Reference Request
Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 478
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Satellite Tracking Program
Records, 1957-1983
Collection Overview
| General Information About This Collection | |
|---|---|
| Repository: | Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu. |
| Creator: | Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Satellite Tracking Program |
| Title: | Records |
| Dates: | 1957-1983 |
| Quantity: | 79.59 cu. ft. (64 record storage boxes) (2 16x20 boxes) (30 blueprint storage boxes) (11 oversize folders) |
| Collection: | Record Unit 478 |
| Language of Materials: | English |
| Summary: | This record unit consists mostly of records documenting the administration, operation and scientific work of the STP Baker-Nunn camera and laser-ranging stations. The majority of the files were created after the SAO reorganization in 1973 and maintained by the Radio and Geoastronomy Division. The records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, drawings, blueprints, plans, schematics, charts, publications, manuals, maps, and data concerning station operations; station personnel; the design of stations and facilities; satellites tracked; equipment development, especially the laser-ranging system; agreements with host nations, states, and organizations; procurement requests and property inventories; weather at stations; and general administration. Also included is correspondence of STP Manager Michael R. Pearlman; photographs and slides of stations, personnel, equipment, and facilities; and information on foreign countries where stations were located. |
Descriptive Entry
This record unit consists mostly of records documenting the administration, operation and scientific work of the STP Baker-Nunn camera and laser-ranging stations. The majority of the files were created after the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) reorganization in 1973 and maintained by the Radio and Geoastronomy Division. The records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, drawings, blueprints, plans, schematics, charts, publications, manuals, maps, and data concerning station operations; station personnel; the design of stations and facilities; satellites tracked; equipment development, especially the laser-ranging system; agreements with host nations, states, and organizations; procurement requests and property inventories; weather at stations; and general administration. Also included is correspondence of STP Manager Michael R. Pearlman; photographs and slides of stations, personnel, equipment, and facilities; and information on foreign countries where stations were located.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Bendix Corporation
- Pearlman, Michael R.
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Radio and Geoastronomy Division
- United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Subject
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 478, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Satellite Tracking Program, Records
Container List
Box 1
Weather Reports - Organized by Station
Argentina #9011, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Argentina #9031, 1969, 1968, 1967
Arizona #9021, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967
Australia #9023, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Australia #9043, 1977, 1976, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969
Brazil #9039, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967
Curacao #9009, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Ethiopia #9028, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966
Box 2
Florida #9010, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Greece #9030, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1966
Hawaii #9012, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
India #9006, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Iran #9008, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Box 3
New Mexico #9001, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Peru #9027, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Spain #9004, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
South Africa #9022, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963
Graphs and Reports - Organized by Station
