SATELLITE-TRACKING PROGRAM — ^HAYES 303 



Smithsonian was to provide the scientific equipment for all the sta- 

 tions, as well as other materials and services as needed. 



Diplomatic and exchange problems would involve not only the 

 arrangement of contracts, but also visas, import regulations, customs 

 duties, personal income taxes, exchange of currency, and special 

 import restrictions. In large measure, these questions were to be 

 resolved through the U.S. Department of State. 



Early in 1957 members of the Observatory toured a number of 

 countries to inspect suggested sites. Dr. Whipple visited proposed 

 sites in Florida and Spain. Dr. Hynek went to Argentina, Peru, and 

 the Netherlands West Indies, and made preliminary arrangements 

 for the establishment of stations there. Dr. Henize undertook similar 

 missions in Spain and the Union of South Africa (now the Republic 

 of South Africa) . Meanwhile, Japan and Australia, as part of their 

 participation in the IGY program, agreed to equip the stations in their 

 countries, except for camera, clock, and accessories, and to provide the 

 observers. In most of the countries cooperation was immediately 

 forthcoming, and arrangements proceeded smoothly. 



The 12 Baker-Nunn camera stations are the following : 



Organ Pass, N. Mex. — 'On the slope of St. Augustin Mountain 

 overlooking the Wliite Sands Proving Ground and the White Sands 

 National Monument, this site is used cooperatively by the Smithsonian 

 satellite-tracking program and the Harvard Meteor Program. The 

 Smithsonian expanded the Harvard building to house both projects. 

 In September 1957 material and equipment for this first Baker-Nunn 

 camera station were received. 



Olifantsfontein, South Africa. — In August of 1956 Dr. Menzel of 

 the Harvard College Observatory and Dr. Whipple approached C. G. 

 Hide of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of South 

 Africa to arrange for the establishment of a station in that country. 

 The site selected was Olifantsfontein, which means literally the ele- 

 phant's fountain or the elephant's drinking pool, a small town halfway 

 between Pretoria and Johannesburg, on an almost flat, bleak veldt 

 plateau broken by occasional scrub and timber. 



The South African National Committee for the IGY provided the 

 buildings, which were completed by November 1957. Except for 

 the camera house, these are prefabricated rondavels, circular in struc- 

 ture, with conical roofs of 14-foot diameter ; they provide an unusual 

 combination of native architecture and 20th-century scientific tech- 

 nology. Around the station are the antennas of a large broadcasting 

 station, part of the communications system of the South African 

 Government. 



