Fiscal Year 1968
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SBJXLS (I3LINll ZHL do LNBaISZIId BHJ HO&I SSXlI9N03 BHJ OJ JlIOdBlI NOTE TO READERS: ALL PRINTED PAGES ARE INCLUDED, UNNUMBERED BLANK PAGES DURING SCANNING AND QUALITY CONTROL CHECK HAVE BEEN DELETED UNITED STATES Aeronautics E. Space Activities 1968 THE EARTH FROM ATS-III 22,300 MILES IN SPACE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE COUNCIL WASHINGTON, D C 20IO2 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $1.25 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: This report summarizes a year of significant achievement in aeronautics and in space- culminating in the epochal APOLLO 8 flight in December, in which three astronauts orbited the Moon ten times and returned safely to Earth. A courageous, pioneering exploration ! The outstanding success of the APOLLO 8 mission attracted world acclaim and greatly enhanced the prestige of the IJnited States as the leading space-faring nation. The capability of the astronauts and the integrity of their space equipment justified our highest hopes. The APOLLO 8 flight was preceded by the very successful 1 l-day orbit of the Earth . in APOLLO 7-the first manned flight test of the APOLLO spacecraft. These great missions bring us nearer to reaching our national goal of landing men on the Moon in this decade. Our astronauts have now flown 18 manned space missions, during which they experi- enced 3,215 man hours in space flight. Together with the activities of the Soviet Union, this makes a total to date of 28 manned flights and 3,846 man hours in space. Through this investment we have obtained new products, services, and knowledge ; we have enhanced our national security; we have improved our international relations; and we have stimulated our educational system. Our Nation is richer and stronger because of our space effort. I recommend that America continue to pursue the challenge of space exploration. THE WHITE HOUSE, January 1969. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I-U.S. Aeronautics and Space Activities-1968 Summary ____________________---------- 1 Chapter 11-National Aer6nautics and Space Council- _ __ _ -__ __ - - - _ _-- - - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - - -- - -- - 5 The Vice President ______5, International Cooperation ______5, Aeronautics ______5, Comparison of US. and Soviet Space Programs _________5, New Goals Required _________6, Council Activities---------6 Chapter 111-National Aeronautics and Space Administration-_ __ - _ _ _ - - _ __ - - - _ - _ - - - - - -- -- - - - - - 8 Manned Space Flight_-____8,Lunar and Planetary Programs- _____ 14, Space Science and Applica- tions--_ _ __ 14, Advanced Research and Technology- - - _ - _ 17, Aeronautics- __ _ _ - 18, Chemical Propul- sion ______20, Biotechnology and Human Research _____ _ 2 1, Space Vehicle Systems______ 23, Electronics and Control______ 23, Space Power and Electric Propulsion ______25, Nuclear Rocket Program __----27, Tracking and Data Acquisition___--_28, University Programs-_-__- 30, International Affairs-_----30, Industry Affairs- __ __-31, Technology Utilization- _ _ _ _ -32, Relationships with Other Government Agencies______ 33, NASA Safety Program ______34, Facilities Management------35 Chapter IV-Department of Defense_______ ..................... - ____________________--- -- - 36 Space Development Activities______36,Space Ground Support__--__39, Aeronautics Development Activity-_____40,Supporting Research and Technology_-____43,Cooperation with Other Government Agencies--- _--46 Chapter V-Atomic Energy Commission_______ _ ____________ __ - __________ ____ ______ _________ 48 Nuclear Rocket Propulsion______48,Space Electric Power______50,Space-Directed Advanced Tech- nology Development_--___51, Space Nuclear Safety Activities___-__51,Space Isotopic Fuel Develop- ment______52,Satellite-Based Detection of Nuclear Explosions in Space and in the Atmosphere------52 Chapter VI-Department of State_____________ _________ ___ _____________________ _ _--__-__- -- 53 Chapter VII-National Science Foundation-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ - _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ - _ _ - _ - - - - - _ _ _ - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 5 Chapter VIII-Department of Commerce__-______ __ __________ - ........................ ___-_ 58 Environmental Science Services Ad~inistration______58,ESSA Research Laboratories_--_--61, Coast and Geodetic Survey Operations_-____63,Weather Bureau Operations____-_64,Environmental Data Service______ 65, National Bureau of Standards______ 65, Applied Technology ______67, Maritime Admin- istration ______67, Office of State Technical Services______ 68 Chapter IX-National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council/National Academy of Engineering _ - _____ ___ _ ___ __ ___ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - __ _ _ _ _ _ _ - ___ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ - _ __ ___ _ 69 Space Science Board-----_69, Committee on Atmospheric Sciences----__71, Office of Scientific Person- nel --____72, Division of Behavioral Sciences______ 72, Division of Biology and Agriculture __-_-_72, Division of Earth Sciences------72, Division of Engineering__---_73, Committee on SST-Sonic Boom -___-_ 74, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board- _____74 Chapter X-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory_____________________-__-_-_______-____-_ 76 Project Celescope ___---76, Satellite Tracking______ 77, Meteoritics______ 77, Mount Hopkins Observa- tory ______78, Atomic and Molecular Astrophysics______ 78 Chapter XI-Department of Transportation- _ __ _ __ _ - _ _ _ _ _ __ - __ _ _ _ - _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ - _ _ __ _ __ _ ___ ___ 80 Aviation Safety Research and Development____-_80, Other R&D Programs Fostering Civil Aero- nautics- - _ _ _ -84 Chapter XII-Federal Communications Commission- - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ __ - __ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ __ - _ _ - __ _ __ _ - 86 Regulatory Activities-_____86, Activities of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR)------86, Forthcoming ITU Conference on Radio Astronomy and Space Services-_--_-86, Space Techniques for the Maritime Mobile Service-____-87, Aeronautical Development_--___87 V Chapter XIII-United States Information Agency _______ _____________________________________89 Guidelines______ 89, Treatment ______89 Chapter XIV-Arms Control and Disarmament Agency ______________________________________ 21 The Space Treaty ______91, Defining Space______ 91, Space Cooperation______ 92, Verification and Inspection__----92, Use of Satellite Communication Systems To Reduce Risk of War------92 Appendix A-1-U.S. Spacecraft Launch Record (Chart)_______________________________________ 93 Appendix A-2-U.S. Spacecraft Record (Table); U.S.S.R. Spacecraft Successfully Launched------- 94 Appendix A-~uccessfulUS. Launches-1968 __________________________________________-_- 95 Appendix B-Major Space “Firsts” _____ .................... __________..................... 102 Appendix GU.S. Applications Satellites-1958-1968 ________________________________________ 104 Appendix D-History of U.S. and Soviet Manned Space Flights______________________________ 107 Appendix E-U.S. Space Launch Vehicles_______________________ __________________________ 108 Appendix F-Nuclear Power Systems for Space Applications- - - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ __ _ - 109 Appendix G-1Space Activities of the U.S. Government (New Obligational Authority)_________110 Appendix G-2Space Activities of the U.S. Government (Expenditures)_______________________ 111 Appendix G--pace Activities Budget; Aeronautics Budget- _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ - _ _ __ _ - _ _ __ _ _____ _ __ _ 112 Index .................................................................................. 113 VI CHAPTER I U. S. AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACTIVITIES 1968 SUMMARY As 1968 came to an end, America moved dramatically Earth orbit. This unmanned launch, using the SAT- near its national goal of landing men on the Moon URN IB vehicle, was the first test of the Lunar in this decade. Three U.S. astronauts became the first Module, in which two astronauts are expected to humans to depart from the confines of Earth's gravi- descend from the mother APOLLO spacecraft for the tational sphere of influence and venture to the close first lunar landing sometime during 1969. The results vicinity of the nearest celestial body. were successful enough so that it was decided that a Launched from Cape Kennedy on a SATURN V second such test was unnecessary. vehicle on December 21, the APOLLO 8 crew took The APOLLO 6 payload, which was launched at their spacecraft on man's first trip to the vicinity of the Cape on April 4, was the second unmanned flight the Moon. They orbited the Moon 10 times, coming of the SATURN V/APOLLO system. The Command within about 70 miles of its surface. Returning to and Service Module re-entered from 400,000 feet, Earth on December 27-147 hours after lift-off-they simulating the speed of a return from the Moon, and re-entered the atmosphere and splashed down in the landed in good condition about 50 miles from its target Pacific Ocean target area. Taken aboard an aircraft point. carrier, Astronauts Borman, Lovell, and Anders were found to be in excellent health. In the next step, on October 11, the APOLLO 7 pay- load went into orbit from Cape Kennedy aboard a The astronauts broadcast live television programs back SATURN IB, taking its three-man crew on the first to Earth while en route to the Moon, while in lunar manned APOLLO mission. The flight lasted almost orbit, and during their return to Earth. Those pioneer- 11 days and covered 4.5 million miles, with splash- ing pictures were,