9001 - 1960-1965 (Humidity); 1957-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1960-1965 (Wind Direction); 1959-1965 (Temperature)
9002 - 1961-1965 (Humidity); 1960-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1960-1965 (Wind Direction); 1960-1965 (Temperature)
9003 - 1960-1965 (Humidity); 1960-1965 (Wind Direction)
9004 - 1962-1965 (Humidity); 1960, 1962-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1962-1965 (Wind Direction); 1962, 1964-1965 (Temperature)
9006 - 1961-1965 (Humidity); 1961-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1961-1965 (Wind Direction); 1961-1965 (Temperature)
9008 - 1961-1965 (Humidity); 1960-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1961-1965 (Wind Direction); 1960-1965 (Temperature)
9009 - 1959, 1961-1965 (Humidity); 1961-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1959, 1961-1965 (Wind Direction); 1959, 1961-1965 (Temperature)
9010 - 1960-1965 (Humidity); 1960-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1960-1965 (Wind Direction); 1960-1965 (Temperature)
9011 - 1960-1965 (Humidity); 1960-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1960-1965 (Wind Direction); 1960-1965 (Temperature)
9012 - 1960-1965 (Humidity); 1959-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1960-1965 (Wind Direction); 1959-1965 (Temperature)
9023 - 1960-1965 (Cloud Cover); 1960-1965 (Temperature)
9029 - 1967 (Humidity); 1966-1967 (Cloud Cover); 1966-1967 (Wind Direction)
9031 - 1967 (Humidity); 1966-1967 (Cloud Cover); 1966-1967 (Wind Direction)
9091 - 1966-1967 (Humidity); 1966-1967 (Cloud Cover); 1966-1967 (Wind Direction)
Box 4
Agreement Files
Agassiz
Air Force - NORAD
Argentina
Australian Lunar Laser
AVCO
Natal, Brazil
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Canadian
Ceylon
CNES
Ethiopia
Florida
Greece
Hawaii
India
Japan
Land Leases
New Mexico
Philippines
Omega
South Africa
Spain
TATA Institute of Fundamental Research
Wallops
Box 5
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
Mt. Hopkins, Arizona, 1971-1982
Australia Lunar Laser, 1972-1980
Box 6
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
Arequipa, Peru, 1972-1982
Box 7
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
India, 1971-1980
Naini Tal, 1978-1979
Brazil, 1978-1981
STP Coop
Box 8
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
Johnson - Cold Lake
Kwajalein - Samoa
Bali
India
Alaska
Argentina
Curacao
South Africa
Iran
Florida
New Mexico
Box 9
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
Hawaii
Spain
Brazil
Greece
Ethiopia
Wallops Island
Central Bureau for Satellite Geodesy
Die Casting
Instruction Books
Micro Clocks
Real Stations Follow Up
Box 10
General Correspondence and Miscellaneous Files
Star Magnitudes for TM1-15
Kwajalein Station
Baker-Nunn Film Relocation
Geoastronomy Reports, January-June 1975
Program Summary
Geoastronomy Report, 1974
Geoastronomy Monthly Reports, 1972-1973
Public Information, 1971
System Analysis Performance
Operations 610
610 Trip Reports
Operating Procedure Manual
002 Operations - Meetings and Conferences
510 Operations Special Projects and Reports
Helwan Scientific Reports
Box 11
Station Drawings and Engineering Schematics
New Mexico
South Africa
Australia
Spain
Japan
India
Peru
Iran
Curacao
Florida
Argentina
Hawaii
Motor Starting Relay Circuits
Tri-Ex Tower
Pulse Delay
Decade Box Model C1
Frequency Standard Unit No. 1 and 2
Normal Frequency Standard Unit 2
Auxiliary Phase Shifter
Oscilloscope Unit 34
Time Presentation Electrical Schematic
Slave Clock Schematic
Time Presentation Box
Volt-Ohm Meter
Clock Chassis #4 Power Supply
Brazil Financial Reports
Australia Requests
Mt. Hopkins Financial Requests
Box 12
Australia Requests
India Requests
INPE Requests
Peru Requests, July 1976 thru January 1983
Baker-Nunn Camera Donations
Lunar Laser Inventory
Australia Inventory
Brazil Inventory
Ethiopia Inventory
Greece Inventory
Helwan Inventory
Mt. Hopkins Inventory
India Inventory
Hawaii Inventory
Italy Inventory
Japan Inventory
Sao Paulo Inventory
Peru Inventory
St. Margarets, Canada, Inventory
Box 13
Spain Inventory
SAO STADAD Inventory, 1977-1980
General Inventory
Comodoro
India Gift File
South Africa Inventory
Iran K-50
India Shipping Procedures
Brazil Generator
Ethiopia Vehicle
India Vehicle
What's Up
Australia Maintenance and Malfunction Forms
Box 14
Brazil Maintenance and Malfunction Forms
