Jul 1 1968
From The Space Library
Eighth anniversary of NASA's largest Center, Marshall Space Flight Center. It became operational July 1, 1960, with 4,400 employees and facilities valued at estimated $100 million. On eighth anniversary MSFC had 6,500 employees. Plant value was estimated at $400 million, with real property values accounting for $140 million and capital equipment for remaining $260 million. Achievements during first eight years included development and successful flight of Saturn I, Saturn IB, and Saturn V launch vehicles. (MSFC Release 68-143)
McDonnell Douglas Corp. received $9,666,800 NASA contract for 10 additional Improved (Long-Tank) Delta launch vehicles for use in variety of launches, including TOS-E for ESSA in August, Intelsat III for COMSatCorp in September, IDSCP/A for DOD in May 1969, HEOS (Highly Eccentric Orbiting Satellite) for ESRO in late 1968, and ISIS-A (International Satellite for Ionospheric Studies) in late 1968. North American Rockwell Corp. was awarded $6,968,038 contract extension for material, facilities, manpower and equipment for XB-70 flight operations, and General Electric Co. was awarded $1,957,323 extension for maintenance of XB-70 engines. Both extensions covered July 1, 1968, through June 30, 1969. ( NASA Release 68-116; FRC Release 19-68)
At signing in Washington, D.C., of nuclear nonproliferation treaty, President Johnson said: "The conclusion of this treaty encourages the hope that other steps may be taken toward a peaceful world. And . . . I have described this treaty as the most important international agreement since the beginning of the nuclear age. . . . After long seasons of patient and painstaking negotiation, we have concluded just within the past five years, the limited test ban treaty, the outer space treaty, the treaty creating a nuclear-free zone in Latin America. And the march of mankind is toward the summit and not the chasm." Agreement had also been reached between U.S. and U.S.S.R., President Johnson announced, "to enter in the nearest future into discussions on the limitation and the reduction of both offensive strategic nuclear weapons delivery systems and systems of defense against ballistic missiles." At Moscow signing of treaty, Soviet Premier Alexey N. Kosygin called agreement a "major success for the cause of peace." He disclosed contents of U.S.S.R. memorandum to all nations proposing nine-point disarmament and arms control program and called on 18-nation Geneva disarmament conference to take up proposal. (PD, 6/8/68; Sherman, W Star, 7/1/68, Al; UPI, 7/1/68; Grose, NYT, 7/2/68, 1, 2)
Sudden affirmative response by U.S.S.R. to President Johnson's longstanding offer for discussion of limiting missiles may have substantial meaning, said William S. White in Washington Post. "If this should turn out to be the case it would be ironic, indeed. It would mean that only after renouncing his office had the President been able to convince the Russians . . . that this country was honestly prepared to make accommodations with Moscow, so long as they were realistic and enforceable accommodations to reduce a possibility of nuclear holocaust that still hangs over the world and will so hang whatever may or may not happen in the Vietnams." (W Post, 7/1/68, A21)
Boeing Co. submitted SST progress report to FAA which indicated Government might have to guarantee $2 billion in production costs, depending on ultimate number of aircraft sold. Manufacturer estimated production and certification could cost $2.96 billion, assuming production of 500 aircraft Airline advance payments could account for $905 million; suppliers, including Boeing and General Electric Co. could raise $595 million, leaving $1.5 billion in capital to be acquired from other sources. Boeing said this capital probably would not be available unless Government guaranteed repayment. Total cost of each aircraft was estimated at $41.2 million, with probable 50% advance payment by airlines required. Since first flight tests were planned for September 1972, further studies would be conducted, Boeing said, before final recommendations on SST financing were made. (Taylor, Am Av, 9/16/68, 22-4; AP, B Sun, 9/17/68, A9)
Resignation of Dr. Mac C. Adams, NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, announced May 21, became effective. He rejoined Avco Corp., where he had worked from 1955 to 1965, as Corporate Vice President and Deputy Group Executive of Government Products and Services Group. (NYT, 7/2/68, 63)
NASA appointed M/G Daniel F. Callahan (USAF, Ret.) , Manager of Florida Missile Operations for Chrysler Corp., to position of Deputy Director of Administration, Kennedy Space Center, vacated in October 1967 by Frederic Miller, who became Director of Installation Support. (KSC Release KSC-331-68)
White House announced that Gen. William F. McKee (USAF, Ret.) had submitted his resignation as head of FAA, effective July 31. There was no indication of successor. (W News, 7/2/68, 12; WSJ, 7/2/68)
New subdivision of Air Force Systems Command, Air Force Human Resources Laboratory (AFHRL), became operational at Brooks AFB, Tex., as focal point for USAF R&D effort to satisfy technology needs in human resources education, training, and management. It would also provide technical and management assistance in support of studies, analyses, development planning activities, acquisition, test evaluation, modification, or operation of aerospace systems and related equipment. (AFSC Release 93.68)
Commenting on C-5 maiden flight, New York Times editorial noted: "Of the many technological advances required for yesterday's aviation breakthrough, the most important was the quantum leap in jet propulsion capabilities represented by the C-5's motors. The enormous size of the new plane forced extraordinary use of light metals . . . to keep down weight. It also posed unprecedented manufacturing problems whose brilliantly successful solution was proved by yesterday's path-breaking flight. "But will the airports of this country-and the world, for that matter -be capable of meeting the challenges . .? By 1978, "it may be commonplace for a few enormous planes landing minutes apart to de- posit 5,000 or 10,000 passengers on the ground almost simultaneously. . . . Now is none too soon to begin planning for handling such masses of people.. . . The vast size of the giant new planes ahead is dwarfed only by the enormity of the unprecedented problems they pose." (NYT, 7/1/68, 30)
Surveyor Project Office at JPL officially closed after directing one of U.S. s most successful space exploration programs. Program director, Howard H. Haglund, recipient of 1968 Astronautics Engineer Award, had been accepted as Alfred P. Sloan Fellow and would attend Stanford Univ. (JPL Pm; SBD, 7/8/68, 10)
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