New Satellite Types In 1966

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30955, 11 January 1966, Page 8

New Satellite Types In 1966

During the year there will be several launchings of entirely new types of satellite. Quite soon the first Orbiting Astronomical Observatory should be placed in orbit high above the earth and the first Surveyor is shortly due to attempt a soft-landing on the moon. Another large balloon satellite similar to the familiar Echo satellites is due to be launched. It will be known as Pageos I and will help geodesists to map the earth more accurately. Around the middle of 1966 the first Bios satellite should be launched to test the effects of space on plants and animals. There will also be the first launching of a Lunar Orbiter spacecraft. It will become a satellite of the moon

and take thousands of pictures of the moon's surface as it circles indefinitely. Later in the year the first Applications Technology Satellite will be boosted into a high earth orbit to test communications and weatherwatching equipment And it is expected that the year will close with the first successful launch of a manned Apollo spacecraft. As well as these new satellites, launchings of some of the older types will continue. There will be more Tiros and Nimbus weather satellites, more Explorer and Pioneer scientific payloads, more Early Bird comsats and of course the usual unpredictable crop of Russian spacecraft and American Defence Department vehicles which are never announced in advance.