NASA 20th Anniversary Press Kit

8/7/2019 NASA 20th Anniversary Press Kit

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RELEASE NO: 78-133

NOTE TO EDITORS:

October 1978

NASA is observ,ng its 20th anniversary. The-space agencyopened for business on Oct. 1, 1958.

The information attached summarizes what has been achievedin these 20 years.writers and editors who need historical, statistical and chrono-logical material.

Headquarters, Code LFD-10, Public Information Services Branch,Washington, D.C. 20546; 202/755-8370. Photographs to illustrateany of this material may be obtained by calling or writing:

NASA Headquarters, Code LFB-10, Audio-Visual Services Branch,Washington, D.C. 20546; 202/755-8366.

It was prepared as an aid to broadcasters,

Those needing further information may call or write: NASA

P u b l i c Affairs Division

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C O N T E N T S

S PA C E A GE NC Y N O T E S 2 0 T H A N N IV E R SA RY............ A - 1 - 9

M A J O R M I L E S TO N E S O F NASA PROGRAM ............... B - 1 - 15

N A S A C E N T E R S S PA N U . S .......................... C - 1 - 7

NASA MAJOR LAUNCH RECORD....................... D - 1 - 6 5

N A S A A N N I V E R S A RY F I L L E R S....................... E - 1 - 3

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NASA NewsNational Aeronautics andSpace Administration

Washington, D C 20546AC 202 7 5 5 - 8 3 7 0

SPACE AGENCY NOTES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

BYDr. Robert A. Frosch

NASA Administrator

(Editor's Note: This summation of the National Aeronauticsand Space Administration's 20 years of work was prepared byDr. Frosch for the October issue of NASA Activities, whichis published monthly by NASA for the information of theAgency's employees.)


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S PA C E A G E N C Y N O T E S 20TH A N N I V E R S A RY

BYDr. Robert A . Frosch

NASA Administrator

By the time a man or a woman has lived f o r 2 0 years,

a new individuality has been established, physical maturity

has been achieved, important experiences have been under-

gone and digested, there have been some triumphs and some

tragedies, the outlines of the individual's role in society

are beginning to come into focus, and it becomes possible to

do some sensible planning and make some educated guesses

about the future. Most importantly, a unique new entity with

largely undetermined potential has come to exist in the world.

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On its 20th anniversary, NASA -- composed of some23,000 men and women -- is just such an entity. We are aunique agency, mandated by the people of our country through

their elected representatives to develop and utilize space

technology both for immediate practical application and to

expand our knowledge of the Earth, its environment, the

solar system and the universe. We are charged with assist-

ing the Department of Defense in the use of space to main-

tain.the security of our nation, and with the promotion of

international cooperation in space for peaceful purposes.

An important part of our charter calls for research and de-

velopment to maintain U . S . leadership in aeronautics, and

to improve civil and military aeronautical vehicles while

minimizing their energy consumption and environmental degra-

dation. We are further charged with the dissemination to

all potential users of new knowledge and technology acquired

in the course of all these activities, and, alone among

Federal agencies, we are required by law to "provide for

the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of

information concerning (our) activities and the results

thereof. I

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A s in the case of a 20-year-old person, we have

achieved the approximate shape and size we can expect to

live with for the foreseeable future; we have some learning

experiences under our collective belts; we have tasted both

triumph and tragedy, although happily more of the former

than the latter; our functions in the interests of our

people are beginning to come clear; and we are beginning

to see some of the directions in which we may want to go

in the years ahead.

Like any reasonably intelligent and normally healthy

20-year-old, we have reason to be proud of our accomplishments

thus far and confident of further accomplishments in the

future as we gain experience and knowledge.

We have, after all, in just two decades, for the first

time ever, put life from the planet Earth on another body of

our solar system, and in our explorations of the Moon learned

more about the nature and origins of that system than humanity

was able to determine in al l the centuries that went before.

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In those two eventful decades we have landed exten-

sions of our intelligence on Mars, begun an automated in-

vestigation that will eventually extend to all the planets

orbiting the Sun, achieved significant increase in our

knowledge of Sun-Earth interactions and relationships, and

through remote sensing satellites made order of magnitude

improvements in how we view the natural and manmade phenomena

of the whole Earth, as a first step on the way to better

management of all our resources. And we have put astronomy

observatories into orbit above the obscuring atmosphere,

which are beginning to supply data that may well change our

conception of the universe.

Closer to home we have initiated a communications

revolution. Though barely begun, the communications satel-

lite program has tied the nations and peoples of our planet

together in a way never before possible and it promises the

benefits of intercommunity contact to the most remote and

isolated areas. We have pioneered the use of high-powered

broadcast satellites to bring a variety of public services

to communities otherwise without them. And we have developed

aeronautical technologies that promise 5 0 per cent fuel

savings for airliners, as well as quieter, more economical,

safer and more convenient long and short distance air travel.

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In our 20th year, we are deeply involved in solving

the primary problems of our time -- through remote sensinghelping to locate new sources of fossil fuels while working

with the Department of Energy to develop alternate energy

resources.

With passenger cars alone burning almost a third of

all petroleum products used in this country each year and

causing most of the air pollution that blights our metro-

politan areas, we are applying our scientific and engineering

expertise to improving auto efficiency, economy and environ-

mental acceptability and to developing advanced auto pro-

pulsion systems.

Finally, exactly as is true of a man or a woman, the

future from the perspective of 20 years is full of challenge,

excitement and opportunity. Consider, for example, that the

12 months following our 20th anniversary will see, among

other events:

0 the launch of the second HEAO to follow up the

major astronomical discoveries of its predecessor;

0 the arrival of the Pioneer orbiter and probes at

Venus

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0 t h e e x p l o r a t i o n o f J u p i t e r and i t s moons by bo th

Vo y a g e r s ; a n d

0 t h e f i r s t o r b i t a l t e s t f l i g h t of t h e S h u t t l e .

Beyond our 21st y e a r , w e c a n see t h e S h u t t l e e v o l v i n g

a s t h e mayor f a c t o r i n a l l o u r o p e r a t i o n s i n s p a c e , f a c i l i -

t a t i n g a n d a c c e l e r a t i n g p r o g r e s s t oward n e a r l y a l l o u r g o a l s .

T h e t w o V i k i n g s , P i o n e e r s 1 0 a n d 11, Vo y a g e r s 1 and 2 ,

t h e G a l i l e o m i s s io n t o J u p i t e r , t h e P i o n e e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f

Venus and i t s a t m o s p h e r e , w i l l g r e a t l y e nh an ce o u r u n d er -

s t a n d i n g o f t h e o r i g i n , e v o l u t i o n and c u r r e n t n a t u r e of t h e

s o l a r s y s t e m a nd t h u s o f o u r own E a r t h , p r o v i d i n g u s w i t h a n

im pro ved a b i l i t y t o p r e s e r v e , p r o t e c t and manage i t f o r t h e

b e n e f i t of a l l who l i v e h e r e . F oll ow -o n m i s s i o n s t o M ars

i n c l u d i n g t h e r e t u r n o f a s a m p l e of i t s e n ig m a t i c s o i l , a

l u n a r p o l a r o r b i t e r , a Venus i ma gi ng r a d a r o r b i t e r , a S a t u r n

o r b i t e r w i t h S a t u r n a n d T i t a n p r o b es , and c om et r en d ez v ou s

-- a l l c u r r e n t l y u n de r s e r i o u s s t u d y - - h a v e t h e p o t e n t i a lt o i mp ro v e t h a t u n de r s t a n d in g a b i l i t y s t i l l f u r t h e r .

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The Solar-Polar out-of-ecliptic mission, the planned

Solar Mesospheric Explorer, and a possible solar probe will

add to our knowledge of the Sun-Earth cause and effect re-

lationships of such primary importance to all life on our

planet and help us to understand, predict and perhaps even-

tually to control to some degree the weather processes that

affect us in such a basic way.

Man's eon-long efforts to understand the fundamental

nature of time, matter and energy will be advanced an order

of magnitude in the next decade by a whole new generation

of instruments of which the Space Telescope is the center-

piece and key. The contributions of the Space Telescope to

our understanding of the physics of the universe are likely

to dwarf all but the most fundamental discoveries of the

past. Follow-on High Energy Astronomy observatories, ultra-

violet, extreme ultraviolet, infrared and gamma ray instru-

ments will complement and supplement the Space Telescope

and together bring us measurably closer to an understanding

of the nature of the universe and the place of Earth and

its inhabitants in relation to it.

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A s we develop our Earth-sensing capabilitities with

Landsat, Seasat, Nimbus, Magsat, GEOS, the Applications

Explorer Missions, their follow-on systems and others, we

will learn to integrate the data from all such systems into

a continuous, accurate, global information system of immense

usefulness to all the nations and people of the Earth.

The capability provided by the Shuttle to build large

antennas and supporting facilities in space will lead to an

enormous advance in the field of space communications that

can change society. Such public telecommunications services

as electronic mail, medical information delivery, continuing

interactive education and broad information access await

only positive decisions.

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MAJOR MILESTONES O F N A S A PROGRAM

(Back groun d: On N o v. , 2 1 , 1 9 5 7 , N A S A ' s p r e d e c e s s o r , t h eN a t i o n a l A d v i s o ry C om mitte e f o r A e r o n a u t i c s ( N A C A ) , a p p o i n t e da s p e c i a l c om m it te e on s p a c e t e c h n o l o gy .J a n u a r y , P r e s i d e n t E is en ho w er p ro p o se d t h a t t h e S o v i e t U niona n d t h e U.S. " a g r ee t h a t o u t e r s p ac e s h ou l d b e u se d o n ly f o rp e a c e f u l p u r p o s e s , " a t i m e l y s u gg e s t io n i n view o f t h e f a c tt h a t R us s ia , w i t h i t s S p u t n i k s a t e l l i t e , h ad t a k e n t h e l e a di n t h e s p a c e e f f o r t . A s t h a t m onth e nd e d , E x p l o r e r 1,America 's f i r s t s a t e l l i t e , w e i g h i n g 30 p o u n d s , w a s l a u n c h e da n d l e d t o d i s c o v e r y o f t h e Van A l l e n r a d i a t i o n b e l t s a r o u n dt h e E a r t h .

D u r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g

Q u i c k l y , t h e S e n a t e a nd House o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e se s t a b l i s h e d committees o n s p a c e and a e r o n a u t i c s . The P r e -s i d e n t p ro p os ed e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s and

S p a c e A g en cy, i n t o w h i ch NACA would be abso rbed , and Con-g r e s s a c t e d p r o m p t ly. On J u l y 2 9 , t h e P r e s i d e n t s i g n e di n t o l aw t h e N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s a nd S pa ce A c t of 1 9 5 8 . )

1958

O c t . l - F i r s t o f f i c i a l day o f N A S A , w i t h D r . T . K e i t hG l en na n a s A d m i n i s t r a t o r a nd D r . Hugh L . Dryden asD e p u t y A d m i n i s t r a t o r .

O c t . 7-NASA fo rm a l ly ap p roved P r o j e c t Mercu ry t o s en d a mani n t o o r b i t a ro un d t h e E a r t h , i n v e s t i g a t e h i s c ap a -b i l i t i e s and r e a c t i o n s t o s p a c e and r e t u r n him s a f e l yt o E a r t h .

O c t . l l -The 84-pound P I O N E E R 1, l a u n c h e d f r o m C a p e C a n a v e r a la s NASA's f i r s t d e e p s p a c e p r o b e , r e a c he d an a l t i t u d e of7 0 , 7 1 4 m i l e s .

