Satellite Tracking Program: Station Files, 1957-1964

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Summary

Consists of records documenting the operation of the Satellite Tracking Program's (STP) twelve satellite tracking stations. Also included are files on the United States Air Force tracking stations at Oslo, Norway, and the Meteor Simulation Project Station at Wallops Island, Virginia. Much of the material is routine and consists of copies of correspondence sent to the Assistant Director (Management) by the Station Operations Division which administered the tracking stations. Subjects included in the records are the tracking of satellites, operation of the Baker-Nunn tracking camera, construction and maintenance of the stations, and relations between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and foreign countries where stations were located. These records were primarily maintained by Assistant Director Carlton W. Tillinghast (1961-1969) and when the position was known as the Assistant Director (Management). There are smaller amounts of records created by his predecessor, Kenneth H. Drummond (1959-1961), and the Executive Officer, Vaughan Harmon. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, reports, photographs, and related records.

Subject

  • Tillinghast, Carlton W
  • Harmon, Vaughan
  • Drummond, Kenneth H
  • Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Satellite Tracking Program
  • Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Assistant Director (Management)
  • Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Meteor Simulation Project
  • United States Air Force

Category

Series Level Description

Notes

  • To view records that comprise this series, see the detailed list of accessions and/or record units below.
  • For a history of the creating unit, refer to "Forms part of" above.

Organization

Alphabetic

Repository Loc.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520

Date

  • 1957
  • 1957-1964

Topic

  • Observatories
  • Astrophysics
  • Baker-Nunn camera
  • Research institutes
  • Astronomy

Place

  • Wallops Island (Va.)
  • Oslo (Norway)

Form/Genre

  • Manuscripts
  • Black-and-white photographs

Local number

SIA RS00634

Physical description

1.5 cu. ft. processed holdings

Full Record

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