Sep 23 1968
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CCXLIIJ into orbit with 297-km (184.6-mi) apogee, 206-km (128-mi) perigee, 89.5-min period, and 71.3° inclination. Satellite reentered Oct. 4. (GSFC SSR, 9/30/68; 10/15/68)
NASA Nike-Tomahawk sounding rocket launched from Andoya, Norway, carried GSFC experiment to analyze electric fields from observed motions of neutral and ionized barium clouds during auroral condition. All four barium clouds were released in visible aurora as planned, and good photographic coverage was obtained from all sites. (NASA Rpt SRL)
NASA Apollo Program Mission Director William C. Schneider told news conference astronaut training for possible manned moon-orbiting mission later in 1968 was under way. "We will do the maximum the systems will allow," he said, "and the maximum you could foresee would be lunar orbit." Decision in November, after evaluation of Apollo 7 data, would determine if Apollo 8 crew-Astronauts Frank Borman, William A. Anders, and James A. Lovell, Jr.-were to attempt lunar orbit in December. NASA Deputy Administrator, Dr. Thomas 0. Paine, pointed out that plans for possible manned lunar mission had been made long before U.S.S.R.'s Zond V circumlunar flight. In Oct. 11 Apollo 7 launch, Schneider said, earth orbital flight was set to run up to 10 days 19 hr at altitudes from 120 to 150 mi. Primary objectives were tests of command and service modules with crew, tests of ground control facilities, demonstration of capability for rendezvous with spent rocket section, and eight firings of service propulsion system. Schneider said he would rate Apollo 7 a success if "we get rendezvous and stay up three days to accomplish our main objectives." Discussing plans to follow Apollo program with lunar exploration program Dr. Paine said, if forced to choose between Apollo Applications program in earth orbit or lunar exploration, NASA "would be most reluctant to give up manned lunar exploration," as an area "man is uniquely qualified to contribute to" and one "of enormous scientific interest and importance." (Transcript; Wilford, NYT, 9/24/68, 26; Cohn, W Post, 9/24/68, A1 )
New York Times editorial on U.S.S.R.'s Zond V mission: "Until the nation [U.S.] has a better idea of the progress achieved during this long interval between American manned flights, it is premature to conclude that the Russians have a significant over-all lead in space capability and that Soviet citizens will certainly paint their flag on the lunar surface before American astronauts. "In any event, as the Soviet rape of Czechoslovakia has recently reminded the world so dismayingly, a nation's image and prestige depend primarily upon what it does here on earth, not on its feats in space." (NYT, 9/23/68, 32)
Senate Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee of Senate Armed Services Committee recommended continuing expansion and improvement of U.S. nuclear submarine fleet to meet "serious challenge" from U.S.S.R., which was "giving major emphasis to qualitative improvement of its submarine fleet." Committee recommended U.S. continue building nuclear submarines after 1970 and proceed with high-speed, electric-drive, and advanced-design submarines. (Text; Finney, NYT, 9/24/68, 1)
William E. Stoney, Jr., former Chief of MSC's Advanced Spacecraft Technology Div., became NASA Deputy Director (Engineering) of Apollo program. (NASA Release 68-151)
September 23-24: USAF halted all F-111A flights for second time in 1968 day after Sept. 23 crash at Nellis AFB, Nev., in which two pilots, including Australian trainee, escaped serious injury by triggering escape capsule. It was 11th F--111A accident since aircraft's inception. USAF was investigating crash in which aircraft had plummeted 300 ft to runway after "slow pull-up maneuver" during which pilots, on routine training mission, were unable to maintain aircraft control. (UPI, W Post, 9/24/68, A18; Witkin, NYT, 9/25/68, 1; AP, W Post, 9/25/68, A8; WSJ, 9/25/68, 1; Sehlstedt, B Sun, 9/25/68, 1)
September 23-25: Washington Airlines inaugurated nation's first regularly scheduled short-takeoff-and-landing STOL service linking Friendship, National, and Dulles Airports in Washington, D.C., area, 16 twin-engine Dornier flights daily. In other STOL developments, McDonnell Douglas Corp. and Eastern Airlines had started evaluation of Model 188 STOL over Eastern's shuttle routes [see Sept. 18] ; MIT scientists Rene H. Miller and Robert W. Simpson in Astronautics & Aeronautics said series of studies of VTOL and STOL transportation systems for U.S. Northeast Corridor started in 1964 showed need for cooperation among states and Federal Government to pave way for v/STOL as essential mode of transportation; production arrangements had been announced for 32- to 36-passenger, short-field, turboprop transport by General Aircraft Corp.; Rutgers Univ. was getting Federal grant to continue studies of feasibility of low-altitude air shuttle service in New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area; and Boeing Co. had dedicated advanced R&D facilities for testing v/STOL aircraft at its Vertol Div. near Philadelphia. (Stout, W Post, 9/23/68, B2; Yarborough, W Star, 9/23/68, B1; 9/25/68, A53; A&A, 9/68, 28-34)
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