Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967 November 10
cloud cover and immediately transmit pictures to local APT stations.
Essa VI would supplement Essa II and Essa IV, replacing them when
they became inoperable.
ESSA financed, managed, and operated TOS system; GSFC was responsi-
ble for procurement, launch, and initial checkout of spacecraft in orbit.
Essa I was launched Feb. 3, 1966; Essa II, Feb. 28, 1966; Essa III, Oct.
2, 1966; Essa IVY Jan. 26, 1967; and Essa V, April 20, 1967. All five
satellites were still operating. (NASA Proj Off; ESSA Release 67-82)
* Letter to President Johnson from Rep. William F. Ryan (D-N.Y.), member
of House Committee on Science and Astronautics, assessed US. space
program after Apollo/Saturn flight of Nov. 9: US. had captured lead
in space race with the U.S.S.R. Rep. Ryan urged the President to renounce
the space race, and ‘It0 make a serious request for the beginning
of far-ranging international cooperation to reduce the costs and increase
the benefits of space exploration-to remove the wasteful duplication
of two great nations.” (Text)
November 12: In news release, Sen. Claiborne Pel1 (D-R.I.), member of
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, called for an international
ocean-space treaty to regulate nations’ development of deep-ocean
riches. In regulating man’s behavior in deep-ocean space beyond territorial
and continental shelf limits, US. was already exploring possible
diplomatic initiatives. In 1J.N. circles, Maltese resolution suggested
“marine resources be turned over to an international organization which
will supervise their exploitation and distribute the benefits to underdeveloped
nations.” (Text)
November 13: U.S.S.R. Mikoyan L266 twin-tailed fighter aircraft-NATO
designation Foxbat-averaged 1,804 mph over closed 1,000-km (621-mi)
course, carrying two-ton payload. Soviets claimed world speed record.
(Av Wk, 11/13/67,35)
* NASA announced establishment of an Astronomy Missions Board, to be
chaired by Harvard College Observatory Director Dr. Leo Goldberg.
Twelve astronomers and physicists would make up the Board, which
would advise NASA through Associate Administrator for Space Science
and Applications Dr. John E. Naugle. Executive Director for the Board
would be OSSA~S Deputy Director of Physics and Astronomy Dr. Henry
Smith. The Board would develop and review scientific objectives and
general strategy for space astronomy missions of sounding rockets,
balloons, and satellites and would recommend designs for missions,
telescopes, and other equipment. Excluded from the Board’s responsibility
would be studies of moon and planets from close range and earth
orbital observations of the earth. (NASA Release 67-284)
0 DOD would be forced to turn to space technology for early warning, using
either manned or unmanned spacecraft to counteract Soviet decision
to develop Fractional Orbital Bombardment Systems (FOBS) , Aviation
Week contended. Because they believed that the U.S.S.R. could use
FOBS “to foil existing [BMEWS] radars,” DOD planners would place
initial reliance on HF, over-the-horizon radars. “The Soviet objective
appears to be to slash the 15-30 min warning time now available from
BMEWS to a mere 3-4 min for a FOBS attack. . . .” Over-the-horizon radars
depended on ionospheric reflection which would make them subject
to interruption during sunspot activity; further, these radars would be
relatively vulnerable to jamming. MOL and, ultimately, continuously
manned or unmanned space patrols could receive DOD support if it
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