Tape, Gerald Frederick. Date: December 19, 1982. Interviewer: Allan Needell. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 1.5 hrs.; 27 pp. Use restriction: Open.

Reviews Tape's (b. May 29, 1915) career in physics and in science administration at MIT (1942-6); at the University of Illinois (1946-50); at Brookhaven National Lab as Assistant to the Director (1951-2) and as Deputy Director (1952-61); and as vice president and president of Associated Universities, Inc. (1962-80). The interview concentrates primarily on administrative aspects of Tape's career at AUI, including the relationship of AUI and Brookhaven, the selection of Berkner as the first full-time president of AUI, the East River Project, AUI's involvement in radio astronomy, and AUI's bid for the Space Telescope Science Institute.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1-5     Radiation laboratory at MIT during the war

1     Meeting Haworth; joining the Radiation Laboratory

1-2     Systems work; relay radar

2     Lab work in Malvern, England

2-3     Relations between the nuclear physicists and the electronics engineers; Loomis

3     Assistant professor of physics in Illinois

3-4     Developments in systems work

4     Morse; Berkner and the kamikaze problem

5     Relationship with Berkner; the Radiation Lab

5-7     After the war: 4 years in Illinois

5     Haworth at Brookhaven; director

6     Organization of Brookhaven and Argonne, cyclotron debate

7     The AEC program; invitation to join Brookhaven

7-10     Brookhaven Laboratory politics

7-8     Relationship of Brookhaven an AUI; management study

8     Management organization; Shoup; decision to find a full-time president

8-9     The Berkner candidacy, Haworth

9     Role of developing new operations

9-10     AUI's relation with the Department of Defense; the reactor, cosmotron; Rabi

10     Rabi's position on AUI's extension; Rabi's relationship to Berkner

10-21     Deputy Director at AUI

10-11     Tape's position as assistant, then deputy director

11-12     Emberson, Shoup, Jameson; politics

12     Corporate-Laboratory balance

13     NRAO 140' radio telescope contract; Dunbar, Burchill and Emberson

13-14     The effect of Berkner's activities as president on Brookhaven

14-16     East River Project proposal

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

15     Objections; priority of project, civil defense

15-16     Involvement in national security activities

16     Role of the institution in the project, Berkner's interest in radio astronomy

16-17     Proposal for a national use facility; determining the need

17     Brookhaven as a model

18     The construction program; the user-builder split

18-19     Design by Tatal; funding

19     Whether an institution learns from past experience

20     Texas project; idea of opening a Brookhaven-like institution in Texas

21     Haworth in Washington as an atomic energy commissioner; Ted Reynolds takes over the 140' telescope project

21-27     Vice President of AUI

21-22     Rabi as president of AUI, Tape as vice president

22     Internal conflicts; AURA - alternate proposal to AUI

22-23     AUI as a "user organization"

23     Compatibility of the general policies and the radio astronomy endeavor; Struve, Heeschen, Max Small

24     Role of management in completing a project; Berkner's view

25     Job offer at NASA; Glennan

25-26     The virtues of space as a science platform

26     AUI's bid for the Space Telescope Science Institute

27     Reason's why AUI should be involved

Tombaugh, Clyde William. Date: February 17, 1982. Interviewer: David H. DeVorkin. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 2 hrs.; 50 pp. Use restriction: Permission required for access.

Examines Tombaugh's (b. February 4, 1906) professional work at the White Sands Missile Range in optical tracking of rockets (1946-55); and at New Mexico State University as a planetary astronomer (1955-73). For the White Sands years, Tombaugh relates the problems of developing proper instrumentation for long focal length tracking of rockets, of photographic techniques for tracking, and of analysis of ballistic data. He also discusses the character of the White Sands community and memorable launches. For the New Mexico State period, the discussion focuses on the development of planetary astronomy at the University, the establishment of the Planet Patrol, the effect of Sputnik on the funding of planetary astronomy, and the use of Cassegrain reflectors in planetary astronomy.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1     Activities just prior to WWII

1-5     Teaching navigation to apprentice seamen and marine at Flagstaff

2     Preparation for the courses and texts

2-3     Wartime atmosphere

3     Security concerns and civilian defense

4     Dean McLaughlin

5     Work load

5     Relation with Lowell University

5-8     Position at UCLA

6     Replaced S. Herrick

7     Herrick research

7     Work load

7     Frederick Leonard

8-9     Decision to go White Sands

8-9     Initial work on long focal length tracking telescopes

9-35     Work at White Sands

9-11     Long focal length tracking telescopes

9     Design problems

10     Acceptance of the instrumentation

11     Success of the telescope

11     Observation of spin and flame shape

11-12     Fellow workers

12     Procedures of experimental data

12-13     H.N. Russell and the ballistic camera

13-14     Early thoughts on the possibility of space flight

14     Need for upper atmosphere research

14-15     Use of V-2's

15     Pointing controls; reconnaissance and data reduction

15-16     Training assistants and staff

16     Initial firings

17     Tension before firings

17-19     Problems with misfirings

18     Use of parachutes to recover warheads

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

19-20     Attitude of surrounding community to rockets and rocket employees

20     Contracts with other scientists

21     Developing photographic film for data analysis

21-22     Shell burst film

22     F. Whipple

22-23     Conversations with other scientists on the future of White Sands and space travel

23     Von Braun

23-24     Memorable firings

24-25     Zwicky's firings

25-26     Cinetheodolites

26     Cassegrain reflectors

26-27     Interest in astronomy while at White Sands

27-29     Weather problems and failed firings

29     German scientists

30     Activity on firing day

30-31     Staff security problems

31-33     Search for natural satellites

32-33     Photography and optics

33     Published results; Sputnik

33-34     Affect of work on applied problems on his research

34-35     Decision to leave White Sands

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

35-50     Work at New Mexico State University

35-36     Planet Patrol

36-37     Effect of Sputnik on funding of planetary astronomy

38     White Sands Missile Range Hall of Fame

38     Thoughts about Lowell University

38-40     Cassegrain reflectors

40     Use in planetary photography

40     Funding the Cassegrain reflectors

40-41     Effect of Sputnik on funding of planetary astronomy

42     Personal memories of Sputnik

43     Planetary Research Center at University of New Mexico

42-43     Contractor with H. Schmitt, H. Mazursky, and G. Kuiper

43     Kuiper and Mars

45-46     Mar's Canals

45-46     Problems in photographing Mars

46-47     Space travel feasibility

47-48     V-2 markings

48-50     Discovery of Pluto

Tousey, Richard. Dates: November 17, 1981; January 8; June 4, 1982. Interviewer: David H. DeVorkin. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 9.5 hrs.; 157 pp. Use restriction: Permission required to quote, cite or reproduce.

Surveys Tousey's (b. May 18, 1908) family background and early interests before discussing his beginning interest in UV studies at Harvard during his graduate education (PhD, 1933, physics) and as an instructor there (1934-6). His pre-war years at Tufts University (1936-41) are briefly discussed before entering into the principal part of the interview concerning Tousey's work at NRL (1941- ), first as Head of the Instrument Section (1942-45) and then as Head of the Micron Waves Branch (1945-58). The interview provides a thorough discussion of Tousey's activities in this latter position, focusing on NRL's reorganization, and subsequent scientific research program as V-2s became available for upper atmospheric and solar studies. Tousey's own research is a central feature of the discussion, including his work in solar UV spectroscopy, in the innovative design of spectrographs for use in rockets, as well as other optical work, and in the use of photographic and photoelectric data recording techniques. Tousey also provides critical insight into the organizational and personal working relationships within NRL, as well as the research activities of other NRL scientists.

    November 17, 1981

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1-3     Early life and family circle

1     Born Somerville, Massachusetts, May 1908

1-2     Grandparents and parents: training at Tufts

2     Home life

2-3     Interest in nature and religious background (see p.4)

3-6     Early schooling

3-4     Harvard Cooperative Open-Air School

4     Early interest in science: bird walk

4     Junior High and High School in Somerville, Massachusetts

5     Mathematics and languages and further development of interest in science

5-6     Contact with a friend whose interest was science and had astronomy contracts

6     Built crystals, radio and spark coil

6     Vacuum tube transmitter

6-11     College years at Tufts

7     Question of choice of college: application to Harvard

7-8     Course in physics

8     Millikan's convocation lecture

8     Dolbear's books

9     Major in math and physics

9     Lack of interest in astronomy, but interest in sun and sky as part of nature - "daytime nature"

9-10     Interest of T. Lyman, H. O'Bryan on UV spectrum of sun during Tousey's Harvard years

