Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

October 12 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
October 12: Vertical probe launched by U.S.S.R. carried instrumented pay-
load to 4,400-km (2,734-mi) altitude to study “characteristics of iono-
sphere . . . general intensity of cosmic rays . . . doses of radiation for
various protections at the time of the flight in radiation belts . . . [and]
density of neutral hydrogen.” Equipment and instruments-including
a telemetry system-functioned normally. (UPI, P Znq, 10/14/67, 1 ;
SBD, 10/16/67,239)
NASA Administrator James E. Webb held press conference on management
changes: (1) George S. Trimble, Jr., Director of Advanced Manned
Missions Program, OMSF, was appointed Deputy Director of MSC. (2)
NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applica-
tions Edgar M. Cortright was appointed Deputy Associate Administra-
tor for Manned Space Flight. He would be replaced by Donald P. Hearth,
Voyager Program Manager. (3) MSFC Deputy Director Eberhard F. M.
Rees was named to serve as Special Assistant in Manufacturing Problems
to MSC Apollo Spacecraft Program Manager George M. Low.
Discussing space law treaty [effective Oct. 101 after making an-
nouncements, Webb said it was a valuable further advance of the rule
of law into space but noted that laws could be broken. “We have an
agreement in the Antarctic . . . not to introduce military operations or
equipment and this has worked well. . . . We now have this agree-
ment in space, and . . . the most important enforcer of these that relate
to space technology is momentum and continued development of tech-
nology. The forward capability is what in essence has produced CO-
operation when we have had it. . . . [U.S.S.R.] and other nations must
recognize that they’re not going to have a monopoly in this field. [Our
being] . . . there is the most important way to make sure we get the
benefits of the treaty. Without continued development of this kind I am
not sure what the treaty means.” (Transcript; NASA Release 67-268)
All-weather landing system (AWLS) was certified by FAA for use on Usk~
C-141 StarLifter aircraft under minimums of 1,200-ft visibility and
100-ft decision altitude. Capable of bringing the 316,000-lb fanjet trans-
port to a landing within 12 ft of either side of runway center line and
within 300 ft of either side of a touchdown point, AWLS would consider-
ably improve all-weather landing capability. Developed by AFSC and FAA
and produced by Lockheed-Georgia Co., AWLS would program aircraft’s
Right path, speed, angle of approach, and attitude; generate and pro-
vide data to pilot or autopilot; and be nearly self-sufficient. Ultimate
goal of AWLS was to enable aircraft tb make totally blind landings when
ceiling and visibility both were zero. (AFSC Release 185.67)
Satellites should be used to enable land-based air traffic control centers
to track constantly commercial airliners flying over oceans, urged Pan
American World Airways’ chief electronic engineer Ben F. McLeod at
NATO’s Advisory Group for Aerospace Reseallch and Development
(AGARD) meeting at New York City. McLeod said that within five to
10 years traffic increases and new aircraft would demand improved air
traffic control system with positions of hundreds of aircraft being sent
automatically by satellites to ground stations for plotting. (NYT,
10/12/67, 50)
October 13: President Johnson presented Harmon International Aviation
Trophies for 1967 to Astronauts James A. Lovell, Jr. (Capt., USN),
and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. (L/c, USAF) , and Alvin S. White, former NAA
test pilot. Lovell and Aldrin were cited for successful Gemini XII mission
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