Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

June 7 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
study methods of increasing the number of astronauts that could be
delivered to the moon with the Saturn V booster and to determine the
most promising concepts for efficient delivery of logistic payloads. For
the purposes of the study, Lockheed would consider: (1) a hypothetical
1975 mission involving two “product improved” Saturn V boosters-
one to launch a modified Apollo spacecraft and one to launch a cargo
payload; and (2) a hypothetical 1980-82 mission in which two Up-
rated Saturn V boosters would launch a six-man spacecraft directly
to the moon. ( MSFC Release 67-123)
Widow of NASA X-15 test pilot Joseph A. Walker filed $1-million damage
suit for the June 8,1966, death of her husband when his F-104 fighter
aircraft collided with an Xl3-70 experimental bomber near Barstow,
Calif. Aircraft had been flying in tight formation “to allow photographic
coverage of aircraft powered by General Electric engines” for publicity
purposes. Mrs. Walker’s suit, filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles,
charged negligence on the part of General Electric Co. and its chief
test pilot John M. Fritz, and North American Aviation, Inc., manufac-
turer of the XB-70. (UPI, W Post, 6/9/67, A2)
* Scientists have an increased responsibility to relate the merit of their
research to the public “in understandable terms,” M/G Ernest A. Pinson,
commander of USAF Office of Aerospace Research, suggested at 12th
Annual Science Seminar in Albuquerque, N. Mex. “Science has to do
a better job in making known its values and its needs. Science has to
remember that the past 25 years, when everything came comparatively
easy for financial support of research, are gone and that science has
to compete with many other high priority sectors of the economy” for
operating funds. (OAR Release 67-13)
* Two ten-week programs for college faculty members-administered
jointly by Auburn Univ., Univ. of Alabama, and MSFC-opened at
MSFC. First program would be summer institute in space-related sciences,
sponsored by NASA and American Society for Engineering Education
(ASEE) , and would be conducted by Univ. of Alabama. (Five other summer
institutes, sponsored by NASA and ASEE, would be conducted by
NASA centers and nearby colleges at MSC, GSFC, ARC, L~RC, and IRRC.)
Second ten-week program, administered by Auburn Univ., would be
1967 NASA Engineering Systems Design Summer Faculty Fellowship
Program. ( MSFC Release 67-124)
June 8: U.S.S.R. successfully launched Cosmos CLXZV. Orbital param-
eters: apogee, 320 km (199 mi) ; perigee, 202 km (126 mi) ; period,
89.5 min; and inclination, 65.7”. Satellite reentered June 14. (AP, NYT,
6/9/67,3; GSFC SSR, 6/15/67)
Adjustments of Lunar Orbiter IV’s orbit were successfully conducted June
5 and 8 to place spacecraft on path similar to that intended for Lunar
Orbiter V. Adjustments, which lowered apolune to 2,450 mi (3,943
km) and perilune to 48 mi (77 km) , were made to enable L ~RC engi-
neers “to gather useful tracking and gravitational field experience” in
preparation for flight of Lunar Orbiter V. (NASA Release 67-154)
* Memorial services in Houston for Astronaut Edward G. Givens, Jr., were
attended by many of his fellow astronauts and their families. Givens
would be buried June 9 in Quanah, Tex. ( MSC Roundup, 6/9/67,1; AP,
W Post, 6/9/67, B8)
Single global time zone would be advantageous with the speed of com-
munications and transportation in the space age, OSSA Director of Space
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