1959

Feb. 17-VANGUARD 2 , NASA's f i r s t E a r t h s a t e l l i t e , l a u n c h e dt o d e m o ns t r a t e f e a s i b i l i t y of g l o b a l w e a th e r d a t a a c q u i -s i t i o n .

f ro m Wa l lo p s S t a t i o n .M a r . 3 -W or ld 's f i r s t s i x - s t a g e , s o l i d - f u e l r o c k e t l au nc he d

Mar. 1 0 - F i r s t c a p t i v e f l i g h t o f X - 1 5 r o c k e t a i r p l a n e .


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J a n .

J a n .

J a n .

Mar.

1 - P r e s i d e n t E is en ho we r i s s u e d s t a t e m e n t t h a t " t h ee a r l y e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s a t e l l i t es y s t e m wh i ch c a n b e u s e d o n a c o m m e r c i a l b a s i s i s a

n a t i o n a l o b j e c t i v e . "

3 0 - P r e s i d e n t Kennedy, n e wly i n a u g u r a t e d , i n v i t e d t h eS o v i e t Union and o t h e r n a t i o n s t o c o o p e r a t e i n i nv o k i ng" t h e wonder o f s c i e n c e i n s t e a d o f i t s t e r r o r s , " e s p e c i -a l l y i n d e v e lo p i n g a w e a t h e r p r e d i c t i o n p ro gram .

30-James E . Webb nominated a s N A S A A d m i n i s t r a t o r byP r e s i d e n t Kennedy t o s u c c e e d D r . T . K e i t h G l e n n a n ,r e t i r e d .

1 0 - N A S A announced f i r s t s u c c e s s i n i mm ed ia te d e t e c t i o nr e a l t i m e o f r a d a r s i g n a l s o f f p l a n e t Venus.

Apr.14-NASA in fo rmed House Sc i e nc e and A s t r o n a u t i c s Commi t te ei t w i l l t a k e $ 2 0 t o $ 4 0 b i l l i o n t o a c h i e v e a l u n a rl a n d i n g .

May 5-FREEDOM 7 , manned M e rc ur y s p a c e c r a f t c a r r i n g A s t r o n a u tA l a n B . S h e p a r d , J r . , a s p i l o t , l au nc he d a t Cape Cana-v e r a 1 a s f i r s t American manned s p a ce f l i g h t . F l i g h tl a s t e d 1 4.8 m i n ut e s a nd r ea c he d a n a l t i t u d e o f 1 1 5 m i l e s .

May 19-Cape C a n a v e r a l o pe ne d t o g e n e r a l p u b l i c f o r f i r s t

May 2 5 - P r e s i d e n t K enn ed y c a l l e d f o r s p e e d u p i n A m er ic ans p ac e e f f o r t and d e c l a r e d a n a t i o n a l s p a ce g o a l o f" l a n d i n g a n A me ri ca n on t h e Moon i n t h i s d e c a d e . "

t i m e i n i t s h i s t o r y .

J u l y 2 1 - M e r c u r y A s t r o n a u t V i r g i l I . Grissorn made a 13 -m i n u t e , 1 1 8- m il e- h ig h a nd 3 03 -m il e l o n g f l i g h t i n L I B E RT YBELL 7 , s ec on d s u c c e s s f u l manned s u b o r b i t a l f l i g h t .

D e c . 7 - Pl an s f o r t h e de v el o pm e nt of a two-man M ercury c a p s u lew e r e announced .

1962

F e b . 2 0 - M e r c u r y s p a c e c r a f t F R I E N D S H I P 7 , w i t h L t . C o l . J o h nH. G l e n n , J r . a s a s t r o n a u t , l a un ch ed on f i r s t U . S .manned o r b i t a l sp a ce f l i g h t , c o v e r i ng 8 1 , 0 0 0 m i l e s i n4 h o u r s a n d 56 m i n u t e s .


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S e p t . 4-OGO 1 s a t e l l i t e , d e s ig n e d t o p e r f or m 2 0 s p a c e ex-p e r i m e n t s a t o n c e , p l a c ed i n o r b i t .

1965F e b . 1 7 - R A N G E R 8 s p a c e c r a f t , s q u ip p ed w i th s i x t e l e v i s i o n

c a m e r a s t o p h ot og ra p h p a r t o f ' t h e Moon's s u r f a c e , l a u n c h e d .

M a r . 23-GEMINI 3 s p a c e c r a f t , w i t h A s t ro n a u t s V i r g i l I .G r i s s o m a n d J o h n W . Young on boa rd , l aunched and madet h r e e o r b i t s i n 4 h o u r s a nd 5 3 m i n u t e s , d u r i n g w h ic h amanned s p a c e c r a f t was man euv ere d i n o r b i t f o r f i r s t t i m e .

Mar. 2 4 - A f t e r t r a n s m i t t i n g 5 , 8 1 4 c lo se -u p l u n a r p i c t u r e s t oE a r t h , RANGER 9 w a s impacted on Moon.

Apr. 6 - I N T E L S AT 1, f i r s t c om m er ci al c om m un ic at io ns s a t e l l i t e ,p l a c e d i n s y nc hr on ou s e q u a t o r i a l o r b i t a bove A t l a n t i c Ocean .

May 30-A mo di f i ed Co nv ai r 9 9 0 A j e t t r a n s p o r t , N A S A ' s newh i g h - a l t i t u d e r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r y , c a r r i e d 30 s c i e n t i s t sf rom f i v e c o u n t r i e s and a m i l l i o n d o l l a r s ' w or th o fd e l i c a t e i n s t r u m e n t s i n a r a c e w i t h a t o t a l e c l i p s eo v e r t h e S ou th P a c i f i c .

J u n e 3-GEMINI 4 s p a c e c r a f t , w i t h A s t ro n a u t s James A. M c D i v i t tand Edward H . Whi t e a s p i l o t s , l a un ch ed t o make 6 2 r e -v o l u t i o n s a ro un d t h e E a r t h i n 9 7 h o u r s a n d 5 6 m i n u t e s ,d u r i n g w hi ch W h it e became t h e f i r s t A me ri ca n t o

walk i n s p a c e .J u l y 1 4 - M A R I N E R 4 , l a u n c h e d t h e p r e c e d i n g Nov. 2 8 , a p p r o a c h e d

w i t h i n 5 , 5 0 0 m i l e s o f Mars a nd t o o k t h e f i r s t c l o s e -u p p i c t u r e s of t h a t p l a n e t .

Aug. 2 1 - G E M I N I 5 , p i l o t e d b y A s t r o n a u t s L . Gordon Cooper andC h a r l e s C o n r a d , J r . l au n ch e d o n e i g h t -d a y m i s s i o n , l a s t i n g1 9 0 h o u r s a n d 5 6 m i n u t e s , d u r i n g wh ic h 1 2 0 r e v o l u t i o n so f t h e E a r t h w e r e made.

Nov. 6 - E X P L O R E R 29 g e o d e t i c s a t e l l i t e l a u n c h e d f ro m E a s t e r nT e s t Range by an Improved Thrust-Augmented D e l t a i n

f i r s t u s e of a g r a v i t y - g r a d i e n t s y s t em f o r s t a b i l i z a t i o n .Dec. 4 - G E M I N I 7 , p i l o t e d b y A s t r o n a u t s F r a n k Borman a n d

James A. L o v e l l , J r . , l a u n c h e d o n 1 4- da y m i s s i o n .E le ve n d a ys a f t e r l a un c h , t h e s p a c e c r a f t a ch i ev e d i t sh i s t o r i c r e nd ez vo us i n o r b i t w i t h G E M I N I 6 , l a u n c h e dD e c . 1 5 a nd p i l o t e d b y A s t r o n a u t s Wa l t e r S c h i r r a , J r . ,and Thomas P . S t a f f o r d .


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1 9 6 6

Mar. 1 6 - A s t r o n a u t s N e i l Armstrong and David R . S c o t t , i nG E M I N I 8 , p e rf o rm e d w o r l d ' s s e co n d r e n d ez v o u s a nd f i r s tdoc k in g exp e r i me n t w i t h an unmanned Gemin i Agena Ta rg e t

Ve h i c l e( G AT V ) .

M i s s i o n l a s t e d1 0

h o u r s a n d4 2

m i n u t e s .Apr. 29-One o f w o r l d ' s l a r g e s t a nd m os t s e n s i t i v e a u t o m a t i c

s p a c e t r a c k i n g a nd t e l e m e t r y a n t e n n a s was o f f i c i a l l yd e d i c a t e d a t G o l d s t o n e , C a l i f .

May 1 9 - X - B - 7 0 A o p e r a t i o n a l a i r c r a f t s u c c e s s f u l l y made s u s -t a i n e d 2,000-mph f l i g h t a t 7 0, 00 0- fo ot a l t i t u d e f o r3 2 m i n u t e s .

May 30-SURVEYOR 1 l a un c he d t o become f i r s t U.S. s p a c e c r a f tt o s o f t l a n d o n Yoon w hen i t tou ch ed down i n t h e Oceano f S to rm s an d b eg an s e n d i n g ba c k p i c t u r e s .

J u n e 3-GEMINI 9 , w i t h A s t r o n a u t s T h o m a s I?. S t a f f o r d andEugene A. Cernan a s p i l o t s , l au nc he d o n t h r e e - d a y f l i 9 h tt o o v e r t a k e A ugmented T a r g e t D o c ki ng A d a p t e r , d u r i n gw h i c h C e r n a n p e r f o r m e d a s p a c e w a l k o f m o r e t h a n t w o h o u r s ,l o n g e s t t o d a t e .

J u l y 18-GEMINI 1 0 , e i g h t h manned f l i g h t i n G em ini s e r i e s ,l a u n ch e d on s u c c e s s f u l r e n d e z vo u s a n d d o c k i ng m i s s i o nt o o v e r t a k e G AT V. A s t r o n a u t s J o h n W . Young a nd M ic ha elC o l l i n s were p i l o t s an d pe rf or me d f i r s t d o ck ed -s pa ce -c r a f t m an eu ve r, a l s o r e n d e zv o u s in g w i t h G em ini 8 ' sGATV t a r g e t .

Aug. 1 0 - L U N A R O R B I T E R 1, un man ned, l a u n c h e d t o become f i r s tU . S . s p a c e c r a f t t o e n t e r l u n a r o r b i t , t a k i n g f i r s tp i c t u r e s o f E a r t h f ro m v i c i n i t y o f Moon.i n t e n t i o n a l l y c r a sh e d i n t o f a r s i d e o f Yoon.

O r b i t e r

Sep t . 12 -Three -day G E M I N I 11 m i s s i o n , w i t h A s t r o n a u t s C h a r l e sConrad , J r . , a n d R i c h a r d F . Gordon, J r . , a s p i l o t s be-came f i r s t s p a c e c r a f t t o a c h i ev e f i r s t - r e v o l u t i o n r e n-d e z v o u s a nd d o c k i n g w i t h GATV, u s i n g t e t h e r t o l i n kt w o s p a c e c r a f t .

Nov. 1 1 - G E M I N I 1 2 , l a s t o f t h e s e r i e s , l a u n ch e d w i t h A s t r o -n a u t s J a m e s A. L o v e l l , J r . , and Edwin A . A l d r i n , J r . ,o n b o a r d . A l d r i n p e r fo r m e d tw o s t a n d u p E VA s . M i s s i o nl a s t e d n e a r l y f o u r d ay s .

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1967

Jan. 27-Three-man crew training for first Apollo flight--Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White I1 and Roger B.Chaffee - - died when flash fire swept through CommandModule at KSC.

Jan. 27-Representatives of 62 nations signed the United Na-tions treaty on the exploration and use of outer space.