Peru Maintenance and Malfunction Forms
Mt. Hopkins Maintenance and Malfunction Forms
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
Canada, 1975-1978
CNES, 1976-1978
Delft, 1976-1979
Egypt, 1977-1979
Box 15
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
Greece, 1976-1980
Ethiopia, 1976
Japan, 1976-1979
Wettzell, 1977-1979
Spain, 1979
South Africa, 1976
Miscellaneous memos, March 1978-March 1983
Box 16
General Correspondence and Communications Messages
Miscellaneous memos, 1976-1977
Data Division, 1975-1979
All Stations, 1976-1979
Wettzell, FDR, 1983
Shanghais, China, 1983
Delft, Holland, 1983
Spain
India
CNES, France
NASA Daily Board
Australia
All Stations
Helwan, Egypt
Miscellaneous
Italy
Box 17
Special Satellites Tracked (J. Thorp's files)
Box 18
Operational Files (J. Thorp's files)
Box 19
Satellites Traced, Operational Station Files (J. Thorp's files)
Box 20
Maps - Satellite Tracking
Cooperating Observatories for Satellite Tracking
General Information on Stations
How to Write Post Report
Laser Site Evaluation
Brazil
Burma, Post Reports
Dominion Observatory, Ottawa
Canal Zone Rules
Cold Lake Station, Canada
Ceylon
Chile
Easter Island Project
N. Antilles, Curacao
Czech Coop
Ethiopia
Finland Coop
French Coop
Flamenco Island, Panama
Greece
Guinea General Information
University of Hawaii Coop
Hawaii Personnel
India General Information
Iran
Israel, Tel Aviv Post Report
Johnston Island
Kenya General Information
Northwestern University Organ Pass Station
Pakistan, Dakar
Peru General Information
Poland
North Africa Personnel
Box 21
Moonwatch Forms, Baker-Nunn Camera Manual
Operational Procedures Manual, Station files
Calibration file, Satellite files
Optics and Mirror files
Box 22
Data System II, Software
Arizona Baker-Nunn, Linc Tape Drives
Communications, Linc Tape
Computer Devices/Minitem
Operation Summary Reports
Minicomputer - General, Mag. Test
NASA Monthly, Laser Horizons
Direct Connect, Coordinates
Outside Agencies Correspondence
Box 23
Measurer's initials, C. Lehr memos, What's Up, Monthly Reports from Stations, Target Cals
Box 24
Correspondence and Inventory
India, Arizona, South Africa, Australia, Peru, Ethiopia, Brazil, Greece, Argentina
Box 25
Zielinski Predictions, Varies Satellites, Launch, Calibration, Clock trips, Baker-Nunn Statistics, Operations Statistics
Box 26
Photography Manual, Station Log for Equipment, Kwajalein Camera, Observers Allowances, Station Pension, Public Relations, Special items, South Africa Closeout, Star Charts, Vehicle Inventory, Historic 1959, Foreign Affairs Manual, Observers (Employee Profile)
Box 27
Laser Observation Records
South Africa, 1971
Australia, 1976-1978
Arizona, 1975-1978
Brazil, 1978
Box 28
Laser Observation Records
Brazil, 1975-1976
Peru, 1975-1978
Box 29
Laser Observation Records
Arizona, 1979-1982
Australia, 1979-1982
Brazil, 1979-1981
Box 30
Oslo, Peru, Spain General Information
Tunisia General Information, South Africa General Information
Yugoslavia General Information, Kwajalein Island
General Information, Personnel, Lincoln Lab
AF-New Zealand Coop, Nigeria Camera Site
Norway, Oslo Post Report, Answers to Questions and General Correspondence, SAO Tracking Station
South African Investigation, Boyden Observatory
South Africa Investigation
Status Review to Jim Bavely, 9 April 1976; December 1976
Status Review to GWF, January 26, 1976
Smithsonian-Tinslay Labs Contract
Laser Buildings, Laser Project, Laser/Operation
Radar System Analysis, Laser/Procurement
Laser Safety
"A Manual of Safety Precautions for Laser System"
Laser One-Timers, STADAD/Laser Technical-Scientific
Special Reports and Proposals
Summary of Geodimeter Observations: Laser A-B
Box 31
Files Containing Correspondence from
Brazil, 1973-1977
Sao Paulo, 1975-1979
Australia: General Information
Australia: Western Australia
Australia: Orroral Australia
Azores
Box 32
Photos, Slides
Box 33
Station Requests
Box 34
View Graphs
Box 35
View Graphs
Box 36
View Graphs
Box 37
Laser Observation Records: Peru, 1979-1983
Box 38
Station Position Files (Jim Latimer)
Box 39
Station Position Files (Jim Latimer)
Box 40
J. Wohn Files, Laser Transmitter System Procurement
Field Units
Design Reviews
Progress Reports
Factory Acceptance Tests
Field Acceptance Tests
J. Wohn Files, Pedestal Procurement
Technical Specifications
Contract Schedules
Design Reviews
Progress Reports
Factory Acceptance Testing