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

10     Questions about his future career father's interest engineering

10-11     Good grades at Tufts

11     Digression to note Professor Lyman's zeal for good English

11     Decision to do graduate physics work at Harvard

12-19     Graduate years at Harvard, 1929-1933

12     Possibilities of research with Salter and Lyman

12     Decision to work with Lyman in vacuum UV (See p. 15)

12     Contract with F.A. Saunders

13     Course from F. Hunt

14-15     Fellowships at Harvard

15-19     Thesis under Lyman

16     Lyman's support for Society of Fellow membership

16     Franzo Hazlett Crawford's teaching, and firing by Conant

17     Recollection of Slater

17     Some contract with Slater's Spectroscopy Symposium at MIT

17-18     Introduction to extreme at MIT

18     David Mann

18-19     Cleaning up water vapor

19     Thesis examination

19-21     Continuation of work at Harvard after the thesis

19-20     Oil emulsion photographic plates

20     History of use of photography in extreme UV

20-21     Involvement in improvements extreme UV

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

21     Problem of reciprocity failure

21     Test procedure and apparatus

21     Pressure to find another job

21-25     Return to Tufts as research instructor in physics

21     Father's influence

22     Stormy years at Tufts under J.R. Harrison

22     Politics at Tufts

23     Met wife at Tufts

23     Support for research at Tufts and working conditions

24     Exposure to astrophysics at Harvard

24-25     Lack of support at Harvard for experimental physics

25-29     Leave of absence from Tufts to do war work at NRL

26     Reason for going to NRL; interest in war work generally

26     Leonard Carmichael's contracts

26-27     Contact with E.O. Hulburt

26     Tousey family had always had boats and sailed

27     Hulburt's infra-red work was classified Hulburt's graduate work under Pfund at Hopkins

27     Decision to move to NRL

28     Early experiences in Washington while still a child

28     Working conditions at NRL

28     Members of Hulburt's group

29-36     Wartime Research

29-35     Visibility of stars in the daytime

29     Physiological optics

30     Contact with the Bureau of Aeronautics

30     Competition with other contracting agencies

30-31     Design of prototype of telescopic instruments

31-34     Test tip to Colorado, May 1943

31-32     Contact with Don Menzel in Washington

33-37     Contact with Walter Roberts

32-33     High Altitude research classification Observatory

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

33     Contact with coronagraph and interest in their work

33     Success at Mesa Verde

34     Flight tests in Washington

34     Final flight tests in Philadelphia

35-36     Brightness and polarization of the daytime sky

35     Army-Navy OSRD Committee on Vision

35     Hulburt's interest

36     Don Packer's involvement and recollection of Brian O'Brien at Rochester

36     Balloon studies

37     First knowledge of V-2 rocket availability

37     Hulburt and Krause

37     Krause's meeting at NRL

37     Hulburt's suggestion to Tousey to do extreme UV spectroscopy of the sun

37-38     Hulburt's quartz spectrograph

38     Tousey's proposal for a new spectrograph

38     Oral proposal

38     Krause's research group

38     F.S. Johnson

39     W.A. Baum

39     Other early members of Tousey's group

39     Aggressive competition between groups

40     Hulburt's character

40-42     Design of V-2 spectrograph

40     Sense of urgency in design

40     Krause's control

40     The Rocket Panel

40     Krause's departure

41     Problem of time for construction of spectrograph

41     Contract to Baird Associates and Baird's connection with extreme ultraviolet

41     Long-term frustration with NRL shops

42     Working arrangement with Krause's group

42-44     First June flight; nose cone payload

43     Loss of payload in crash crater

43     Design of film cassette

43     Search for film

44     Modification for tail fin berth for October launch

    January 8, 1982

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

46-51     War Work (continued)

46     Dark adaptation studies - physiological optics

46     Daytime observations of stars

47     Army-Navy NDRC Committee on vision

48     Night myopia project

48     Experimentation and reception by M.D.s

49     Contact with Walter Orr Roberts

49-51     Infra-red projects (see also p. 58)

50     Influence of wartime activities on later careers and contact with photoelectric sensors

51     Potential uses of IR detectors

51     Herbert Friedmann's early experience with photoelectric sensorsat Johns Hopkins

51-95     V-2 era

51-52     Lab work on optical problems with space observations

52     First extreme UV photoelectric monochromator; extreme UV studies as extension of RHD thesis

52     Choice of photographic techniques for V-2 work

52-57     Organization of V-2 groups at NRL

52     Tousey's group and Krause's role: rocketry and optics

53     Relation of Tousey's group to Krause's group

54     Changes after Tousey departure

55     Jostling for first authorship; knowledge of publications from other divisions

56     C.V. Strain's Sky and Telescope scoop

57     Reasons for NRL staff departures from V-2 scientific work

57     Krause's later work

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

58-59     Continued discussion of IR photoelectric studies during WWII

58     Hulbert's early interest in using UV as communications range

58-60     General recollections of goals and aspirations before knowledge of V-2s

60     First captured German equipment examined were IR detectors

61-76     Design of first V-2 spectrographs

61     Contact with Baird Atomic

61     Reflecting gratings and Hulbert and Krause contracts

62     Design of entrance apertures

62     Decision to contract to Baird

63     Strong's gratings

64     Responsibilities and tasks in V-2 group: responsibilities of Krause's group

65     Beads and film cassette mate at NRL

66     Removal of spectrograph from cone to fin after June firing

66-67     Military interests in V-2 use

67     Lack of phone connection with White Sands

68     Problems with processing film

68     October 10, 1946 flight

69     Discussion of staff

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

70-71     Staff profiles (continued) - Baum and Johnson

71     Reaction of astronomical community to solar UV spectra

72     Joseph Boyce's reactions

73     Lack of attention to astronomical literature

74     Objectives of V-2 work

74     Alignment of work with military interests

74     Interest in experimental techniques

75     Tousey's perseverance compared to astronomers' lack of perseverance in V-2 work

75-78     Contact with Spitzer and Waterman

77     Relation with ORI (Office of Research and Invention)

79-81     Contact with APL group

79     J.J. Hopefield and Van Allen

80     Hopefield and Clearman's work

81     James Van Allen's involvement

81     Problems at APL Hopefield's move to NRL

81-84     V-2 Sun follower (see pp. 172-173)

82     General pointing controls interest of Air Force

82     Colorado project and sense of competition with Van Allen

83     Harry Clark's V-2 sun follower

84     April 1948 test flight destroyed

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

84-86     Use of phosphor to detect solar X-ray radiation, 1948

84     Failure of pointing control, and continued wish to detect Lyman alpha

85     Burnight's detection of X-rays from sun

85     Tousey's confirmation

86     Recollection of Kenichi Watanabe

86     Dobson spectrophotometer on Sac Peak for simultaneous (with V-2) ozone observations

87     Burnight's priority over Friedman's

87-88     Identification of NRL Divisions and Branches

88-89     Modifications to spectrograph

88     Decision to use Viking, and then to use Aerobees

89-95     General comments on V-2 work

89     Charlotte Moore Sitterley's aid

89     Primary product of work

90     Value of Hopefield and Clearman's work

91     Additional references to the sun follower; Clerk's adaptation for Aerobee

92     Dawn firing, June 14, 1949 for ozone distribution

93     Results (continued)

94     Whipple's Menzel's interest in Burnight's V-2 work

TAPE 3, SIDE 1

96     Kuiper and V-2's

96     V-2 instrumentation, Hilch and Pohl crystals

97     Upper Air Rocket Research Panel

98     Talking about references

99-101     Pictures Tousey's personal slide collection

101     V-2 solar spectrograph and photoelectric spectrometer

102     Photoelectric versus photographic instrumentation

102     Air Force lag in providing data

103     Photoelectric versus photographic in rocketsonde

103     AAS

104     Professional speaking obligations; astronomical consulting for NACA and UA RRp; ozone work

105     Vertical distribution of ozone, early measurements

106     Photoelectric versus photographic technical lag of in extreme UV

TAPE 3, SIDE 2

106     Goals in post V-2 rocket instrumentation

107     Viking and NRL

107     Instrument design and rocket configuration - pointing controls

108     Rocket launch organization and instrumentation stabilization

108     Aerobee spectrograph stabilization and slit expander

109     Concerns as V-2s ran out

110     Aerobee-Viking differences - the give

110     Why Viking?

111     Emulsions, contacts with Kodak-Pathe; weight problems

112     Hydrogen fogging of film

112-113     Film, SC types, Kodak-Pathe, V-2 film

113     Rolling film; s problems, Aerobee film

114     Glassback plates versus film

114-115     University of Colorado, Biaxial pointing control

115-116     Ball Brothers origin, Aerobee pointing control's Colorado

    June 4, 1982

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

117-118     Lyman alpha, early work, competition for 1st Lyman alpha image

118     Aerobee spectrograph design constraints and models

119     Lyman alpha imaging

119-120     Comparison for solar Lyman alpha image

121     Lyman alpha photos

122     How to make UV sensitive emulsion Kodak-Pathe/Parke

123     Schumann type emulsions, industrial connections

124     Film problems; uncertainty with UV sensitivity; SWR film

125     Double dispersing spectrograph

126     Echelle spectrograph

127     Pointing controls and their sensitivity

128     Developing pointing controls [private and public groups]

128-130     Examining V-2 spectrograph, instrument questions

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

131     Film advance mechanism

131     Possible Viking spectrograph

132     Film placement, operation, and explanation of spectrograph

133     Attempted identification of instrument under observation

134     Gratings and grating manufacturer; design constraints

135     Aerobee double dispersing spectrograph

136     Inside the spectrograph,

137-139     Echelle spectrograph, 1957 unit [how it worked]

140     Echelle H2, N2 spectra

141     Parachute failure in Aerobees

141     Extreme UV solar spectrograph; Lyman alpha solar disc camera

142     Pix of echelle and its inside instrumentation

142     Predispersor for echelle (pix)

143     Pix (Lyman alpha profile instrument)

143-144     Correction for astigmatism and techniques to spread out line width in the predispersor

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

144-146     Lyman alpha camera and correcting for astigmatism

145-146     Tori grating blanks, and how to make them

147     Double dispersion grating spectrographs from Aerobee

148     Grazing incidence spectrograph

148     Elements and their transmittances; OSO-2 spectroheliograph

149     Spectroheliograph insides and channeltrons

149-150     Coronal scanner and test instrument

150     OSO

151     Spectrographs and grating blazing tripartite grating

152     Possible Viking 3 spectrograph

153     Checking Aerobee, Viking instrumentation

153     Original Lyman alpha profile; Sputnik and research talks

154     Quarks in solar spectra

155-156     Discussion of review articles and writing

156     Staff assistants and ATM work

157     Tousey's own tapes

Tycz, Mona. Date: September 16, 1982. Interviewer: David H. DeVorkin. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 3 hrs.; 55 pp. Use restriction: Permission required for access.