Apr. 17-SURVEYOR 3 launched on mission to Moon to land inOcean of Storms and excavate with surface sampler tren-ches up to six inches deep.

June 14-MARINER 5 spacecraft launched on four-month, 212-million-mile flyby mission to Venus.

Sept. 8-SURVEYOR 5 softlands on Xoon to take photoqraphs of-possible landing sites for Apollo spaceckaft and beginson-site chemical analysis of an extraterrestrial body.

Nov.

Jan.

Jan.

Apr .

Oct.

Oct.

9 - -VO L LO 4 spacecraft was successfully sent aloft infirst Saturn V flight and first launch from Complex 39at Kennedy Space Center, making first all-up test ofthree-stage launch vehicle and reentering at lunar-re-turn velocity.

1968

7-SURVEYOR 7 launched to softland in Moon's highlands,return TV pictures, perform lunar-digging experimentsand detect laser beams directed from Earth.

22-APOLLO 5 launched from KSC on unmanned Earth orbitalmission to verigy operation of Lunar Module ascent anddescent propulsion system. Adjudged successful.

4-APOLLO 6 was successfully launched on mission toqualify Saturn V launch vehicle, demonstrating rocketand spacecraft subsystem and heat shield performance.

6-Administrator James E. Webb retired and was succeededby Dr. Thomas 0. Paine, formerly Deputy Administrator.

11-APOLLO 7, first manned CSM operation in Apollo lunarlanding program, successfully launched from KSC withAstronauts Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Donn F. Eisele andR. Walter Cunningham. Crew appeared on TV in initialtelecast from space. Mission lasted 10 days, 20 hours,accomplishing rendezvous with S-IVB stage. Earth circled 168times.


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D e c . 21-APOLLO 8 , s e c o n d manned m i s s i o n i n pr o gr am an d f i r s tt o o r b i t Moon, l a u n c h ed . A s t r o n a u t s : Frank Borman,J a m e s A. Love11 and W i l l i a m A n d er s. Y i s s i o n d u r a t i o n6 d a y s , 3 h o u r s . Twenty h o u rs i n l u n a r o r b i t . C i r c l e dMoon 1 0 t i m e s . S up p o r t f a c i l i t i e s t e s t e d . P h o to g r ap hst a k e n o f E a r t h a n d Moon. L i v e TV b r o a d c a s t s .

1 9 6 9

Feb. 9 - N A S A a nn ou nc ed s u p e r c r i t i c a l wi ng , a new a i r f o i ls ha p e d e v el o pe d i n f o u r y e a r s o f w i n d -t u nn e l s t u d i e s a tF l i g h t R e se a r ch C e n t e r , w i l l b e f l i g h t t e s t e d .

Mar. 3-APOLLO 9 , f i r s t manned f l i g h t of a l l l u n a r h a r d w a r ei n E a r t h o r b i t , l au n ch e d. A s t ro n a u t s : James A .M c D i v i t t , D a v i d R . S c o t t and R u s s e l l L . S c h w e i c k a r t .M i s s i o n d u r a t i o n 1 0 d a y s , 1 h o u r . S c h w e l c k a r t P e r fo r m ed37-minute E VA . Human r e a c t i o n s t o s p a c e a n d w e i g h t -l e s s n e s s t e s t e d i n 1 5 2 o r b i t s . F i r s t manned f l i g h tLunar Module (LM) .

May 18-APOLLO 1 0 l a u n c h e d f o r d r e s s r e h e a r s a l o f Moon l a n d i n g -A s t r o n a u t s : E u g e n e A. C e r n a n , J o h n W . Young andThomas P . S t a f f o r d . M i s si o n d u r a t i o n 8 d a y s , 3 m i n u t e s .F i r s t manned CSM/LM o p e r a t i o n s i n c i s l u n a r and l u n a re n v i r o n m e n t ; s i m u l a t i o n of f i r s t l u n a r l a n d i n g p r o f i l e .I n l u n a r o r b i t 6 1 . 6 h o u r s , w i t h 3 1 o r b i t s . LM t a k e n t ow i t h i n 4 7 , 0 0 0 f e e t o f l u n a r s u r f a c e . F i r s t l i v e c o l o rT V f r o m s p a c e . L M a s c e n t s t a g e j e t t i s o n e d i n o r b i t .

J u l y 1 6 - A P O L L O 11 l au n ch e d o n f i r s t l u n a r l a n d in g m i s s i o nan d l u n a r s u r f a c e E VA . A s t r o n a u t s : N e i l A . A r m s t r o n g ,M i c h a e l C o l l i n s a n d E d w i n E . A l d r i n , J r . Landed onS e a o f T r a n q u i l i t y . One EVA --2 h o u r s , 3 1 m i n u t e s .M i s s i o n d u r a t i o n 8 d a y s , 3 h o u r s , 1 8 m i n u t e s . A r m s t r o n ga n d A l d r i n l a n d e d o n Moon J u l y 2 0 . F l a g an d i n s t r u -m e nt s d e p l o y ed . L un ar s u r f a c e s t a y t i m e 2 1 . 6 h o u r s :5 9 .5 h o u r s i n l u n a r o r b i t , w i t h 30 o r b i t s . LM a s c e n ts t a g e l e f t i n l u n a r o r b i t . P r e s i d e n t N ixon made f i r s tl o n g d i s t a n c e p ho ne c a l l t o Moon t o c o n g r a t u l a t e a s t r o -n a u t s . T h e m i s s i o n a c h i e v e d t h e g o a l s e t on May 2 5 ,1 9 6 1 b y P r e s i d e n t Kennedy of l a n d i n g a n A m e r i c a n o n t h eM o o n w i t h i n t h e d e c a d e .

J u l y 2 9 - F i r s t p i c t u r e s o f Mars , t a k e n b y N A R I N E R 6 , r e c e i v e da t J P L .

S e p t . 1 2 - N A S A b e ga n d i s t r i b u t i n g l u n a r m a t e r i a l f rom t h eAPOLLO 11 m i s s i o n t o s c i e n t i f i c i n v e s t i g a t o r s i n t h eU . S . an d 8 o t h e r c o u n t r i e s .

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Nov. 14-APOLLO 12, second manned lunar landing mission launched.Astronauts: Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard E. Gordon, Jr.,and Alan L. Bean. Landed on Ocean of Storms. Firstdemonstration of pinpoint landing capability. Candidate

landing sites photographed. Parts taken from SURVEYOR 2 ,unmanned spacecraft went to Moon in April 1967. Lunarstay time 32.5 hours. LM ascent stage impacted on Moon.

1970

Mar. 31-EXPLORER 1, first U.S. satell ite, launched Jan. 31,1958, reentered Earth atmosphere after completing58,408 revolutions and traveling 2.67 billion miles.

Apr. 11-APOLLO 1 3 , third lunar landing mission attempt ,

launched. Astronauts: James A. Lovell, John L.Swigert, Jr., and Fred W. Haise, Jr. Mission duration5 days, 22.9 hours. Mission aborted after rupture ofService Module oxygen tank. Classed as "successfulfailure" because of experience in rescuing crew. SpentS-IVB stage successfully impacted on Moon.

Sept. 15-Dr. Thomas 0. Paine resigned as NASA Administrator.Dr. George M. Low, Deputy Administrator, serves as Ac-ting Administrator.

Dec. 12-EXPLORER 42 launched into equatorial orbit from theSan Marco platform off the coast of Kenya by an Italiancrew, the first American spacecraft to be sent aloft bymen of another country.

1971

Jan. 31-APOLLO 14, third lunar landing mission, launched.Astronauts: Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Stuart A. Roosa andEdgar D. Mitchell. Landed on Frau Mauro, rocky uplandarea. Docking and other difficulties experienced demon-strated value manned flight over unmanned flight Lunarsurface stay time 33.5 hours, 67 hours in 'Lunar orbit,with 34 orbits. Third stage impacted on Moon, usinghand cart for first time to transport rocks.

Apr. 27-Dr. James C. Fletcher is sworn in as NASA Acmini-strator to succeed Dr. Paine.

July 26-APOLLO 15, fourth lunar landing mission and firstof "J " series using Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) launched.


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J u l y 26-APOLLO 1 5 , f o u r t h l u n a r l a n d i n g m i ss io n and f i r s to f I I J " s e r i e s u s i n g L u n ar R o v in g Ve h i c l e ( L R V ) , l a u n c h e d .A s t r o n a u t s : D a v i d R . S c o t t , James B . I r v i n and A l f r e dM. Worden. Landed i n Had ley -Apenn ine r e g io n n ea r Apen-n i n e M ou n t a in s . F i r s t t o c a r r y o r b i t a l s e n s o r s i n S e r -v i c e M od ule . A I S E P d e p l o y e d . I mp ro ve d s p a c e s u i t s g a vei n c r e a s e d m o b i l i t y a nd s t a y t i m e . S c i e n t i f i c p ay lo adl a n d e d o n Moon d o u b l e d . L u n a r s u r f a c e s t a y t i m e6 6 . 9 h o u r s . L R V t r a v e r s e d t o t a l o f 2 7 . 9 km. S ma ll su b-s a t e l l i t e l e f t , i n l u n a r o r b i t f o r f i r s t t i m e .

S e p t . 29-OSO-7 l a u n c h e d t o make f i r s t X -ra y o b s e r v a t i o n s o fa b e g i n n i n g s o l a r f l a r e and o f s o l a r " s t r e a m e r s " .

Nov.

J a n .

Mar.

Apr.

13-MARINER 9 , L au nc he d May 3 0 , w e n t i n t o o r b i t o f Mars ,f i r s t t o c i r c l e a n o th e r p l a n e t and t oo k f i r s t c l o s ep h o t o s o f Mars ' moons Deimos and Pho bos and of a Mars

d u s t s t o r m .

1 9 7 2

5 - P r e s i d e n t N ix on a nn ou nc ed d e c i s i o n t h a t U.S. s h o u l dd e v e l o p S pa ce S h u t t l e s y s te m .

2 - 2 I O N E E R L O J u p i t e r p ro b e l a un c h ed t o become f i r s t man-made o b j e c t t o e s c a p e s o l a r sy s t em , f i r s t s p a c e c r a f t t ou se o r b i t a l v e l o c i t y a n d g r a v i t y of J u p i t e r f o r e s c a p e ,a nd f i r s t NASA s p a c e c r a f t p ow ere d e n t i r e l y b y n u c l e a re n e r g y.

1 6 - A P O L L O 1 6 , f i f t h l u n a r l a n d i n g m i s s i o n , l au nc he d .A s t r o n a u t s : J o h n W . Young, Thomas K . M a t t i n g l y I 1 andC h a r l e s M . Duke, J r . Landed i n D e s c a r t e s , h i g h l a n d sa r e a . F i r s t s t u d y of h i g h l a n d s a r e a . U l t r a v i o l e tc a m e r a / sp e c t r o g ra p h u s e d s e c o n d t i m e . L u n a r s u r f a c es t a y t i m e 7 1 h o u r s . L R V t r a v e r s e d t o t a l o f 2 7 km.

Yay 24 -P re si d en t Nixon and USSR P r e m i e r Kosygin i n Moscows i g n e d an a gr ee me nt p r o v i d i n g f o r c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h ee x p l o r a t i o n o f o u t e r s p a ce f o r p e a c e f u l p u rp o se s a nd t h ed o ck in g i n s p a ce i n 1 97 5 o f a U . S . a nd a S o v i e t s p a c e c r a f t .

May 26-NASA a nnou nced r e t i r e m e n t o f D r . Wernher von B r a u n ,D ep uty A s s o c i a t e A d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r P l a n n i n g a nd a p i o n e e ri n t h e s p ac e e f f o r t , e f f e c t i v e J u l y 1.

