Declassified in Part - S nitized Copy Approved for Release 20161070 19 The Prejidmt Daily 27 Marc 9 1969 50x1 Deciassified in Part Sanitizer Copy Approved for Release 2016 07 i19 Deolassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016 07r19 I Failure oi Large Boosler Deals Setback I 30 Ft Payload - 20 Ft 11 Stage so Ft 3rd Stage so Ft 2nd Stage 56 Ft Stage SOVIET SL-12 Lift_ off_ thrust 2 5 million Earth orbit payload 45 000 I pounds Payload oh lunar traiectory pounds SOVIET SL332 RECORD DATE 1o March 1967 a April'1967 22 November 1957 2 March 1968 22 April 1968 14 September 1968 10 Nevernber 1963 16 November 1968 20 January 1969 27 March 1969 94294 3-69 CM 13 000 EVENT Cosmos 145 Cosmos 154 Circumlunar attempt Zond 4 simulated cir- cumlunar mission Circumlunat attempt Zond 5 circumlunar mission Zond 6 circumluna mission - __Proton 4 Ciroumlunar attempt Attempted Mars probe RESULT Panial failure Partial failute _F_ailute Success I Failure Su ocess Success Success Failure Failure EMARKS 50x1 5OX1 Deciassifled in Flart Senitlzed Copy Approved for Release 2016 020 19 Declassified in Pan - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016107f19 CIA-RDP79T00936A006900200001-9 FOR-THE PRESIDENT ONLY '3 50x1 The Sovxet space program suffered a major setback yes- terday when its largest operational boosterewthe failed during an attempt to launch a probe toward Mars The Soviets probably'intend the to be the work horse for their space program in the 19 05 but it has been plagued with problems throughout its development having fully performed its mission only four times in ten attempts So far the has been used primarily in the circum lunar program ethis latest attempt was the first time it has been tried in the planetary exploration effort Its poor performance probably is the principal reason that the Soviet circumlunar program is at least one year behind schedule this denied Moscow the Opportunity to attempt a manned cir- cumlunar flight before the US Apollo 8 Apart from its_effect on the Space effort the dismal record of the seems likely to have caused considerable disappointment within the Soviet hierarchy This could in turn arouse questions and attendant political controversy about the allocation of scarce resources V1 ETNIAM The Liberation Front has turned aside Thieu's public bid for private talks with the Front but has not rejected the idea outright - The reaponse Was negative in tone and shotl through with propaganda attacks but it carefully FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Deciassified in Part Sanitized Copy Approved for Reiease 2016l ' 19