Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1%7 September 20
required under the new rules by October 1, 1969. (FAA Release 67-67)
The Soviet Union had urged the U.N, Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space to take action on the Soviet draft treaty on rescuing cosmonauts
in emergencies, reported Space Business Daily. The Soviets
had expressed regret that the Legal Subcommittee had not completed
action on the proposal. Soviet representative P. D. Morozov said the
Soviets would not object to amendments. He praised the recent U.N.
space treaty as “a great achievement of the progressive forces on the
road of using outer space in the interests of mankind. It is a serious step
fodmard in the development of cooperation and mutual understanding
between states and peoples.” Morozov also noted that the April meeting
of “experts of the socialist countries outlined new steps for broader COoperation
in space meteorology, biology and medicine,” as well as communications.
(SBD, 9/20/67,100)
* Japanese defense specialists had expected the first Red Chinese test of an
intercontinental missile by the end of this year, reported Washington
Star. Before they would test a full-scale missile, Chinese would test-fire
the first stage of missile. This could come at any time. However, Prof.
Tetsushi Okamoto of Tokyo Institute of Technology believed that Peking
regime would first launch a satellite, probably on Oct. 1. Fear of China’s
progress toward a system that could deliver a nuclear bomb lay behind
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara’s Sept. 18 announcement
that US. would begin production of a limited antiballistic missile system
designed to guard against a Chinese attack. China’s ICBM was expected
to be fired from a site at Shwangchengtse, north of Chiuchuan in Lanchow,
central China. (Axelbank, W Star, 9/20/67)
France and Quebec would launch a joint communications satellite for relaying
French television programs to Canada, UPI reported. The satellite
would permit programs to be relayed without depending on existing
American Early Bird satellites, informed sources said. (UPI, C Trib,
9/2 1/67)
September 21 : Defense of the US. supersonic transport program against
charges the Administration had bankrolled an industrial monopoly was
made by Secretary of Transportation Alan S. Boyd in a speech before
New York’s University Club, reported David Hoffman of Washington
Post. Critics had alleged that Boeing and General Electric could reap
huge profits because of a loosely worded Federal contract. Boyd had said
C<
there are very good economic reasons to believe” that at least 500
planes would be sold, and if so, the Federal treasury would get back
its $1.25 billion and another $1.1 billion in royalties. He had said the
SST program would involve no monopoly for Boeing and General Electric.
Far from being a monopoly, the SST program would provide economic
activity for: two prime contractors, 20,000 subcontractors, 12 US.
airlines, 14 foreign airlines, and 65 R&D firms working with seven Government
agencib. (Hoffman, W Post, 9/22/67)
Hawker Siddeley P-1127 Kestrel VTOL strike fighter crashed on ferry
mission over Great Britain with heavy damage. Pilot, Sqdn. Ldr. Hugh
Rigg, ejected and sustained cuts and bruises.
In US., LaRC had decided against repairing one of two P-1127s obtained
for flight testing; NASA’s aircraft had crashed at WS Aug. 21 with
heavy damage. Parts would be used as spares for remaining aircraft.
(Av Wk, 10/2/67,17)
September 21-22: Rep. Emilio Q. Daddario (D-Conn.), ChaiEman, House
277