Aug 28 1970
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
NASA announced it had signed agreement with Italy, under which Italy would launch three NASA satellites-one Small Scientific Satellite (SSS) and two Small Astronomy Satellites (SAS)-from San Marco platform in Indian Ocean off coast of Kenya. Use of Italy's equatorial launch facility would enable NASA to orbit satellites with Scout booster rather than with larger boosters required for launches from KSC. Contract, signed by NASA and University of Rome's Centro Ricerche Aerospaziali (CRA), implemented Memorandum of Understanding signed by U.S. and Italy in February 1969. NASA would supply satellite and Scout booster. NASA-trained CRA team would assemble, check out, and launch satellite and provide some tracking and data acquisition and would be reimbursed by NASA. (NASA Release 70-139)
Group of MSFC engineers successfully completed week-long testing of Skylab program hardware in simulated weightlessness aboard USAF KC-135 four-engine-jet research aircraft. Tests included operation of flight-configuration doors for film cassette compartments, retrieval and replacement of film cassettes, and evaluation of handrails and foot restraints. Lunar soil penetration experiment aboard aircraft studied load-bearing characteristics of lunar soil and how LRV wheels would of on moon. KC-135 was flown in parabolas, with 30 secs of weightlessness achieved on each parabola in technique which most clearly duplicated zero g. (MSFC Release 70-169; MSFC PIO)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched by NASA from WSMR carried Cal Tech experiment to conduct x-ray studies. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (SR list)
First inflight interception of ICBM by ABM was successfully conducted by DOD, demonstrating use of Safeguard ABM system to defend U.S. offensive missile sites. Minuteman I test vehicle, launched from Vandenberg AFB, was detected by prototype missile site radar at Kwajalein Atoll in Pacific, which controlled launch of Spartan missile and flight of Spartan to intercept point outside atmosphere. Range instrumentation, which determined successful intercept, indicated Spartan's final stage (which in operational situation would carry nuclear warhead) had flown close enough to nosecone to have caused its destruction. (DOD PIO; NYT, 9/1/70,18)
White-hot metal slabs, each weighing approximately 45 kg (100 lbs), fell from sky and landed on Adrian, Tex., farm; near farmer at Beaver, Okla.; and near oil crew at Pratt, Kansas. AP later said Government team would investigate. , On Aug. 31 USAF announced that chunks were probably part of U.S.S.R.'s reentering Cosmos CCCXVI (launched Dec. 23, 1969). Decay of satellite along path where pieces were found had been predicted by NORAD. Parts were being analyzed by USAF and would be returned to U.S.S.R. if positively identified. (W Post, 8/31/70, A8; UPI, NYT, 9/l/70, 59; AP, CSM, 9/2/70, 3)
Experiment to interpret seismic record produced by impact of Apollo 12 LM on lunar surface was described in Science by Univ. of Dayton, MIT, and USAF Institute of Technology scientists. In laboratory simulation, plastic pellets were fired into sand targets at 4° launch angle and 1.68-km-per-sec (1.04-mps) velocity. Shallow elliptical craters were formed, similar to certain lunar craters. Analysis of ejecta suggested LM debris skipped and, with some crater ejecta, reimpacted far downrange but ballistic rain did not account for unusual seismic signal. Experimenters had concluded that deliberate low-angle impact of spacecraft on lunar surface might create serious hazard to men and instruments on and near lunar surface in downrange direction. (Swift, Preonas, et al., Science, 8/28/70, 851-4)
Observation of nighttime lightning activity from OSO II orbiting solar observatory (launched Feb. 3, 1965) by monitoring light in 10° field of view of four telescopes was described in Science by Univ. of California at Berkeley physicists. Positions of nighttime thunderstorms determined from detection of optical radiations by OSO 77 had revealed that 10 times as many lightning storms occurred over land areas as over sea. (Vorpahl, Sparrow, Ney, Science, 8/28/70, 860-2)
Accomplishments of Dr. Lee A. DuBridge, retiring Presidential Science Adviser and OST Director, were described in Science. Dr. DuBridge was credited with influencing Nixon Administration to moderate space program, initiating steps to meet electric-power generating-capacity crisis, contributing to President's renunciation of biological warfare, and assisting "modest recovery in the fortunes" of NSF. (Walsh, Science, 8/28/70, 84373)
Apollo 11 Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and Dr. Thomas D. Barrow, President of Humble Oil & Refining Co., had been named cochairmen of Goals for Texas in the Coastal Zone Conference to be held in Houston, Sept. 10-11, Houston Chronicle said. (H Chron; 8/28/70)
One hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of Scientific American. Magazine had been founded in New York by Rufus Porter, New England electroplater, who had invested $100 in venture. It now had circulation of 450 000-90 000 of it overseas, including Italian language edition. Soviet Academy of Sciences distributed facsimile. Magazine had published works of 45 Nobel Prize winners, 25 of them before they became laureates. (Lipman, W Post, 8/30/70, C5)
U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed adjourned after four weeks of meetings in Geneva with no concrete results. (Hamilton, NYT, 8/30/70)
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