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Aviation History
1968
1968-1 - 0134.PDF
FLIGHT International, 12 December 1968 1005 objectives were achieved. Separation of the third stage and the satellite test vehicle did not take place, due to the cut-off of the third-stage engine. (5) Operation of the overall guidance and long-range telemetry systems. This objective was achieved. All launches in Phases 2 and 3 are scheduled in a northerly direction from Woomera in order to exercise and develop the ground systems. The first stage was fully representative of the final-standard Blue-Streak, with two Rolls-Royce RZ12 Mk 3s having a nominal total thrust of 136 tonnes (300,0001b) and burning lox/kerosene. The second stage was an interim type representing the operational stage as closely as possible. It employed four UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine)/nitrogen tetroxide- fuelled motors generating 28 tonnes (61,5001b) in vacuo. The third stage was very close to operational standard but used slightly heavier construction, and the F.7 launch was the first occasion on which die main and vernier engines (used for control) have been fired in flight. The nominal thrust of the main engine, using UDMH/N2O4 fuel, was 2,300kg (5,0001b) while the two verniers were rated at 80k.g (1751b) total.. The STV (satellite test vehicle), Italy's contribution to the programme, contained the tracking, measurement-recording and telemetry equipment and was to have been placed in a 625/220 mile orbit, with an inclination of 85°. The weight of the payload was 250kg. APOLLO 8 TESTING NEARLY COMPLETE Final testing of the Apollo 8 rocket in preparation for the lunar flight scheduled for December 21 is now nearly complete. Astronauts Borman, Lovell and Anders last month accom plished simulated electrical countdown, ending with a mock firing. This was the last scheduled major electrical check. Vice-president Mr Hubert Humphrey visited Cape Kennedy shortly after the simulated test to obtain a first hand progress report on the mission, and to examine the spacecraft. The last major test before the start of the countdown was due to be completed on December 7. This was a dress rehersal countdown, with all fuelling operations, and excluding only ignition of the engines. The crew of three was due to enter the command module for the final 6hr of the countdown. The most critical item in the Apollo 8 mission is the 20,500lb-thrust propulsion engine in the service module, which will be fired once to inject the spacecraft, consisting of the " 'service module and command module into orbit around the Moon, and again to generate an Earth-return trajectory. The Apollo 8 mission has been planned on the assumption that this engine need not be fired at all if it is decided not to enter a lunar orbit, and command pilot Borman has stated that he would not attempt this unless the spacecraft were totally flightworthy. Failure of the motor to operate after the ignition of the spacecraft into lunar orbit would be catastrophic, inasmuch as the spacecraft would be stranded in orbit around the Moon. Clearance to enter this orbit will be given by Houston Control Centre, but the decision to do so will be made by ' Borman. Very close attention has therefore been made to ensure that the propulsion system is as fail-safe as possible; every critical component, except for the combustion chamber, is duplicated. The combustion chamber has wide strength and safety factors, and has operated successfully in each of the eight firings in the Apollo 7 mission. The total burn time on Apollo 8 will be 310sec; a 445sec burn of an identical engine on Apollo 6 last April was entirely successful, while ground tests involving 86 simulated Moon flights have been made. Other than checking the performance of the Apollo/Saturn V vehicle, the primary purpose of the flight will be to photograph the eight designated areas which have been selected for the landing. The chief photographer will be Anders, who, with his three cameras (cine and still) should be able to secure better lunar photographs during the ten orbits than those of the Lunar Orbiters. Anders believes that the Apollo 8 pictures should be better by a factor of three on the visible face (although he will be photographing from nearly three times the height of the Orbiters), and by a factor of 20 on the hidden side. The launch window of December 20-28 is based partly on the illumination of the Moon. When Apollo 8 begins its ten-orbit circuit of the Moon on December 24 the lighting will be optimum for photographing the most favoured landing areas—those in the Mare Tranquilitatis. For the best results the lunar surface should be photographed when the Sun-angle (the angle between the Sun and the Moon's horizon at that point) at the site under investigation is between 7° and 20*. Since the Sun moves across the Moon's surface at about 12° per day, the optimum lighting for a given formation occurs for only just over one day in each month. RECENT COSMOS LAUNCHES The following recent Cosmos launches, together with their sites, dates and orbital elements, are recorded:— Cosmos 250: Plesetsk, October 31; apogee, 345 miles; perigee. 325 miles; inclination. 74°. Cosmos 251: Tyuratam, also October 31; apogee, 168 miles; perigee, 123 miles; inclination, 65°. Cotmoe 252: Tyuratam, November 1; apogee, 1,347 miles; perigee, 332 miles; inclination, 61.9°. Possibly a replacement for C.249. Cosmos 253: Plesetsk, November 13; apogee, 220 miles; peri gee, 128 miles; inclination, 65.4°. The carrier rocket of this satellite re-entered the Earth's atmosphere over Britain on November 20 and was widely reported to break up over London. According to the Kettering Grammar School Group the transmissions from C.253 were characteristic of an 8-day Cosmos. In fact it was recovered on November 18—the day after the recovery of Zond 6—after a flight of only five days. A Radio Moscow report that atmospheric density had been monitored continuously before the re-entry of Zond 6 implies that this was done by C.253. Cosmos 254: Plesetsk, November 21; apogee, 217 miles: perigee, 124.6 miles; inclination 65.4°. Cosmos 255: Plesetsk, November 29: apogee, 208.3 miles; perigee, 124.6 miles; inclination 65.4°. Cosmos 256: November 30; apogee. 768 miles; perigee, 725 miles; inclination, 74.06°. Possibly a replacement for C.203. Cosmos 257: Plesetsk. December 3; apogee. 292 miles; perigee, 175 miles; inclination. 71°. The Apollo 8 command module in its protective plastic coating, seen on the weight-and-balance rig at North American Rockwell's plant at Downey, California. The command module, which contains the three astronauts during their voyage, measures 12ft high, (2ft (Oin diameter and weighs I2,000lb at launch
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