Jul 29 1968
From The Space Library
Aviation Week reported anticipated $100-million cut in FY 1969 funding could halt contractors' work on USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) in September, with slippage of flight schedule into 1972. Boeing Co. was working on new launch vehicle at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility under Project Scrimp. Booster would be vehicle 75 ft in dia and 80 ft high and use TRW engine based on Boeing lunar module ascent engine experience, with 2-million-lb operational thrust-although USAF had not decided to abandon Titan III-M as launch vehicle. (Av Wk, 7/29/68)
House passed H.R. 18785, military construction appropriations bill for FY 1969, which included $263.3 million for Sentinel ABM facilities. It had rejected by vote of 106 to 37 motion to delete missile funds. (CR, H7710-35, Crowther, B Sun, 7/20/68, A5; AP, NYT, 7/30/68, 62)
Aviation Week reported DOD concern over advanced U.S.S.R. tactical fighters [see June 10]-particularly new Soviet mach 2.8 MiG-23 (Foxbat)-might result in approval of long-delayed USAF and USN projects including USN VFX-1 and follow-on VFX-2 interceptors for fleet defense, USAF FX air superiority fighter, and USAF/Lockheed F-12 interceptor. USAF originally had wanted next-generation continental defense interceptor force composed entirely of F-12s but would accept mixed force of F-12s and modified Convair F-106 interceptors designated F-106X. (Av Wk, 7/29/68)
Panel of scientists testified before House Committee on Science and Astronautics symposium on unidentified flying objects (uFos) in unanimous support of further, more detailed UFO research. Northwestern Univ. astronomer Dr. J. Allen Hynek said U.S. should seek U.N. cooperation in setting up "international clearing house" for scientifically respectable UFO reports because there was almost a total lack of quantitative data about the phenomenon. Cornell Univ. exobiologist Dr. Carl Sagan told Committee it was not inconceivable that there were other planets with civilizations and technologies more advanced than earth's, but he cautioned against a widespread UFO investigation program which would require "some harder evidence than is now present," thus being expensive. Computer Science Corp. mathematician and celestial mechanics specialist, Dr. Robert L. Baker, Jr., revealed space-based sensor system operated from Colorado Springs Air Defense Command Hq. had received several anomalous UFO alarms that had not been explained. Dr. James A. Harder, Univ. of California at Berkeley engineer, suggested that power which permitted UFOs to undertake their reportedly incredible maneuverings might depend on a theoretically possible "second gravita• tional field" interacting with electrical field in a manner corresponding to reaction between conventional electrical motors and generators. (Transcript; Lyons, NYT, 7/30/68, 10; Lannan, W Star, 7/30/68, A3)
NASA had extended, for $29,130,524, one-year contract with Trans World Airlines, Inc., for installation support services at KSC, bringing total of cost-plus-award-fee contract to $101,017,194. (KSC Release KSC-36468)
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