Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

October 17 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
hand, in . . . a precision type of operation. . . . Lunar Orbiter and
its companion, Surveyor, have shown that we can use sophisticated
technology in complicated spacecraft for automated missions to other
bodies of the solar system. And it is this kind of capability that we will
be using again and again as we continue the exploration of our solar
system.” (Transcript)
NASA’s Mariner v would fly within 2,5130 mi of planet Venus at 1.34 pm
EDT, Oct. 19, at communications (direct) distance of about 49 million
mi from earth, NASA announced. Launched from ETR June 14, space-
craft would have traveled about 217 million mi in its arching trajectory.
Scientists and engineers hoped their instruments would record precise
data on planet’s atmosphere, ionosphere, temperatures, and perhaps even
surface qualities. As Mariner V approached Venus, its scientific in-
struments would begin measuring planet’s magnetic field, charged
particles, gases present in upper atmosphere, and radiation levels. Space-
craft’s flight path would curve behind Venus and would vanish from
view of tracking stations on earth. Just before spacecraft went behind
planet (as seen from earth) its radio signals would pass through at-
mosphere of Venus. Effect of Venusian atmosphere on Mariner V’S
radio signals would be measured, thereby providing measure of density
of planet’s atmosphere. Current scientific theory on density ranged
from five times earth’s atmosphere to several hundred times. Density
measurement by occultation was one of prime objectives of spacecraft’s
flight.
Since launch of spacecraft, engineering and science subsystems had
performed as planned. Master timer hadcommanded Canopus cone angle
update as scheduled on Aug. 24, Sept. 10, Sept. 26, and Oct. 10; timer
had also commanded spacecraft transmitter to switch to high-gain
antenna on Oct. 2. Encounter sequence would be initiated by command
from DSN station in Australia, at 10:49 pm EDT, Oct. 18. (NASA Proj Off;
NASA Releases 67-260,67-267)
* NASA Administrator James E. Webb reviewed NASA-university relations at
dedication of Univ. of Illinois’ Coordinated Science Laboratory building
in Urbana, Ill.: “During NASA’s first year of operation . . . [$3 mil-
lion] was invested in research at universities. . . . The second year, ap-
proximately $6 million went to universities, and the third year about
$14 million . . . [primarily for] solution of immediate problems. . . .”
Appraisal of program in 1961 concluded the universities were already
making significant contribution to the space program, but that with
the right kind of help they could do more for themselves and for NASA.
Expansion included support of research, construction of facilities, and
establishment of graduate fellowships, until program reached peak in
1966 with 10,600 campus participants. Today, however, need was “to
reduce expenditures for research, to preserve at minimum cost the
essential strength needed for the future, and to increase the multi-
disciplinary flux that will magnify the values the nation can derive
from the activities we can support.” To find the best ways of reducing
the program, he said, NASA had formed a “special task force to evaluate
all our relationships with the academic community and to come up
with specific recommendations as to least harmful methods we can use.
There is no longer any doubt that NASA’s university support programs
will have to be redefined quite drastically in some areas.” Since much
of the program was funded in three one-year steps, this would help
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