266 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1961 



STIMULUS TO ECONOMY 



Onr Nation needs the stimulus, the knowledge, and the products 

 that will evolve as we carry out our program of space exploration. 

 The influence of the technical progress that will come into being 

 through the integrating force and drive of a major space effort will be 

 felt throughout the economy. Many of the instruments, equipment, 

 power sources, and techniques that we devise to make space expeditions 

 possible will be adaptable to other uses. The result will be substantial 

 scientific advances and a variety of new consumer goods and indus- 

 trial processes that will return tremendous benefits to us in practi- 

 cally every profession and activity. 



Two decades ago the theme of the Temporary National Economic 

 Committee hearings was that America's frontiers had closed and that 

 this was what had caused the stagnation of the thirties. All frontiers 

 then seemed to have been passed, all new territories explored, with 

 very little left for inquiring intelligence beyond applying and de- 

 veloping what has already been discovered. Psychologists and philos- 

 ophers have recognized the need of man's mind for new frontiers to 

 cross. In this connection, manned and unmanned exploration of 

 space is already stimulating basic and applied research throughout 

 our educational, governmental, and industrial systems. The concept 

 of an eternally shut-in human race has been proved superficial. The 

 prospect of exploring space is providing the catalyst and tonic for 

 new adventures of the mind and spirit. 



UNMANNED SPACE FLIGHT 



Since January 31, 1958, this country has successfully launched 46 

 earth satellites, 2 solar satellites, and 2 deep space probes. A recent 

 one is Explorer XII which is making simultaneous measurements of 

 many aspects of the space environment between altitudes of about 

 200 and 50,000 miles from the earth. The early years of space ex- 

 ploration have provided scientific knowledge important to direct ap- 

 plication of satellites in operational systems for communication and 

 weather forecasting, and have contributed to the technology needed 

 for more advanced manned and unmanned spacecraft to come. 



Some of the scientific findings are : 



Discovery of two intense radiation zones trapped around the earth — 

 the Van Allen belts. 



Determination that the earth is slightly pear shaped with the stem 

 at the North Pole. 



New data regarding the makeup of the fields of magnetism in space. 

 For example, Explorer X, a 78-pound NASA satellite, transmitted 

 highly meaningful data on solar-terrestrial relationships — such as 

 magnetic fields and solar winds. 



