Beyond the Atmosphere: Early Years of Space Science
 
 
APPENDIX D
 
RSRP Proposals for a National Space Program
 
 
[427] A NATIONAL MISSION TO EXPLORE OUTER SPACE
A Proposal by the Rocket and Satellite Research Panel
 
 
 
 
Mission
 
In the interest of human progress and our national welfare, it is proposed that a national project be established with the mission of carrying out the scientific exploration and eventual habitation of outer space. It is imperative that the nation do so to increase its scientific and technological strength.
 
The present state of rocket technology makes it possible to initiate such a project. First steps in this direction are already being taken in the form of rocket soundings, the development of long range missiles, and the launching of artificial earth satellites. These first steps will inevitably be followed by attempts to place man in space. It is only proper for this country to establish its leadership in this direction.
 
To carry out the objectives of the stated mission it is recommended that a National Space Establishment be created. This Establishment in carrying out its mission shall have the authority, responsibility, and accountability to conduct the theoretical, experimental, developmental and operational work necessary, making best use of the academic, industrial and military resources of the nation.
 
Significance and Nature of the Mission
 
The proposed mission is of the broadest significance to our people. Both the performance and the accomplishments will produce a beneficial impact on the life of the nation. The mission encompasses the most advanced aspects of research and engineering on the one hand and a great promise of practical benefit on the other. Some of the fields of research and engineering involved are: materials, propulsion, electronics and communications, meteorology, the life sciences, psychology, physics, chemistry, geo-physics, astronomy, astrophysics, astronautics, and cosmology. In fact, virtually all aspects of our technology and science will contribute to and profit from the effort required to carry out the mission.
 
The project will lead to both foreseeable and unpredictable applications. For example, weather patrol satellites providing a basis for vastly improved long and short range weather forecasting will be important to agriculture, commerce, industry, military operations, and the saving of life and property. Satellite radio relay stations will make possible continuous dependable global communications networks. It is to be expected that new and improved energy sources will be developed. One of the most important practical contributions will be the stimulation of science education in our country and throughout the free world.
 
Organization of the Mission
 
It is essential that the National Space Establishment be scientific in nature and in concept and be under civilian leadership and direction. It should be organized within the Executive branch of the Government taking full account of the requirements of the Department of Defense in the field of space research and engineering to insure that the National Space Establishment contributes its maximum to the national security. The Establishment [428] should be staffed and operated on the basis of a salary and wage scale suitable to its needs.
 
The National Space Establishment must have within its own structure a strong, experienced staff with the necessary facilities for the research, development, and operations necessary to maintain competency in the full range of tasks to accomplish its mission. At the same time, the National Space Establishment must have substantial contractual assistance, drawing extensively upon universities, research organizations, industry, and upon the military for basic science, technological know how, production, logistic support, and facilities.
 
The cost of the enterprise will be comparable to the governmental expenditure in the field of atomic energy and should be funded on a long-term basis, not dependent upon direct military appropriations nor upon any one of the armed services.
 
Tasks under the Mission
 
The proposed mission for the National Space Establishment has two different but complementary phases. On the one hand there is space research, per se, which is concerned with such questions as the properties of the upper atmosphere, the nature and intensity of electromagnetic and corpuscular radiations from the sun, the character and distribution of matter in space, and the electric, magnetic, and gravitational fields within the solar system. On the other hand there is the exploration of space by manned expeditions. In this phase of the mission the Establishment will be concerned with the problems of placing man in space with adequate provisions for his survival and safe return. This will involve investigations into such areas as the creation and maintenance of viable atmospheres, protection of passengers against the stresses of high accelerations and radiations in space, psychological studies, biophysics research, and astronautics. Although the two phases have their different aspects, the successful and effective accomplishment of the total mission requires that they be inseparable and conducted in close contact with complete unity of purpose.
 
There are specific steps that the National Space Establishment should undertake immediately. There should be a strong re-enforcement of the upper-air rocket sounding program. Immediate attention should be given to a continuing program involving unmanned earth satellites. Planning and preparation should be initiated with regard to vehicles and other problems of manned rocket flights as a first step towards manned satellite stations. The development of instrumentation for physical and life-sciences experiments in rockets and satellites should be extended, making full use of what has already been accomplished. Studies of man himself relative to the projected expeditions into space should be strengthened. The studies of problems relative to lunar flight should be taken up by the National Space Establishment.
 