Box 41
J. Wohn Files, Pedestal Procurement
Manual Drafts
J. Wohn Files, Photoreceiver Procurement
Technical Specifications
Contract Schedules
Design Reviews
Progress Reports
Factory Acceptance Tests
Manual Drafts
Efficiency Measurements
Laser System Correspondence: To & from the Field
1964 thru 1974
Box 42
J. Wohn Files, Laser Transmitter System Procurement
Budget notes
Meetings
Internal Reports
NASA Reports
Safety Program
Shipment
Community Affairs
Shelters
Vendor Surveys
Technical Specifications
Proposals
Boxes 43-48
Special Reports
Box 49
Observer's Handbook
Station Manager's Handbook
Odd Manuals
Box 50
What's Up and Miscellaneous Reports
Box 51
Miscellaneous Maps and Charts
Timing System photo
Miscellaneous Timing Information
Box 52
Station Coordinates (Cards)
Laser Book (notes)
Box 53
India files to 1971
Egyptian Excess Currency
FAA
Heckel File
Box 54
Helwan Financial Reports
India Proposals
India Excess Currency
Iran Agreement
Peru Agreement - Correspondence
Box 55
Correspondence and Telegrams
Peru, November 1982-December 1983
Australia and Lunar Laser, January 1974-June 1982
M&M Forms
Excess Currency - Poland, Egypt, India, 1982-1983
Mean Latitude, 1981-1983
Borowiec, 1981-1983
SAO-PAS Cooperation, 1982-1983
SAO PAS Proposal Material, 1982-1983
Report, July 1979-September 1980
Colloquium
Box 56
Slides of various stations
Odd Reports
M. R. Pearlman Correspondence, March 1977-June 1978
Box 57
M. R. Pearlman Correspondence, April 1981-December 1983
Italy Correspondence
NASA Correspondence
Weekly Assessment of Quick-Look Laser Tracking Data - Original Memo
Box 58
Photo Album - Peru
Box 58A
Schematics and drawings - Laser #1
Schematics and drawings - Laser #2 (3 folders)
Schematics and drawings - Photoreceiver and Pedestal (3 folders)
Schematics and drawings - Data systems, card schematics, LC4
Box 59
Weekly Calendar, 1957-1967
Memos (General SAO), 1965-1972
Baker-Nunn Observation Monthly Reports, 1961-1968
Box 60
J. Wohn Files
Lunar Laser Files
Correspondence and Reports
Box 61
J. Wohn Files
Laser System
Correspondence
Special Reports
Box 62
J. Wohn Files
Prototype
Laser Ranging System
Box 63
J. Wohn Files
Laser System
Special Reports
Telescope Calibration
Box 64
J. Wohn Files
Mt. Hopkins site preparation
Laser Site Surveys
Laser Pulse Slicer procurement
Geodetic (K-50) Camera project
Box 65
Tapes
12546 All Photo-Reduced Observations through 1974
12551 Laser Observations (Laser B), July 1972 thru December 1974
12502 Laser Observations, 1976
12503 Laser Observations, 1977
12524 Laser Observations, January thru June 1978
12496 Laser Observations, July thru December 1978
10728 Laser Observations, 1979
10734 Laser Observations, January thru October 1980
11806 Laser Observations, November 1980 thru December 1982
12444 Laser Observations, January thru August 1983
Box 66
Large Format Materials
Mt. Hopkins, Arizona
Box 67
Mt. Hopkins, Arizona
Box 68
Mt. Hopkins, Arizona
Box 69
Mt. Hopkins, Arizona
Argentina
Box 70
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Box 71
Jupiter, Florida
Box 72
Debre Zeit
Box 73
Debre Zeit
Box 74
Canberra, Australia
Box 75
Canberra, Australia
Peru
Box 76
Various Stations, including Australia, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Greece, Peru
Box 77
Various Stations, including Australia, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Greece, Peru
Box 78
Various Stations, including Australia, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Greece, Peru
Box 79
Block Diagrams, D4
Photoreceiver and Pedestal, Berkeley, California, D4
Box 80
Photoreceiver and Pedestal, Berkeley, California
Box 81
Photoreceiver and Pedestal, Berkeley, California, D6
Laser #1, D2
Box 82
Mechanical Layout, Microclock Clock
Laser #1, D2
Box 83
Photoreceiver and Pedestal, Berkeley, California
Boxes 84-95
Star Charts
Folder 1 Schematics and drawings - Photoreceiver and Pedestal
Folder 2 Schematics and drawings - Zehntel, Inc., Manual
Folder 3 Schematics and drawings - Schematics, D5
Folder 4 Schematics and drawings - Laser #2, D3
Folder 5 Schematics and drawings - Laser Ranging Station
Folder 6 Star Charts
Folder 7
Folder 8 Schematics and drawings
Folder 9 Schematics and drawings - Various Stations
Folder 10 Schematics and drawings - Various Stations
Folder 11 "Atlas Coeli, 1950.0," Antonin Becvar, 1962
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