Oct 6 1966
From The Space Library
In his first X-15 flight test, Maj. Michael J. Adams (USAF) flew X-15 No. 1 to 2,045 mph (mach 3.0) and 75,400-ft. altitude before making successful emergency landing at Cuddeback Dry Lake, Calif., when fuel tank unported 90 sec. after launch. There was no aircraft damage or pilot injury. (X-15 Proj. Off.)
Press briefing was held at LaRC on results of NASA's LUNAR ORBITER I mission, launched Aug. 10 from ETR to orbit the moon and photograph possible landing sites for Apollo astronauts. The more than 200 photos transmitted by the spacecraft revealed a rugged lunar landscape covered with thousands of craters. Ridges and hills were more gently sloped near moon's center and became progressively smoother in the west. Presence of large rocks, or "blocks," proved that surface was firm enough to support manned spacecraft. Of the nine sites photographed, the Ocean of Storms where SURVEYOR I was resting appeared safest for manned landing. Classified as a dark mare flat, waterless plain with relatively few craters-it had 20 per cent fewer craters than any of the other sites. U.S. Geological Survey scientists Dr. Harold Masursky and Dr. Lawrence Rowan suggested that the photos showed evidence of volcanic activity. Citing a small cone-shaped hill on line of a geologic rift near SURVEYOR I and a large crater on the back of the moon, apparently filled with congealed lava, Dr. Masursky said: "The moon is not a cold, dead, lifeless planet. It looks close to being as dynamic as the earth." Dr. Rowan noted that major faults on the lunar surface seemed to run in two general directions-northeast-southwest and southeast-northwest -and concluded that much of the volcanic activity probably occurred along these lines. LaRC scientist William Michael said nonphotographic data on the satellite's orbit indicated moon might turn flat side toward earth, not bulgy side as generally believed. He said displacement of moon's center of mass toward earth could explain both a flat face and moon's slight wobble, which had been accounted for previously by the bulge" theory. Micrometeoroid detection experiment had not recorded any "hits" during satellite's eight weeks in lunar orbit in contrast to earth-orbiting satellites which often registered a hit every two weeks. Project Manager Clifford H. Nelson announced that Lunar Orbiter E-second of five satellites in series-would be launched between Nov. 6 and 11 to photograph area slightly north of that scanned by LUNAR ORBITER I. (Clark, NYT, 10/7/66, 5; Wash. Eve. Star, 10/7/66, A3; O'Toole, Wash. Post, 10/7/66, A1)
NASA Javelin sounding rocket Launched from NASA Wallops Station reached 404-mi. (650-km.) altitude in GSFC-Canadian Defence Research Board Telecommunications Establishment experiment to measure ion and electron density and temperature. Although rocket did not perform as expected, all instrumentation functioned normally and "excellent" data were received. (NASA Rpt. SRL)
Apollo Command Module (CM) hardware could be recovered and refurbished for use on extended earth-orbital missions and long stays on the. lunar surface, North American Aviation, Inc., Vice President Dr. John McCarthy suggested at AIAA-AAS Forum discussing "After Apollo What Next?" in Washington, D.C. "Such refurbished hardware could be available within 18 months at no interference to the lunar landing program and would permit the gathering of vital data and experience for the more difficult task of exploring the planets," Dr. McCarthy said. He recommended an integrated space program which would include developing one advanced earth reentry module, single basic laboratory module, and modular launch vehicle system; he emphasized the need to determine the Nation's 10-yr. space objectives "as soon as possible." (Text)
October 6: U.S.S.R. might use data from published accounts of NASA's Gemini space flights to "reap the benefits of our efforts" and "leapfrog" the U.S. into the next phase of the moon race, Astronaut Michael Collins told the Yale Club of Washington, D.C. As examples of data that would assist Soviet scientists, Collins noted that Gemini fights had demonstrated the feasibility of rendezvous and docking missions in space, as well as man's capability to withstand long-duration space flights. (Wash. Eve. Star, 10/7/66, A7)
Because "procedural difficulties" had delayed approval for construction of new high-capacity ComSatCorp earth station at Moorefield, W. Va., ComSatCorp asked FCC to authorize construction of second large antenna at Andover, Me., "to meet pressing demands for greater satellite communications capacity." ComSatCorp stressed that even if the Andover application were approved, it would shortly update the Moorefield application and "continue to seek approval of it," because a second East Coast station site would be required for flexibility, diversity, and survivability. (ComSatCorp Release)
Clark Univ.'s Robert Hutchings Goddard Library announced plans to bury a time capsule containing 100 "early Space Age" artifacts, including tape recording of former Astronaut John H. Glenn's communications with ground control during his Feb. 20, 1962, MA-6 flight in FRIENDSHIP 7. Capsule would be set to be opened in 500 yrs. (Hines, Wash. Eve. Star, 10/6/66, A4)
Lockheed-Georgia Co. engineers Dr. W. C. J. Garrard, George K. Williams, and William W. Williams received Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) Wright Brothers Medal for their group report on development of soft-field and rough-field landing gear. Presentation was made at SAE's National Aeronautic and Space Engineering Meeting in Los Angeles. (Lockheed Southern Star, 9/15/66, 1)
October 6-7: Conference on status of spectroscopic observations of Martian atmosphere was held at NASA's request by NAS Space Science Board in Washington. Estimate of atmospheric pressure would determine spacecraft design for Mars landing. If pressure were no lower than 15 millibars parachute landing would be possible, but full retrothrust system would be necessary at 5 millibars. Recommendations of the conference would be made available "in the near future." (NAS-NRC-NAE News Report, 10/66, 4)
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