Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1967 - NASA's History Office

February 3-11 ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICS, 1967
performing photosynthesis. Sullivan concluded: “Despite the perceptible
swing of the pendulum toward the possibility of life on Mars, a wide
disparity of views on the nature of the Martian environment was presented
at the meeting. It was evident that the information is still insufficient
to assess the likelihood of life on Mars or even to design experiments
for landings there that would most effectively test for the
existence of life. . . .” (Sullivan, NYT, 2/12/67, 12E)
February 4: NASA% Lunar Orbiter 111 (Lunar Orbiter C) unmanned spacecraft
was successfully launched by Atlas-Agena D booster from ETR
in mission to photograph possible lunar landing sites for Apollo astronauts
(see Feb. 8-28).
Agena 2nd stage fired to boost 850-lb spacecraft into 10O-mi (161km)
altitude parking orbit, reignited after 15-min coast period, injecting
spacecraft on 92-hr translunar trajectory, and separated. On schedule
Lunar Orbiter III deployed its four solar panels and two antennas,
locked its five solar sensors on the sun, and fixed its star-tracker on
Canopus.
Primary objectives of NASA% Lunar Orbiter III mission, third in
series of five, were (1) to place three-axis stabilized spacecraft into lunar
orbit ; (2) to obtain high-resolution pictures of previously photographed
lunar surface areas to confirm their suitability as landing sites for
Apollo and Surveyor spacecraft; and (3) to improve knowledge of the
moon. Photos would cover 12 primary target sites located within the
Apollo zone of interest on the moon’s front face. Spacecraft would also
monitor micrometeoroids and radiation intensity in the lunar environment,
refine definition of moon’s gravitational field, and serve as a
target for tracking operations by Manned Space Flight Network stations.
Lunar Orbiter program was managed by L~RC under OSSA direction.
Tracking and communications were the responsibility of JPL-operated
Deep Space Network. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 67-12; AP,
W Post, 2/5/67, A6; AP, W Star, 2/5/67, AS; AP, NYT, 2/6/67, 12)
0 Decision to use 1000/0 oxygen atmosphere in US. spacecraft had not been
made as a shortcut to compensate for U.S.S.R.’s superior booster capability,
NASC Executive Secretary Dr. Edward C. Welsh told Interawia Air
Letter. “There were other factors involved,” including weight and efficient
use of oxygen-consuming fuel cells. Dr. Welsh emphasized there
was “. . . no basis at all for a change in [Apollo program] policy”
because of Jan. 27 tragedy at KSC and predicted US. still had 50-50
chance to land first man on the moon. (UPI, W Star, 2/5/67, AS)
Dr. Donald E. GUSS, project scientist for GSFC’S Solar Particle Intensity and
Composition Experiment, died in Cleveland after a heart attack. ( W Post,
2/8/67 )
February 5: Sounding rocket launched by ESRO from northern Sweden to
study aurora borealis reached 116-km (72-mi) altitude. (Reuters, NYT,
2/6/67,3 )
* John R. Biggs, former director of NASA Office-Downey at North American
Aviation’s Downey, Calif., plant, became Deputy Executive Secretary in
the Office of the Administrator, NASA Hq. (NASA Ann, 2/6/67)
* 7a students would begin work toward doctorate degrees in space sciences
during 1967-68 academic year at 152 institutions as part of NASA’s Predoctoral
Training program to meet increasing need for highly trained
scientists and engineers. (NASA Release 67-19)
February 6: U.S.S.R. sought one-year postponement of meeting of U.N: Con-