Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967 July 24
development and testing of a remotely controlled device to handle tools,
equipment, and men in space. Called a serpentuator, device was in-
vented by Hans Wuenscher of MSFC’S Manufacturing Engineering Labo-
ratory. It consisted of links connected by powered hinges, which could
be remotely controlled from either end of the device; one end would be
connected to the spacecraft; one would be free. Small versions of the
device could be powered by a hand pump or batteries; larger versions,
by electric motors. (MSFC Release 67-151)
During week of July 24: West German Cabinet approved $456-million five-
year plan which would substantially expand national space program.
Commenting on the approval, Dr. Gerhard Stoltenberg, Minister for
Scientific Research, told the press that enlarged national program was
necessary to create a basis for improved cooperation with other tech-
nologically advanced nations. Plan would emphasize projects that pro-
vided a “rapid spin-off” of technical knowledge for industry and the
economy, he said. Among the areas of special interest would be new
materials, energy sources, electronic components, and new methods of
planning and managing. (NYT, 7/30/67,13)
July 25: USAF launched unidentified satellite from WTR using Thor-Agena D
booster. (Pres Rep 1967)
* First color photos of the full earth (full disc) had been taken by DOD
satellite Dodge, launched July 1 and designed to use 10 extendable booms
for stabilizing satellite by earth’s gravitational force. The Johns Hopkins
Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory, under contract to Navy’s Air Sys-
tem Command, used a gravity gradient stabilization method and near-
synchronous orbit to point Dodge always in right direction and to keep
it within line of sight of northeastern US. 5 days out of every 12.
Slow-scan TV systems aboard Dodge obtained TV images which were
transmitted to earth station; color images were obtained by successive
exposure of vidicon tube through blue, green, and red filters. The two
TV cameras also observed fluctuations of satellite from vertical and
studied sdar pressure effect on satellite’s booms. (DOD Fact Sheet)
NASA personnel changes: (1) Dr. Joseph F. Shea, Deputy Associate Ad-
ministrator for Manned Space Flight, resigned effective Aug. 1 to
become a vice president of Polaroid Corp.; (2) B/G Carroll H.
Bolender ( USAF) , OMSF, was named manager for the Lunar Module
(LM) at MSC’S Apollo Spacecraft Program Office, replacing Dr. Wil-
liam A. Lee, who resigned for personal reasons. Bolender would be
responsible for management of the LM program including design, de-
velopment, and fabrication of the vehicle by Grumman Aircraft Engi-
neering Corp., LM prime contractor; (3) Col. Maynard E. White
(USAF, Ret.), former Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, WAF Hq. in
Europe, became Director of Program Control, OMSF, replacing Wil-
liam E. Lilly, who was appointed Assistant Administrator for Admin-
istration March 8. White would be responsible for the total financial,
administrative, and business management support services for OMSF
and the administration and direction of approved facility projects in
support of the manned flight program. (NASA Releases 67-196, 67-198;
O’Toole, W Post, 7/26/67, A10; AP, W Star, 7/26/67)
U.K., France, and West Germany would develop a short-to-medium-distance
aircraft designed to reduce cost of air travel by the early 197Os, John
Stonehouse of the British Ministry of Technology told a London news
conference. Known as the European Airbus Project, plan called for a
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