J u l y 23-ERTS 1 l au n ch e d t o a c q u i r e i n f o r m a t i on f o r i n v e s t i -g a t i o n s i n a g r i c u l t u r e , f o r e s t r y , m i n e ra l s , e t c .

7


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B - 1 2

D e c . 7-APOLLO 1 7 , s i x t h l u n a r l a n d i n g and f i n a l m i ss i o n i nA p o l l o s e r i e s , l a u n c h e d . A s t r o n a u t s : E u g e n e A . C e r n a n ,Ronald B . E v a n s a n d H a r r i s o n H . S c h m i t t , t h e l a s t namedt h e f i r s t g e o l o g i s t o n t h e Moon.

L i t t r o w a r e a , v a l l e y f l o o r ; l u n a r s u r f a c e s t a y t i m e 7 4h o u r s , 5 9 m i n u t e s , 3 8 s e c o n d s . LRV t r a v e r s e d 35 km.

L an de d i n Ta u r u s -

1 9 7 3

May 1 4 - S K Y L A B 1, t h e n a t i o n ' s f i r s t o r b i t i n g l a b o r a t o r y , wasl a u n ch ed f rom Cape Kennedy, w i t h a t h r ee -man c r e w ,C h a r l e s C o n r a d , J r . J o s e p h P . Kerwin and Pau l J . W e i t z ,s c h e d u l e d t o r e n d e z v o u s w i t h i t t h e n e x t d a y. Twe lv e a i n -U t e s a f t e r l a un c h , s i g n a l s r e v e a l e d t h e m e t e o r o i ds h i e l d h a d b ee n t o r n away a nd o n e o f t w o s o l a r p a n e l so n ly p a r t i a l l y d ep lo ye d.t o k ee p i t s i n t e r i o r fr om be co min g t o o h o t a n d c e n t e r sw e r e a l e r t e d t o s t a r t s e a r c h i n g f o r a s o l u t i o n t o t h ee mergency.

The s p a c e c r a f t w a s maneuve red

May 2 5 - A f te r 11 d a y s d u r i n g w h i c h t e c h n i c i a n s w ork ed a r o un dt h e c l o c k t o d e v e l o p a p a r a s o l a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r t h eh e a t s h i e l d and t o o l s w i t h w h i c h a s t r o n a u t s c o u l d c u tt h e m e t a l s t r a p f ou nd t o b e k ee p i ng t h e s o l a r wing f romd e p l o y i n g , t h e c r e w w a s l a u n c h e d a n d r e n d e z v o u s e d w i t hSKYLAB. Nex t d a y , t h e p a r a s o l was d e p l o y e d a n d , o nJ u n e 7 , a n EV A t o f r e e t h e s o l a r a r r a y w a s p e r f o r m e d . A2 8 - d a y m i s s i o n w a s c q m p l e t e d o n J u n e 2 2 .

J u l y 28-T he s e c o n d S K Y L A B c r e w , Alan L . Bean , J a c k R . Lousmaand Owen K. G a r r i o t t , w a s l a u n c h e d . E n r o u t e , a r o c k e tt h r u s t e r o n t h e s p a c e s h i p c o nv e yi ng t h e m a l o f t b eg anl e a k i n g . On A u g u s t 2 , a se co n d t h r u s t e r d e v el o p ed l e a k s ,l e a v i n g o n l y two i n o p e r a b l e c o n d i t i o n .w a s r e a d i e d a t Cape Kennedy, b u t o f f i c i a l s d e c id e d t oa l l o w t h e a s t r o n a u t s t o c om pl et e a 59-day mi s s io n andr e t u r n t o E a r th v i a t h e i r d i s a b l e d c r a f t on S ep te mb er 25.

A r e s c u e s h i p

Nov. 3-MARINER 1 0 l au nc he d t o c o nd u ct e x p l o r a t o r y i n v e s t i g a -t i o n s of Mercury and l a t e r Ve n u s d u r i n g i t s f l y b y .

Nov. 16-Skylab 3 l i f t s o f f w i t h a c r e w o f G e r a l d C a r r , E dwardGi bs on and W i l l i a m P og ue ; t h e f i n a l S k y la b m i s s i o n ha db e gun .


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B-13

1 9 7 4

F e b . 8-SKYLAB 3 s p l a s h e s d ov n i n t h e P a c i f i c Ocean a f t e r 84d a y s , 1 h o u r a n d 1 6 m i n u t e s i n s p a c e , s e t t i n g a newm a r k f o r t i m e s p e n t i n s p a c e by Am eric an a s t r o n a u t s .

Dec. 2 - P I O N E E R 11, l a u n c h e d A p r i l 6 , 1 97 3, h u r t l e s p a s t J u -p i t e r s e n d i n g b ac k i n f o r m a t i o n an d p i c t u r e s f ro m t h es o l a r s y s t e m 's l a r g e s t p l a n e t .

D e c . 1 0 - H E L I O S - A i s l a un ch ed t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e p r o p e r t i e so f s p a c e i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of and c l o s e t o t h e Sun.

D e c . 15-NASA ann oun ces t h a t P I O N E E R 11 w i l l f l y by S a t u r n t os t u d y t h e p l a n e t ' s r i n g s . The p ro be w i l l r e a c h S a t u r ni n S ep te mb er 1 9 7 9 .

1975

J a n . 22-LANDSAT 2 ( fo rmer ly ERTS) i s l au n ch e d t o l o c a t e , mapand measure E a r t h r e s o u r c e s f r o m s p a c e .

A p r i l 9-GEOS 3 i s s e n t i n t o o r b i t a ro u nd t h e E a r t h t o me asu reo c e a n t o p o g ra p h y, s e a s t a t e and o t h e r f e a t u r e s o f t h eE a r t h .

J u n e 15-The f i n a l A p o ll o s p a c e c r a f t i s l au nc he d t o l i n k upi n s p a ce w i t h t h e S o v i e t S o y u z v e h i c l e . On b o a r d t h e

A p o l l o a r e : Tom S t a f f o r d , Vance Brand and Dona ld " D e k e "S l a y t o n . On J u l y 2 4 , t h e A p ol l o s p a c e c r a f t s a f e l yr e t u r n e d t o E a r t h .

Aug. 20-The U n i t ed S t a t e s ' f i r s t a t t e m p t t o s o f t l a n d as p a c e c r a f t o n a n o th e r p l a n e t t e q i n s w i t h t h e l a u n c ho f V I K I N G 1 and a s i s t e r s h i p , V I K I W G 2 i s l a u n c h e d o nS e p t . 9 .

1 9 7 6

Feb . 1 0 - P I O N E E R 1 0 c r o s s e s t h e r i n g s o f S a t u r n and c o n t i n u e so u t t o w ar d s P l u t o w h ic h i t w i l l r e a c h i n 1 98 7.

J u l y 2 0 - V I K I N G 1 l a n d s o n N a r s and b e g in s r e l a y i n g f i r s ta n a l y s i s of s u r f a c e m a t e r i a l on a n o t h e r p l a n e t .

Sept. 3-VIKING 2 l a n d s o n Mars and s t a r t s r e t u r n i n g s c i en -t i f i c d a t a t o E a r t h .


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B-14

D e c . 30-For t h e s e c o n d t i m e i n i t s h i s t o r y , N A S A had a p e r -f e c t la un ch r e c o r d , s u c c e s s f u l i n a l l 1 6 of ' i t s l a u n c h e s .I n 1 9 7 2 , NASA a l s o ha d a p e r f e c t r e c o r d , l a un c h in g 18s a t e l l i t e s .

1 9 7 7

M a r . 1 4 - D r . James C . F l e t c h e r s u bm i ts h i s r e s i g n a t i o n a sA d m i n i s t r a t o r o f NASA May 1.

May 2 4 - P r e s i d e n t C a r t e r m o m in a te s D r . R o b e r t A . F r o s c h a sA dm in i s t r a t o r o f NASA.

Aug. 12-T he f i r s t a p p ro a c h a nd l a n d i n g t e s t f r e e f l i g h t of t h eS p a c e S h u t t l e 1 s made w i t h a s t r o n a u t s F r e d H a i s e andG ordo n F u l l e r t o n o n b o ar d

Aug.12-HEAO-1 (Hig h Ener gy Astronomy O b s e rv a to r y ) i s l a u n c h e dt o s t u d y and map X-ray s and gamma r a y s .

Aug. 20-VOYAGER 2 i s l au nc he d t o s t u d y J u p i t e r and S a t u r nP l a n e t a r y sy s te m s i n c l u d i n g t h e i r s a t e l l i t e s andS a t u r n ' s r i n g s .

S e p t . 5-VOYAGER 1 i s l a un ch ed t o i n v e s t i g a t e J u p i t e r andS a t u r n p l a n e t a r y s y s t e m s.

O c t . 22-ISEE 1 & 2 a r e l a un c h ed . T he I n t e r n a t i o n a l S u n- Ea rt h

E x p l o r e r i s a j o i n t NASA/European Spac e Agency mi s s i ont o s tu d y t h e i n t e r a c t i o n o f t h e i n t e r p l a n e t a r y m e d i u mw i t h E a r t h ' s i mm ed ia te e n v i ro n m e nt .

O c t . 2 6 - H a i s e and F u l l e r t o n p i l o t and l a n d t h e S pace S h u t t l ef o r t h e f i f t h and f i n a l f r e e f l i g h t i n t h e S h u t t l ea p p r o a c h a n d 1 . s n d l n q t e s t s .

1 9 7 8

J a n . 1 6 - N A S A s e l e c t s 35 new a s t r o n a u t c a n d i d a t e s t o u n de rg otwo y e a r s o f t r a i n i n g i n Hous ton i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r

S p ace S h u t t l e f l i g h t i n t h e 1 9 8 0 s . F o r t h e f i r s t t i m e ,t h e g r ou p i n c l u d e d s i x women an d f o u r m i n o r i t i e s . N A S Ar e c e i v e d 8 ,0 79 a p p l i c a t i o n s i n t h e y ea r- lo ng r e c r u i t i n gp e r i o d b e f o re s e l e c t i o n .

Mar. 5-LANDSAT 3 , an e c o l o g i c a l d a t a s a t e l l i t e , i s s e n t i n t oo r b i t a ro un d t h e E a r t h .


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March 1 7 - N A S A a n n o u n c e s f o u r c r e w s f o r e a r l y f l i g h t s o f t h eS p a c e S h u t t l e . Those named a r e : Joh n Young , Ro be r tC r i p pe n , J o e E n g le , R i c h a rd T r u l y , F r e d H a i s e , J a c kL ou sm a, Va nc e B r a nd a n d C h a r l e s F u l l e r t o n .

May 2 0 - P I O N E E R - V E N U S 1 l a u n c h e d f r o m t h e K e nned y S p a c e C e n t e r .T h e s p a c e c r a f t w i l l o r b i t Venus a nd s t u d y t h e p l a n e t ' sa t m o s ph e r e a n d s u r f a c e .

J un e I -F i v e s c i e n t i s t s a r e s e l e c t e d t o s e r v e a s p a y l o a ds p e c i a l i s t s d u r in g t h e f i r s t S p a ce l a b m i s s i on s ch ed ul edf o r t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f 1 9 8 0 .

J u n e 26-The f i r s t o c e a n -m o n i to r i ng s a t e l l i t e , S E A S AT 1, isl a u n c h e d .

Aug. 8-PIONEER-VENUS 2 is l a u n c h e d . T he m u l t i p r o b e s p a c e -c r a f t w i l l r e ac h Venus some fo u r mon ths l a t e r .

