SATELLITE-TRACKING PROGRAM — ^HAYES 



295 



FILM 



TENSIONING WHEEL 



Figure 1. — Simplified cross-section view of the Baker-Nunn camera. 



Looking back on those months of arduous work and of crucial de- 

 cisions and on the periods of discouragement that preceded discovery, 

 Dr. Baker even now sees no practical alternative to the system that was 

 designed." 



Although probably only Dr. Baker could have designed the optical 

 system of the camera, it seemed that a number of firms might be able 

 to manufacture the lenses and mirrors once Schott and Corning ha-d 

 delivered the glass. However, the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, a large 

 company with varied experience in the manufacture of optics, was 

 the only firm that bid for the contract and had the personnel and 

 machines to back up their bid. On November 16, 1956, a contract 

 for the manufacture of the optics was signed by them and the 

 Observatory. 



^1 At best, be would now add a zero power plane-parallel hard-crown optical plate in 

 front of the corrector cell simply In order to protect the KzFS-2 lens ; while in a sense 

 this would have been a fourth corrector, It actually would have presented no difficulties 

 of design or manufacture and could even now be added at any time. Otherwise, called 

 upon to do the same job today, he would still do it in precisely the same way. He would 

 make a plea, however, to those using the cameras to think of them as highly specialized 

 tools that need much care, periodic maintenance, and occasional renovation. 



625325—62- 



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