Agency history, 1958-1971
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- Hawkins, Gerald S
- Hagge, Carl W
- Mechau, Dorik
- McCrosky, Richard E
- Rosenthal, Harris E
- Southworth, Richard B
- Harvard College Observatory
- United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
- National Science Foundation (U.S.)
- University of Illinois
Category
Agency History
Notes
- This is an agency history. It does not describe actual records. The Smithsonian Institution Archives uses these histories as brief accounts of the origin, development, and functions of an office or administrative unit to set that unit in its historical context. To find information on record holdings, please double-click the highlighted field "Creator/Author", which will open on a brief view of relevant records.
- Guide to the Smithsonian Archives 1996
- Created in 1958, the Radio Meteor Project analyzed the meteoric mass, velocity, orbital parameters, and physical phenomena associated with the atmospheric entry of micrometeoroids at heights of 86 to 110 km. Data was gathered by a multi-station radar system, based in Havana, Illinois. From 1958 to 1966, the project was under the administrative control of the Harvard College Observatory (HCO), with project staff including both HCO and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) scientists. Principal funding for the project was from contracts with the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In 1966, administration of the project was transferred to SAO. The project was terminated in 1971, and the radar facility at Havana was transferred to the University of Illinois.
- SAO administrative officers of the Radio Meteor Project included Dorik Mechau, 1966; Carl W. Hagge, 1966-1970; and Harris E. Rosenthal, 1970-1971. Chief scientific investigators of the project included Gerald S. Hawkins, Richard B. Southworth, and Richard E. McCrosky.
- For a history of the larger creating unit, refer to "Forms part of" above.
Repository Loc.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520
Date
- 1958
- 1958-1971
Topic
Meteorites
Place
Havana (Ill.)
Form/Genre
Mixed archival materials
Local number
SIA AH00181