Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967 During Week of May 7
nounced plans for what was believed to be the Nation’s first academic
center for the study of cryogenics-a branch of physics related to the
production and effects of very low temperatures. Dr. John G. Daunt
was named to direct the new center. Stevens President Dr. Jess H. Davis
said center would have two major objectives: “to help meet the pressing
need for scientists and engineers who have substantial training and ex-
perience in this developing science,” and “to conduct basic research,
which seeks to extend man’s knowledge of cryogenics into areas as yet
unexplored.” (Bird, NYT, 5/14/67,63)
May 8: Maj. William J. Knight (USAF) flew X-15 No. 2 to 96,000-ft altitude
and 3,239 mph (mach 4.8) in flight at Edwards AFB to check stabiliza-
tion and control with dummy ramjet and check out thermalcouple sys-
tem. Flight was successful except for break of dummy ramjet chute
cable during landing sequence. (X-15 Proj Off)
NASA turned over Essa V meteorological satellite to ESSA for operation in
accordance with NASA-Dept. of Commerce agreement. Essa v was
launched from WTR by NASA April 20. (NASA Release 67-114)
mc-sponsored study of Direct Lift Control (DLC) -system to help reduce
aircraft noise and improve handling-began at Oakland International
Airport with specially-equipped Boeing 707 aircraft. System consisted
of applying various methods, such as retracting spoilers, modifying
main flaps, and controlling boundary layer, to increase aircraft’s lift
directly. Tests would continue through July 1. (ARC Release 67-9)
* Newsweek reported that Soviet diplomats in Washington, D.C., admitted
to East European colleagues that Soyuz I mission had been launched
one week early in an attempt to offset the impact of Svetlana Allilu-
yeva’s press conference. Mrs. Alliluyeva, daughter of the late Joseph
Stalin, defected to the U.S:in April. U.S.S.R. reportedly denied, how-
ever, that rescheduling had any effect on the April 24 crash-landing
which resulted in Cosmonaut Komarov’s death. (Newsweek, 5/8/67)
U.S.S.R. was completing construction of several ground stations for use
with second-generation Molniya comsats, Aviation Week reported. First
Molniya 11, expected to be launched in late 1967, would be capable of
transmitting to several stations simultaneously; Molniya 1’s could reach
only one at a time. (Av Wk, 5/8/67,13)
“Despite the high cost and dangers in exploring space, tragically dramatized
by the deaths of three US. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut in re-
cent months, Americans overwhelmingly approve of the U.S. effort
to land men on the moon,” the National Observer reported. Survey in
12 metropolitan areas showed that 77% of people questioned supported
the lunar landing program; 17% opposed it; and 6% were undecided.
There was less enthusiasm, however, for manned planetary exploration
programs: 57% favored manned planetary expeditions; 31% opposed
them; and 12% were undecided. (Natl Obs, 5/8/67)
Earth had been cooling off rapidly since 1950 because of accumulation of
atmospheric dust, Univ. of Wisconsin meteorologist Reid A. Bryson told
UPI. Solid particles clogging paths of sun’s warming rays had caused
earth to experience an average loss in temperature from 2/O to 1/2”,
he said. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/9/67)
May 8-June 1: NASA’s Lunar Orbiter ZV became fourth U.S. spacecraft
to circle moon when it entered lunar orbit following successful deboost
maneuver which reduced its speed by 1,475 mph, permitting lunar
capture. Orbital parameters: apolune, 3,797 mi (6,111 km) ; perilune,
143