Briefly covers Tycz's (b. November 24, 1947) family life and education and then concentrates on her career with NASA, first at Goddard as a laser specialist (1969-76), then as manager of a study on the SECO detector for ST (1976) and manager of the ST Announcement of Opportunity procurement process (1977- ). Tycz details the AO process for ST and the Source Evaluation Board procurement process for Space Telescope Science Institute. Tycz also discusses her removal from the SECO project; Lyman Spitzer and his role in ST; and relations between contractors and NASA, as well as internal politics between centers (e.g. Goddard, Marshall), in the production and development of ST.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1     SEB process and decision

2     AO selection

2     AO process

3     AO - Spitzer, et. al

4     NASA HQ role in AO

4     RFPU

5     RFPU and Contractor

5     AO and RFP's; AO evaluation process

6     Family background - parents

6     Mother

7     Siblings

8     Education - secondary

9     College; role of men and women in education

10     Women in science; Tycz's experience as a student

11     Physics teacher and effect on career and mindset; philosophy

12     Views of astronomers

13     Astronomers in organizations

14     Space Telescope Science Institute and GSFC relations

15     Bob Bless

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

16     Post-college choices; experience with Mom and electrical engineering (EE); running away from home

17     Getting NASA job; graduate school; laser building; NASA expectations

18     Marriage - night school

19     EE education; section transfer

19     EE education; patents

19     Publication and its personal meaning

20     Publishing in IEEE; review editing style

21     Ground-Space Communications System Testing Implication and response to work; stars twinkling

22     Knowledge of astronomy and job

22     Science Operation Manager - personnel decision

23     Dealing with astronomers as Science Operation Mgr

23     Engineers and scientists

24     Role of Engineers; role as interface

24     Astronomers and Tycz; engineers and scientists

25     When scientists and engineers agree and why they disagree

25     Similarities to philosophy and position; bias of position

25     NASA response to stances Tycz takes

26     Earning respect, living within the job's constraints

26     Career decision; leaving laboratory work

27     Discrimination due to gender; reasons for movement to management

27     Management training by McGilroy - mentor

27     Management training continued

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

28     Wide Field Camera and SECO

29     SECO; becoming SECO detector manager

29     1st managerial post

30     Study group for detectors

30     Problems with detector grant - change to contracts

30     Grant versus contracts; Sobieuski and detector quality

31     Spitzer's contract reporting

31     Changing grants to contracts; working with upper management

31     Dealing with Princeton and support of SECO

32     Dismissal from Princeton contract

32     SECO's failure during the AO; feelings on being removed

32     Tiger teams; job offers

33     RFP process

33     MSFC versus GSFC over ST

34     MSFC and HQ versus GSFC on ST

34     Interest in ST at GSFC

35     GSFC-ST personnel and motivation problems

35     Infrared detector on ST

36     Choosing a new GSFC-ST position

37     Lyman Spitzer Telescope (LST); Spitzer and role in ST; competition

38     Princeton SECO staff

38     AO process; how to do an AO

39     Opening the AO; Leckrone and the AO

39     Detector technology; Nancy Roman

40     Leckrone and the AO; Leckrone and the AO

40     Others in the AO process; working with Roman

41     Moving away from a dedicated instrument; Leckrone

41     Detector Tiger Team; opening up the Wide Field Camera

42     SECO failure

42     Leckrone - O'Dell relationship

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

43     Leckrone - O'Dell relationship (continued)

43     Inter-center agreements

44     Results of intercenter agreements; management structure

44     Levels of a project; l MSFC-GSFC relations

45     GSFC-MSFC ST responsibilities; category

46     Using the category system and predetermined contingencies; role in and definition of AO

47     AO process; personal perceptions of position

48     Job as a manager

48     AO process with science definition study

49     Study and budget problems

49     ST as a study, not a project; operational problems

50     LST to ST; effect on study

50     ESA-NASA agreement

51     ESA-agreement

51     ST becomes a project

51     Response to the AO

52     Bidder's questions about AO; management theory

53     Bidders experience

53-55     NASA and the bidders; helping all potential bidders

Van Allen, James. Dates: February 18; June 12; June 18; June 22; July 15; July 16; July 28; August 6, 1981. Interviewers: David H. DeVorkin; Allan Needell. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 18.5 hrs.; 362 pp. Use restriction: Public.

Thoroughly documents Van Allen's (b. September 7, 1914) varied and active career. The first interview covers his early family life and education (University of Iowa, PhD, 1939, physics). Subsequent interviews focus on his career: research fellow at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (1939-41); physicist at DTM, where he developed radio-proximity fuses (1942); and Ordnance and Gunnery Officer, US Navy (1942-6). Covered in detail is his work as a physicist at Applied Physics Lab (1946-50) where he headed the High Altitude Research Group, which engaged in high altitude experiments to study cosmic rays, atmospheric ozone, the geomagnetic field, UV solar spectroscopy, and high altitude photography, using V-2 rockets. During this period he also supervised the development of the Aerobee rocket. Since 1951 he has been Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa. Topics covered after 1951 include the building up of the Department at Iowa, his cosmic ray research with balloons and Rockoons, the IGY, and Van Allen radiation belts, involvement with Vanguard and Explorer, reactions to Sputnik, and his observations on the evolution of space science and instrumentation. Topics after 1960 include the evolution of the Explorer and Pioneer series of satellites and probes, the organization of space science, the conduct of the enterprise, Space Shuttle and planetary exploration.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1-8     Family history in Iowa

3-4     Father and mother; Grandfather studied civil engineering

4-5     Grandfather and father in law profession

6     Brothers

5-6     Mother's teacher training

6-8     Father's pro-German feelings in WWI and personality

8     Early recollections of family life

10     Family discipline

10     The town of Mt. Pleasant and its college

10-11     Mother's participation in women's organization (the PEO)

11-12     Father's after-dinner recitations from the Book of Knowledge

13     Types of readings

13     Early schooling (See p. 17)

14     Family coaching

14     Duties and chores

14-16     Living conditions and lifestyle

16-17     Early schooling (cont.)

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

17     Homework

18     Early interest in arithmetic

18-20     Mt. Pleasant Junior High School and recollections of teachers

20     Interest in algebra and grammar

20     Personality during school days

21-23     Pioneer spirit in school and rejection of social and athletic activities

23-29     Family activities

23-24     Drives and walks

25-26     Father's involvement in public affairs and development of city electrical power

26     Resultant contact and interest in electrical technology

27     Construction of small crystal sets and reading Popular Mechanics

27     Other early independent reading

28-29     Interest in "how-to" books and house maintenance

29-35     High School

29-30     First courses in physics

30     Physics laboratory

31-32     Course in solid geometry

31-34     Plans for future college training

34-35     Influence to consider physics

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

35-58     College years at Iowa Wesleyan 1931-1935

35     Financial status of family

38     Continued to live at home

38     Decision for concentration in science

38     Influence of laboratory experience in high school

39-42     Physical sciences at Wesleyan

39     Thomas Poulter was physics instructor

40     Lab assistant to Poulter

41-42     Lack of direct contact with modern physics

43-53     Work with Poulter preparing for second Byrd Antarctic Expedition, 1932-1933

43-44     Poulter's interests in geophysical problems and his genius at mechanical design (See p. 45)

44     Digression to discuss Van Allen's direction of interests in science and father's urging that he consider something practical

44-45     Work on Poulter's instrumentation

45-46     Testing and use of DTM magnetometer and magnetic survey of the county

46     Construction of a seismograph

47     Observations of meteor trails

48-49     Listening to reports on radio from Little America

49     Inspiration of Poulter's example

51     Plans for graduate school at University of Iowa

51-53     Friends and associates

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

53-72     Graduate School at the University of Iowa

53     The graduate physics class

54-57     Specialties and staff

55-56     Master's thesis on Young's Modulus

56-57     Textbooks in modern physics

58-59     Reaction to modern physics

60-61     Textbooks

61-62     Master's thesis (cont.) with Tyndall

62-65     Interest in experimental nuclear physics and reading Cockroft and Walton paper

