Jun 18 1968
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCXXVII from Baikonur into near-circular orbit with 271-km (168.4-mi) apogee, 202-km (125.5-mi) perigee, 89.2-min period, and 51.8° inclination. Satellite performed satisfactorily and reentered June 26. (SBD, 6/19/68, 244; GSFC SSR, 6/30/68)
House unanimously accepted $4.013-billion Senate version of NASA FY 1969 authorization bill (H.R. 15856) [see June 10] without conference and sent to President Johnson for signature. Final bill, $357.027 million less than NASA request, reduced funds asked for Apollo program by $13.8 million, to $2.025 billion; cut Apollo Appli- cations from requested $439.6 million to $253.2 million; and halved advanced missions funds, to $2.5 million. It increased House figure of $11.7 million for NERVA program to $55 million, still $5 million under request. Lunar and planetary exploration funds were cut from requested $107.3 million to $92.3 million, and space applications from $112.2 to $98.7 million. Final authorization figures were $3.37 billion for total R&D, $603.173 million for administrative operations ($45.027-million reduction), and $39.6 million for construction of facilities. All items were subject to appropriations bills, not yet passed. (CR, 6/18/68, HSO52-3; Lannan, W Star, 6/19/68, D9; SBD, 6/19/ 68, 239; Science, 6/28/68, 1432)
Apollo 7 spacecraft, which would carry three astronauts on 11-day earth-orbital mission in late 1968, was undergoing combined systems tests at KSC. Unmanned and manned altitude runs would follow, before spacecraft would be sent to Cape Kennedy to be placed on Saturn IB launch vehicle. Saturn had undergone tests and checkout on Launch Complex 34 for several months. NASA announced Apollo mission-which would demonstrate performance of spacecraft's command module (CM), service module (SM), crew, and support facilities-would begin with mid-morning launch, carrying commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., CM pilot Donn F. Eisele, and LM pilot Walter Cunningham into earth orbit During second revolution, crew would separate Apollo from rocket's upper stage and perform transposition and simulated docking maneuver similar to one to be performed on lunar mission. Reentry under manual control of crew would culminate in splashdown in Atlantic at approximately 7 am EDT on 11th day. (NASA Release 68-108; KSC Release 285-68)
ARC reported that 90 U.S. scientists at ARC working group sessions had agreed electromagnetic systems would provide best data on moon's interior and recommended three techniques, magnetometer systems, radio-frequency systems, and radar. Magnetometer systems could measure blocking of fluctuating solar magnetic field borne by solar wind by using network of emplacements on moon's surface. Highly conductive hot lunar core would cut off field completely, while cold core would let most of field pass through. Magnetometer on lunar crawler could make similar measurements to find highly conductive masses of water, lava, or ore. Radio-frequency probes could make inexpensive subsurface surveys through spacecraft radio signals which would penetrate moon's surface and bounce back to be measured as to wave characteristics. Wave-change data could help define ore, ice deposits, or permafrost. High-frequency radar systems could study lunar surface through radar bounced off moon from earth with return signal received by earth antennas, or beamed from spacecraft in lunar orbit or from lunar crawler at lunar surface, with return signals received by spacecraft or crawler. (ARC Release 68-9)
Opening session of 3rd Eurospace U.S.-European Conference at Munich discussed disparity between U.S. and European space funding. Total spent on Western European space research in 1967 was $300 million, 0.005% of gross national product of cooperating countries; NASA budget was 14 times that amount. West German Minister for Scientific Research, Dr. Gerhard Stoltenberg, proposed merger of ELDO and ESRO, 10% increase in total funding, and possible cooperation with U.S. in developing launch vehicle for use after 1975. International Space Research Committee Vice President Richard W. Porter urged increased cooperation with NASA, which already had concluded bilateral agreements with several countries for scientific satellite launchings, eight of which had proved successful thus far. Some 42 countries were working with U.S. on meteorological satellite programs; 11 were cooperating oft communications projects. There were 20 tracking stations in 11 countries cooperating in U.S. launching projects and 395 foreign technicians, engineers, and scientists had worked in U.S. space centers. European industrial sources expressed hope system could be evolved for joint U.S.-European work on projects. (InteraviaAirLetter, 6/19/68, 1)
Dr. Gardiner L. Tucker, Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering (Electronics & Information Systems), told Military Operations Subcommittee of House Committee on Government Operations DOD would proceed with new phase of Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS), procuring more than three advanced synchronous satellites and developing over six new ground terminals. Funding of satellites, which would use very narrow-beam steerable antennas illuminating 1,000- to 2,000-mi-dia area of earth, would start in FY 1969. DSCS satellites would be comparable to Intelsat IV series under consideration for commercial service. New DCD phase represented technological advance over advanced DSCS considered in 1967 but was Less ambitious in cost and size, with cost range of $100-200 million, contrasted with earlier $500 million. Current system had 25 satellites in orbit and operational, each equipped with switch to turn it off after six years in orbit. Number of terminals had grown from original two in field and seven transportable to worldwide operational system with terminals near Washington, D.C., and in New Jersey, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Guam, Australia, Korea, Okinawa, Philippines, South Vietnam, Thailand, Ethiopia, and Western Germany, plus six shipboard terminals. Cooperative programs with Allies in satellite communications included procurement of two synchronous Skynet satellites for U.K. as part of Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program (IDCSP) with first launch scheduled for mid-1969. Joint efforts were under way to ensure operability of U.S. and U.K. satellites and terminals, and work was under way to procure two Skynet satellites for NATO under program similar to that of U.K. First launch was planned for late 1969, with U.S. controlling satellite. U.S. had signed Memorandum of Understanding with six NATO countries establishing joint testing program utilizing Les V experimental satellite, launched July 1, 1967. (Transcript: DOD Release 603-68; Johnson, Av Wk, 6/24/68)
Secretary of Transportation Alan S. Boyd testified before Senate Commerce Committee's Aviation Subcommittee in support of S. 3645, proposing airport development and airways systems improvement. By 1974, revenue passenger-miles flown by U.S. airlines were expected to rise to 200 billion, more than double 1967 level; hours flown by carriers, from 5.2 million in 1967 to 8.6 million, increasing 65%; and general aviation hours flown, 50%, from 21.9 million to 31.8 million. Air carrier fleet would increase from 2,272 aircraft to 3,320 and gen- eral aviation fleet would increase from 104,706 to 160,000. Aircraft handled by FAA towers would more than double, as would those han- died by FAA route control centers. Increase in speed and quality of aircraft also would increase demand for use of FAA facilities. 5.3645 would authorize direct loans for potentially viable airports when reasonable private financing was unobtainable and grant up to 50% of cost for projects attributable to service by subsidized carriers. Federal assistance would be available only for development projects related to landing areas and safety facilities. DOT would be required to submit National Airport System Plan within two years. (Testimony)
Response from U.S.S.R. and other nations to proposal for international decade of ocean exploration in 1970s had been "quite favorable," Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Chairman of National Council on Marine Resources and Engineering Development, said in report released by council. "I welcome the enthusiasm with which the Decade is being received. . . . We look forward to a continuation of this spirit of close collaboration, for the seas can, and must serve the interest of mankind." (Text; NCMRED Rpt, 5/68; Madden, NYT, 6/18/68, 16)
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