Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

July 11 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
X-24A (formerly SV-5P) , NationH newest manned lifting-body vehicle,
was publicly displayed and officially turned over to USAF in ceremonies
at Martin Marietta Corp.’~ Baltimre plant. The 5,000-lb wingless
vehicle, constructed by Martin Marietta Corp. under AFSC contract,
would be air-launched from B-52 aircraft at AFFTC and would be driven
by Thiokol rocket engines to higher altitudes and supersonic speeds
before gliding to controlled landing. Flight tests would be conducted
by five USAF and NASA pilots in late 1967 under joint NASA/USAF lifting-
body program. (AFSC Release 59.67; Clark, NYT, 7/12/67, 1)
0 First regular data reports of activity on sun’s “invisible hemisphere”-
side visible from eaah only once every 13.5 days-were being made
to ESSA’S Solar Disturbance Forecast Center in Boulder, Colo., by
NASA’s Pioneer VI and VII satellites, in orbit around sun. Satellites’
observations on physical characteristics of solar storms would allow
continuous scientific study of solar surface and provide Apollo astronauts
with additional warning time to avoid solar radiation hazards.
(NASA Release 67-174)
July 12: Soviet space officials hinted that they were conducting an advanced
lunar exploration program and said that series of spacecraft
from Luna IX through Luna XIII would not be used again, Space
Business Daily reported. Officials did not elaborate on the “new material,,
that would be used, but indicated that new plans would include
unmanned mobility on lunar surface. (SBD, 7/12/67,42)
American Security Council (ASC) released results of study prepared for
House Armed Services Committee which concluded that U.S.S.R. would
achieve a marked nuclear superiority over US. by 1971 unless steps
were taken immediately to improve American strategic capabilities.
Study, conducted by ASC’S National Strategy Committee under chairmanship
of former AFSC Commander Gen. Bernard A. Schriever (USAF, Ret.),
found that US. had “exchanged its goal of a war-winning strategic superiority
for a strategy of mutual deterrence” while U.S.S.R. “is driving
hard toward a goal of overwhelming superiority. . . .” Report predicted
that by 1971 U.S.S.R. would have a 30,000- to 50,000-mt nuclear
delivery capability, contrasting with 6,000- to 15,008mt for US., and
recommended a rapid arms buildup or development of an antiballistic
missile system. It warned that “by placing our sole reliance for deterrence
on ICBMS, POLARIS and POSEIDON missiles, and the remaining
manned bomber force . . . [US.] places itself in the dangerous position
of having only one option left if it is faced with a Soviet ultimatum
to surrender. It must either fire its offensive nuclear weapons or give up
its sovereignty. An ABM [Antiballistic Missile System] would at least
strengthen the hand of the President if he is confronted with such a
fateful decision, and it might stay the hand of an enemy at a critical
moment. . . .” (Text; ASC News)
July 12-19: “Cold flow” test series of Phoebus 2 nuclear reactor was successfully
conducted at NRDS as part of NASA-AEC Project Rover program
to develop a nuclear-propelled rocket. Purpose of tests was to check
reactor design under gas-flow conditions and at liquid-hydrogen temperatures
; measure variations in pressures, temperatures, and flow rates
during simulated “start-upyy operations ; and obtain initial experience
on the hook-up and test operations of Phoebus 2 reactors in test facility.
Assembly used for experiments in “cold flow” tests was identical to that
used in “hot” tests, except that it contained no fissionable material and
206