64     Dormant interest in geophysics in 1930s

64-65     Millikan/Compton controversy over nature of cosmic rays

66     General tendency for graduate students to move into physics

67     Early lab work developing instruments

67-69     Early electronics and isolation problems in ionization chambers

69     Built first Cockroft-Walton accelerator at Iowa

70     Funding for equipment

70-71     Work in machine shop

71-72     PhD thesis on gas targets for deuteron-deuteron cross-sections

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

73-86     Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM) 1939

73     Digression to discuss early construction of Tesla Coil at home as a child

73-74     First interests in cosmic ray studies

74-75     Millikan/Compton controversy

74     Explorer II flights

75     Acquaintance with quantum electrodynamics while at Iowa

75-76     Experimental strength at Iowa

76-79     Process of leaving Iowa for DTM

76-77     Other possibilities

77-78     Decision for pure research

78     First contact with Merle Tuve through Ellet

78     Development of accelerators and generators

79-81     First research at DTM as extension of PhD thesis

79     Staff associates in low energy nuclear physics

80     G. Breit's interests and influence

81     Measuring the photo-disintegration cross section of deuterium

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

82     Style and support for research - Tuve's style

82-83     Discovery of delayed fission

83-84     Washington physics community - seminars

84-85     Growing interest with geophysics

86-106     Growing concern about the war and war work

87     DTM role in war work

87-88     Tuve visits England and interest in radio proximity fuses

88     Van Allen volunteers for war related research, Summer, 1940

88-89     Staff working on proximity fuses at DTM

89-90     Photoelectric design for fuses for anti-aircraft use

90-92     Development of radio proximity fuse

91     Autodyne circuit

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

91-92     Design constraints

92-93     Expansion and association with Johns Hopkins University: the creation of the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)

93     Transfer to APL

94     Organization of APL and contact with Raytheon for the development of suitable vacuum tubes

95     Experimentation with radio fuses

95-96     Problems with broken filaments in vacuum tubes and solution to the problem

96-101     Commission as lieutenant to bring fuses to Pacific Fleet

97-98     Voyage to New Caledonia

98     Training military in the use of the proximity fuse

98-99     Military contacts

99     Success of proximity fuse in tests and in practice

100     Combat experience

100-101     Liaison between Navy and APL

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

101-102     Re-assignment to the Pacific Fleet

102     No prior knowledge of Manhattan Project

103-104     Technical experience gained from war work

103     Radio fuses

103-104     Spin detectors

104-106     Importance of Navy experience on professional life

106     Authored basic instruction manual on use of fuses

106-176     APL

106-108     Decision to return to APL

106-108     Post-war years at APL

107     Met future wife at APL in 1945

108     Operation Paperclip and Henry Porter's influence

108     Use of captured V-2 rockets

108-110     Study of primary cosmic rays beyond the atmosphere

109     Converging lines of experience

109     High Altitude Research Group

109     Contacts with military and with NRL scientists

109-110     Funding by Bureau of Ordnance and military interests

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

111-131     Research with V-2 Rockets (See pp. 139-140)

111     Tuve's role at APL

111     First knowledge of V-2 rocket availability (See p. 117)

112     Staff building in high altitude research group

112-113     Development of pure research sup[port at PL

113     General search for post-war research programs

113     Rationale for support of pure research

113-117     Recollection of January, 1946 V-2 meeting at NRL

114     Krause's role

114-115     Attendance included Newell and Hulbert

115     Hulbert's role

115     F. Whipple's role

115     R. Tousey's role

115-116     Lack of direct astronomical role

116     Combined interests in solar physics and the terrestrial atmosphere

116     Influence of S. K. Mitra's book The Upper Atmosphere

116     Roles of Toftoy and Bain

117     Military agencies involved

117-118     Project Rand Study

117     Connection with Rocket Panel

117     First contact with Toftoy and V-2s (See p. 111) in December, 1945

118     Rand report as a classified document

118     Historical value of the reports

118-119     The business of the Rocket Panel (See also pp. 124-125)

118     Scheduling flights were military decisions

119     Assignments of first flights

119     Firing schedule

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

119     Failure of first flights in May and June

119     NRL's responsibilities in hardware production and in operations

119     Tracking and recovery

120-124     Planning for the first flight, May 1946

120     Measurement of primary cosmic radiation

120     Interest of G. Perlow

120     Technical assistance from L. Fraser and R. Ostrander

120-121     Other members of the APL group and research interests

121     Hopfield's interest in UV Solar spectrum

121     Interest in high altitude photography

122     H. Vestine's influence in interests in geomagnetic phenomena: electrical currents in the ionosphere

122     Purchase of first geiger tubes, and design of geiger tube telescopes (See also pp. 128-129)

122-123     Telemetry system

123     Environmental testing of equipment

123     Vibration problems and moving parts reliability

124     Jesse Greenstein's UV spectrograph (See p. 143)

124     Failure of rotating film drum

124-125     Rocket Panel and outside interests

124     Handshake diplomacy

125     Visit by Greenstein, Spitzer and Goldberg

125-126     Perlow's interests and influential cosmic ray texts

126     Awareness of post-WWII high altitude balloon flights

126     Cosmic ray physics and V-2 designs

126-127     Contact with Marcel Schein

127     Balloons versus rockets

127     B. Rossi's opinion of rockets

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

127-131     Primary scientific achievements with V-2 rockets

127     High altitude plateau

128     Primary cosmic rays

128     Some knowledge of cosmic ray interactions and nature of primary rays

128     UV solar spectra by Hopfield and Clearman

128     Design of spectrograph and its possible existence

129     High altitude photographs of Earth

129     Reconnaissance potential of rockets

129     Learning process during V-2 era

130     The end of the V-2 era and the search for a replacement

130     High costs

130     Scientific sounding rockets and contact with Aerojet

130-131     Funding

131     Bumblebee and Aerobee names

131-132     Design of Aerobee

132     Question of rocket guidance and windage

132     First active launch, November, 1947

132-133     Use of Nike boosters

133     NRL interest and support

134     Funding and military interests

134     WAC Corporal

134     Aerobee was magnetically neutral, unlike the V-2

134     Design philosophy of Aerobee and of NRL's Viking

135-141     Structure and character of the Rocket Panel (See also pp. 118-119, 124-125)

135     Name changes reflect changing vision of roles

135     Krause's departure, and Van Allen becomes chairman

135-136     Panel's effective demise in 1957/1958

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

136     Rocket Panel replaced by NAS committee: The Space Science Board

136     Rocket Panel personalities

136     Meeting minutes

137     Little general interest among physicists and astronomers at the time

137-138     Incentives for V-2 design changes

138     Problem of retrieval

138     No classification of scientific data

138     Contact with ballistics people at Aberdeen

139     Improvement of NACA's "Standard Atmosphere" (see p.183)

140     Contact with German rocket people during V-2 era

140     E. Stuhlinger's interests and his and Regener's interest in cosmic rays

140     Regener's early interests in cosmic rays and solar UV

141     Relations with rocket engineers

143-150     Repeat discussion of Greenstein's interest in solar UV

143-144     APL's role in support

144     APL budgets

145-146     Greenstein's flight

146     Interest in clear observations of Ca II

146     Pure astronomical interest compared to applied interests at APL and NRL

146     Record of Greenstein launch

TAPE 3, SIDE 1

147     Mechanical failure

147     Follow-up photoelectric system under development at Yerkes

148-149     Greenstein's reactions, then and later

149-150     Leo Goldberg's interests

150-153     Fritz Zwicky's meteor projects

150-151     Interest in measuring the density of the atmosphere using artificial meteors

151     Whipple's interests

151     Preparation of grenades

151-152     Zwicky's personality and motives

152     Test photographs of exploding charges

152-153     December 17, 1946 flight at night

153     Inconclusive results and Whipple's involvement

154     Contact with William Baum

154     The sun was the only perceived celestial object capable of being studied during early period

154-156     Measurement of projectile attitude

154     Loss of spin by projectiles

154-155     Role of Aberdeen Proving Grounds

155     Radio proximity fuse transmitter

155-156     Contacts at Aberdeen

TAPE 3, SIDE 2

156-159     Conferences and Symposia in late 40s and early 50s

156     Interests in future cosmic ray work during World War II

157     Early efforts to support rocket work

157-158     Organizers of early space symposia

158     Echo Lake Cosmic Ray Conference

158-159     Contact with Millikan and interest in extending his balloon cosmic ray work

159     Contact with Minnesota Group

159-160     Discoveries with balloons

159     Balloons versus rockets

160     Naugle-Niffen experiment

160-161     Funding and politics

160     Awareness of developing scientific funding agencies

160     Civilian versus military funding

160-161     Scientific advances noticed by military

161-165     State of cosmic ray research in post-war period and Aerobee development

