Oct 11 1969
From The Space Library
October 11-18: U.S.S.R.'s Soyuz VI, carrying Cosmonauts Georgy S. Shonin and Valery N. Kubasov, was successfully launched from Baikonur at 4:10 pm Baikonur time into orbit with 229-km (142.3-mi) apogee, 194-km (120.6-mi) perigee, 88.8-min period, and 51.7° inclination. Tass said spacecraft carried equipment to test methods of welding materials in weightlessness and did not carry docking equipment used on Soyuz IV and Soyuz V Jan. 14-18. Western speculation, later confirmed, was that Soyuz VI would rendezvous with other spacecraft. Soyuz VII, carrying Cosmonauts Anatoly V. Filipchenko, Vladislav N. Volkov, and Viktor V. Gorbatko, was launched from Baikonur at 3:45 pm Oct. 12 into orbit with 217-km (134.8-mi) apogee, 200-km (124.3-mi) perigee, 88.4-min period, and 51.6° inclination. Tass said spacecraft's mission was "maneuvering in the orbit, staging joint navigation observations of the spaceships . . . in group flight, observation of celestial bodies and the horizon of the Earth, determination of the real luminosity of stars, observation of changes in illumination created by the Sun and other scientific experiments." Third spacecraft, Soyuz VIII, carrying Cosmonauts Vladimir A. Shatalov and Dr. Aleksey S. Yeliseyev, was launched from Baikonur at 3:29 pm Oct. 13 into orbit with 278-km (172.7-mi) apogee, 215-km (133.6-mi) perigee, 89.4-min period, and 51.6° inclination. Its mission, Tass said, was "comprehensive simultaneous scientific studies in near-terrestrial space in accordance with an extensive program; testing of the complex system of controlling a simultaneous group flight of three space ships; mutual maneuvering of ships in orbit with the aim of solving a number of problems of developing the piloted space system." TV viewers received announcement of flights about 30 min after launches and saw video-tape recordings of launches about 11/2 hrs later. Ultimate goal of three-spacecraft mission was not given. In prelaunch interview shown on TV several hours after launch, Dr. Yeliseyev said group mission would conduct experiments leading to "creation of still more powerful orbiting stations." Tass reported crews had checked out equipment and communicated with each other. Soyuz VI was conducting medical-biological tests, Soyuz VII was observing and photographing earth and celestial bodies, and Soyuz VIII was conducting research on polarization of solar light reflected by atmosphere. On Oct. 14 Tass reported Soyuz VII and Soyuz VIII had moved close together, carried out "mutual observation-photography and movie filming," studied "possibility of exchanging information with the aid of light signals and visceral optical methods," conducted series of medical experiments, and observed "effect of erosion by micrometeorites on the condition of illuminators and optic systems of the craft." On Oct. 15 spacecraft approached to within 500 yds during rendezvous, while Soyuz VI hovered nearby. On Oct. 16 Radio Moscow announced Soyuz VI had successfully completed mission and had softlanded in preset area 100 mi northwest of Karaganda at 12:52 pm Moscow time. No information on other two Soyuz spacecraft was given until Tass announced softlanding of Soyuz VII at 12:36 pm Oct. 17 and of Soyuz VIII at 12:10 pm Oct. 18. Western officials speculated missions had not achieved all objectives. Tass said all major tasks were carried out with "high efficiency." (Gwertzman, NYT, 10/12-14, 18/69; SBD, 10/14/69, 195; 10/ 21/69, 230, Reuters, W Post, 10/15-16/69; AP, W Star, 10/16/69, Al; Reston, LA Times, 10/19/69, A2; GSFC SSR, 10/15/69; 10/31/69)
October II: Apollo 12 Astronauts Charles P. Conrad, Jr, Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Alan L. Bean held press conference at MSC. Code names for Apollo 12 LM and CM had been selected, they said, from entries submitted by North American Rockwell Corp. and Grumman Aerospace Corp. employees. CM would be called "Yankee Clipper" and LM, "Intrepid. Major differences from Apollo 11 mission would be increase in geology and photography. Detailed documented sample collection would be team effort. Description would tell geologist about rock's location, including how it was related to other rocks, whether it was partially covered, and why it attracted attention. Astronauts would carry bags and tongs at all times during EVA to collect rocks when sighted instead of being limited to collecting during specific period of EVA. Photographic activities, described by Conrad as "the world's greatest zero-G juggling act," would include multispectral photography of lunar surface, using four Hasselblad cameras in hatch window. Three cameras would have black-and-white film with filters; fourth would have infrared film. Purpose of camera setup, Gordon explained, was to "photograph the illuminated side of the moon from one minute after sunrise to one minute prior to sunset in a stiff manner." Every 20 secs "cameras would be activated, to give complete strip photography across the surface of the moon. . . . The big step photography I think is probably one of the most important things we're doing on this flight.. . ." (Transcript; MSC Release 69-68)
At Fourth Annual AVLABS Awards Banquet of USA Aviation Material Laboratories in Fort Eustis, Va." NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Charles W. Harper discussed NASA-USA cooperation in aeronautics. "Aviation, both military and civil, has suffered in past years from a scarcity of new young blood bringing new ideas and new training to research. For several years NASA has been constrained by personnel limits and so unable to bring this kind of new talent into its aeronautics problem. A joint Army-NASA program may provide a unique opportunity to increase the interest of our universities in the challenges of aviation technology and to bring the new scientists they train into the job of finding solutions." (Text)
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