Oct 19 1967
From The Space Library
NASA's MARINER V made successful flyby of planet Venus to obtain scientific data on nature and origin of planet. Distance from surface of Venus at time of closest approach-estimated at 1 :39:21 pm, EDT-was 2,544 mi (4,094 km). Launched June 14, MARINER V was 49 million mi from earth at time of flyby. All scientific instruments and spacecraft subsystems performed properly during encounter sequence, as they had throughout flight. Sequence of 15 significant events during encounter, occultation, closest approach, exit occultation, and return to cruise mode, had begun at 10:49 pm EDT Oct. 18 and had ended at 3:55 am EDT Oct. 23. Full recorded account of experiments performed by MARINER V-first and second playbacks-exhibited clear and steady signals. JPL scientists obtained meaningful scientific data from all of spacecraft's experiments. Results of experiments included : solar plasma probe and magnetometer showed existence of solar wind/Venus interaction; trapped radiation found no energetic particles or radiation belts, and found magnetic moment less than 1% of earth's; S-band occultation estimated carbon dioxide and found ionospheric observations on daytime side indicated electron density; dual-frequency radio propagation provided data on Venus mass as 81.50% of earth's mass, and astronomical unit determination agreed with radar computations; and ultraviolet photometer found hydrogen corona comparable with that of earth, detected no oxygen, and found night airglow to be very faint ultraviolet emission detected at dark limb of planet-probably result of chemic8 t reactions, particle bombardment of electrical discharge. Spacecraft's mission also Was to accumulate data on interplanetary environment during period of increased solar activity. After return to cruise mode, MARINER V would resume report on interplanetary space weather. By end of November 1967, when earth was no longer in direction of high-gain antenna pattern, communications would be terminated; however, three-month-duration communications would be possible during next five years. (NASA Proj Off; Wilford, NYT, 10/20/67, 1; Sullivan, NYT, 10/22/67, 12)
Cone-shaped RAM C-1 spacecraft was successfully launched from NASA Wallops Station by four-stage Scout booster at 1:33 pm, EDT. On termination of eight-minute ballistic flight, impact occurred 725 mi down-range about 150 nm northeast of Bermuda. Spacecraft, 15 in long and 26 in in dia with 12-in-dis hemisphere nose, plunged back into earth's atmosphere at 17,000 mph in flight test to study methods for preventing loss of radio signals from reentering spacecraft. No recovery was attempted. NASA's Project RAM (Radio Attenuation Measurement) was to measure effectiveness of water addition concept in maintaining communications during reentry. Additional experiments were also included to evaluate X-band telemetry system as a means of overcoming blackout study plasma and ablation effects on antenna performance; measure attenuation as a function of signal frequency; and obtain measurements of ion densities in the flow field of the spacecraft in the presence of ablation and water injection. Water was injected at three points on spacecraft-on nose cap and on each side-with nitrogen gas as pressurizing agent. Ion density changes, due to varying amounts of water injection, were measured. X-band frequency experiment showed blackout period of communications was reduced by 6 sec, using water-injection method. Series of Arcasonde meteorological rockets were launched from Bermuda before and after RAM C-1 experiment to collect upper atmosphere density, temperature, and wind data. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 67-261; WS Releases 67-33,67-34)
NASA Aerobee 150 sounding rocket launched from WSMR reached 118-mi (182-km) altitude in flight to observe profile of solar hydrogen Lyman-alpha line and to measure radiation in relation to earth's planetary hydrogen. Experiments performed satisfactorily, but range schedule delay caused loss of coordination with MARINER V experiment. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA Arcas sounding rocket was launched from Barking Sands, Hawaii, to 36-mi (58-km) altitude, fifth in NOTS series of seven to measure incident solar uv irradiance in support of OGO IV's mission. Excellent data were obtained. Rocket and payload performed satisfactorily. (NASA Rpt SRL)
USAF F-111A aircraft crashed near Bowie, Texas; two crew members ejected safely in detachable cockpit. According to General Dynamics Corp. pilots David Thigpen and Max Gordon, aircraft had faulty hydraulic system which made maneuvering impossible. Crash was second for USAF test model; first had crashed Jan. 19, killing one crew member. USN test model (F-111B) had crashed April 21, killing both pilots. (AP, W Star, 10/20/67, A9; UPI, W Post, 10/20/67, A7)
Fast growth of air travel market could be adversely affected by travel costs, lack of hotel space, unreasonable airport charges, and unnecessary restrictions on operating rights of US. carriers abroad, Air Transport Assn. of America's President Stuart G. Tipton told Dublin, Ireland, audience. Addressing Trans-Atlantic Travel Congress of European Travel Commission, he suggested that "serious consideration be given to the effect upon airlines of high airport costs," while he pointed out that, since 1946, average fare per passenger mile had dropped 38 percent. Referring to "the [[[Boeing]]] 747 era [as being] a little over two years away," he warned that "the lead time for building a new hotel, however, runs from three to five years." Air passengers from the US. alone had spent $773 million in the Europe-Mediterranean area and had contributed to the economic well-being of the area; however, he said, "US. flag carriers are paying $500 . . . for every landing at some European airports [while] their foreign flag counterparts flying into the US. pay only $90 per landing for the same aircraft." (Text)
Injectors for Apollo Lunar Module's ascent engine had performed in over 100 test firings at Rocketdyne Div.'s laboratory near Los Angeles, the company reported. Injectors had returned automatically to stable combustion after explosive charge was set off to deliberately create rough combustion in several tests. They were developed as backup to the original injectors after rough combustion was noted in test firings. Three designs would be continued through feasibility testing; then the best design would be chosen for development. (Rocketdyne Release)
Great Britain's Ministry of Technology had released funds to build 400-ft, fully-steerable, dish radiotelescope, said Dr. H. C. Husband, British delegate to international conference on large antennas for radio astronomy held in Cambridge, Mass. New telescope would be world's largest-almost twice as large as 210-ft Goldstone model. Dr. Husband's announcement had come just one day after announcement by West German delegate, Prof. O. Hachenberg of Univ. of Bonn, that West Germany planned to complete a 330-ft dish in 1969. (W Post, 10/20/67, A7)
Czechoslovakian magazine Vencerni Praha reported that unidentified flying objects (UFOS) had been sighted over Prague in the years 1130 and 1142. Early sightings, described by Prague historians as "fiery flying dragons," were later followed by frequent sightings in 18th and 19th centuries identified by one contemporary scientist as "a mass of damp particles, ignited by friction and static electricity." (AP, NYT, 10/19/67,83)
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