Mar 5 1968
From The Space Library
NASA launched 198-lb Explorer XXXVII (Solar Explorer B), second joint project of NRL and NASA to measure solar emissions, from NASA Wallops Station by four-stage Scout booster. Orbital parameters: apogee, 545 mi (877 km) ; perigee, 324 mi (521 km) ; period, 98.8 min and inclination 59A°. Primary NASA objective was to place satellite in planned orbit and provide tracking and telemetry support. NRL objectives were to continue and augment overall solar x-ray monitoring program into ascending portion of 11-yr solar cycle; perform temporal measurements of x-ray emission intensity and spectral quality of solar flare emission; correlate measurements with optical and radio ground-based observatories; and provide real-time solar monitoring information. International scientific community had been invited to acquire solar radiation data from satellite. Although Explorer XXXVII did not enter planned circular orbit, orbit achieved would satisfy scientific objectives. Expected lifetime was one year. First NRL-NASA solar monitoring project, Explorer XXX (IQSY Solar Explorer), had been launched Nov. 18, 1965, and had ceased operating Nov. 20, 1967. Explorer program was directed by OSSA. Wallops Station was responsible for vehicle integration and launch operations. NRL was responsible for satellite development, construction, and testing. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 68-43; WS Release 68-5; AP, NYT, 3/7/68, 10; W Post, 3/7/68, D21)
U.S.S.R. successfully launched two Cosmos satellites. Cosmos CCIV entered orbit with 843-km (524-mi) apogee, 271-km (168-mi) perigee, 95.7-min period, and 70.9° inclination. Cosmos CCV entered orbit with 292-km (181-mi) apogee, 197-km (122-mi) perigee, 89.3-min period, and 65.6° inclination. Cosmos CCV reentered March 13. Cosmos CCIV reentered March 2, 1969. (AP, NYT, 3/7/68, 10; GSFC SSR, 3/15/68; 3/15/69; SBD, 4/1/68, 174)
NASA Associate Administrator for Advanced Research and Technology, Dr. Mac C. Adams, told Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences that House Committee on Science and Astronautics cut of $48.3 million from request for FY 1969 NERVA program "would essentially wipe out the entire program. With the $11.7 million authorized by the House Committee [see March 1]-it is not clear that would even cover termination of the contracts. • . We would immediately have to start termination of not only the engine development, but also termination of the technology work. I feel that we would waste a very valuable investment." Dr. Adams described "substantial progress" in OART programs in 1967; initial acoustic absorber tests showed reduction in jet transport noise; parawing (steerable parachute) showed promise for spacecraft and precise military landings; static firing of 260-in-dia solid rocket motor had reached 5.9-million-lb thrust in 80-sec test; NERVA had been successfully tested at full power 60 min; all major components of SNAP-8 nuclear turbo-generator system had completed 1,800 hr of endurance tests, one exceeding 13,000 hr; and new Beta cloth for astronaut clothing had passed wear and flammability tests. In "beneficial crossflow between engineering and life sciences," he named development of garment to give physicians three-dimensional data on heart activity, new blood velocity meter, and sensor to measure blood pressure in heart-small enough to be threaded through hypodermic needle and derived from instruments developed for small flight models for wind-tunnel tests. (Transcript)
President Johnson presented Goddard Memorial Trophy for 1968 to Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., former NASA Deputy Administrator and now NASA consultant and MIT visiting professor, in White House ceremony. National Space Club award named for the late Dr. Robert H. Goddard, "father of American rocketry," was given Dr. Seamans for helping "develop the policies, plans and programs that have led to the outstanding achievements and United States leadership in the field of rocketry and astronautics." President Johnson had received trophy in 1966. (PD, 3/1/68, 475; Program, Goddard Memorial Dinner, 3/5/68; W Post, 3/6/68)
MSFC Director, Dr. Wernher von Braun, discussed "The Outlook for Space Exploration" addressing National Space Club's Goddard Memo-
Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.), Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, reads citation on Goddard Trophy which President Johnson (right) presented to Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr. (center), former NASA Deputy Administrator. Memorial Dinner in Washington, D.C. "The public's knowledge and understanding of space exploration have been broadened by the remarkable achievements of the first decade of the space age, but a great many people in the space program are deeply concerned about an apparent decline in popular support of space activities." Space achievements had been well publicized but "the capability that made these feats possible, the underlying science and technology, the inherent value of delving deeper into the mysteries of the atmosphere and space, and the mechanism by which increased scientific knowledge enhances economic and social progress are apparently little understood or appreciated on a wide basis. "Up to now we have had to devote our full energies to working on the means by which we reach into space. Now that the pipelines are filling with space hardware, more and more of our preoccupation is turning toward the question of what can be done to assure that the people who have supported our program ... receive the full range of benefits which can be derived from space exploitation." (Text; CR, 3/12/68, E1769)
Rep. Joseph E. Karth (D-Minn.), Chairman of House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Manned Space Flight Subcommittee, told Sixth Goddard Memorial Symposium in Washington, D.C., he saw "grave danger to our economic and social progress, as well as to our position in the world, if 'let technology wait' attitude becomes too prevalent." He advocated building sound foundation for economic growth by longterm investment in science, technology, and education and by maintaining technological leadership "as a necessary basis for our national security and economic strength." He called for "a space program better balanced between scientific, exploratory and economic payoff missions." (Text; Clark, NYT, 3/6/68, C33; SBD, 3/6/68, 25)
NASA awarded $26,116,200 fixed-price-incentive-fee contract to McDonnell Douglas Corp. to provide launching and launch support services, including inspection and checkout, for improved Delta boosters. Contract would cover 20 launches from ETR and WTR over 21-mo period. (NASA Release 68-42; WSJ, 3/6/68, 20)
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