Concluding Remarks
 
The Rocket and Satellite Research Panel is absolutely convinced that there are compelling reasons for our nation to undertake the scientific exploration and habitation of outer space. Our past efforts have brought us to this new and challenging scientific frontier. A wholehearted and imaginative acceptance of this challenge will strengthen our national science, prestige, and defense. It will inevitably lead to a wide variety of practical benefits in commerce and industry. The National Space Establishment will unify the efforts and contributions of science, industry, and the military to space research, and will help to draw the youth of our country into science.
 
The magnitude of the venture will require a strong dedication of purpose on the part of our people. The country must provide the necessary resources and money to accomplish mission. This means, among other things, an expenditure of some 10 billion dollars the next decade.
 
[429] The Rocket and Satellite Research Panel has devoted itself for the last ten years to pioneering the nation's effort in the research exploration of the threshold of space. The Panel is dedicated to continuing these activities and looks forward to participating in the actual accomplishment of the stated mission.
 
 

The Rocket and Satellite Research Panel

Berning, W. W.

Army Ballistics Research Lab.

Delsasso, L. A.

Army Ballistics Research Lab.

Dow, W. G.

University of Michigan

Ehricke, K.

Convair Corp.

Ference, M.

Ford Research Laboratory

Green, C. F.

General Electric Co.

Greenberg, M.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Jones, L. M.

University of Michigan

Kaplan, J.

University of California

Kellogg, W. W.

Rand Corp.

Newell, H. E.

Naval Research Laboratory

Nichols, M. H.

University of Michigan

O'Day, M. D.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Pickering, W. H.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Spencer, N. W.

University of Michigan

Stehlink, K.

Naval Research Laboratory

Stewart, H. J.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Stroud, W. G.

Army Signal Engineering Lab.

Strughold, H.

Randolph AFB

Stuhlinger, E.

Army Ballistic Missile Agency

Townsend, J. W.

Naval Research Laboratory

Van Allen, J. A., Chairman

University of Iowa

Von Braun, W.

Army Ballistic Missile Agency

Whipple, F. L.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Obs.

Wyckoff, P. H.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Zelikoff, M.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Megerian, G. K., Secretary

General Electric Co.

November 21, 1957

 

 

 

27 December 1957

 
[430] NATIONAL SPACE ESTABLISHMENT
A Proposal of the Rocket and Satellite Research Panel
 
 
Summary of Proposal
 
It is proposed that there be created a unified National Space Establishment for the purpose of carrying out the scientific exploration and eventual habitation of outer space.
 
It is imperative that the United States establish and maintain scientific and technological leadership in outer space research in the interests of long-term human progress and national survival.
 
1. Role
 
The role of the National Space Establishment shall be to unify and to greatly expand the national effort in outer space research, specifically excluding areas of immediate military urgency (e.g., the development, production and fielding of intercontinental and intermediate-range ballistic missiles).
 
2. Mission
 
The broad mission of the National Space Establishment shall be to establish United States leadership in space research by 1960 and to maintain it thereafter.
 
Accomplishment of this mission requires the following specific achievements:
 
(a) An intensified program of scientific soundings with high altitude rockets, immediately.
 
(b) An intensified program of scientific and technical developments with small instrumented satellites of the earth, immediately.
 
(c) Impact on the moon with non-survival of apparatus, by 1959.
 
(d) Placing an instrumented satellite in an orbit about the moon, by 1960.
 
(e) Impact on the moon with survival of scientific instruments, by 1960.
 
(f) Returnable, manned satellites in flight around the earth, by 1962.
 
(g) Manned circumnavigation of the moon with return to the earth, by 1965.
 
(h) Manned permanent satellite, by 1965.
 
(i) Manned expedition to the moon by one or two men, by 1968.
 
(j) Manned expedition to the moon by a sizeable party of men, by 1971.
 
A thorough analysis of existing capabilities shows that all of these objectives are within reach of a unified, vigorous national effort.
 
3. Funds Required
 
A detailed analysis shows that the accomplishment of the basic mission will require a national expenditure of ten billion dollars over the next decade.
 
