Nov 21 1969
From The Space Library
November 21-23: U.K.'s Skynet A (IDCSP-A) military comsat was successfully launched from ETR at 7:37 pm EST by NASA for USAF and U.K. by Long-Tank Thrust-Augmented Thor-Delta (DSV-3M) booster. Spacecraft entered transfer orbit with 23,045.4-mi (37,080.1-km) apogee, 160.7-mi (258.6-km) perigee, 655.3-min period, and 27.6° inclination. Primary NASA objective was to place spacecraft into synchronous transfer orbit accurate enough for apogee motor to place spacecraft into synchronous equatorial orbit. On Nov. 23 apogee motor was fired and spacecraft entered circular orbit with 22,216.5-mi (35,746.4-km) apogee, 21,558.3-mi (34,687.3-km) perigee, 1,431-min period, 2.44° inclination, and 1.3° per day eastward orbital drift. Drift rate was increased to 8° per day to ensure arrival on station over Indian Ocean by Dec. 30. All systems except primary communications system had been turned on and were operating satisfactorily. Skynet A was first of two U.K. military comsats scheduled to be launched over Indian Ocean under DOD-U.K. agreement. USAF managed project for DOD and would reimburse NASA for launch services. U.K. would reimburse USAF. Skynet B would be launched in May 1970. Spacecraft consisted of two concentric cylinders containing apogee motor, solar cells, despun antenna, high-pressure hydrazine stabilization system, and redundant x-band communications system. It was 32 in high, 54 in in dia, and had five-year lifetime. Initial operation of spacecraft telemetry and command functions were performed from USAF satellite control facility. Control of orbital operations would be transferred to U.K. telemetry command facility after spacecraft reached station. (NASA Proj Off; SBD, 11/26/69, 114)
November 21: Apollo 12 Astronaut Richard F. Gordon, Jr." orbiting moon in CSM, set new world record for solo space flight. Gordon piloted CSM alone for 37 hrs 41 min, breaking 30-hr 20-min record set by Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper, Jr." in Faith 7 May 15-16, 1963. (UPI, W Star, 11/21/69, A7)
NASA's HL-10 lifting-body vehicle piloted by Maj. Peter C. Hoag (USAF) reached 78,000-ft altitude and mach 1.4 in powered flight after air-launch from B-52 aircraft at 45,000-ft altitude west of Rosamond, Calif. Purpose of flight, 30th in series, was to obtain stability and control data at varying stability augmentation gain settings. (NASA Proj Off)
President Nixon and Prime Minister Eisaku Sato of Japan issued joint statement following White House discussions on international situation. On space, statement said: "The Prime Minister congratulated the President on the successful moon landing of Apollo 12, and expressed the hope for a safe journey back to earth for the astronauts. The President and the Prime Minister agreed that the exploration of space offers great opportunities for expanding cooperation in peaceful scientific projects among all nations. In this connection, the Prime Minister noted with pleasure that the United States and Japan last summer had concluded an agreement on space cooperation. The President and the Prime Minister agreed that the implementation of this unique program is of importance to both countries. , (PD, 11/24/69, 1633-7)
Inaccurate signals from controlling gyro mechanism had caused Sept. 17 destruction of AH-56A helicopter inside wind tunnel at ARC, NASA announced. Investigation board, appointed by ARC Director, Dr. Hans Mark, had determined accident did not result from malfunction of rotor control system or of wind-tunnel systems and equipment. Board recommended greater use of computers to analyze rotor systems before test, study of safety systems and hazards and procedures for wind- tunnel crews in emergencies, and addition of metal barriers to protect control room and sections near tunnel. It said visual close observation of tests should be minimized. AH-56A was under study for stability and control at USA request. (NASA Release 69-154)
Total $21.35-billion investment "in the development and demonstration of a national manned lunar landing capability" was detailed by Dr. Thomas O. Paine, NASA Administrator, in letter to Sen. Clinton P. Anderson (D-N. Mex.), Chairman of Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences. "At the time of its establishment, the national goal of a manned lunar landing and return in this decade represented the most difficult technological endeavor ever to challenge the American nation. During this period, senior NASA officials in testimony before the Congress estimated the cost . . . at between $20 and $40 billion." Estimate was refined to approximately $19.5 billion in March 1964, with assumption "there would be a timely initiation of a follow-on program which would bear a portion of the relatively fixed cost required to develop and sustain this national capability." Estimates then and annual reassessments had reflected total program cost, including cost of initial lunar landing. Lunar objective "was not simply an end in itself but, rather, provided the focus for the effort to attain space supremacy for whatever the national interest required." In March 1966 NASA had furnished estimate of $22.718 billion based on assumption that there would not be timely initiation of follow-on program. In April 1969 NASA furnished estimate of $23.877 billion, which would still be valid if negative assumption had materialized. "But with the success of Apollo 11, we have the opportunity to utilize this demonstrated capability in a more meaningful way. By improving payloads and modifying spacecraft to increase lunar surface systems, we can enhance significantly the return of scientific data from both lunar orbit and the lunar surface." NASA had met national commitment "at a cost nearer the lower end of the range of estimates" despite "unpredictable substantial inflationary conditions." Actual cost accrued through July 31, 1969, was $21.35 billion, of which $2 billion was value of flight hardware available for future flights. Capital assets included were approximately $2.8 billion and were "of continuing national value." Apollo was "triumph in management as well as in technology and engineering which united government, industry and universities in a common peaceful undertaking. At least one-half million people worked on the manned lunar landing program . . . during the eight years from its announcement to its initial success." (Text)
U.S. radioastronomers had been unable to obtain funds for facilities recommended five years ago and were beginning to fear "that the momentum that has attracted talented researchers from engineering and physics into radio astronomy may soon be lost," Robert W. Holcomb said in Science. "Pulsars and the interstellar clouds provide astronomers with the opportunity to extend their ideas about stellar evolution into very early and very late stages, and most of the pertinent research must be done with radio telescopes. These instruments are also required for some of the most important cosmological problems currently being considered." (Science, 11/21/69, 984-6)
At opening day ceremonies of American Bible Week in New York, sponsors, Laymen's Committee of American Bible Society and Catholic Biblical Assn. of America, awarded citation to crew of Apollo 8 for reading from Genesis as they orbited moon during Dec. 21-27, 1968, mission. (NYT, 11/22/69, 40)
Astronaut promotion policy seemed "certain to discomfit someone after the end of Apollo 12 no matter whether it's followed or ignored," Washington Post said. President Johnson had decreed in 1965 that each military astronaut would get one spot promotion after his first space flight. Apollo 12 commander Charles (Pete) Conrad, Jr." and CM pilot Richard F. Gordon, Jr." had both received promotions to commander, USN. Apollo 12 LM Pilot Alan L. Bean, also commander, USN, now rated promotion to captain, but was junior crewman in age, service in grade, and space experience. Bean promotion might "irritate" others but would be fair to Bean. Promotion for all three astronauts would be "unfair to other astronauts who have flown twice or three times and only promoted once." President Nixon might have to make "sticky" decision. (W Post, 11/21/69, A17)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced award of $200,000 FAA contract to Univ. of Tennessee at Knoxville for two-year study of methods of reducing sonic boom, to help FAA establish certification standards for new aircraft. (FAA Release 69-127)
DOD announced General Electric Co. would receive $5,192,730 supplemental agreement to previously awarded USAF contract for R&D of Mark 15 reentry vehicle. Contract would be managed by Space and Missile Systems Organization. (DOD Release 1015-69)
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