Jun 9 1966
From The Space Library
USAF launched three satellites with a single Atlas-Agena D booster from WTR-One unidentified satellite, ERS XVI satellite to test metal-to-metal adhesion of space propulsion materials, and USA's SECOR VI geodetic satellite. (US. Aeron. & Space Act., 1966, 152)
NASA OSO II Orbiting Solar Observatory, activated by GSFC officials, transmitted scientific and engineering data from four of its eight experiments. Launched from ETR Feb. 3, 1965, OSO II had exceeded its six-month life expectancy by 50% before it was turned off Nov. 3. (GSFC Release G-10-66)
US. had current "edge" over U.S.S.R. in overall space capability but this status had been "recently acquired and is not sufficient to form even the slightest basis for complacency," Dr. Edward C. Welsh, NASC Executive Secretary, told Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Assn. Industrial Luncheon in Washington, D.C. Dr. Welsh analyzed the areas of relative accomplishment: "(1) Number of spacecraft. The United States has placed almost 400 spacecraft into earth orbit and on escape missions, while the USSR has put slightly less than 200 on such missions.. . . However. . . Soviets have placed each year a greater total weight of payloads. . . . (2) Lunar and Interplanetary. The United States has been far less active but considerably more successful in its interplanetary activities. . . . We have photographed Mars and had a productive flyby of Venus while the USSR's active interplanetary program has been primarily plagued by failure. In addition, we have taken some 17,000 photographs of the moon and are taking hundreds more by the magnificent Surveyor spacecraft. . . . (3) Manned Flight . . . U.S. . . . has a distinct lead over the USSR with about 1500 man flight hours in orbit compared with about 500. . . with the longest individual flight as well as the longest extra-vehicular activity. Also, the US. has had two controlled rendezvous maneuvers, one docking experiment, and considerable manned spacecraft maneuvering experience. So far, the USSR has achieved none of these latter goals. (4) Space Applications. The United States has navigation, weather, and communications satellite systems in regular operation, while the USSR is still in the developmental stage in such activities. (5) Scientific Data. . . the larger number and greater variety of US. scientific payloads, as well as the wider and freer dissemination of the information obtained, may well have added more to the world's store of knowledge. (6) Propulsion . . . the USSR has surpassed the United States in the field of propulsion so far as the amount of thrust is concerned [but] this thrust advantage is much less true today as both countries have in operation and under development larger and more advanced propulsion systems.. . ." (Text)
Changes in Apollo nomenclature were announced by Julian Scheer, NASA Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs, in memorandum from Project Designation Committee: (1) Lunar Excursion Module would be known as "Lunar Module"; (2) Saturn I-B booster would be "Uprated Saturn I "; and (3) Saturn V stages (S-II, S-IC, and S-IVB) would be "first, second, and third stages." Technical designations for Saturn stages, Scheer said, were confusing to the public and would be dropped gradually, except in NASA's internal and technical documentation. (Text)
State Dept. disclosed that on May 26 U.S.S.R. had given U.S. photos taken by LUNA IX after it soft-landed on the moon Feb. 3. (UPI, NYT, 6/10/66,8)
LaRC engineers Upshur T. Joyner and Walter B. Horne received Society of Automotive Engineers' Arch T. Colwell Merit Award-presented annually to authors of papers "of outstanding technical or professional merit"-for "Pneumatic Tire Hydrolapping and Some Effects on Vehicle Performance." (LaRC Release)
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