4. Administrative Status of National Space Establishment
 
(a) It is strongly desirable that the N.S.E. be given statutory status as an independent agency in order that its work can be freely directed toward broad cultural, scientific and commercial objectives. Such objectives far transcend the short term, though vitally important, military rocket missions of the Department of Defense.
 
(b) If the proper creation of an independent agency is judged to require an intolerable delay, then it is believed that statutory existence under the Secretary of Defense (but [431] not within the jurisdiction of any one of the military services) will be a workable arrangement for the immediate future. But in this event, it is urged that the "charter" of the agency explicitly provide for its independence as soon as its stature and achievements make this advisable.
 
(c) It is explicitly advised that the National Space Establishment not be placed within the jurisdiction of any one of the three military services. There are many reasons, growing out of extensive professional experience, for this view. The military services are basically operating agencies, not research ones. The research talent of any branch of the military services is almost inevitably turned toward helping meet short term, limited objectives. Such a point-of-view would assure the failure of a National Space Establishment in its broad mission-which is truly a national one, far beyond the mission of any one of the services or of the Department of Defense taken as a whole. During the early phases of space research, it is evident that existing facilities and missile technology of the Department of Defense can make enormous contributions. The National Space Establishment must be set up in such a way that it enjoys the unqualified support of all three services, and not merely one of them. Such a situation is believed to be possible only if the N.S.E. is an independent agency from the outset or if it is directly responsible only to the Secretary of Defense during its early years-with the clear prospect of independence at the earliest possible date.
 
(d) There must be clear channels for mutual cooperation between the proposed N.S.E. and all levels of the Department of Defense, in order to assure no jeopardy of short term, vital military need on the one hand and in order to assure maximum rate of advance of space research on the other.
 
5. Remarks on the Long Range Importance of Space Research
 
It is already clear that international leadership hinges, to a very great extent, on preeminence in scientific and technological matters.
 
Space research will contribute enormously to the educational, cultural, and intellectual character of the people of the United States and of the world. Indeed, the exploration and eventual habitation of outer space are the finest examples of the "Endless Frontier". It is for such bold endeavors that the highest motives of men should be invoked.
 
There will be a rich and continuing harvest of important practical applications as the work proceeds. Some of these can already be foreseen-reliable short term and long term meteorological forecasts, with all the agricultural and commercial advantages that these imply; rapid, long range radio communications of great capacity and reliability; aids to navigation and to long range surveying; television relay; new medical and biological knowledge, etc. And these will be only the beginning. Many of these applications will be of military value; but their greater value will be to the civilian community at large. (To use a homely example, the telephone is certainly a valuable military device, but its importance to the civilian population is vastly greater.)
 
6. Availability of the Rocket and Satellite Research Panel for Consultation and Participation
 
The Rocket and Satellite Research Panel comprises a broad membership of persons of extensive experience in all aspects of the proposed program of outer space research. Its members are professionally dedicated to national leadership in this field. They offer their services, individually and collectively, in the conduct of the broad mission of the National Space Establishment.
 
 

[431-432] The Rocket and Satellite Research Panel

Berning, W. W.

Army Ballistics Research Lab.

Delsasso, L. A.

Army Ballistics Research Lab.

Dow, W. G.

University of Michigan

Ehricke, K.

Convair Corp.

Ference, M.

Ford Research Laboratory

Green, C. F.

General Electric Co.

Greenberg, M.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Jones, L. M.

University of Michigan

Kaplan, J.

University of California

Kellogg, W. W.

Rand Corp.

Newell, H. E.

Naval Research Laboratory

Nichols, M. H.

University of Michigan

O'Day, M. D.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Pickering, W. H.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Spencer, N. W.

University of Michigan

Stehlink, K.

Naval Research Laboratory

Stewart, H. J.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Stroud, W. G.

Army Signal Engineering Lab.

Strughold, H.

Randolph AFB

Stuhlinger, E.

Army Ballistic Missile Agency

Townsend, J. W.

Naval Research Laboratory

Van Allen, J. A., Chairman

University of Iowa

Von Braun, W.

Army Ballistic Missile Agency

Whipple, F. L.

Smithsonian Astrophysical Obs.

Wyckoff, P. H.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Zelikoff, M.

AF Cambridge Research Center

Megerian, G. K., Secretary

General Electric Co.

 
 
 
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