162     Reality of cosmic ray plateau and the problem of secondaries

162     Experiments on albedo problems

162     Need to launch from other sites away from white Sands, another reason for aerobee

163     Military use of the Aerobee reconnaissance

163     Measurement of Equatorial Electrojet

164     V-2 measurements of showers

164-165     Flight of a cloud chamber

165     Completion of Guggenheim fellowship at Brookhaven

TAPE 4, SIDE 1

165-166     Instrumentation on early flights

165     Geiger counter

165     Pulse ionization chamber

165-166     Detection and measurement of heavy nuclei

166     Singer's air shower work

166     Ground based cloud chambers

166     Early comments on earth orbiting satellites

166-167     Humorous derision of concept at the time

167     New York Times cynicism

167     Confidence in eventual use of satellites

167-168     Rand Reports

168-172     Origins of IGY

168-169     Role of Van Allen and S. Chapman

169     Chapman's interests in Van Allen's work

169     Auroral photography

170     Van Allen dinner

170     Berkner's attendance

170     Suggestion to repeat Second Polar Year

170-171     Role of rocket in IGY

171-172     Lack of political motivations

172-178     Decision to leave APL, December 1950 (See also pp. 112-113)

173     Minority role of pure research

173-174     Delegated to supervise proximity fuse group again

174     Continued relations with University of Iowa

174     Search for Iowa physics chairman, 1950

TAPE 4, SIDE 2

175     Reason for Turner's departure from Iowa

175     Van Allen chosen to replace Turner

175-176     Interest in an academic position

176     APL makes effort to retain Van Allen

176     APL High Altitude Group dissolved with Van Allen's departure

177-362     University of Iowa

177     No promise of support at Iowa

177     Desire to return to family home

177-178     Expansion of physics at Iowa

178     History of graduate physics at Iowa

178-179     First research at Iowa

178     Balloon-borne work funded by the Research Corporation

179     Concept of balloon-launched rockets

179-182     Leave at Brookhaven, 1951

179-180     Duties at Iowa

180     Courses

180     Choice of work at Brookhaven

181     Cosmic ray studies at Brookhaven

181     Contacts at Brookhaven

181-182     Paper on cosmic ray exposure in manned flights

182-183     Review papers and publications at the time

183     Revision of NACA standard atmosphere (See p. 170)

184     Continuation of chairmanship of Rocket Panel

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

185-191     Reflections on V-2 era and miscellaneous topics

185     Problems of structural thermal testing

185-186     Failures

185-186     Magnetic wire recorder

185-186     Jesse Greenstein's spectrograph

186     Time schedule for firings

186     Complex cosmic ray telescopes

186-187     Informal professional contacts

187     Marcel Schein's group

187     Classified and unclassified areas

187     Reception of cosmic ray work by others

187-188     Solar UV by photographic and photoelectric means

188     Echo Lake Conference

188-189     Identity of cosmic ray primaries

189     Contact with Robert Millikan

189-191     Effect of the Korean War

189     Waning opportunities

189     Need for military support

189-190     University support

190     Operational support for Rockoon program

190     Origin of Rockoon program

190-191     Expeditions on the Norton Sound, ca. 1949-1950

191-196     Construction of B1 Stellerator, 1953

191     Contact with Lyman Spitzer

191-192     Theory of Stellerator and project to confirm it experimentally: Project Sherwood

193     Knowledge of Matterhorn

193     Experimental work

194     Expectations of confinement periods

194-195     Poor results

195     Decision to return to Iowa

196     Conversations with Spitzer

196     Continuing contacts with Stuhlinger

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

197     Continued Iowa contact

197-198     Reflections on Rockoon and Aerobee flights

197     Need for work at different geographic latitudes

197     Textbooks on cosmic ray physics and contacts with cosmic ray physicists

198-201     Spectrum of primary cosmic ray radiation and the cosmic ray albedo

199     Latitude surveys

199-200     Role of S. F. Singer

200     Results of work

200-201     Approximate form of cosmic ray spectrum

201     Vallartar's thinking on the magnetic field of the Sun

202-217     Rockoon flights

202     Development

202     Skepticism of technique

202-204     Design and analysis

203     Funding from ONR

203-204     Advantages of the Rockoon

204     Deacon rockets

204-205     Scientific uses of Rockoons

205     Quest for geomagnetic pole

205     Cost of Aerobees too great

205     Disadvantages of Rockoons

205     Advantage of use of ships

206     Character of the balloon flight

206-207     Support from General Mills

207-208     Used Navy supply missions as base of operations - operational support from ONR

208-209     Personal atmosphere on board ship

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

209-217     Scientific results

209-210     Anomalously high radiation at high latitudes

210     Question of low energy cut off ca. 1954-1955

210-211     Improved detectors

211     Soft radiation and auroras

212-215     Magnetic field measurements

213-214     Altitude of electrojets

215-216     Modifications

215     Use of two-stage rocket

216     Early contact with inner radiation belt

217     Expedition during the summer of 1957 (See p. 249)

217     Goals

217-222     Vanguard

217-218     Switch from Army to Navy - The Stewart Committee

218     Knowledge of situation and chairman of working group on Internal Instrumentation

218     Meetings at NRL

218     Opinion of progress

218-219     Problems

219-220     Decision to make his equipment interchangeable between Vanguard and Redstone

220     Von Braun's motives

221-232     The Iowa staff: George Ludwig

221-222     Transistor technology

223     Digression to examination of photograph from Norton Sound, 1949

223-224     Members of Iowa Team and build up of staff and facilities at Iowa, 1951 on

224     Students

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

225     Undergraduate students and graduates now at other institutions

226     Teaching and department duties

226-227     Organizational style

226-229     Work habits then and now

228     Correspondence

228-229     Turn to conceptual design role in 60s and 70s

229     Growing amount of grant writing time

230     Growth in devotion to data analysis

230     The need for NASA-trained-or-certified technicians

231-232     Electronics technology and computers

232-233     Negative effect of high technology and pressure on some early workers - shifting interests

233     Frustrations

233     The problem of maintaining control of missions

233-247     Panel work, ca. IGY

234     Contact with fellow panel members

234-235     Constitution of panels

235-240     Organization of Michigan symposium on use of earth satellites, 1955-1956

235-236     Guidelines

236     Migration of geophysicist's interests into solar physics - lack of astronomers' involvement

237-238     Bases of Michigan guidelines

238     Problem of need to exclude "futurists"

238-239     Treatment of S. F. Singer

TAPE 3, SIDE 1

239-240     Technical limitations

240-246     Other panel work

241     IGY panel on Internal Instrumentation

241-242     Criteria for judgment

242     Proposals

242-244     Discussion of proposals

246-249     Digression to discuss 4-stage rocket that could have achieved orbit - September 1956

247     Fear of posing threat

247-248     Conjecture on nature of space race if we had successfully launched in 1956

248     Shock value of Sputnik I

249     Sputnik II and III

250-251     Operation "Deep Freeze" during Summer, 1957

250     Rocket work associated with IGY

250     Better latitude range

251     NSF support

251-253     Discussion of peripheral interest in nuclear and cosmical aspects of cosmic ray research

252     Contacts with nuclear and high energy physicists

253-256     Experiences on "Glacier" during Operation Deep Freeze when Sputnik I was launched

253     Analysis of signals for confirmation of legitimacy of satellite (See p. 264)

254     Concern for loss of Vanguard priority

TAPE 3, SIDE 2

255-256     Recollections from notes made during the expedition

256     Return to US

256-258     Priority packages for Vanguard

257     No priority clearly established for December 1957 launch of TV-3

257-258     Foreclosure of Vanguard opportunity

258-259     Change of instrument package for the Jupiter-C: no tape recorder at first

259     Problem of vehicle spin

260-261     Lack of initial attention to data reduction

261     Telemetry problems with tumbling

262-263     Spirit of launch - scientific pursuit

263-264     Question of best orbit characteristics

264-278     Discovery of radiation belts

265     Gradual realization from bits and pieces of data

265-266     Phone call with William Pickering

267     Distractions after launch

267     Public interest

267-269     Photo opportunity for press at NAS and rescuing the honor of the United States

269     Intrusion of the press

269     Offers from industry

269-270     Launch of Explorer II on 6 March, 1958 and preparation for Explorer III

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

271-272     Reflection on technological difficulties of doing science with rockets

271-272     Reliability versus complexity

272     Rigorous pre-flight checking

272     Complexity of NRL designs

272-278     Discovery of radiation belts, cont.

