Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

During 1%7 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
ing of Os0 111 and IV, Ogo ZV, Explorer XXXIV and XXXV satellites,
and Pioneer VIII interplanetary spacecraft.
Some 180 meteorological sounding rockets and 105 scientific sounding
rockets were launched, and RAM C-1 spacecraft was launched on
suborbital mission to measure effectiveness of water-injection concept
in maintaining communications during reentry.
Some 12 flights of X-15 rocket research aircraft were conducted, including
record-setting 4,534 mph (mach 6.72) flight by Maj. William J.
Knight (USAF). Following crash Nov. 15 in which first fatality in 191
X-15 tests occurred, flights were suspended pending a review of the
accident. NASA-USAF flight research continued with 14 flights of XB-70
supersonic aircraft. President Johnson authorized FAA to proceed with
sST prototype construction, contracts were signed with Boeing Co. and
General Electric Co., and construction was begun. Research programs
were initiated for wing-structure designs for hypersonic aircraft which
could make sustained flights at 5,300 mph (mach 8), and studies were
undertaken to reduce aircraft noise. M2-F2 lifting-body vehicle crashed
May 10, during its second flight of the year.
DOD program included orbiting of two Vela nuclear-detection satellites
and 11 IDCSP comsats; static test-firing of Titan IIIM 1st stage;
and beginning of construction of MOL launch complex at Vandenberg
AFB.
Among the highlights in propulsion technology was the third and
final test firing of the 260-in-dia solid-propellant rocket motor, producing
5.8 million lbs of thrust. One test of NERVA nuclear reactor was conducted
in which NRX-A6 was operated at full design power for 60 min,
achieving major goal of one-hour-duration operation. Phoebus 1B was
operated at 1,500 mw for 30 min, and Phoebus 2C-F underwent series
of systems tests with conventional fuel.
Tracking, communications, and data acquisition reached greatest
volume in 1967 with a large number of unmanned satellites and space
probes. MSFN stations conduoted tracking operations with Lunar Orbiter
spacecraft as targets after completion of missions’ photo-acquisition
phases, and new Apollo Manned Space Flight Network was completely
checked out using Tts I, launched as secondary payload with Pioneer
VZII. At end of 1967, NASA’s Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition was
simultaneously supporting 50 flight programs for NASA ; six in cooperative
international programs; and 12 for DOD.
U.S.S.R. launched 67 payloads, including 61 Cosmos satellites, one
Venus probe, one Soyuz spacecraft, and three Molniya I comsats.
Venus IV landed on the Venusian surface and transmitted atmospheric
data; Soyuz Z, after 25-hr manned flight, crashed on landing, killing the
pilot; and Cosmos CLXXXVI and Cosmos CLXXXVIII unmanned
spacecraft achieved world’s first automatic docking in space. (NASA Re-
lease 67-301; Space Flight Record 1958-1967; NASA Proj Off)
9 International space events were highlighted by ratification on Oct. 10,1967,
of space law treaty, approved by U.N. on Dec. 19,1966, and endorsement
on Dec. 19, 1967, of a new treaty providing for rescue of astronauts.
Draft of space rescue treaty, negotiated by the Legal Subcommittee of
the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, would become
effective following ratification by five nations, including US., U.S.S.R.,
and U.K.
NASA’s international program included orbiting of U.K.’s Ariel ZII and
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