Jun 28 1966
From The Space Library
Analysis of data from aborted March 16 GEMINI VIII mission had indicated three of 10 experiments were successfully conducted and a fourth might later yield data, NASA announced. Bioassays of body fluids had provided data on flight crew response to spaceflight; frog-egg growth experiment had indicated fertilized frog eggs divide normally even under conditions of weightlessness; nuclear emulsion experiment had functioned correctly and had completed 17% of its planned schedule when flight was terminated. Fourth experiment was micrometeoroid collection device aboard GATV; exposed surfaces were expected to yield useful data if they could be retrieved from GATV during Gemini X mission scheduled for no earlier than July 18. Six experiments had had to be canceled when GEMINI VIII mission was terminated after electrical short circuit in spacecraft caused continuous firing of roll thruster. (NASA Release 66-163)
Nike-Cajun meteorological sounding rocket launched from Churchill Research Range carried 19-grenade payload in GSFC experiment coordinated with launch from Point Barrow, Alaska, to study atmospheric parameters of wind, temperature, pressure, and density as summer progressed toward time of maximum noctilucent cloud sightings. Rocket and instrumentation performed satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
Pratt & Whitney Div. announced it had successfully tested second version of engine being built for US. supersonic transport program. Engine developed more than 600,000 lbs. thrust at West Palm Beach Facility. (W S , 6/28/66, 9)
U.S.S.R. was encountering difficulties in development of its supersonic jet aircraft so that "on the present showing it would seem that the Concorde will not only take to the air before the Tu-144 but will be flying commercially earlier, too," experts at Radio Liberty reported. (DJNS, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/28/66)
June 28-29: NASA's SURVEYOR I, which had soft-landed on moon June 2, did not respond to daily 3½-hr. attempt by JPL to reactivate its instruments after two-week lunar night. JPL spokesman said: "It may or may not be dead. Variations in the moon's temperature might have caused Surveyor's radio frequency to change." Beginning June 30, JPL's Deep Space Facilities, Goldstone, Calif., would try nightly to contact spacecraft using preplanned sequence of commands. If response were received, SURVEYOR I's television camera would be commanded to take one picture of spacecraft's footpad to verify camera was still operational and preparations would be made to resume full program of transmission of lunar pictures. (AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 6/29/66, A23; UPI, Wash. Post, 6/29/66, A9; UPI, Phil. Eve. Bull., 6/30/66)
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