Mar 25 1968
From The Space Library
Solar Wind Composition Experiment, developed by Swiss scientific team headed by Univ. of Berne's Dr. Johannes Geiss, was first foreign experiment accepted for NASA's Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP). Swiss experiment would require astronaut to deploy on lunar surface aluminum foil sheet oriented toward sun to entrap solar wind ions; foil sheet would be packaged for return to earth by astronauts, providing in this one-pound experiment first opportunity to capture ions for earth analysis. Swiss National Committee for Space Research had already built prototype. NASA would provide qualification tests for prototype and construction and acceptance tests for flight hardware. (NASA Release 68-55; Marshall Star, 3/27/68, 10)
Dr. Thomas O. Paine was sworn in as NASA Deputy Administrator in NASA Hq. ceremony. Nomination had been confirmed by Senate Feb. 7. (NASA Ann)
MSFC awarded Univ. of California $929,000 contract to develop and test prototype balloon flight system for NASA's High Altitude Particle Experiment (HAPPE) program. Primary objective of HAPPE was to use naturally occurring radiation in investigating interactions of elementary particles at 90,000-ft altitude. Balloon payload for prototype flight, scheduled for late summer, would be 50 ft tall and 8 ft in dia and would weigh 10,000 lb. (MSC Release 68-26; Aero Tech, 4/8/68, 3)
Use of 260-in solid rocket motor as 1st stage for advanced manned launch vehicle was advocated by MSFC Director, Dr. Wernher von Braun, Aerospace Technology reported. Dr. von Braun, whose support for motor was revealed in Oct. 11, 1967, testimony released by House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on NASA Oversight, said concept was advantageous for resupply of flights to space stations and for space rescue systems where 80% of emergencies in manned spacecraft in earth orbit were "time critical." NASA and DOD, in joint study, were considering use of 260-in motor and its development
NASA Administrator James E. Webb shakes hands with Dr. Thomas 0- Paine (left) after swearing him in as Deputy Administrator of NASA. but questioned whether there would be enough missions for booster to justify high development costs. (Text; Aero Tech, 3/25/68, 12)
Four F-111A jet aircraft flew first mission from Ta Khli AFB in Thailand under radar control to target areas northwest of Dong Hoi, North
Vietnam, according to unofficial sources, AP reported. Aircraft conducted successful nighttime strike and encountered no enemy aircraft or surface-to-air missiles. (AP, B Sun, 3/26/68, A2)
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