Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

January 30 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
January 30-31 : NASA launched 18 sounding rockets in sets of two at two-
hour intervals from Churchill Research Range and Pt. Barrow, Alaska,
between 6:15 p.m. and 8:20 a.m. EST to gather meteorological data be-
tween 12- and 124-mi altitudes. Twelve Nike-Apaches launched from
Churchill ejected vapor cloud experiments between 43- and 124-mi alti-
tudes; drift of vapor trails was recorded photographically to obtain
data on wind directions and speeds. Six Nike-Cajuns launched from Pt.
Barrow carried acoustic grenades which were ejected and detonated at
programed altitudes to provide correlative data on atmospheric condi-
tions. Experiment series was being conducted by GSFC under OSSA direc-
tion. (NASA Release 67-13)
January 31 : Nike-Apache sounding rocket carrying 55% payload to obtain
electron density profile was launched from NASA Wallops Station to
121-mi (193-km) altitude. Minutes later, Nike-Cajun grenade experi-
ment was launched over the Atlantic for atmosphere temperature sup-
port data at 50- to 56-mi (80- to 90-km) altitudes. Launchings, first two
in series of three to study relation of high absorption radio waves in
ionosphere to seasonal temperature variations in upper atmosphere,
were conducted by NASA for Univ. of Illinois, GCA Corp., and GSFC.
Rockets and equipment functioned satisfactorily. (Wallops Release
67-4)
* In related experiments, Nike-Apache sounding rocket was launched from
Ft. Churchill, Canada, to obtain wind profiles by release of chemical
and photograph of chemical cloud at 96-mi (lskm) altitude; another
Nike-Apache sounding rocket was launched from Ft. Churchill to study
shortterm variation of density, pressure, and temperature during 12-hr
period to SO-mi (127-km) altitude; Nike-Cajun sounding rocket was
launched from Point Barrow, Alaska, to determine shortterm variations
in upper atmosphere temperatures with payload of standard grenades.
All rockets and payloads performed well. (NASA Proj Off)
* XB-70 No. 1 research aircraft was piloted by NASA test pilot Fitzhugh
Fulton and Col. Joseph Cotton (WAF) to mach 1.35 and 37,000-ft altitude
to conduct stability and control maneuvers. (NASA Proj Off)
* Ninth anniversary of first US. satellite, Explorer 1. In defiance of the
original predicted lifespan that should have ended six years ago, the
satellite was circling the earth 14 times daily and had completed 43,000
orbits. ( MSFC Release 67-17)
* President Johnson transmitted his annual Report to the Congress on United
States Aeronautics and Space Activities.
He wrote in covering letter: “America’s space and aeronautics pro-
grams made brilliant progress in 1966. We developed our equipment and
refined our knowledge to bring travel and exploration beyond earth’s
atmosphere measurably closer. And we played a major part in pre-
paring for the peaceful use of outer space. . . .” The President cited
accomplishments of NASA’s Gemini, Lunar Orbiter, and Surveyor programs
and noted that during 1966 US. had put into earth orbit or escape
missions 100 spacecraft-“a record number of successful launches for
the period. We launched weather satellites, communications satellites
and orbiting observatories. . . .
(4
These accomplishments-and the promise of more to comeare
the fruits of the greatest concerted effort ever undertaken by any nation
to advance human knowledge and activity. Space, so recently a mystery,
now affects and benefits the lives of all Americans. . . .”
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