Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

July 23 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
ment systems; and (6) John B. Schutt, GSFC, and Charles M. Shai, Elec-
tro Mechanical Research Corp., $1,500 for an alkali-metal silicate pro-
tective coating used for thermal control on spacecraft and for fire-
resistant paint in both Government and commercial applications. ( NASA
Release 67-185)
July 24: Soviet launch rate for recoverable Cosmos reconnaissance satellites
had leveled after six-year increase, Aviation Week reported. Number
launched as of mid-July 1967 was same as number launched during same
period in 1966, and annual 1967 total was expected to be similar to
annual 1966 total of 21. “The Russians now are launching recoverable
reconnaissance satellites on the average of one every 16-17 days, each
of which remains in orbit for approximately eight days. When the pro-
gram began in 1962, the launch rate averaged one every 73 days and
the following year the pace accelerated to an average of one every 46
days. In 1964 the figure was every 28 days, in 1965 the frequency had
increased to an average of one every 19 days and last year it began to
taper to one every 17 days. . . .” (Av Wk, 7/24/67,26)
0 France had taken two steps to strengthen the Franco-German Symphonie
communications satellite program, Donald E. Fink reported in Aviation
Week: (1) she had reorganized the industrial teams to ensure that
French and German companies received equal shares of work; and ’( 2)
she had reassured representatives at the European Ministerial Space
Conference (EMSC) in Rome that she was still interested in participat-
ing in planned European comsat system. “The moves demonstrate
France’s determination to develop a national regional comsat system-
with financial and technical assistance from Germany-to strengthen
its position in the International Communications Satellite (Intelsat) sys-
tem. This drive is a direct challenge to U.S. domination of Intelsat. . . .”
Fink said French officials at the EMSC had justified development of the
Symphonie system by saying it would be based on state-of-the-art tech-
nology: “This would permit the European effort . . . to be directed
toward developing a second-generation advanced system.” (Fink, Av
Wk, 7/24/67,27)
0 Soviet aircraft designer Alexander Yakovlev had criticized US. exhibit
at the Paris International Air and Space Show [see May 26-31], Avia-
twn Week reported. US. space pavilion was too complicated for the
general public, he said, whereas Soviet exhibit showed “simplicity and
clarity.” Although U.S. showed several of its commercial aircraft, it
alienated visitors, as it had in 1965, by exhibiting military weapons.
“The United States couldn’t restrain itself, for example, from again
showing the Phantom bomber, which is sadly known for its piratical
attacks in Vietnam. But evepything shown in the Soviet Union’s salon
had peaceful significance.” (Av Wk, 7/24/67,4)
LaRc was developing a new airfoil that could improve performance of ad-
vanced variable-sweepwing fighter aircraft, increase efficiency of sub-
sonic jet transports, reduce helicopter blade tip stalling, and virtually
eliminate local shock wave formation, B. K. Thomas, Jr., reported in
Aviation Week. Airfoil, which was actually a “transonic wing,” delayed
boundary layer separation at high subsonic speeds, thereby delaying the
rapid rise in aerodynamic drag in the transonic region. It was currently
undergoing wind tunnel tests at LaRC, but no aircraft flight testing was
planned before N 1970. (Thomas, Av Wk, 7/24/67, 25)
MSFC had awarded Astro Space Labs, Inc., a $93,136 contract for further
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