May 1 1968
From The Space Library
USAF launched unidentified satellite from Vandenberg AFB by Thor-Agena D booster. Satellite entered orbit with 176-mi (273.2-km) apogee, 115-mi (185.1-km) perigee, 88.6-min period, and 83.1° inclination and reentered May 15. (Pres Rpt 68)
House Republican Policy Committee recommended $353-million cut in Administration's requested $4.37-million NASA FY 1969 authorization and said unless Government spending was dramatically reduced, "the cost of living may reach the moon before our astronauts." Committee urged reductions in Apollo Applications program, administrative operations, and public relations and suggested that NASA place greater emphasis on R&D programs leading to future space advances. "Stockpiling of expensive hardware that may be obsolete by the time it is finally needed" could not be justified. (Text: Sehlstedt, B Sun, 5/2/68, A6; SBD, 5/7/68, 31)
NASA, USN, Dept. of the Interior, and General Electric Co. announced plans for Operation Tektite, 60-day study of ocean floor by four U.S. scientists isolated at 50-ft depth in Greater Lameshur Bay, Virgin Islands, in February 1969. Project, first such program undertaken jointly by Government agencies and private industry, would be longest continuous undersea study by a diving team. Previous record was 45 days. NASA would acquire data on human endurance; USN, on engineering, marine science, and human behavior; and Interior, on marine geology, underwater mapping, and fish life. GE would build laboratory. (Abraham, P EB, 5/1/68; Wilford, NYT, 5/2/68, 18; ARC Astrogram, 5/23/68, 3)
Second stage of vehicle expected to be first manned Apollo/Saturn V space vehicle was shipped from Kennedy Space Center launch site to Mississippi Test Facility for cryogenic proof pressure test by North American Rockwell Corp. personnel. Test, scheduled for June, would further certify integrity of stage's liquid-hydrogen tank and would be conducted on all 2nd stages for manned Apollo Saturn missions. Stage would be reshipped to KSC about July 1. (SFC Release 68-93)
Edgar M. Cortright, former NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, assumed duties as Director of NASA Langley Research Center. He succeeded Dr. Floyd L. Thompson, who was serving as Special Assistant to NASA Administrator James E. Webb. Cortright had served at Lewis Research Center from 1948 to 1958 and at NASA Hq. since 1958. (Langley Researcher, 5/17/68, 1)
President's Office of Science and Technology released National Atmospheric Sciences Program-Fiscal Year 1969, report describing total $200-million Federal investment in atmospheric science in terms of priority areas and programs of 10 participating Federal agencies. Report was prepared by Interdepartmental Committee for Atmospheric Sciences of Federal Council for Science and Technology. Planned NASA share of funding for FY 1969 was $84,573, dropping from $123,406 in FY 1968. Allocation included $50,594 for meteorological studies; $4,313 for aeronomy, including ionospheric physics atmospheric chemistry, rocket and satellite instrumentation; and $29,666 for study of planetary atmospheres. During past year efforts had increased on weather modification and space environmental forecasting. Special effort had been made to increase support of university research groups in connection with U.S. participation in Global Atmospherics Research Program. ESSA and NSF had increased meteorology program slightly. ESSA, DOD, and NSF had increased solar-terrestrial research. (Text: OST Release, 5/1/68)
NASA personnel changes: M/G Robert H. Curtin (USA, Ret.) was appointed Director of Facilities, reporting to Assistant Administrator for Administration. He had been Director of Civil Engineering, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, USAF Hq. Ralph E. Cushman, who joined National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1939, was appointed Special Assistant to NASA Assistant Administrator for Administration. (NASA Ann)
Oakland Tribune editorial, "Space Race Has Big Stakes": "The orbital bomb is one chilling example of the potential military threat posed by the Soviet space program. Yet, so far, the only officially announced U.S. reaction . . has been reports of plans for an over-the-horizon radar to lengthen the warning time against orbital devices and missiles. "It would be more reassuring to the nation if the Pentagon were given the authority to devote whatever resources it requires to counter the orbital bomb threat, not simply with defensive measures but with an offensive military capability of our own. . . . The ultimate prize in the space race may be national survival." (Oakland Trib, 5/1/68)
USAF announced modification of F-111A flight control system to correct "binding action in the actuator mechanism" F-111As in U.S. and Thailand had been grounded briefly until "precautionary measures" had been taken. DOD could not ascertain if problem had contributed to loss of two of three F-111As in Southeast Asia during past 10 wk because wreckage had not been found. USAF said, however, F-111As safety record was superior to that of other supersonic fighters during early flights. (Corddry, B Sun, 5/2/68, A3; NYT, 5/2/68, 15)
Twenty nations, including U.S., U.S.S.R., and U.K., presented draft resolution in U.N. General Assembly urging "widest possible adherence" to U.S.-U.S.S.R. nuclear nonproliferation treaty and to pursue urgent negotiations on further measures to halt nuclear arms race. (deOnis, NYT, 5/2/68, 12)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
