Sep 1 1966
From The Space Library
Lewis Research Center awarded Aerojet-General Corp. a $10 million contract for fabrication and static test firing of 260-in.-dia. solid propellant rocket motor. An advanced version of two motors of the same diameter previously tested by Aerojet, new motor would use propellant with higher burning rate and was expected to develop 5.25 million lbs. peak thrust when test-fired for 80 sec. in June 1967. Earlier versions had produced 3.6 million lbs. thrust during 114-sec. tests. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-236; LRC Release 66-52)’’
Explosion of Saturn V booster’s 2nd stage (S-II-F) at MTF May 28 was caused by inadequate test procedures and faulty hydrogen line fitting, NASA investigative board, chaired by KSC Director Dr. Kurt H. Debus, concluded. Board reported that first shift workmen had failed to attach pressure-sensing line to stage’s hydrogen tank or to inform second shift workmen of disconnect, with result that test conductor’s gauge registered zero reading when stage was actually under pressurization with gaseous helium. Tank ruptured at 23 psig-far below 38-psig design pressure-because of poor hydrogen line fitting. Board recommended “tighter control” over MTF test procedures. ‘‘(MSFC Release 66/196)’’
NASA Nike-Tomahawk launched from Churchill Research Range reached 150-mi. (242-km.) altitude in first of a series of four NASA -Univ. of California, Berkeley, experiments to obtain proton and electron measurements over energy range of 1-300 kev. Rocket and instrumentation performed satisfactorily [see Sept. 6, 161. ‘‘(NASA Rpt. SRL)’’
NASA appointed Paul A. Barron Deputy Director of Procurement and Gordon H. Tyler, formerly GSFC procurement officer, to succeed Barron as Assistant Director of Procurement for Policy and Review. ‘‘(NASA Release 66-234)’’
Gen. James Ferguson, Deputy Chief of Staff/R&D, Hq. USAF, assumed command of AFSC, replacing Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, who retired Aug. 31. ‘‘(AFSC Release 184.66)’’
USAF would make electronic portraits of satellite shapes to develop catalog of radar images of possible space vehicle shapes, AFSC announced. Measurements on some 24 satellite models would be taken by AFSC Electronic Systems Div. at Holloman AFB in 2,000 hrs. of tests extending through December. ‘‘(AFSC Release 156.66)’’
L/C Harry W. Peterson (USAF, Ret.), former chief of Contract Division, Contract Administration Services, Hq. USAF Defense Supply Agency, was appointed Director, Contract Administration Division of NASA Procurement Office. (NASA Ann., 10/7/66)’’
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