Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

December 26 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
cable, primarily less developed countries with smaller traffic streams.
US., he said, was committed to develop the INTELSAT system. To ensure
that US. met this commitment, “the advanced [comsat] system must
be in operation in the time frame we have proposed for INTELSAT IV. It
is essential that a vigorous advanced satellite development progam be
under way during 1968.” (Texts; Smith, NYT, 12/29/67, 43)
December 27: U.S.S.R. launched Cosmos CXCVIZI into orbit with 281-km
(175-mi) apogee, 265-km (165-mi) perigee, 89.8-min period, and 65.1”
inclination. Equipment and instruments performed satisfactorily. ( CSFC
SSR, 12/30/67)
* NASA’s Ats ZIZ, launched from ETR Nov. 5, had successfully met its mission
objective of operating for 30 days and obtaining useful data from
onboard experiments. Resistojet thruster had experienced valve malfunction,
but thrust data were still being obtained. Multicolor Spin-
Scan Cloud Camera successfully transmitted 123 photos before it was
turned off because of an arcing problem. Omega Position Location
Experiment was successfully operated in communications tests with
aircraft in flight over the Atlantic Ocean, and all other experiments
except Self-contained Navigation System, which was scheduled to be
operated in spring 1968, had been successfully operated. (NASA Proj Off)
* Apollo/Saturn V 3rd stage was flown from McDonnell Douglas’ Sacra-
mento, Calif., plant to KSC via Super Guppy aircraft. Other stages for
third Apollo/Saturn V mission had been transported to KSC by barge.
Boeing-built 1st stage, aboard NASA barge Poseidon, and NAR-built 2nd
stage, aboard Point Barrow, had reached KSC Dec. 26. IBM instrument
unit would be flown to KSC from IBM’S Huntsville, Ala., plant via Super
Guppy Dm. 29. Stages would be assernbled in KSC’S Vehicle Assembly
Building (VAB). (KSC Release 44S-67; MSFC Release 67-245)
* ComSatCorp awarded J. W. Bateson Co., Dallas, Tex., a $7.9-million con-
tract for construction of a new research laboratory near route 70-S in
Montgomery County, Md., 30 mi from ComSatCorp’s Washington, D.C.,
headquarters. Construction would begin immediately. (ComSatCorp
Release 67-56; W Post, 12/28/67, F9)
* President Johnson was expected to auk Congress %r the smallest civilian
space budget in six years for FY 1969, Evert Clark reported in the
New York Times. According to his sources, the FY 1969 request would
probably be close to $4 bil€ion. DOD’S space budget request, however, was
expected to be higher than record $2 billion requested for FY 1968,
chiefly because USAF’S MOL would require more development funds.
(Clark, NYT, 12/28/67,6)
December 28: NASA Wallops Station awarded Doyle and Russell, Inc., a
$1,233,644, fixcd-price contract for construction of a new launch complex.
Work, to be conipleted within one year, would include constructi’on of
an assembly shop, launch pad and mobile shelter, launch terminal build-
ing, liquid fuel storage area, launch control building, and substation
enclosure. (WS Release 67-38)
Soviet scientists had compiled a structural and geological map of the
lighted side of the moon to aid in selection of lunar landing sites, Tass
announced. (Reuters, W Post, 12/29/67, D6)
December 29: NASA announced personnel changes, effective Jan. 1, 1968.
Adm. W. F.’ Boone (USN, Ret.), Assistant Administrator for Defense
Affairs, would retire after five years of service with NASA. He would
continue to serve as a part-time consultant. Functions of Admiral Boone’s
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