# # # # #

1


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AMES R E S E A R C H C E N T E RMounta in V i e w , C a l i f .

Ames h a s a number o f s p e c i a l i z e d f a c i l i t i e s f o r r e s e a r c h

i n s p a c e c r a f t t e ch n ol og y a nd t h e a e r o n a u t i c a l , p h y s i c a l ,

s p a c e a n d l i f e s c i e n c e s . T he se i n c l u d e w ind t u n n e l s c o v e r i n g

t h e s p e e d r a n g e f r o m s u b s o n i c t o h y p e r s o n i c , m o t i o n b a s e d

f l i g h t s i m u l a t o r s , a dv an ce d d i g i t a l c o m p ut a t io n sy s te m s a nd a

v a r i e t y o f w e l l - eq u i p p e d g r ou nd b a s e d a nd a i r b o r n e l a b o r a t o r i e s .

P r o g r a m s a t Ames r a n g e from s h o r t a n d v e r t i c a l t a k e o f f

a nd l a n d i n g t e c h n o lo g y (STOL and V S TO L ) t o management

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e P i o n e e r p l a n e t a r y s p a c e c r a f t a nd

s u p p o r t of t h e S pa ce S h u t t l e program by p r o v i d i n g r e s e a r c h

o n h e a t p r o t e c t i o n and f l i g h t c o n t r o l s .

DRYDENFLIGHT

R E S E A R C H C E N T E RE d w a r d s , C a l i f .

D ry de n, l o c a t e d o n t h e Mojave D e s e r t , i s a t t h e s o u t h e r n

e n d of a 5 00 -m il e h i gh - s pe e d f l i g h t c o r r i d o r an d h a s a l m o s t

i d e a l w e a t h e r f o r f l i g h t t e s t i n g . Ground f a c i l i t i e s i n c l u d e

a h i g h - t e m p e r a t u r e l o a d s c a l i b r a t i o n l a b o r a t o r y , a u n i q u e

n a t i o n a l f a c i l i t y t h a t p r o v i d e s f o r g ro un d- ba se d t e s t i n g o f

c o m p le t e a i r c r a f t an d s t r u c t u r a l c om po ne nts u n de r t h e c om bin ed

e f f e c t s of l o a d an d h e a t a n d a f l i g h t sy s t em s l a b o r a t o r y f o r

a v i o n i c s s y st em f a b r i c a t i o n , d ev el op m en t an d o p e r a t i o n .

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c-4

J E T PROPULSION LABORATORYP a s a d e n a , C a l i f .

The J e t P r o p u l s i o n L a b o r a t o r y ( J P L ) i s a government -owned f a c i l i t y t h a t i s s t a f f e d an d managed b y t h e C a l i f o r n i a

I n s t i t u t e of Te c h n o l o g y u n d e r a NASA c o n t r a c t . J P L also

o p e ra t e s t h e Deep Spac e Communicat ion Complex a t G o l d s t o n e ,

C a l i f .

J P L i s e ng ag ed i n d ee p sp a c e a u to m a te d s c i e n t i f i c

m i ss io n s , t r a c k i n g , d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n , d a t a r e d u c t i o n and

a n a l y s i s r e q u i r e d by d e ep sp a c e f l i g h t , a dv an ce d s o l i d

p r o p e l l a n t and l i q u i d p r o p e l l a n t s p a c e c r a f t e n g i ne s , a dv an ce d

s p a c e c r a f t g u i da n ce an d c o n t r o l s ys te m s a nd i n t e g r a t i o n of

a dv an ce d p r o p u l s i o n s y st e m s i n t o s p a c e c r a f t . P ro gr am s u n d er

i t s m an ag em en t i n c l u d e M a r i n e r a n d Vo y a g er.

J O H N S O N S PA C E CENTERHous ton , Texas

The Lyndon B . J o h n s o n S p a c e C e n t e r ( J S C ) i s r e s p o n s i b l e

f o r d e s i g n , d ev elo pm en t a nd t e s t i n g o f t h e n a t i o n ' s manned

f l i g h t v e h i c l e s , f o r s e l e c t i o n and t r a i n i n g of s pa ce f l i g h t

c r e w s , f o r g r o u n d c o n t r o l o f m ann ed f l i g h t s a n d many of t h e

m e di ca l , e n g i ne e r in g and s c i e n t i f i c e x pe r im e n ts c a r r i e d

a bo ar d t h e f l i g h t s .

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J S C i s t h e l e a d NASA c e n t e r i n m an ag em ent of t h e S p a c e

S h u t t l e p ro gra m and o ne of t h e c e n t e r ' s b e s t known f a c i l i t i e s

i s t h e M i s s i on C o n t r o l Cente r f ro m w h ic h manned f l i g h t s

s t a r t i n g w i t h Gemini I V , t h r o u g h t h e A p o l l o a n d S k y l a b s e r i e s

a n d t h e U S / U S S R A p o l l o S o y u z T e s t P r o j e c t w e r e c o n t r o l l e d .

KENNEDY SPACE CENTERK en nedy S p a c e C e n t e r , F l a .

Kennedy Sp ace Ce n t e r ( K S C ) i s N A S A ' s p r i m ar y c e n t e r for

t h e t e s t , c h e c k o u t a nd l a u n c h o f s p a c e v e h i c l e s a n d w i l l b e

t h e p r im a r y l a u n c h a nd r e c o v e r y s i t e f o r t h e S p a c e S h u t t l e .

The c e n t e r was c r e a t e d t o l a u n c h t h e A p o ll o l u n a r l a n d i n g

m i s s i o n s a n d was a l s o u s ed f o r t h e S k y l a b s e r i e s an d t h e A p o l l o

Soyuz T e s t P r o j e c t . KSC a l s o l a u n c h e s a v a r i e t y o f unmanned

m i ss i o n s f ro m f a c i l i t i e s a t Cape C a na ve ra l A i r F o r ce S t a t i o n

and Va ndenbe rg A i r F o r c e B a se ( We s t e r n T e s t R a n g e ) , C a l i f .

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTERHampton, V a .

A l a r g e p a r t o f L a n g l e y 's r e s e a r c h work c e n t e r s o n

d e v e lo p m e n t o f a d v a nc e d c o n c e p t s a nd t e c h n o l o g y f o r f u t u r e

a i r c r a f t , w i t h e m p h a s i s o n e n v i r o n m e n t a l e f f e c t s , p e r f o r m a n c e ,

r a n g e , s a f e t y a nd e conomy. T h i s c o ve r s s u c h p r o j e c t s a s t h es u p e r c r i t i c a l w in g , c om po si t e s t r u c t u r a l m a t e r i a l s and

a u to m a t ic f l i g h t c o n t r o l s y s te m s .

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C -6

T h e c e n t e r w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e V ik in g Mars l a n d e r

p r o j e c t a n d s u p p o r t s manned a n d u nmanned s p a c e p r o g ra m s

t h r o u g h e x p e r i m e n t s , s e n s o r s , c o mm u ni ca ti on s e qu i pm e n t a n d

d a t a h a n d l i n g s y s te m s .

LEWIS RESEARCH CENTERC l e v e l a n d , O h i o

L e w i s a c t i v i t i e s a r e a imed a t a d v a n c i n g t e c h n o l o g i e s f o r

a i r c r a f t p r o p u l s i o n , p r o p u l s i o n an d power g e n e r a t i o n f o r s p a c e

f l i g h t , s p a c e c om m un ic a ti on s s y s t e m s a nd new t e r r e s t r i a l

e n e r g y s y s t e m s .

The c e n t e r ma na ge s t w o majo r l a u n c h v e h i c l e s , t h e A t l a s

C e n ta u r an d t h e T i t a n C en t au r an d s p e c i a l i z e d e x p e r i m e n t a l

f a c i l i t i e s i n c l u d e a z e r o - g r a v i t y d r o p t ower, c h e m i c a l - r o c k e t

s t a t i c t h r u s t s t a n d s and c ham be rs f o r t e s t i n g j e t e n g i n e

e f f i c i e n c y a nd n o i s e .

MARSHALL S PA C E FLIGHT C E N T E RH u n t s v i l l e , A l a .

A b o u t h a l f of M a r s h a l l ' s c u r r e n t e f f o r t i s i n t h e S pa c e

S h u t t l e p ro gr am . The c e n t e r i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r work on

a s s o c i a t e d u pp er s t a g e s , p a y l o a d s , p a y lo a d c a r r i e r s , p a y l o a d

m i s s io n p l a n n i n g an d o p e r a t i o n s , f u t u r e s p a c e s y s t e m s , a n d

s u p p o r t i n g r e s e a r c h a nd t e c h n o l o g y , t h e S h u t t l e Main E n gi ne ,

E x t e r n a l Ta n k , S o l i d R o c k e t B o o s t e r , p r o p u l s i o n s y s te m t e s t i n g

a nd s t r u c t u r a l a nd dynamic t e s t i n g o f S h u t t l e c o m p o n e n t s .

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c- 7

The center also directs operations at the Michoud

Assembly Facility in Orleans Parish, La., and the Slidell

Computer Complex, Slidell, La.

NATIONAL SPACE TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIESNSTL Station, Miss.

The current mission of NSTL, formerly the Mississippi

Test Facility, is support of the Space Shuttle Main Engine

and main orbiter propulsion system testing. It has also

been assigned a mission to conduct a regional Earth resources

training program for the 17 southeast or "Sun Belt" states,

from North Carolina to New Mexico.

WALLOPS FLIGHT CENTERWallops Island, Va.

Wallops prepares, assembles, launches and tracks space

vehicles. Research at the center is directed toward gathering

information about the Earth's atmosphere and its near space

environment.

Facilities at the center are used for a number of other

research projects such as space component tests, helicopter

and aircraft drop tests, helicopter and aircraft noise projects,

anti-skid tests on grooved runways, collision avoidance

programs and laser and radar tracking of aircraft and

satellites.

# # # # #

1


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NASA MAJOR LAUNCH RECORD

NO TE: A l l l a u n c h e s a r e from t h e E a s t e r n T e s t Rangeu n l e s s o t h e r w i s e n o te d . Symbols f o r l au n ch a r e a s a ndo t h e r i t e m s a r e a s f o l l o w s :

W I : Wa l l o p s I s l a n d ( Va . ) D : DownWSMR: Wh ite S an ds M i s s i l e Range ( N . M . ) L/V: LaunchWTR: Western T e s t Range (Cal i f . ) Ve h i c l e

L: Launch

Miss ion Ve hic le Date Miss ion /Remarks

P i o n e e r I Thor Able 1 L : 10/11/58D : 10/12/58

Beacon 1 J u p i t e r C L: 10/23/58

D: 10/23/58

P i o n e e r I1 Thor A b l e 1 L: 11/8/58D: 11/8/58

P i o n e e r I11 J u n o I1

Vanguard I1 Vanguard( SLV- 4 )

P i o n e e r I V Juno I1

Vanguard Vanguard(SLV-5)

L: 12/6/58D : 12/7/58

1959

L: 2/17/59

L: 3/3/59

L: 4/13/59D : 4/13/59

P a r t i c l e s a n d F i e l d s :F a i l e d t o r e a c h Moon;s e n t 4 3 h o u r s o f d a t a .

A tmosphe r i c Phys i c s : 12-

f o o t s p he r e ; u pp er s t a g e ss e p ar a te d p r i o r t o b u r n o u t .

S c i e n t i f i c L unar P ro be :T h i r d s t a g e f a i l u r e ;r e a c h e d 9 6 3 m i l e s ; i t sb r i e f d a t a i n d i c a t e de q u a t o r i a l r e g i o n h a dh i g h e r f l u x a n d e n e rg yl e v e l s t h a n p r e v i o u s l yt h o u g h t .

