Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

April 19-30 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
scientists concluded that lunar soil had consistency similar to wet
sand and a bearing strength of about six pounds per square inch-firm
enough to support Apollo spacecraft. Cal Tech professor and advisor
to JPL on soil mechanics Dr. Ronald F. Scott explained: “The surface
is lie ordinary soil . . . a lot like fine grained sod or damp beach sand,
and it behaves in perhaps a disappointingly ordinary way. The area
presents no hazardous conditions and looks good for a landing site.
An astronaut waking across the surface would not need snowshoes.’’
On May 3 communications with spacecraft were halted temporarily to
conserve battery strength throughout two-week lunar night.
Performance of Surveyor IZZ, with equipment identical to Surveyor
Z and Surveyor ZZ except for soil sampler and two additional mirrors,
was near flawless, and expected lifetime was indefinite. Surveyor Z was
launched May 30, 1966, successfully softlanded on moon June 2, 1966,
in Ocean of Storms, and transmitted 10,338 pictures to earth. Surveyor
ZZ was successfully launched Sept. 20, 1966, but failed to softland
because of an ignition failure. (NASA Proj. Off; NASA Release 67-85;
UPI, W Star, 4/23/67, A10; O’Toole, W Post, 4/22/67, A4; 4/23/67,
All
April 20: NASA successfully launched Essa V (TOS-C), fifth meteorological
satellite in ESSA’S Tiros Operational Satellite (TOS) system, from WTR
using Thrust-Augmented Thor-Delta booster. Satellite achieved nearlv-
pols;, sun-syncGonous orbit with 883-mi (1,421-km) apogee; 840-mi
(1,352-km) perigee; 113.5-min period; and 101.9” inclination. Wheel
orientation maneuver would be completed during 18th orbit [see April
241, at which time first photos would be programmed and NASA would
check out spacecraft before turning its operation over to ESSA.
An advanced version of the cartwheel configuration, 325.113 Essa V
carried two Advanced Vidicon Camera System (AVCS) cameras which
would provide 24-hr global weather coverage. Photos would be stored on
magnetic tape until readout by ESSA’S Command and Data Acquisition
(CDA) stations at Fairbanks, Alaska, and Wallops Island, Va., to supple-
ment Essa ZZZ-expected to become almost completely inoperable by
early June.
ESSA financed, managed, and operated TOS system; GSFC was respon-
sible for procurement, launch, and initial checkout of spacecraft in orbit.
Essa Z was launched Feb. 3, 1966; Essa IZ, Feb. 28, 1966; Essa IZZ,
Oct. 2,1966; and Essa ZV, Jan. 26, 1967. (NASA Proj Off; ESSA Release
67-39)
NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., testifying on NASA’s
N 1968 authorization bill (H.R. 6470) before House Committee on
Science and Astronautics’ Subcommittee on Advanced Research and
Technology, urged congressional approval for funding to begin program
to develop Nerva I1 nuclear rocket engine. Estimated cost over 10 yrs
would be $2 billion: $500 million would be needed to develop nuclear
stage and $1 billion for ground testing. NASA’s decision to develop
Nerva II was based primarily on “our own national objectives in space;
what do we do in the future; now looking ahead to the late ’70s and
%Os, as a requirement for booster capability in this country. . . . However,
we also must consider our capability in the world arena and, of
course, specifically today we have to be cognizant the best that we can
of the Russian capability and the Russian plans.” Dr. Seamans noted that
Soviet Proton booster could launch 50,000 lbs into earth orbit, com-
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