Dec 7 1968
From The Space Library
December 7-10: NASA'S Oao II (OAO-A2) Orbiting Astronomical Observatory was successfully launched from ETR by two-stage Atlas-Centaur booster. Orbital parameters: apogee, 485.7 mi (781.6 km) ; perigee, 479.2 mi (771.2 km) ; period, 100.4 min; and inclination, 350. Heaviest and most complex automated spacecraft ever developed by U.S., Oao II was 7 ft wide and 10 ft high, weighed 4,400 lb, carried 11 telescopes, and contained 238,000 separate parts. Primary mission objective was to demonstrate flight operation to support two experiments provided by Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Univ. of Wisconsin for at least 30 days. Secondary objective was to obtain scientific data over a range of star magnitudes and wavelengths for at least 50 hr. Experiments would observe interstellar dust and extremely young hot stars in UV portion of spectrum not visible to human eye or earth-based observatories. Satellite would be able to collect six hours of UV data per day-twice as much as had been obtained in 15 yr from 40 sounding rocket launches. Through its complex ground-command spacecraft-attitude system Oao II would be aimed at individual objects in space with precision never before attained by an orbiting satellite. Information from experiments would be radioed to earth as digital data for analysis by experimenters. By Dec. 10 all spacecraft equipment had been turned on and operated satisfactorily: satellite had been placed in its sunbathing mode with its solar panels oriented toward sun; its six star trackers had been activated; three of the trackers had been locked on to preplanned guide stars; and satellite had established three-axis stabilization. Smithsonian experiment initial power had been turned on. Wisconsin Experiment Package would be turned on Dec. 11. Oao II was second in series of four spacecraft in NASA'S OAO program to obtain precise astronomical observations of celestial objects above earth's atmosphere. Oao I had been launched into almost perfect orbit April 8, 1966, but had failed because of power supply system malfunction and probable high voltage arcing in star tracker. OAO program was managed by GSFC under OSSA direction. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 68-186K; KSC Release KSC-68; UPI, W Star, 12/8/68, A5; O'Toole, W Post, 12/8/68; AP, W Star, 12/9/68, A6; SBD, 12/10/68, 172; Sehlstedt, B Sun, 12/12/68, A5)
Apollo 8 Astronauts James A. Lovell, Jr., William A. Anders, and Frank Borman-scheduled to begin lunar orbital mission Dec. 21- held preflight press conference at MSC. Borman, comparing mission to "a combat tour in Vietnam," said: "The risks we take are acceptable ones. . . . We have to accept them if we believe it's worthwhile. If I ever feel it's not worthwhile, I'll quit." Describing the magnificence of space flight, Borman said, "When you're finally up at the moon and looking back at the world, the nationalities blend. . . You get the concept that this really is one world and wonder why . .. we can't live together like decent people." Anders said crew "might use the opportunity [of being in lunar orbit Christ-
December 7-10: NASA's' Oao-II 21-foot-wide, 4,400-pound Orbiting Astronomical Observatory carried 11 telescopes into orbit to seek answers to questions on origin, evolution, and future of universe. Photo was made in final flight qualification testing. mas Day] to express to all peoples of the world our purposes and the benefits we can expect from space exploration." (Lannan, W Star, 12/8/68, A4; AP, KC Star, 12/8/68; AP, M Her, 12/8/68)
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