Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

September 27 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
* Dr. Edward U. Condon, Director, University of Colorado’s study of Uniden-
tified Flying Objects (UFOS) , said that “such studies ought to be discon-
tinued unless someone comes up with a new idea on how to approach the
problem.” Condon said “it’s been extremely difficult to gather informa-
tion on this subject” and asked anyone with any “hard information to
speak now---or forever hold your peace.” He stated: “We have ap-
proached the problem in an unprejudiced way, seeking to find whatever
there is to find by objective scientific means with no scientific results so
far. Some of the difficulties associated with belief in visitors from outer
space are well set forth in an article by Prof. William Markowitz in
Science for Sept. 15 and should be studied by all who wish to be in-
formed on the subject,” he added. (Harkins, Boulder Camera, 9/27/67;
AP, LA Times, 9/28/67)
September 274ctober 2: NASA launched for ComSatCorp the fourth of INTEL-
SAT 11 series of commercial communications satellites (Intekat Il-D) -
designated Pacific II-and second of them in the Pacific. Launch was
from ETR by Thrust-Augmented Delta (DSV-3E) launch vehicle. Satel-
lite went into transfer orbit over Pacific at approximately 176O east with
29,056-mi (37,105-km) apogee, 186-mi (299-km) perigee, 658.8-min
period, and 26.4” inclination. Satellite would supplement services of and
replace current Pacific satellite, Zntelsat II-B (174OE), in event of its
failure. NASA support nominally would terminate after about three days,
subsequent to providing backup transfer orbit data and calculations.
Final orbit and spin axis orientation would be made by ComSatCorp with
onboard hydrogen peroxide system. Approximately 15 days after
launch, satellite would be available for commercial use. Satellites could
handle TV data transmissions, or up to 240 voice channels (480 circuits)
between “first class” ground stations such as Andover. Part of satellite
capacity would support NCS/NASCOM for Apollo program. It would
serve as backup against interruption of satellite communications service
and would add communications capability across the Pacific.
On Sept. 30, apogee motor was ignited at 7:45 pm EDT, on command
from ComSatCorp-operated earth station at Paumalu, Hawaii, and kicked
new satellite from its elliptical transfer orbit into a planned, near-syn-
chronous orbit over Pacific. Reorientation and velocity correction
maneuvers were carried out Oct. 1 and 2 to place spin axis in orbit plane
and to improve circularity with predicted orbit (resulting from these
maneuvers) of apogee, 22,531 mi (36,260 km) , perigee, 21,805 mi
(35,091 km), period, 1,430.5 min. drift rate, 1” east per day. As Intel-
sat II-D approached Intelsat II-B, launched Jan. 11, now located be-
tween 174” and 175”, drift rate would be reduced and intersatellite in-
terference tests would be conducted to determine minimum angular
separation which could be employed without mutual interference (NASA
cooperating with ComSatCorp in planning tests) . The INTELSAT satellite
system, in addition to this new Pacific II satellite, included the Pacific I
satellite and two satellites serving the Atlantic area, Early Bird I,
launched Apr. 6, 1%5, and Atlantic II, launched Mar. 22, 1967. (NASA
Proj Of€; ComSatCorp Releases 67-45 and 67-48)
September 28: NASA Administrator James E. Webb testified before the Sub-
committee on Independent Offices, Senate committee on Appropriations.
His prepared statement made these principal points: NASA would not be
able to achieve for this Nation “a position of leadership in space” for
less money than an annual budget of between $5.5-$6.0 billion a year.
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