272     Repeatable results derived from Explorers I and II

273     The trapping hypothesis

273     Earlier clues

273-277     Description of preparation of Explorer III

273     Direct descendant of V-2 and Aerobee instruments

274     Spin problem for tape recorder

274     National policy included scientific purpose on both Vanguard and Jupiter launches

274-275     Deal 1 and Deal 2 between JPL and US National Committee of the IGY, and Van Allen

275     The Jupiters and von Braun's 90 day pledge

275-276     Confidential report of findings to Porter, Odishaw, Panofsky, Pickering and others in early April

276     AEC concern that effect might have been due to a Russian thermonuclear explosion

276-277     Plans for instrumentation after Explorer III

277     Coupling of Explorer IV and V with Project Argus

277-278     1952 study of radio whistlers

278-294     Project Argus

278     W.H. Pickering was communications link

279     Kristofilos' plan for high altitude bomb bursts

279-280     Van Allen's role

280     Van Allen's intentions and goals

281     The nature of the Argus launches

282     Improved detectors for Explorer IV and V

282     Operation of instruments for greater dynamic range

283     Contact with Livermore

283     Contact with JPL and Huntsville, and integration of parts

284     Possible dependence of later Explorers (IV and V) upon Argus

284     Testimony before Congress on the establishment of NASA (See also p. 286)

285     Opinion of the new NASA

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

285-286     Digression to discuss public reaction to Sputnik

286     Van Allen's proposal for structure of NASA

286-287     Observations of Lyndon Johnson and relation of ARPA, Argus, and NASA, and general recollections and opinions of relative merits

287-288     Reservations about military control of satellite research

288     Launch of Explorer IV

289     Failure rates - Explorer V

290-294     Argus workshop at Livermore, February 1959

290-291     First results on trapped particle motion

291     Round table discussion

291-292     E. Teller and Northrop

292-293     Announcement of Argus tests

294-298     Status of cosmic ray research after Explorer IV

294     Clout of Iowa group

294-297     Pioneer flights in 1958 and 1959 to cut through the radiation belts

294-295     Major publications

296     Heavy IGY satellite (Explorer VII)

296-297     Design of more complex Explorers

297     Problems with the editors of the Physical Review, and with reception of work by APS

298     Kindred spirits in astronomy and geophysics

298-299     Interest in planetary probes

298     Mariner II

299     Interest in general planetary studies and in exploration

299-300     The Space Science Board

299     Lloyd Berkner's influence

299-300     Demise of Rocket and Satellite Research Panel

300     Origination of planetary missions within the Space Science Board

300-301     Generation of new groups interested in planetary probes

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

301     The space field becomes crowded

301     Fraternal spirit prevails

301-305     Big versus little satellites

302     One-shot missions

302     Problems with OGO series

303     Insider/outsider view

303     Problem with insider favoritism at Goddard

303-304     NASA's University Program and Ramsay Committee

304     NASA support for university centers

304-305     University problems

305-308     Kitt Peak space division, mid 1960s

306     Remotely controlled telescope as prototype element in plans for a space telescope

307     Membership on AURA Board of Directors

307-308     Lack of support from Kitt Peak

308-309     Switch to satellites after 1957

309     Satellites versus sounding rocket versus balloon work at Iowa

309-310     Interest in solar X-rays supported by ONR (See p. 311)

310-311     Nicholas Anton's detectors

310     Herbert Friedman's halogen-filled counters

310-311     Anton's entrepreneurship

311-313     Solar X-ray studies from Injuns I and IV and on Mariner V

311     Continuous solar X-ray monitor

312     Stereoscopic observations of solar flares

313     Digression to discuss planned solar mission

313-316     Post-1962 period of intense competition

314     Ranger and JPL

314-315     Manned program

315     The Shuttle squeeze, 1971-1975: Congressional testimony

316-317     Growing involvement with NASA

316     Need for administrative assistance

316-317     Staff at Iowa

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

317-321     1962 Iowa Conference

318     Summer Study to identify space science goals

318     L. Berkner's role

318-319     Space Science Board support

319     Participants

319-320     Research plans

320     Large aperture space telescope

320     Participating astronomers

321     Chairmanship of many working groups

321-323     Editorial in 1967 on abandonment of planetary missions

321     Problems with Viking program

321-322     Competition with USSR

322     Lunar and Planetary Missions Board and the Outer Planets Panel

322-323     Planetary magnetic fields

323     Mariner II observations

324     Comment on cause for increased interest in space astronomy

324     Uhuru

324     OAO

325     Digression to discuss NASM galleries

325     Exploring the Planets

325     Alabama Space and Rocket Center exhibit on magnetosphere

326-345     Amplification of earlier topics in review

326     Van Allen's influence upon others

326-327     Herbert Friedman's solar UV studies with rockoons

327     Limitations of rocket work

327-328     Influence upon Martin Schwarzschild's Stratoscope work

328-329     Friedman's development of halogen geiger counter

329     General free exchange of technical development existed between rocket experiments supported by Upper Atmosphere Research Panel and ONR

329-330     Origin of term "Van Allen Radiation Belts"

330     Robert Jastrow's role

330-335     Contact with Russians

331     Translation services

331-332     Lack of direct contact with Russian workers

TAPE 3, SIDE 1

332     Travel to Russia

332-333     De-briefing in US

333-334     Russian experiments, ca. 1958

333-335     Sputnik III detected belts

334-335     US obtains lead in instrumentation with Explorer VII

335     Division of planetary probes by US and U.S.S.R.

335     Development of micro-circuitry and computers

335-337     Effect of Starfish tests upon operating satellites

335-336     Van Allen's role - Injun I

336     Telstar I death

336     Triad satellite

336     Soviet tests prior to test Ban Treaty

336-337     Purpose of Starfish

337-338     State of development of magnetospherics in early 1960s

337-338     Orbiters, Mariner II, Explorer X

338     1962 marks end of "exploratory period": a period of basic descriptive work

338     After 1962, his attention turns to the planets

338-340     Van Allen's motivations and research style

338-339     Push for planetary exploration: The Grand Tour

339     Cancellation of Grand Tour and fall back to "Mariner: Jupiter-Saturn", 1973-1974

339-341     Alteration of the Pioneer X and XI missions in 1968

340     The SNAP 19 power source

341-344     Search for the heliopause

342     Revision of estimates for its distances

343     Expected operational lifetime of Pioneers X and XI

344-345     Desire to remain working on solar system objects

345     Speculation on alternative launch vehicles

345-354     Discussion of family and University of Iowa

345-349     Family

346     Abbe Van Allen's background as mathematician

346     First child

346-347     Return to Iowa

TAPE 3, SIDE 2

347     Early living conditions at the University of Iowa ca. 1951, in Army type barracks

348     Family awareness of research

348     Household chores with 5 children

349     University politics and duties

349     Lack of contact with campus politics

350-352     Family travels

352-393     Children's directions and lives

353-362     General discussion of aspirations and reflections

354     Studying Saturn

354     Halley's comet encounter

354     Textbook writing

354-355     Advisory work

355     Present outlook for space science

355-356     The Shuttle problem

356-357     Identification of advocates: the "religion of the Space industry"

357     Cancellation of the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory

357     The economics of Space Shuttle

357-358     Plans for Space Shuttle ca. 1972; the Space Science Board's reaction

358     Studies of manufacturing in space

358-359     Solar power satellites

359     Planetary missions no longer considered social imperative

359     Reagan's policies

359     VOIR

TAPE 4, SIDE 1

360     Commitment to Shuttle

360-361     Uses of Shuttle: military advantages

361     Use of Shuttle for planetary programs

361     Need for the Centaur and other upper stages

361     Assemble probes in low earth orbit

362     Comments on career and life

Wasserburg, Gerald Joseph. Dates: December 16; December 22, 1982. Interviewers: Allan Needell, Joseph Tatarewicz. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 2.5 hrs.; 71 pp. Use restriction: Not established.

Briefly sketches Wasserburg's (b. March 25, 1927) family background and Army experience before discussing his career in geophysics at the California Institute of Technology as assistant professor, associate professor, and professor of geology and geophysics (1954- ). The discussion centers on Wasserburg's research on the application of the methods of chemical physics to geological problems, the measurement of absolute geologic time, and the determination of solar system and planetary time scales. His contact with Kuiper and Urey is also discussed.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1-15     Family Background, Education

1-2     Parents

3     Father's employment

4     Einstein; radio tinkering

5     Sister

6     Rock collecting

7-8     Dr. Hawkins from Rutgers

9     Work after school

10     Anti-semitism

11     Junior high school

12     Enlisted in the Army; interest in planes

13     Chemistry kit

14     Interest in astronomy

15     Influence of science

16-29     Army

16-20     Army experience

21     Scientific aspects surrounding the bomb

22     Considering the Army as a career

23-24     Promotion to sergeant

25     Finishing high school

26     Re-learning mathematics; night school at Rutgers

27-29     Bader and Ice Physics

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

30-71     Graduate work at Chicago; postdoctoral

30-31     Applying to Chicago and Princeton; Gamov

32-33     Scientific interests

34     Theoretical nuclear physics; Wigner

35     Physics at Chicago

36-37     Staff, textbooks

38     Working for Urey

39     David Altlas; interest in physics and earth sciences

40-41     Experimental work in Urey's lab; Lavas, Bader

42     Graduate exam at Chicago

43     Geology/physics decision

44     Institute of Nuclear Studies

45     Dating meteorites; Inghrams

46-47     Argonne; getting clearance

48     Hayden, Zinn, at Argonne

49     Determining age on the solar system; Chandrasekhar

50     Oral exam for doctorate: committee names

51     Reaction to the work on dating meteorites

52     The shift in the red shift

53     The double beta experiment

54     Physics/geology conflict

55     Mining

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

56     Dating rocks and meteorites

57     Discovery of reversals

58     Libby

59     The Meyers and nuclear physics

60     Cyclotron

61     Interest in the chemical history of the solar system

62     Kuiper as a planetary astronomer

63-66     Urey stories

67     Libby and a national Lab

68-69     Job offers with oil company

70     Job offers at CALTECH; Harrison Brown

71     A Urey story

Webb, James Edwin. Date: July 22, 1983. Interviewers: David H. DeVorkin, Joseph Tatarewicz, Michael Dennis. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 1.5 hrs.; 35 pp. Use restriction: Open.

