The Smithsonian's Satellite-tracking 

 Program: Its History and Organization 



PART 2^ 

 By E. Nelson Hayes 



Chief, Editorial and Publications Division, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 



That evening of October 4, 1957, the Observatory Philharmonic 

 Orchestra, wliich drew its performers from both Harvard and Smith- 

 sonian, held its first rehearsal for the tenth annual concert to be given 

 the following spring. As the rehearsal proceeded, the players were 

 one by one quietly called from the room. There was business at hand. 

 The Eussians had launched an artificial earth satellite, and these 

 men and women were needed to attempt preliminary estimates of the 

 orbit, to answer inquisitive and often anxious telephone calls from the 

 public, to meet with newsmen, and otherwise to do the thousand and 

 one tasks that marked the beginning of a new era of astronomy. 



It would not be too much to say that the rather abrupt ending of 

 that night's rehearsal was the end also of a tune when astrophysical 

 research was the private and what seemed to be the impractical pur- 

 suit of scientists isolated from the main stream of public life. Since 

 that evening, and perhaps for the first time since the Renaissance, the 

 astronomer has helped to guide the destinies of nations. 



THE FIRST DAYS 



Word of the lamiching of Sputnik I had first reached the Observa- 

 toiy at 6 :15 of that Friday evening of October 4, 1957. Eveiyone had 

 left for the weekend except Dr. J. Allen Hynek, associate director in 

 charge of the tracking program, and Kenneth Drummond, his assist- 

 ant. They were leisurelj^ discussing plans for the following week 

 when the telephone rang. Hynek casually lifted the phone and gave 

 his name. 



"Do you have any comments on the Russian satellite?" It was a 

 reporter from a Boston newspaper. Although not taking him quite 



1 Part 1 was pubUshed in the Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for 1961, 

 pp. 275-322. The present article takes the development of the satellite-tracking program 

 up to early 1958. Other parts are to follow. 



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