Science and Public Policy: Agency Mission 45 



1. The discovery of the Van Allen belt, and the development 

 of a research satellite which was available to take data in con- 

 nection with the Starfish nuclear test when such data were 

 needed quite unexpectedly and urgently. 



2. The metallurgy of high temperature molybdenum alloys, 

 which proved to be vital in connection with the Polaris 

 program. 



3. The development of the thermochemistry of titanium and 

 its compounds, which proved to be a "bible" of valuable in- 

 formation when titanium became of practical importance. 



4. The early launching of an arctic research program, data 

 from which suddenly proved vital when it became necessary to 

 install the DEW line. 



5. Early support of work in Bayesian statistical analysis which 

 proved to be of great value as more sophisticated methods of 

 detection of signals in noise became increasingly important in 

 radar and sonar. 



6. The development of the mathematical theory of diffrac- 

 tion and scattering of electromagnetic waves from large ob- 

 stacles, which became later very important in application to 

 the problem of minimum radar return from missies and decoys. 



7. Support of the earliest work in the field of time-shared 

 computer systems. 



8. Support of the early fundamental work on the propaga- 

 tion and phase stability of very low frequency electromagnetic 

 waves, which led directly to feasibility of VLF radio-naviga- 

 tion systems — incidentally, a fine example of cooperation be- 

 tween extramural. Navy, and other government laboratories. 



9. Support of fundamental work on the theory of wind gen- 

 erated waves, which led eventually to operationally useful tech- 

 niques for forecasting ocean waves. 



10. The discovery of microplankton in the oceans, and the 

 realization of the importance of small organisms in affecting 

 acoustic properties. 



11. The invention and development of a method for the 

 rapid freezing of blood. 