Details Webb's (b. October 7, 1906) years as Administrator of NASA (1961-68). Central features of the interview include a brief account of his management experience prior to his tenure at NASA: Webb's efforts, through NASA, to expand the research capability of the country in the space sciences and to encourage social applications of NASA's science activities; his management of the Mercury and Apollo programs, and his working relationship with Dryden and Seamans; relationship between NASA scientists and engineers; his working relationship with Congress; and the effects of the Apollo fire on the management of the space program.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1     Comments on recall and knowledge of NASA activities

1-2     Arnold Levine's book Managing NASA

2-3     Proposal to create interdisciplinary study center institute for national science policy issues at universities

3-4     Reactions of universities to proposal

4-5     Universities that most faithfully instituted the proposal

5-6     NASA interest in expanding research base in space sciences

6     Value to NASA in expanding number of universities participating in space program

6-7     NASA use of predoctoral fellowships to expand number of participating universities

7-14     Elements of personal background that influenced administrative style in NASA

7-8     Flying experiences as Marine Reserve

9     Contact with Lloyd Berkner in Naval Reserves (1932)

9-11     Work at Bureau of Budget under Truman - proposed science foundation

11     Rejection of "elitism" during Truman administration

11-13     Experience in managing science - example of developing portable radar units for combat

13-14     Work at Sperry Gyroscope - contact with Stark Draper

14     Recruitment of Bob Seamans and Dryden for NASA - organizational and business experience of Seamans, Dryden and Webb

15     Maintaining NASA independence

16     Decision-making process with Dryden and Seamans

16-17     Appointment as NASA Administrator - role of Jerry Wiesner

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

17-18     Frontier of Science Foundation of Oklahoma

19     Other administrative liaison experience

19-20     Influence on course of space program as NASA administrator - emphasis on applications

21-22     Value of expanding the research base-role in attracting business; contact with Mervin Kelly of Bell Labs

22-23     Linking science and application

23     Role of pilot model programs in solving social problems and in the application of science

24     Building up scientific capability - producing additional PhDs

24-25     NASA support of ground-based astronomy

25-26     Astronomers' participation in space programs

26     NASA programs and NSF roles in supporting astronomy

26-27     Apollo engineers' interest in science vs. engineering

27-28     Apollo fire and Sam Phillips

28     Regaining confidence of Congress and public after Apollo fire - management procedures

29     Sam Phillips' authority over configuration

29-30     Congressional supporters of space program

30     OSO-B1 fire

30-31     NASA planetary program support after Apollo fire

31     Contact with scientists

32     Contact with contractors

32-33     Lack of communication between scientists and manned space flight engineers - Newell and Mueller

33-34     Long range planning and organizational objectives

34     Keith Glennan

35     Quality of Goddard scientists; concern of "outside" scientists about getting fair treatment by NASA

Westphal, James A. Dates: August 9; August 12; September 14, 1982. Interviewer: David H. DeVorkin. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 12.5 hrs.; 266 pp. Use restriction: Open.

Reviews Westphal's (b. June 13, 1930) family background, education, and early employment at the Seismograph Service Corporation (1948-53) and at Sinclair Research Labs (1954-60), where he gained experience in designing and constructing a variety of instrumentation. The bulk of the interview is devoted to a thorough discussion of Westphal's career at the CALTECH (1961- ), first as an instrumentation engineer and later as an associate professor and professor of planetary science (1971- ). The interview documents his initial activities in the design and improvement of infrared detectors and telescopes, and then his increasing interest and involvement in the science of infrared astronomy and planetary astronomy. Also covered in great detail is Westphal's work on the Wide Field Camera for ST, including discussion of the evaluation of detectors (SIVIT, SIT, CCD), design, competing for the contract award, NASA's procedures and structure and their effect on the development of ST and its instrumentation, and the use of ST and WFC after launch.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1-10     Early life, education, and interests

1-2     Father's occupation and hobbies

2     Junior high school education in Morrilton and Little Rock, Arkansas

3     Early interest in Astronomy

3-4     Amateur Telescope Making, edited by Ingalls

4-8     High school in Little Rock

5-8     Building a telescope for the Science Club

6     Silvering the mirror

7     Participation in ALPO

8     Father's influence

9     Family financial resources

9-10     Father's and mother's education

10-26     Post high school and university life in Tulsa, Oklahoma

10     Filling station job

11-13     Seismograph Service Corporation (SSC) employment

12-13     Decision to go to college

13     Saving money for tuition

14     Beginning at the University of Tulsa

14     Employment at the Nash-Finch Corporation

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

15-16     Interest in electronics

16     Re-employment by SSC

17     Attitude toward graduate education

18-19     Advancement at SSC

19     Physics education

19-22     Interests in chemistry, rocketry and physics

20-21     Experimentation with a Toppler pump

21-22     Early rocket interest

22-23     Interest in science fiction

23-24     Difficulty in studying and working full time

25-26     Background in geology

25-29     Employment with SSC after college

26-27     Offer to work with US Geological Survey

27-28     Radioactive well logging

28     Seismic work in Mexico; project manager

29     Exemption from Korean War draft

29-69     Employment at Sinclair Research Labs

29-30     Recruitment

30     Responsibilities: exploration research

TAPE 2, SIDE 1

31     Research environment; loose organization

32     Computerization of exploration research activities

32     Astronomy Club

33-34     Management attitude toward research: financial largesse ad non-interference

34-35     Analyzing unconventional ways of finding oil

36     Organic mass spectroscopy

37     Mercury contamination

39-43     Exploration with radio waves; Radoil

41-43     Radio wave transmission in salt water

43-44     Exploration using surface electrical properties

45-46     Exploration using gravity techniques

45-46     Vertical gravity mapping and association with Hewlett Dix

TAPE 2, SIDE 2

48-53     Sinclair's interest in space activities

48-50     Report evaluating space activity in relation to Sinclair's interests and presentation to SRL board

51-52     Presentation to Sinclair Board of Directors

51     Early industry interest in space

51     Personal interest in space work

52-61     Project Moonwatch

53     Moonwatch telescopes

53     Smithsonian administration of Moonwatch

54-55     Development of own tracking techniques of Sputniks I and II

54-55     Role of HAM operators

55-56     Spotting boosters of Sputnik I

56-57     Reporting data to Smithsonian

58     Contact with other Moonwatch groups

58-60     Art Leonard and Moonwatch

59-60     Radio tracking technique

61     Smithsonian treatment of amateur astronomers

61     Professional and amateur astronomers' relationships

62-63     Summary of accomplishments at Sinclair

62     Use of IBM 650 in research

TAPE 3, SIDE 1

64     Contact with Hewitt Dix

64-65     Seismic sounding work

65-66     Quarry blast reflections off Mohorovicic Discontinuity

66     Forwarding data to Dix

66-67     Dix hired as consultant to SRL

68     Development of technique to digitize seismic records

68-69     Proposal by Dix to build digitizer at CALTECH

70-266     Career at CALTECH

69-70     Leave of absence from SRL

70-71     Course work at CALTECH; encouragement for further education

70-72     Applied math with Miklowitz

71-72     Building the digitizer

72-76     Bruce Murray and thermal infrared work on the moon

73-74     Need for instrumentation engineers at CALTECH

74-75     Thermal detectors; Golay cells

75-76     Infrared detection on the moon

76     Underwater photography

77     Offer from Bob Sharpe to remain at CALTECH

78-79     General responsibilities at CALTECH

TAPE 3, SIDE 2

79-81     Infrared detector from Naval Ordnance Test Station

81     Use of the detector, with Murray, on 60-inch at Mt. Wilson

81     Origins of the detector

82     Instrumentation needs at CALTECH

82-83     Dowell Martz

84     Work and association with Hewitt Dix

85     Infrared Work with Murray on the moon

86     Decision to build a 20-inch telescope; placement on Mt. Wilson

87-89     Building and testing the telescope

88-89     Use of gold mirrors

89-90     Belief in the need for a highly elevated site

89-91     Selecting White Mt. as site

90-91     Building the dome at White Mt.

