Speaker: Prof. Maurice Aburdene | Electrical & Computer Engineering | Bucknell University
Coauthor: Laurie F. Aburdene
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Presentation Slides
At its inception, the space program was science fiction come to life, exciting beyond imagination, and each launch pre-empted regular TV programming as an historical event to be witnessed by the nation. Many of today’s students see space exploration as mundane, not realizing what a huge accomplishment it represents. By teaching from the original documents, we believe that the “magic” of the moment can be recreated and students can experience the thrill of discovery, and perhaps, be inspired to follow through to careers in science as a result.
This presentation will use the minutes of the Meeting for the Committee on Aerodynamics of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (11/8/1956-11/9/1956) to teach science and technology. The focus is on Project Vanguard, which was first introduced at this meeting, and is presented as the “New Order of Business”.
The United States satellite program was sponsored by The National Academy of Sciences, as their part in the celebration of the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958). Vehicle design construction, testing, and launching were carried out by the Naval Research Laboratory, with Glenn L. Martin Company as the prime contractor. The minutes describe the three-stage Vanguard launch vehicles, the purpose of the tests and information to be gathered for refinement of the design, the missile specifications and details for the flight, including launch trajectory, orbit, as well as possible problems.
REFERENCES:
1) General Records of the Department of State, National Archives Identifier: 25171381 (http://docsteach.org/documents/25171381/detail), Accessed 2/21/2014.
2) Green, Constance McLaughlin, and Milton Lomask. Vanguard: A History. Vol. 4202. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1971.
3) Vanguard Project (http://www.nrl.navy.mil/accomplishments/rockets/vanguard-project/), Accessed 2/21/2014.
4) Vanguard Celebrates 50 Years In Space, March 17, 1958 – March 17, 2008 (http://www.nrl.navy.mil/vanguard50/), Accessed 2/21/2014.
5) Maurice Felix Aburdene, “Science and Technology: Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration”, (http://docsteach.org/activities/16430/detail), Accessed 2/21/2014.
6) Lockheed Martin, Our History (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/100years.html), Accessed 2/21/2014.