elliptical transfer orbit with 23,496.9-mi (37,- 814.6-km) apogee, 157.3-mi (253.1-km) perigee, 671.9-min period, and 29.8° inclination. All systems were functioning normally. On Feb. 7 apogee motor was fired to kick satellite into planned near-synchronous orbit over Pacific at 173.8° east longitude with 22,000-mi (35,719.8-km) apogee, 22,190-mi (35,703.7-km) perigee, 23-hr 56- min period, and 1.3° inclination. Intelsat-III F-3 was second successful launch in Intelsat III series. Intelsat-III F-2 had been launched Dec. 18, 1968, as backup to Intelsat-III F-1, which had been destroyed minutes after launch Sept. 18, 1968. Satellite began commercial service Feb. 16, handling up to 1,200 voice circuits or 4 TV channels. (NASA Proj Off; ComSatCorp Releases 69-7, 69-27; AP, B Sun, 2/6/69, A3; Pres Rpt. 70 [69] ; ComSatCorp PIO)
February 5: DOD launched two unidentified satellites from Vandenberg AFB by Thor-Agena booster. One entered orbit with 171.0-mi (275-km) apogee, 91.7-mi (147.6-km) perigee, 88.7-min period, and 81.6° inclination and reentered Feb. 24. Second satellite entered orbit with 894.9-mi (1,439.9-km) apogee, 866.4-mi (1,394.0-km) perigee, 114.1-min period, and 80.4° inclination. (Pres Rpt 70 [69] )
President Nixon authorized immediate $10-million increase in expenditure ceiling placed on National Science Foundation by Johnson Administration in 1968. He said: "The colleges and universities of this Nation provide a critical resource which needs to be fostered and strengthened. Our higher educational system provides the advanced training needed for tomorrow's leaders in science and technology, industry and government, and also conducts the basic research which uncovers the new knowledge so essential to the future welfare of the country. It is essential that these programs of education and research be sustained at a level of high excellence." (PD, 2/10/69, 224-5)
New tempest was brewing in national scientific community over whether defense establishment absorbed exorbitant portion of U.S. scientific and technological energies, John Lannan said in Washington Evening Star. In New York, younger physicists had called for political activism at annual meeting of American Physical Society Feb. 3. MIT group, Union of Concerned Scientists, had scheduled day-long "research stoppage" March 4 and initiated letter campaign to spread its views to other institutions. Union's proposals included "a critical and continuing examination of government policy in areas where science and technology are of actual or potential, significance"; redirection of research from defense-oriented to environment-oriented projects; opposition to antiballistic missile system; and organization of scientists into effective and vocal political action group. (W Star, 2/5/69, A7; Sullivan, NYT, 2/9/69, E7)
Report on aviation safety for 1968 was submitted to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce by Joseph J. O'Connell, Jr." Chairman of National Transportation Safety Board. For all scheduled air carrier services there had been one fatal accident for about every 500,000 hrs, or for every 100,000 transcontinental flights. One passenger had been lost for every 370 million passenger miles flown. Number of fatalities in scheduled domestic and international passenger service had been second worst of decade; but accident rates, fatal and nonfatal, continued downward for total scheduled air carriers. In general aviation, rate for fatal accidents per hours flown had increased but remained below rates of 1965 and before and was third best in decade. Total number of fatal accidents-692, killing 1,374 persons-was highest in history. (Text; NYT, 2/9/69, 94)
In message to Senate, President Nixon urged prompt ratification of nuclear nonproliferation treaty: "I believe that ratification of the Treaty at this time would advance this Administration's policy of negotiation rather than confrontation with the USSR. I believe the Treaty can be an important step in our endeavor to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and that it advances the purposes of our Atoms for Peace program." (PD, 2/10/69, 219)
February 5-7: During two-day Paris visit Apollo 8 Astronaut Frank Borman met with President Charles de Gaulle. At dinner given by Ambassador R. Sargent Shriver, Jr." on Eiffel Tower, Borman received offer of racing car from French manufacturer who had presented similar gift to Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin in 1965. During Paris news conferences and on TV interview, Borman stressed international character of space exploration. He said, "I don't know why we aren't going to Russia. I would like to visit Russia. . . . I think we have some fair means of cooperation in space and I would hope to see more." (Garrison, NYT, 2/6/69, 2; 2/7/69, 3)
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