91-93     Discovery of thermal spots on the Moon

93-113     IR work with Murray on stars and planets; interest in applying IR techniques to stars

94     Wildey participation

94-95     Discovery of 10-micron radiation from stars

TAPE 4, SIDE 1

96     Naval Ordnance detector - lifting of classification

96-97     Use of the 200-inch telescope and observations of Venus

97-99     Conflict over allowing Westphal scientific credit for infrared work

99-105     Relationship between science and technology

101-102     Their relationship at JPL

102     Their relationship at NASA

102-104     Their relationship at the Space Science Institute

105-107     Observations of Venus

105-106     Back-up for Mariner 1

106-107     Discovery of pole of Venus and active atmosphere

108     Neugebauer at CALTECH

108-111     Reliability of mercury doped detectors; the Wildey effect

112-113     Frank Low's bolometers

TAPE 4, SIDE 2

113     Leighton and Westphal's feeling of an inadequate scientific training; physics of the infrared

114     Consultation with Bob Sharpe over these feelings

115-117     Infrared project with Neugebauer and Martz

115-116     Dewar technology

117-127     Work with Heinz Lowenstam

117-118     Lowenstam's research: paleoecology

118-120     Initial instrumentation recommendations: removal of brass from aquaria

118-120     Biologists and instrumentation knowledge

120     Temperature controlled aquaria room

120-123     Building pressurized aquaria

123     Problems of dividing work time among various projects

124-126     Retrieving deep sea animals

124-126     Proposed use of the Trieste

126     Trip to Palas Island

126-127     Satisfaction in enhancing Lowenstam's research capability

TAPE 5, SIDE 1

127-134     Search for a low interference infrared site (10 micron) and a trip to Mt. Chacultaya, Bolivia

127-128     Not understanding the radiation interference from the telescope itself

128-129     Atmospheric radiation interference and water vapor

129     Search for a dryu site; and cooperation with USGS

129-130     Trip to Mt. Chacultaya

131-132     Results; effect of volcanic eruption on data

132-133     Neugebauer work at 2 microns

133     Technological problems in infrared work

134-135     Anecdotes on the 62-inch telescope

134-138     Decision to be a scientist rather than just an engineer

135     Challenges to his credentials

135-137     Independent research of acoustic sounding of glaciers

137-138     Acceptance of research as thesis quality

138-139     Promotions to associate professor and professor

140     Comments on papers in 10 micron stellar and planetary photometry

140     Don Rey offer to use an aircraft as a platform for infrared studies

141-144     Problems of atmospheric interference and the research for a dry site; Mt. Chacultaya and other sites

144     Measuring interference as a function of altitude with an airplane

TAPE 5, SIDE 2

144-146     Problems: having an open hole in the plane and turbulence around the hole

146-147     Contact with Frank Low

147-148     Rejection of offer to work on Mariner 4

148-151     Personal approach to research; individual freedom to be involved at various levels vs. organizational constraint

151-152     Atmospheric turbulence and thermal environment and its effect on site selection

152     IRTF telescope and site survey

152     NASA offer and selection of sites

153     Impetus for telescope

153-154     Preparing instrumentation and collecting data

154-155     Selection of Mauna Kea as best site

154-155     Disagreements

154-156     Development of IRTF telescope

156-159     Threat of discontinuation of IRTF; NASA decision making process

157-158     NASA, astronomers and Mariner 4

TAPE 6, SIDE 1

160-167     Silicon Vidicon photometer, SIVIT

160     Bellcom and SIVIT

161     RCA orthicons

162     Contact with Bell Telephone

162-163     Problems with SIVIT: filament

163-164     Working with Gary Bailey, JPL, to solve problems

164-165     Problems with SIVIT: cooling

165-167     Bell Telephone pilot test of SIVIT

166-167     RCA SIVIT's improvements over the Bell model

167     Silicon Intensified Target Vidicon, SIT

168     Difference from SIVIT

169-171     Using the SIT on the 200-inch; sensitivity of the SIT

171-173     Flat field problem

172     Flat field problem and SIVIT

172-174     Difference between photography and photometry

174-241     Wide field camera (WFC) and Space Telescope (ST)

174-175     Use of CCD

175     Initial involvement: COMPLEX (Committee on Lunar and Planetary Exploration)

175-176     James Van Allen

TAPE 6, SIDE 2

177-179     NASA history of slow return of data to scientists

179-180     COMPLEX review of NASA space program

180     JPL and early use of CCD

180-181     Testing of CCDs

181-182     JPL offer of a CCD to CALTECH

182-183     Decision to build WFC for ST

183-184     Westphal as proposed PI and selection of CALTECH team

184     Competition from other proposed teams

185-189     Comparison of SEC and CCD

188-187     Suggestion to use CCDs on ST through a pyramid design

187-189     Discussion of CCDs on ST at Science Working Group meeting, Phase B

189-191     Decision to make WFC a PT instrument rather than a facility instrument

190     NASA response to this decision

191     Decision by Westphal and James Gunn to form a team

191-193     CCD problem: Making it work in the ultraviolet

193-194     Coronene phosphor

TAPE 7, SIDE 1

194-198     Coronene: quantum efficiency

195-196     Early organization of the WFC team

198     Pyramid design of CCDs

198-199     Efficacy of CCDs

199-200     Recruiting JPL as subcontractor

199-203     Writing proposal for WFC with Ed Danielson

203-204     Consideration of a planetary camera; rotating the mirrors

204-206     Preparation of summary proposal

206     F-ratio of PC; PC mode vs. WFC mode in event of mechanical failure

206-208     Ball Brothers acquiring copy of CALTECH proposal

208-209     Coronene phosphor not specified in proposal: NASA response

209-210     Spitzer and the SEC

TAPE 8, SIDE 1

211     Goddard proposal for WFC

212     Spitzer's final design for WFC

212-213     Design of CALTECH WFC

213-214     Spatial integrity of 4 CCDs

214-215     Pyramid design and the PC mode

216     Interest in planetary observations

216-218     Relationship of PC mode to European Faint Object Camera (FOC)

218-220     Mona Tycz

221     Using CCD on 200-inch to demonstrate its efficacy

222-223     Determining power requirements

223     Need for an external radiator

223     Proving need for an external radiator

224-225     Confidence that CALTECH would be awarded WFC

225-229     Proving need for an external radiator: tests by Goddard, Perkin Elmer, Lockheed

TAPE 8, SIDE 2

228-229     Lockheed and Perkin Elmer evaluations

229-230     Weight problem

230     Filter mechanism

231     Independent instrument craftsmen vs large contractors

231     NASA, review system, matrix system and instrument development and cost

232-233     Importance of WFC to ST

233     Problems if WFC is not ready by launch

233-236     Organizational relations between NASA and ace industry

236-237     Development of the other instruments for ST

236-237     Optical filters for WFC

237-239     Structure of NASA and its relation to the structure of the ST project; review sessions

239-241     NASA's need for scientists with engineering knowledge

241-247     Science Institute: role of Space Telescope Science Institute

241-242     Origins of Institute

242     Westphal's attitude toward the Institute

242-243     Goddard and the Institute

TAPE 9, SIDE 1

244     NASA and the Institute

245-247     Proposals for the Institute: CALTECH and AURA

246-248     Director search

248-249     Tentative offer of deputy director

249-250     Selection of Giacconi and astronomical community's efforts to understand new director

251-252     Science budget and recruitment of young scientists

252     Recruitment of first class scientists

253     Testing ST when it is in orbit

253-254     Orbital verification

254-257     Science verification; gas pressure and the problems of turning instruments on

255-257     Turning WFC on before other instruments

258-259     Releasing WFC pictures to the public

TAPE 9, SIDE 2

259-260     First tasks of WFC

260     Coordinator of WFC with other instruments

260     Opening ST up to other scientific investigator

260-261     Privileges of ST investigators

261-262     Search for extrasolar planetary systems: ST and FOC

262-263     Responsibilities of telescope and interdisciplinary scientists

263-264     Tentative launch date and schedule of activities on WFC to launch

264-266     Need for preplanned contingency use of ST instruments

Whitsett, Charles Edward. Date: April 9, 1982. Interviewer: Gregory Kennedy. Auspices: SAOHP. Length: 1.5 hrs.; 32 pp. Use restriction: Permission required to quote, cite or reproduce.

Surveys Whitsett's (b. October 18, 1936) career in aerospace engineering at the Johnson Space Center, NASA, where he primarily worked on the development and design of astronaut maneuvering units (AMU) on the Gemini, Skylab and Shuttle programs. The discussion centers on the evolution of AMU design, especially the configuration of the control units and the relative advantages of hand-held and backpack designs, as well as the performance of corporate contractors, and simulation equipment used in testing and design.

TAPE 1, SIDE 1

1-2     First interest in astronaut maneuvering units (AMUs) - Master's thesis research

2     Background to AMU development - Gemini

2-3     Research on AMU's for Skylab

3     Evaluation of Gemini AMU

3     Thruster and stabilization system design for AMU - Gemini compared to Skylab

4     Gemini AMU - evolution of control system

4     Discrete rotational command system

4-5     Absence of lateral jets

5-6     Proportional rate command systems

6-7     Skylab hand-held AMU (HHMU)

7     Simulation tests with exoskeletal limb sensor

7-8     Test of spacecraft disturbances due to crew movement

8     Background of AMU configuration design

8-9     HHMU drawbacks

9     Role of astronaut office in design of AMUs

9-10     Influence of Gemini AMU on later designs

10-11     Corporations bidding for Skylab AMU - selection of Martin Marietta

11     Shuttle AMU and Martin Marietta

11-12     Funding for Gemini, Skylab and Shuttle AMUs

12     LTV proposals for AMUs after Gemini

12     LTV independent manned manipulator

12     Skylab experiment TO 20 - foot-controlled AMUs

TAPE 1, SIDE 2

14     Design problems in TO 20

14-15     Attempts to cancel TO 20

15     Center involvement in conflicts over TO 20

15-16     Training time for TO 20 compared to M509

16-17     CMGs - advantages and disadvantages

17     Shuttle AMU control modes - influence of Skylab AMU

18     Shuttle AMU rate gyro mode

18-20     Shuttle AMU - redesign of hand controls

20-21     Proposed, but not flown AMUs

21-22     Current research at Marshall - underwater manned maneuvering units (MMU)

22     Denver simulator for close proximity work

22     Simulator visual system

22-23     Solar Max repair mission - conflicts with Co