Mar 17 1970
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Meteor III weather satellite from Plesetsk into orbit with 633-km (393.3-mi) apogee, 537-km (333.7-mi) perigee, 96.3-min period, and 81.1° inclination. (GSFC SSR, 3/31/70; SBD, 3/19/70,94)
Rep. George P. Miller (D-Calif.), for himself and others, introduced H.R. 16516, $3.630-billion NASA FY 1971 authorization bill which reflected March 12 committee action, superceded H.R. 15695 introduced Feb. 4, and added $297.8 million to President's budget request of $3.333 billion. New bill would allocate $2.903 billion for R&D, including: Apollo, $1.101 billion; space flight operations, $670.2 million; advanced missions, $1 million; physics and astronomy, $110.4 million; lunar and planetary exploration, $144.9 million; bioscience, $12.9 million; space applications, $172.6 million; launch vehicle procurement, $124.9 million; space vehicle systems, $30 million; electronics systems, $23.9 million; human factor systems; $18.3 million; and basic research, $18 million. Space power and electric propulsion systems would remain at $30.9 million; nuclear rockets, at $38 million; chemical propulsion, at $20.3 million; and aeronautical vehicles, at $87.1 million. Tracking and data acquisition would drop to $293.8 million; technology utilization would increase to $4.5 million. Construction of facilities would be cut to $33.9 million. Research and program management funds would be increased to $693.7 million. (Text)
Gen. John D. Ryan, USAF Chief of Staff, presented USAF FY 1971 budget request to House Committee on Armed Services: U.S.S.R.'s operational ICBM force outnumbered that of U.S. and, "by mid-1971, will probably exceed ours by several hundred launchers." Soviets had technology to develop hard-target MIRV and "Fractional Orbit Bombardment (FOBS) or depressed trajectory ICBM (DICBM) may already be operational. Their new 'swing-wing' bomber prototype could become operational, and their submarine launched ballistic missile force is expanding rapidly." U.S. continued to reduce bomber strength of Strategic Air Command. "We have phased out the B-58s, and severely cut back the FB-llIs. At end FY-71, we will have fewer B-52s and 66 FB-IlIs. We hope to offset the reduced strength by increasing the capability of our bombers with the Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM) and the Subsonic Cruise Armed Decoy (SCAD) and providing for increased prelaunch survivability through satellite basing and improved warning." In last five years, "we have cut our active interceptor strength by two-thirds and our radars by one-half. The Soviets during this period have maintained their Long Range Aviation forces at about 200 heavy bombers and over 700 medium bombers and tankers. . . ." (Testimony)
In testimony before Senate Armed Services Committee, L/G Otto J. Glasser (USAF) said development of short-range attack missile (SRAM) would be completed in September. USAF would run 12 tests of advanced ballistic reentry system (ABRES), push studies of new midcourse surveillance system to warn of attacking missiles, operate four large-payload flight tests using Atlas E and F boosters in ABRES program, and continue advanced development "to apply new technology to the mid-course tracking and discrimination problem." Satellite system looked "promising" but USAF was investigating alternate sensor/platform combinations "to assure that no promising concept is overlooked." USAF advanced avionics program was pursuing electronically scanned, phased-array radar antenna for strike aircraft and completion of all-weather close-support weapon delivery system. (Aero Daily, 3/18/70, 20)
Alabama Space and Rocket Center at Huntsville opened with $10-mil- lion exhibit of hardware from MSFC, Army Missile Command, and U.S. aerospace-missile companies. Speakers at dedication ceremonies included Dr. Wernher von Braun-NASA Deputy Associate Administrator and former MSFC Director-and Astronaut Frank Borman. Center, managed by Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, was financed by $1.9-million state bond issue and built on 14 hectares (35 acres) transferred by USA from Redstone Arsenal property. (Marshall Star, 3/11/70, 1)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced award of $3million DOT contract to Grumman Aerospace Corp. to design 480km-per-hr (300-mph) tracked air-cushion research vehicle (TACRV). (DOT Release 6370)
March 17-19: Manned Flight Awareness Workshop at MSFC was attended by 51 representatives of nearly 20 industrial firms and several Government agencies, to plan promotion of space flight safety and hardware reliability among work forces during 1970s. (MSFC Release 70-49; NASA PAO)
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