Aug 29 1968
From The Space Library
NASA's Pegasus I, II, and III meteoroid technology satellites launched Feb. 16, May 25, and July 30, 1965, were turned off by ground command after more than three years successful operation. Designed for 18-mo lifetime, Pegasus satellites, by detecting meteoroids, had confirmed protective adequacy of Apollo spacecraft for manned lunar missions but indicated that spacecraft for longer missions might encounter protection design problems. Spacecraft also provided data on Van Allen belts, earth reflectivity, solar constant, orbital and gyroscopic motions of rigid bodies, degradation of surface coatings in space, thermal control systems, and lifetime of electronic components in space operations. Pegasus program had been managed by MSFC under OART direction. (NASA Releases 68-149, 68-149A, 68-149B; Marshall Star, 8/21/68, 1)
NASA scientists working with Deep Space Network (DSN) had quadrupled distances over which signals from three Pioneer spacecraft currently in interplanetary space could be heard. Pioneers could view sun from every side. Improvements in DSN receivers so far had allowed return of 50% more of their data than had been planned. All three Pioneers-now 29, 116, and 182 million mi from earth-could be heard through DSN antennas, ensuring return of data until they wore out Together they had, to date, amassed 55 mo in orbit, measuring particles and fields of sun's atmosphere and returning seven billion bits of data. Change of polarization of tracking antennas from circular to linear had doubled received signal power. (ARC Release 68-13; ARC Astrogram, 8/29/68, 1)
President Johnson signed Executive Order 11424 ensuring "flight pay" to military personnel flying spacecraft and incentive pay for hazardous duty on same basis as for those flying in conventional aircraft. Order further ensured incentive pay for personnel injured in an "aviation accident" for three months without their completing performance require. ments. Order included word "spacecraft" in previous Executive Order related to hazardous duty pay for "aerial flight" and "aviation accident." (PD, 9/2/68, 1285)
National Pilots Assn. issued statement defending "first-come, first-served" principle of air traffic control and opposed priorities for air carriers as solution to mounting congestion at major airports. Instead, NPA recommended upgrading pilot and aircraft requirements for using New York, Chicago, and Washington terminals. It specifically advocated requiring IFR equipment including transponder for aircraft, instrument rating for pilots, and aircraft capable of maintaining specified approach speeds. (NPA Release)
Library of Congress had acquired from former astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., The John Glenn Papers, 90,000 items representing national and in- ternational response to his first manned space flight, Feb. 20, 1962. Majority of letters covering 1962-64 were from ordinary citizens, largely elementary school children. Other items included subject files, space manuals, news clippings, scrapbooks, invitations, certificates, awards, maps, and charts which Library's Information Bulletin said "reflect the contemporary need for a popular hero-one who can be held up to the young and who at the same time must undergo the rigorous pressures brought about by 'instant' fame and worldwide recognition. Papers provided "many insights into contemporary social history." Glenn had been asked for his opinion on every conceivable topic. (Sifton, LC Info Bull, 8/29/68)
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