Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

September 25-30 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
and Apollo-and included many other aspects, worldwide instrumenta-
tion and communications networks, control centers, recovery support
elements, and scientific and technical experimental equipment. Thus,
systems engineering had had to be all inclusive in providing for logical
development of flight hardware, successful conduct of flight operations,
and achievement of maximum benefits from each mission. (Text)
T. J. Gordon, L. M. Dicke, and J. S. Nieroski of McDonnell Douglas
Corp.’s Douglas Missile & Space Systems Div. (MSSD) presented “ECO-
nomies of Commercial Space Stations.” Space station would pay its own
way by taking a share of increased customer profits. According to MSSD
representatives, customers would be “those enterprises who, by virtue
of their use of the orbital services, can offer new or higher quality
profits or services, or lower operating costs for existing products or
services.” Possible space station uses were described as locating fish,
reducing ocean shipping transit time and hazards, locating petroleum
and mineral reserves, controlling and routing air traffic, reducing air
and water pollution by detecting sources, improving fresh water reserves
by surveying sources, and improving agricultural and forest produc-
tivity by use of detectors of disease, damage, and other factors.
(Haggerty, J/Armed Forces, 11/25/67, 9)
Soviet Academician L. I. Sedov described “Ten Years of Space Ex-
ploration in the Soviet Union” and said: “Cosmic systems have become
necessary not only for the study of fundamental problems of physics and
the Universe, but also for various practical purposes of importance to
national economies [and] there is no doubt that cooperation will favour-
ably affect many sides of international life. We hope that this coopera-
tion and its benefits will grow deeper in the future.” (Text)
Worldwide cooperation in space was urged by MSFC’S former advanced
mission planner, Dr. H. H. Koelle, now professor of space technology
at Technical Univ. of Berlin. To get around tremendous costs and avoid
reduction in space activity in all countries, he urged “international
organizations to plan and coordinate advanced manned missions in the
1980s.” He said space powers should begin by increasing coordination
of mission objectives in their national space programs. For a coopera-
tive concept, he called for annual investment of $4 billion and work
force of 350,000 persons, with 200,000 persons from U.S., 60,000
from U.S.S.R., 60,000 from Western Europe, and 30,000 from rest of
world. (Fink, Av Wk, 10/2/67, 21-2; Van Osten, Aero Tech, 10/9/67,
43-7)
September 26: The first manned Apollo space flight might be delayed from
springto mid-summer of 1968 by modification of the Apollo spacecraft
by its prime contractor, North American Rockwell Corp., according to
NASA spokesman Julian Scheer. Scheer, NASA Assistant Administrator for
Public Affairs, told UPI the anticipated delay, among other things,
could be because of considerable changes in the capsule after last
January’s fire. (UPI, W Post, 9/27/67, A6)
An ordinance outlawing sonic booms was adopted by Santa Barbara’s
city council, Reuters reported. This was believed to be the first such
municipal ordinance in the U.S. The mayor had voted against it. He
explained, “I do not believe the law is enforceable.” Councilman Klaus
Kemp, introducing the ordinance, said booms caused damage to homes
and physical injury to individuals. At Hamilton AFB a spokesman said
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presumably nothing” would be done about the new law. The presump-
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