Jan 9 1968
From The Space Library
NASA announced creation of Research and Technology Advisory Council to assist in planning and evaluation of research and technology for aeronautics and space. Council would assess relative importance of ongoing research, suggest additional work, and advise on methods for developing national resources. Headed by Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff, Head of MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and supported by committees representing seven major technology areas, Council included: Dr. David Altman, United Technology Center; Dr. Allen V. Astin, Director of National Bureau of Standards; Dr. Loren D. Carlson, Univ. of California School of Medicine; Dr. Howard W. Emmons, Harvard Univ.; Gen. James Ferguson, Commander of AFSC; Dr. Nicholas J. Hoff, Head of Stanford Univ. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Dr. Hans W. Liepmann, Cal Tech; Dr. John G. Linvill, Head of Stanford Univ. Electrical Engineering Dept.; Matthias E. Lukens, Deputy Executive Director of Port of New York Authority; Dr. Ronald Smelt, Vice President and Chief Scientist of Lockheed Aircraft Corp.; Dr. Chauncey V. Starr, Dean of Univ. of California Engineering School; and Edward C. Wells, Vice President, Product and Development, Boeing Co. Dr. Allan E. Puckett of Hughes Aircraft Corp. accepted appointment later. (NASA Release 68-4; NASA OART)
NASA. said one mile of coaxial cable had been laid in two-foot-deep trench across Ascension Island in South Atlantic Ocean to link two antennas-30-ft-dia parabolic reflector for contact with Apollo spacecraft and 42-ft-dia dish to link with Intelsat II-C-as part of chain of Manned Space Flight Network (MSFN) tracking, telemetry, and voice communications facilities. Also integrated in NASA communications circuits were Satellite Tracking and Data Acquisition Network (STADAN) facilities for scientific satellites and Deep Space Network (DSN) facilities to support lunar and planetary probes. Ascension Island cable was "final link" in two million miles of NASA Communications (NASCOM). (NASA Release 68-1)
Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., former NASA Deputy Administrator, was sworn in as consultant by NASA Administrator James E. Webb. Webb said Dr. Seamans would "lend his talents and experience to the complex problems we face as the space program moves into its second decade." (NASA Release 68-7)
AEC scientists had produced man-made atoms of transuranium elements -artificial elements of californium, einsteinium, and fermium that were heavier than uranium, heaviest of the 92 elements that occurred naturally. Man-made atoms had numerous potential uses in medicine and space, such as providing power for satellites and for electrical heart stimulator. (Spivak, WSJ, 1/9/68, 1)
Aerospace industry sales in 1967 totaled $27.3 billion, 13% increase over 1966 sales, Aerospace Industries Assn. reported. (W News, 1/9/68, 38)
January 9-22: NASA's Surveyor VII, launched Jan. 7, became fifth U.S. spacecraft to softland on moon when it touched down in Tycho crater ejecta after 66-hr 35-min flight and began transmitting first of 21,274 detailed television pictures to JPL Deep Space Facilities, Goldstone, Calif. Landing sequence began when Surveyor VII shifted its normal cruising attitude to position main retrorocket. Triggered by radar, main retromotor slowed spacecraft to 31/2 mph; retromotor then ejected. Vernier engines cut off at 13 ft above lunar surface and spacecraft landed. First photos transmitted showed Surveyor VII was resting in rock-strewn area. Later photos consisted of wide and narrow angle surveys, panoramas, and special area surveys of spacecraft and landing area, including closeups of rocky debris on rim of Tycho crater and rugged landscape with prominences and boulders estimated to be three stories high. Stereo pictures were obtained with special mirrors; polarization pictures were taken of lunar surface, geologically interesting rocks, and earth; and photos of Jupiter and earth were obtained. Camera also photographed laser beams directed at spacecraft from Table Mountain, Calif., and Kitt Peak, Ariz., observatories, two of six U.S. stations which directed laser beams. Test, first use of light to communicate over such great distance, was considered highly significant for future use of lasers in communications and measurements in space and on earth and was expected to permit distance between points on moon and on earth to be measured with accuracy of six inches. Special surveys of dust-detection mirrors showed no accumulation of dust. Footpad magnets did not show a significant adherence to particles, but material did accumulate on surface sampler scoop magnet. Only flaw in mission occurred Jan. 10 when alpha-scattering instrument failed to contact lunar surface after command to deploy had been issued. Photos revealed that although release squib had fired, instrument had remained in background count position. Efforts to dislodge it by rocking solar panel were unsuccessful. After satisfactory bearing-strength data had been obtained, engineers positioned surface 'sampler on top of alpha-scattering instrument, applied downward force, and successfully released instrument without damage. Alpha-scattering instrument, moved by surface sampler to its initial position over soil, to second position' over rock, and to third position over one-half-inch-deep trench, obtained data for 63 hr 2 min. Surface sampler conducted six bearing-strength tests; excavated several trenches, including one 16 in long and over 6 in deep; turned over large rock for examination by TV camera; and attracted gravel-size rock with its magnet. On Jan. 22, communications with spacecraft were halted to preserve battery power during cold of lunar night. Performance of Surveyor VII, final mission in NASA's Surveyor program to analyze lunar surface, was excellent. Surveyor I (launched May 30, 1966) , Surveyor III (launched April 17, 1967), Surveyor V (launched Sept. 8, 1967), and Surveyor VI (launched Nov. 7, 1967) had all softlanded successfully and transmitted photos to earth. Surveyor II (launched Sept. 20, 1966) had failed to softland because of an ignition failure. Communications with Surveyor IV (launched July 14, 1967) were lost seconds before spacecraft was scheduled to softland, and its condition could not be determined. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 67-316K; AP, W Post, 1/10/68, Al; UPI, W Star, 1/10/68, A3; AP, B Sun, 1/11/68, Al; SBD, 1/11/68, 56; Hill, NYT, 1/12/68, 4; W Post, 1/13/68, A5; Clark, NYT, 1/22/68, 17).
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