Page:Project Mercury - A Chronology.pdf/24

Rh The first American four-stage rocket was launched by the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division of NACA’s Langley Laboratory at Wallops Island.

Dr. Alan T. Waterman of the National Science Foundation presented President Dwight Eisenhower with a plan to implement the United States' portion of the International Geophysical Year satellite experiment.

President Eisenhower endorsed the IGY proposal for the launching of small earth-circling satellites.

The United States announced that it would launch earth satellites during the 18-month IGY (July 1957 through December 1958).

Project Vanguard began operations. On this date the Department of Defense wrote a letter to the Department of Navy authorizing the Navy Research Laboratory to proceed with the Vanguard proposal. The objective of the program was to place a satellite in orbit during the IGY, and responsibility for carrying out the program was placed with the Office of Naval Research.

The Department of Defense's Stewart Committee reviewed the alternatives for an IGY satellite program: wait for the development of an Atlas launcher, use a modified Redstone, or develop a rocket derived from the Viking missile. The committee voted seven to two in favor of abandoning Project Orbiter (Redstone) and developing Vanguard (the Viking derivative). Secretary Donald Quarles ruled with the committee majority in the Department of Defense Policy Committee, which approved the decision.

The National Academy of Sciences established a Technical Panel for Earth Satellite Program, with Richard E. Porter serving as chairman.