E n e r g e t i c P a r t i c l e s : D i s -c o ve r ed s e co nd r a d i a t i o nb e l t . F a i l e d t o r e a c h Moon.

M e te o ro l og y : P r e c e s s i o n o fs a t e l l i t e p r e v e n t e d u s a b l ec l o u d c o v e r d a t a . F i r s tEa r th pho to f rom s a t e l l i t e .

Cis luna r and Luna r P robe :E n e r g e t i c p a r t i c l e s , p a s s e d37,300 m i l e s from t h e MoonMarch 4, 1959.

Magnetic F i e l d s and Atmos-p h e r i c P h y s i c s : 3 0- in chs p h e r e ; s e co n d s t a g ef a i l u r e .

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D-2

Mission Vehicle Date Mission/Remarks

Vanguard Vanguard L: 6/22/59(SLV-6) D: 6/22/59

Explorer (S-1) Juno I1 L: 7/16/59D: 7/16/59

Explorer VI Thor Able(S-2)

Beacon I1 Juno I1

Big Joe Atlas(Mer ur

Vanguard I11 Vanguard(SLV-7)

Little Joe 1

Explorer VI1

Little Joe 2

Pioneer (P-3)

L: 8/7/59D: Prior to

July 1961

L: 8/14/59D: 8/14/59

L: 9/9/59D: 9/9/59

L: 9/18/59

Little Joe L: 10/4/59

(L/V # 6 ) D: 10/4/59

Juno I1 L: 10/13/59(19A)

Little Joe L: 11/4/59(L/V #1A) D: 11/4/59

Atlas Able L: 11/26/59D: 11/26/59

Solar-Earth Heating:Second stage failure.

Energetic Particles:Destroyed after 5 1/2seconds by range safetyofficer.

Particles and Meteorology:Three radiation levels;crude cloud cover image;ring of electric currentcircling Earth.

Atmospheric Physics: 12-foot sphere; prematurefuel depletion in firststage; upper stage mal-

function.Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Capsule successfullyrecovered after reentrytest.

Particles and Fields:Magnetic field survey,lower edge of radiationbelt. Last transmissionDec. 8, 1959.

Suborbital Mercury Capsule

Test: Qualified boosterfor use with Mercury testprogram. (WI)

Energetic Particles: Dataon radiation and magneticstorms: first micro-meteorite penetration ofsensor.

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Capsule escape test.Escape rocket had a delayedthrust buildup. (WI)

Lunar Orbiter: Shroudfailure after 45 seconds.

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D-3


Little Joe 3 L: 1 2 / 4 / 5 9D: 1 2 / 4 / 5 9

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Escape system andbiomedical tests; Monkey(Sam) . (WI)

1 9 6 0

Little Joe 4 Little Joe(L/V #1B)

L: 1 / 2 1 / 6 0D: 1 / 2 1 / 6 0

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Escape system andbiomedical test; Monkey(Miss Sam) aboard. (WI)

Thor Able IV L: 3 / 11 / 6 0 Particles and Fields:Ciscytherean space; firstsolar flare data; solarwind.

Pioneer V( P - 2 )

L: 3 / 2 3 / 6 0D: 3 / 2 3 / 6 0

Energetic Particles:Failure in upper stages.

Explorer

(S -4 6 )

Juno I 1

Thor Able L: 4 / 1 / 6 0 Meteorology: First globalcloud cover pictures.Last transmission 6 / 1 7 / 6 0 .

Tiros I

L: 4 / 1 8 / 6 0D: 4 / 1 8 / 6 0

Launch Vehicle DevelopmentTest: Structural failureprevented third stageignition (dummy second andfourth stages). (WI)

scout x scout x

Echo A-10 Thor Delta L: 5 / 1 3 / 6 0D: 5 / 1 3 / 6 0

Communications EarthSatellite: Failure inupper stages of vehicle.

Launch Vehicle DevelopmentTest. (WI)

L: 7 / 1 / 6 0D: 7 /1 /60

scout I scout

L: 7 / 2 9 / 6 0D: 7 / 2 9 / 6 0

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleReentry Test: Atlasexploded.

Mercury Atlas(MA-1)

Echo I (A-11) Thor Delta L : 8 / 1 2 / 6 0D : 5 / 2 4 / 6 8

Communications EarthSatellite: First passivecommunications satellite.100-foot sphere used for

passive communicationsand air density experiments.

Scientific Lunar Orbiter:Second stage failure.

L: 9 / 2 5 / 6 0D: 9 / 2 5 / 6 0

Pioneer(P-30)

Atlas 'Able

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D-4

Miss on Vehicle Date I Mission/Remarks

scout I1 scout

Explorer VI11 Juno I1

L: 10/4/60D: 10/4/60

Launch Vehicle DevelopmentTest: Air Force SpecialWeapons Center radiationexperiment payload included.(WI)

L: 11/3/60 Ionosphere: Confirmedexistence of helium layerin upper atmosphere. Lasttransmission Dec. 28, 1960.

Little Joe 5 Little Joe(L /V #5)

L: 11/8/60D: 11/8/60

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest. Mercury capsule s y s -tem qualification; pre-mature escape rocketfiring. (WI)

L: 11/23/60 Meteorology: Optical andinfrared photos of globalcloud cover.

Tiros I1

Explorer

Thor Delta

scout L: 12/4/60D: 12/4/60

Atmospheric Physics/Vehicle Test: 12-footsphere; second stagefailure. (WI)

Pioneer (P-31) Atlas Able L: 12/15/60D: 12/15/60

Scientific Lunar Orbiter:Exploded after 74 seconds.

L: 12/19/60D: 12/19/60

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Unmanned 235-mileflight. Successful.

Mercury(MR-1A)

Redstone

Redstone

scout

Atlas

Juno I1

1961

Mercury(MR-2)

L: 1/31/61D: 1/31/61

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: 16-minute flight ofchimpanzee (Ham).

L: 2/16/61D: 4/9/64

Atmospheric Physics/Vehicle Test: 12-footsphere. (WI)

Explorer IX

L: 2/21/61D: 2/21/61

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Unmanned; 1425-mileflight; successful.

Ionosphere: Second stagemalfunction prevented thirdand fourth stage firing.

Mercury(MA-2

L: 2/24/61D: 2/24/61

Explorer

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D-5


Little Joe 5A Little Joe(L/V #5A)

L: 3/18/61D: 3/18/61

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Mercury escape s y s -tem qualification; prematureescape-rocket firing. (WI)

Mercury(MR-BD ) Reds one L: 3/24/61D : 3/24/61 Vehicle Test for MercuryFlight: Booster develop-ment test necessitated byMR-2 flight results.

Explorer X Thor Delta L: 3/25/61D: 6/68

Particles and Fields:Interplanetary magneticfield near Earth, mainlyextension of Sun's mag-netic field.

Mercury(MA-3)

Atlas L: 4/25/61D: 4/25/61

Orbital Mercury CapsuleTest: Failure in firststage; abort successful.

Gamma Ray Astronomy: Elimi-nated simultaneous matter-antimatter creation theoryof the steady-state cosmology.Last transmission 12/7/61.

L: 4/27/61xplorer XI Juno I1(4 stages)

Little Joe 5 B Little Joe(L/V #5B)

L: 4/28/61D: 4/28/61

Suborbital Mercury CapsuleTest: One booster enginefired late. Repeat of Mer-cury escape system test(W1).

Mercury Redstone

(Freedom 7) (MR-3)

L: 5/5/61

D: 5/5/61

Manned suborbital: Alan B.

Shepard, Jr. 15 minutesflight time.

L: 5/24/61D: 5/24/61

Ionosphere: Second stagefailure.

Explorer Juno I1

Meteoroid scoutSatellite A

L: 6/30/61D: 6/30/61

Micrometeoroids/VehicleTest: Third stage failure.(WI

Tiros I11 Thor Delta L: 7/12/61 Meteorology: Good cloudcover picture, infrareddata. Last transmission2/27/62.

L: 7/21/61D: 7/21/61

Manned suborbital: VirgilI. Grissom. 16 minutesflight time.

Mercury(Liberty

Bell 7 )

Redstone(MR-4)

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D-6


Explorer XI1 Thor Delta L: 8/16/61D: 9 / 6 3

Ranger I Atlas Agena L: 8/23/61D: 8/30/61

Explorer XI11 Scout

Mercury Atlas(MA-4

Probe A scout(P-21)

Saturn Test Saturn I(SA-1)

Mercury(MS-1)

Ranger I1

Mer r(MA-5)

L: 8/25/61D: 8/28/61

L: 9/13/61D: 9/13/61

L: 10/19/61D: 10/19/61

L: 10/27/61D: 10/27/61

AI? 609A L: 11/1/61(Blue Scout) D: 11/1/61

Atlas Agena L: 11/18/61D: 11/20/61

Atlas L: 11/29/61D: 11/29/61

Particles and Fields:Identified Van Allen Beltas a magnetosphere.

Particles and Fields:Lower Earth orbit thanplanned.

Micrometeoroids/VehicleTest: Premature reentryafter three days. (WI)

To orbit the unmannedMercury capsule to testsystems and ability toreturn capsule to prede-termined recovery areaafter one orbit. All cap-

sule tracking and recoveryobjectives met.

Scientific Geoprobe/VehicleTest: Reached 4261 miles.Electron density measure-ment: vehicle test. (WI)

Launch Vehicle Development:Test of propulsion systemof the booster (S-1): veri-fication of aerodynamic andstructural design of entirevehicle.

Orbital Mercury NetworkCheck: Destroyed after3 0 seconds: Air Forcelaunched.

Particles and Fields:Agena failed to restart.

Mercury Orbital Flight:Chimpanzee Enos aboard.Recovered after two orbits.

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D -7


1962

L: 1/15/62D: 1/15/62

Echo (AVT-1) Thor Suborbital CommunicationsTest: Canister ejection

and opening successful but135-foot sphere ruptured.

Ranger I11 Atlas Agena L: 1/29/62 Lunar Exploration: TVpictures, hard instrumentlanding planned; secondstage of Agena failed;spacecraft missed the Moonby 22,862 miles on 1/28/62.TV pictures unusable.

Tiros IV Thor Delta L: 2/8/62 Meteorology: SupportedFriendship 7 flight. Trans-mitted cloud cover photosto 6/10/62.

L: 2/20/62D: 2/20/62

Mercury Atlas(Friendship 7) (MA-6)

Manned: John H. Glenn,Jr.;three orbits. First mannedorbital flight by U . S . Fourhours, 5 5 minutes.

L: 3/1/62D: 3/1/62

Reentry I

oso-I

scout

Thor Delta

Launch Vehicle Development;Reentry: Desired speed notachieved. (WI

L: 3/7/62 Solar Physics: Provideddata on approximately 7 5solar flares. Last trans-mission 8/6/63.

Probe B

Ranger IV

scout

Atlas Agena

L: 3/29/62D: 3/29/62

Scientific Geoprobe: Elec-tron density measurements;reached 3910 miles. (WI)

L: 4/23/62D: 4/26/62

Lunar Exploration: TV pic-tures not obtained; l o s s ofcontrol 2 hours after launch;first U . S . lunar impact(far side).

L:4/25/62D: 4/25/62

Launch Vehicle Test: Carried9 5 tons of ballast water inupper stages released at analtitude of 6 5 miles in orderto observe the effect on theupper region of the atmos-phere (Project High Water).

