Oct 21 1968

From The Space Library

GSFC used ruby laser to track Explorer XXXVI (Geos II) sat­ellite during daylight, a significant milestone in development of laser satellite-tracking system. (Cambridge Research Lab PAO; NASA Release 68-219)

ComSatCorp, on behalf of INTELSAT consortium, signed $72-million con­tract with Hughes Aircraft Co. for construction of Intelsat IV series of advanced comsats-four spacecraft and one prototype, with test and ground equipment. (ComSatCorp Release 68-57)

Richard Witkin in New York Times quoted "reliable sources" as saying Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis, Dr. Alain C. Ent­hoven, had forwarded paper to Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul H. Nitze proposing further cuts in F-111 production, including cancella­tion of interim bomber version. Dr. Enthoven, specialist in calculating cost effectiveness of competing weapons systems, claimed many pro­jected F-111 missions could be performed by much cheaper aircraft such as Ling-Temco-Vought A-7. (NYT, 10/21/68, 25; Business Week, 10/26/68)

October 21-23: Tenth National Trendex Poll sponsored by Thiokol Chemi­cal Corp. reported public support for space program was 17% higher than in 1967. Taken after successful Apollo 7 mission, it showed 68% of U.S. public favored Apollo program to land man on moon by 1970, 21% did not, and 11% was undecided (in September 1967 poll, Apollo had 51% support, with 35% opposed and 14% undecided) . Public de­sire for increased Government spending on space was at its highest point in five years, with 18% in favor, as against 7% in 1967. Support for program was highest among college-educated, those under 35, and men; 49% favored manned space exploration, versus 25% for instrumented program, 60% backed planetary exploration, with 30% opposed. Fa­vored programs after Apollo were: (1) reusable space system, (2) lunar exploration, (3) manned space stations, (4) manned Mars explo­ration. (CR, 1/6/69, E64-6; SBD, 12/16/68, 197-8)

October 21-25: At Fifth Annual Meeting and Technical Display of AIAA in

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