Saturn Test(SA-2)Saturn I

-mor


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D-8


Ariel I Thor Delta L: 4/26/62D: 5/24/76

Centaur Atlas Centaur L: 5/8/62Test I D: 5/8/62

Mercury Atlas(Aurora 7) (MA-7)

L: 5/24/62D: 5/24/62

Tiros V Thor Delta L: 6/19/62

Telstar I Thor Delta L: 7/10/62

Echo (AVT-2) Thor L: 7/18/62D: 7/18/62

Mariner I Atlas Agena L: 7/22/62

D: 7/22/62

Mariner I1 Atlas Agena L: 8/27/62

Reentry I1 scout L: 8/31/62D: 8/31/62

Ionosphere: Investigatedsolar effects. First inter-national satellite. (UnitedKingdom cooperative)

Launch Vehicle Development:Centaur exploded beforeseparation.

Manned: M. Scott Carpenter:three orbits. Four hours56 minutes.

Meteorology: Infrared sys-tem inoperative; good cloudcover pictures. Last trans-mission 5/4/63.

Communications: First pri-vately built satellite.First TV transmission.Last transmission 2/21/63.( Re mbur able

Suborbital CommunicationsTest: Inflation successful;radar indicated sphere sur-face not as smooth asplanned.

Scientific Venus Probe:

Atlas deviated from courseand was destroyed by RangeSafety Officer.

Planetary Exploration:Venus; first successfulinterplanetary probe.Found no magnetic field;high surface temperaturesof approximately 800 degreesF. Passed Venus 12/14/62at 21,648 miles, 109 daysafter launch.

Reentry Test (28 ,000 fps)Late third stage ignition;desired speed not achieved.(WI

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D -9


L: 9/18/62

L: 9/29/62

Meteorology: Infraredsensor omitted. Lasttransmission 10/11/63.

Tiros VI Thor Delta

Ionosphere: Radiationbelt effects. Second inter-national satellite. ( C o -operative with Canada)

Alouette I Thor Agena B

Explorer XIV Thor Delta L: 10/2/62 Particles and Fields: Datacompared with that of Ex-plorer XII. Last trans-mission 2/17/64.

L: 10/3/62D: 10/3/62

Mercury(Sigma 7)

Atlas(MA-8 1

Manned: Walter M. Schirra;6 orbits. Nine hours 13minutes.

L: 10/18/62 Lunar Exploration: TV pic-tures, hard instrument land-ing planned. Power l o s s ;450 miles from Moon 10/20/62;no TV pictures obtained.

Ranger V Atlas Agena

Explorer XV Thor Delta L: 10/27/62 Particles and Fields: De-spin system failed, direc-tional detectors almostunusable. Last transmission5/19/63.

L: 11/16/62D: 11/16/62

Launch Vehicle Development:Second Project High Waterusing 95 tons of water re-leased at an altitude of90 nautical miles.

Saturn (SA-3) Saturn I

Communications: Initialpower failure overcome.Wideband transmission; TVcapability of 300 channeltelephony, one way. Lasttransmission 2/65.

Relay I Thor Delta L: 12/13/62

Explorer XVI Scout L: 12/16/62 Micrometeoroids: First sta-tistical sample; flux level

found to lie between esti-mated extreme; 64 penetra-tions of sample materialsover useful life of 7 months.Sensor area 30 sq. ft. Lasttransmission 7/22/63. (WI)

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45/103

D-10


1963

L: 2/14/63yncom I Thor Delta Communications: First syn-chronous-type orbit. Radio

contact lost at insertioninto orbit.

Saturn Test(SA-4)

Saturn I L: 3/28/63D: 3/28/63

Launch Vehicle Development:Programmed in-flight cutoffof one of eight engines incluster; successfully demon-strated propellant utiliza-tion system function.

Explorer XVII Thor Delta L: 4/3/63D: 11/24/66

Aeronomy: Discovered beltof neutral helium atomsabout Earth. Ceased trans-mitting experiment data

7/10/63.

Telstar I1 Thor Delta L: 5/7/63 Communications satellite.Last transmission 5/65.( Reimbur able

Mercury(Faith 7)

Atlas(MA-9)

L: 5/15/63D: 5/16/63

Manned: L. Gordon Cooper;2 2 orbits. Oriented manu-ally for reentry. 34 hours2 0 minutes.

RFD-1

Tiros VI1

CRL (USAF)

Reentry I11

scout

Thor Delta

scout

scout

L: 5/22/63D: 5/22/63

AEC Reactor Mockup ReentryFlight. (Reimbursable)

L: 6/19/63 Meteorology: Last trans-mission 2/3/64.

L: 6/28/63 Cambridge Research Lab -Geophysics (Reimbursable)

L: 7/20/63D: 7/20/63

Reentry Flight Demonstration:Attempted test of an abla-tion material of super-orbital reentry speeds. (WI)

Syncom I1 Thor Delta L: 7/26/63 Communications: First opera-tional satellite in a syn-

chronous type orbit.

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D-11


Little Joe I1 Little Joe L: 8/28/63 Suborbital Apollo LaunchVehicle Test: Boosterqualification test withdummy payload. (WSMR)

Test I1 #1 D: 8/28/63

ExplorerXVIII

( IMP A)

Delta L: 11/27/63(DSV-3C) D: 12/65

Particles and Fields:Highly elliptical orbit.Confirmed existence ofsolar wind shock wave onmagnetosphere. First Deltawith X-258 third stage.Last transmission 5/12/65.

Centaur TestI1 (AC-2)

Atlas Centaur L: 11/27/63 Vehicle Development:Instrumented with 2,000pounds of sensors, equip-ment and telemetry.

Explorer XIX(AD-A) scoutL:

12/19/63 Atmospheric Physics: 12-foot sphere (Explorer IXdesign); polar orbit. Two(passive) experiments. (WTR)

L: 12/21/63iros VI11 Delta(DSV-3B)

Meteorology: Carried Auto-matic Picture Transmission(APT) System; allowed real-time readout of local cloudpictures using an inexpen-sive portable ground station.Last transmission 7/1/67.

1964

L: 1/21/64elay I1 Delta(DSV-3B)

Communications Widebandtransmission; TV capabilityor 300 channel telephone,one way. Last transmission5/23/65.

L: 1/25/64D: 6/7/69

Communications: Rigidized135-foot sphere; passive.(WTR)

Echo I1 Thor Agena

Saturn I L: 1/29/64

D: 4/30/66

Vehicle Development: Fifth

flight of Saturn I; firstBlock I1 Saturn, first liveflight of the LOX/LH2 fueledsecond stage (S-IV). 1146measurements taken.

Saturn I

(SA-5)

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D-12


Ranger VI Atlas Agena L: 1/30/64D: 2/2/64

Beacon DeltaExplorer A (DSV-3B)

Ariel I1 scout

Gemini I Titan I1

Fire I Atlas X259

L: 3/19/64D: 3/19/64

L: 3/27/64D: 11/18/67

L: 4/8/64D: 4/12/64

L: 4/14/64D: 4/14/64

Lunar Exploration: TV pic-tures prior to hard landingplanned; lunar impact pointwithin 20 miles of targeton West edge of Sea ofTranquility; TV systemfailed to operate.

Ionosphere: Designed toadvance state-of-the-artof lasers for opticaltracking and geodesy. Thirdstage (X-248) fired onlyhalf normal time; satellitefailed to orbit. First ThorDelta failure after 23 suc-cesses; last X-248 thirdstage.

Planetary Atmosphere/RadioAstronomy: Continuation ofUK International Satelliteprogram; first in programto sample global distribu-tion of ozone with an ultra-violet spectrometer. (WI)

Space Vehicle Development:Demonstration of the launchvehicle and guidance systemand structural integrity andcompatibility of the space-craft and launch vehicle.132 measurements taken.Spacecraft was not equippedto separate from secondstage.First in Gemini series.

Reentry Test: Investigatedthe heating environment en-countered by a body enteringthe Earth's atmosphere athigh speed. Actual reentryvelocity 37,963 fps.

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D-13


ApolloTransonicAbort

Saturn I(SA-6)

Centaur TestI11 (AC-3)

SERT I

Ranger VI1

Reentry IV(R-4)

Syncom I11

Little Joe I1 L: 5/13/64D: 5/13/64

Saturn I L: 5/28/64D: 6/1/64

Atlas Centaur L: 6/30/64D: 6/30/64

scout L: 7/20/64D: 7/20/64

Atlas Agena L: 7/28/64D: 7/31/64

scout

Delta(DSV- D)

L: 8/18/64D: 8/18/64

L: 8/19/64

Apollo LES Development:Simulation of Apollo LaunchEscape System where highdynamic pressures and tran-sonic speed conditionsexist. First launch ofApollo spacecraft boiler-plate. (WSMR)

Vehicle Development: Sixthflight of Saturn I; firstflight of unmanned boiler-plate model of Apollo. 1181flight measurements taken.

Vehicle Development: Allsix primary objectives suc-cessful. Hydraulic pumpfailure caused shortCentaur engine burn.

Ion Engine Test: Ion beamneutralization in spaceverified. (WI)

Lunar Exploration (Photo-graphy) Camera systemyielded 4316 high resolu-tion TV pictures with about2000 times better defini-tion than prior Earth-based

photography: objects lessthan 3 feet discernible.Impact occurred in Sea ofClouds region 8-10 milesfrom the aim point. 68 hours36 minutes.

Reentry Test: Demonstratedability of one type of lowdensity charring ablatormaterial for Apollo to with-stand reentry conditions at27,950 fps. (WI)

Communications: Third andlast of the Syncom series.

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D - 1 4


Explorer XX(IE-A)

Nimbus I

OGO-I

Saturn I(SA-7)

Explorer XXI(IMP-B)

scout L: 8/25/64

Thor Agena L: 8/28/64

Atlas Agena L: 9/5/64

Saturn I L: 9/18/64D: 9/22/64

Delta L: 10/4/64(DSV-k) D: 1/66

RFD 2 scout

Explorer XXII Scout

L: 10/9/64D: 10/9/64

L: 10/10/64

Ionosphere: Measurement ofelectron density distribu-tion in the F2 layer by top-side sounding on six fixed

frequencies. Last trans-mission 3/30/66. (WTR)

Meteorology: Earth orien-tation allowed completeglobal cloud cover pictureseach 24 hours. ContainedAPT for local readout AVCSfor day and HRIR for night-time cloud cover. Operatedabout 26 days. (WTR)

Interdisciplinary Studies:Earth-Sun interplanetaryspace inter-relationshipsusing a highly ellipticalorbit to correlate studiesof energetic particles andfields, atmospheric physics,solar and other emissions,interplanetary dust. Notall experimental booms de-ployed properly therebyinterferring with the sta-bilization systems. Missionunsuccessful.

Vehicle Development:Seventh straight Saturn Isuccess. Successful demon-stration of Launch EscapeSystem jettisoning.

Particles and Fields: De-tailed study of environmentof cislunar space throughcosmic ray, solar wind andmagnetic field measurements.

AEC Reactor Mockup ReentryFlight. (Reimbursable)

Ionosphere: Measurement oftotal electron content ofionosphere by effect onfour fixed frequenciestransmitted to ground. (WTR)

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D-15

Mission Vehicle Date

Mariner 111 Atlas Agena L: 11/5/64

L: 11/6/64xplorer scoutXXIII

Explorer XXIV Scout(Air Density)

Explorer XXV(Injun)

L: 11/21/64D: 10/18/68

Mariner IV Atlas Agena L: 11/28/64

Apollo Max. Little Joe L: 12/8/64Q Abort I1 #5 D: 12/8/64

Centaur Test Atlas Centaur L: 12/11/64IV (AC-4) D: 12/12/64

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l

Mission/Remarks

Planetary Exploration; Mars:Shroud failed to jettisonand communications with thespacecraft were lost.

Micrometeoroids: Primarysensors were 1- and 2-milstainless steel pressurizedcells; first extended flighttest for capacitor detector.Last transmission 11/29/64.(WI)

Atmospheric Physics: FirstNASA dual payload launch.Air Density, a 12-foot sphere(Explorer IX and XIX design).

Comparison of charged par-ticle energy injection(Injun) with variations inatmospheric temperature anddensity. Last transmission7/25/66. (WTR)

Planetary and Interplane-tary Exploration; Mars:Encounter occurred 7/14/65with closest approach 6118miles. 22 pictures taken.Mariner IV, V I Earth stationdata obtained Aug.-Sept '67.

Apollo LES Development:First test of Apollo emer-gency detection system atabort attitude; first testof the Canard subsystem(for turn-around and sta-

bilization of spacecraftafter launch escape) andof the spacecraft protectivecover. (WSMR)

Vehicle Development: Carriedmass model of Surveyor space-

craft. All primary missionobjectives met, test success-ful: however, secondary testof second burn notaccomplished.


51/103

D-16


San Marco I scout L: .,32/15/64(SM-A) D: 9/13/65

L: 12/21/64xplorer XXVI Delta(DSV-3C)

Gemini I1 Titan I1

Tiros IX Delta(DSV-3C)

os0 I1 Delta( DSV 3C

Pegasus I Saturn I(SA-9)

1965

L: 1/19/65D: 1/19/65

L: 1/22/65

L: 2/3/65

L: 2/16/65

Ranger VI11 Atlas Agena L: 2/17/65

D: 2/20/65

Atmospheric Physics: Italianpayload, Italian launched.(International Cooperative)(WI)

Particles and Fields: Studyof injection, trapping andloss mechanisms of thetrapped radiation belt,both natural and artificial.Last transmission 1/21/67.

Space Vehicle Development:Unmanned reentry test atmaximum heating rate;demonstrated structuralintegrity and systems per-formance of the spacecraftthroughout flight, reentryand parachute water landing.

Meteorology: First Tiros"cartwheel" configurationfor increased coverage ofworld cloud cover: ellip-tical orbit. Turned off2/15/67.

Solar Physics: Continuationof O S O - I studies with addedability to scan the solardisc and part of corona.Last transmission 10/7/66.

Micrometeoroids: First pri-mary use of capacitor-typepenetration detector; sen-sor area: 2,000 sq. ft.Data collection terminated1/13/68.

Lunar Photography: 7137

pictures obtained; impactoccurred about 15 milesfrom target in Sea of Tran-quility. Total flight timeto impact: 64 hours 53 min.

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D-17


Centaur Test Atlas Centaur L: 3/2/65V (AC-5) D: 3/2/65

Ranger IX Atlas Agena L: 3/21/65D: 3/24/65

Gemini I11 TitanI1

Intelsat Delta

(Early Bird)I F-1 (DSV-3D)

Explorer scoutXXVII

L: 3/23/65D: 3/23/65

L: 4/6/65

L: 4/29/65

Mission/Remarks

Vehicle Development: Firstattempt to place a SurveyorDynamic Model in a simulatedlunar transfer trajectory:Atlas booster failed about

4 seconds after liftoff.

Lunar Photography: 5814pictures obtained: impactless than 3 miles from tar-get in eastern floor ofcrater Alphonsus. Picturesconverted for live viewingon commercial TV. Finalmission of Ranger series.Total flight time to impact:64 hours 31 minutes.

First Manned Gemini; FirstU.S. two-man crew: Virgil I.Grissom and John W. Young:3 orbits, 4 hours 53 minutes.First use by crew of orbitalmaneuvering system. Firstcontrol of reentry flightpath using variable space-craft lift.

Communications: First com-mercial satellite launchedby NASA for the COMSAT Corp.on a reimbursable basis; up

to 240 voice channels, TVor high-speed data. Geo-stationary orbit over about27.5 degrees W. longitude.

Geodesy: Ultrastable oscil-lators for precise Dopplertracking of orbital pertur-bations to obtain descrip-tion of Earth's gravita-tional field: further lasertracking experimentation.Continuation of ExplorerXXII ionospheric measure-ments. (WI)

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D-18

Mission Vehicle

Apollo High Little JoeAltitude Abort I1 #6

FIRE I1 Atlas X259

Pegasus I1 Saturn I(SA-8)

Explorer DeltaXXVIII (DSV-3C)

( IMP C

Date

L: 5/19/65D: 5/19/65

L: 5/22/65D: 5/22/65

L: 5/25/65

L: 5/29/65D: 7/4/68

Gemini IV Titan I1 L: 6/3/65D: 6/7/65

Mission/Remarks

Apollo LES Development:Launch vehicle developeda high spin during earlypowered flight and even-tually disintegrated.

Launch escape system satis-factorily sensed vehiclemalfunction and separatedthe spacecraft withoutdamage. High altitudeabort test objectives notmet. (WSMR)

Reentry Test: Second andlast of FIRE program. Re-entry velocity of 37,252achieved. Excellent data,complementing FIRE I data,obtained.

Micrometeoroids: Data sys-tem improved for increaseddata reliability. Space-craft circuitry altered todecrease loss of area dueto shorting. Near-Earthmicrometeoroid environmentdata was obtained. Data col-lection terminated 3/14/68.

Particles and Fields: Con-tinuation of IMP study ofsolar-terrestrial relation-ships, especially magneto-sphere boundary; cislunarradiation environment. Orbitsomewhat higher than planned.

Manned; Long Duration: JamesA. McDivitt and Edward H.White; 62 orbits, 97 hours56 minutes. First U . S . extra-vehicular activities (36minutes duration) and firstuse of personal propulsionunit (both by White). A pro-gram of 11 scientific exper-iments successfully con-ducted. Near-rendezvous withbooster not achieved.

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D-19


Tiros X Delta L: 7 / 2 / 6 5(OT-1) (DSV- C)

Pegasus I11 Saturn I(SA-10)

scout scoutEvaluation (S-131-R)Vehicle(SEV-A)

L: 7 / 3 0 / 6 5D: 8 / 4 / 6 9

L: 8 / 1 0 / 6 5

Centaur Test Atlas Centaur L: 8 / 11 / 6 5VI (AC-6)

Gemini V Titan I1

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L: 8 / 2 1 / 6 5D: 8 / 2 9 / 6 5

Mission/Remarks

Meteorology: First WeatherBureau funded spacecraft:spin-stabilized configura-tion with two 104-degree TV

cameras, similar to TirosVI. Placed in near-perfectSun-synchronous orbit.

Micrometeoroids: Last ofPegasus program. Removable"coupons11 dded for possibleretrieval of thermal coatingsamples for degradation andcratering study. Last ofSaturn I vehicle programwith 10 out of 10 successes.Data collection terminated8 / 2 9 / 6 8 .

Vehicle Development: Eval-uated new Castor I1 (secondstage), FW-4S motor (fourthstage): qualified new space-craft adapter/separationsystem: demonstrated yawmaneuver ability, air trans-portability of fully assem-bled live Scout. OrbitedU . S . Army Secor geodeticsatellite. Last transmis-sion 9 / 1 0 / 6 5 . (WI)

Vehicle Development: Fourthsuccessful Atlas Centaurlaunch accurately injectedSurveyor dynamic model intosimulated lunar transfertrajectory; demonstratingcapability of guidancesystem.

Manned: L.Gordon Cooper,Jr.and Charles Conrad, Jr.:1 2 0 revolutions. 1 9 0 hours5 6 minutes ( 8 days). Demon-strated physiological feasi-bility of lunar mission:evaluated spacecraft perfor-mance. Successful simulatedrendezvous and 1 6 of 17 ex-periments performed; firstGemini use of fuel cell.


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D-20


oso-c Thor Delta L: 8/25/65(DSV-3C) D: 8/25/65

OGO I1 Thor Agena L: 10/14/65

Gemini VI Atlas Agena L: 10/25/65D: 10/25/65

Explorer XXIX Delta(GEOS-A)

Explorer XXX Scout

L: 11/6/65

L: 11/19/65

Mission/Remarks

Solar Physics: Spacecraftsimilar to OSO-I and 11;failed to orbit; prematureignition of third stage.

Interdisciplinary Studies:Similar to OGO-I but innearly polar, low altitudeorbit, emphasizing atmos-pheric studies and WorldMagnetic Survey. All appen-dages successfully deployedand three-axis stabilizationtemporarily achieved; oper-a t e d in s p i n mode due t oHorizon Scanner anomaly.Observatory operations dis-continued 2/22/68. (WTR)

Rendezvous and DockingCapability Development:Gemini 6 spacecraft wasnot launched. Agena appar-ently exploded at initia-tion of first burn.

Geodesy: Intercomparisonof satellite tracking sys-tem accuracies, investigateEarth's gravitational field:improve worldwide geodeticdatum accuracies and improvepositional accuracies ofsatellite tracking sites.First improved Delta vehicle.Last transmission 1/16/67.

Solar Physics Monitoringof solar X-rays; to be cor-related with optical andradio ground-based observa-tions. Naval ResearchLaboratory satellite, partof International Quiet SunYear program. Last trans-

mission 11/7/67. (WI)

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D-21


ISIS x Thor Agena B L: 11/29/65Alouette I1Explorer XXXI Thor Agena B L : 11/29/65

Gemini VI1 Titan I1

French 1A scout

Gemini VI-A Titan I1

L: 12/4/65D: 12/18/65

L : 12/6/65

L: 12/15/65D: 12/16/65

Pioneer VI Thor Delta L: 12/16/65(DSV-3E)

Ionosphere: Dual launchfor swept frequency top-side sounding (Alouette)and direct compositionalmeasurement (DME) of the

ionosphere and for compar-able data especially duringproximity of initial orbits.First of ISIS series, con-tinuation of joint Canadian-U . S . program. (WTR)

Manned: Frank Borman andJames A. Lovell, Jr.; 206revolutions, 330 hours 35minutes. Extension ofphysiological testing andspacecraft performanceevaluation. Target for firstrendezvous (with Gemini VI-A)

Ionosphere: Study of VL Fwavefield in the magneto-sphere and irregularitiesin distribution of theionosphere. Spacecraft wasdesigned, constructed andtested by the CentreNational d'Etudes in France.Last transmission 8/21/68.(International Cooperative)(WTR)

Manned: Walter M. Schirra,Jr., and Thomas P. Stafford;15 revolutions, 25 hours 51minutes. Accomplished firstrendezvous coming within 6feet of Gemini VII; stationkeeping was maintained for5 1/2 hours.

Particles and Fields: Studyof interplanetary phenomenain ciscytherean space to

within about 0.814 AU*.Five of 6 experimentsfunctioned.

*Astronomical Unit. Distance from theEarth tc the Sun. 149,599,000 km (93,000,000 mi.)

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D-2


1966

ESSA I Delta L: 2/3/66(DSV-

Intermediate Little Joe I1 L: 1/20/66 Apollo LES Development:Altitude (L/V #7) D: 1/20/66 Last of unmanned ballisticAbort flights; testing Apollo

spacecraft atmosphericflight abort capabilities.(WSMR)

Meteorology: Initiated theTiros Operational Satellite(TOS) system, designated

Environmental Survey Satel-lite (ESSA) No. 1. (TVsensor system.) Turned off5/8/67. (Reimbursable)

Reentry V(E) Scout

ApolloSaturn

ESSA I1

L: 2/9/66D: 2/9/66

Reentry Heating Test:Evaluation of the charintegrity of a low densityphenolic-nylon ablator at27,000 f

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NASA 20th Anniversary Press Kit

Documents