Early Space Explorer

    In the summer of 1958 after a semester of study at the University of Alabama, I was again working as a Co-op student at Redstone  Arsenal.  During this work session I was assigned to work as part of a team manning a telemeter trailer in support of tests on another Explorer Satellite which was to be launched soon atop of another Redstone rocket.

I remember watching various meters as the data from a vibration test of the satellite was recorded on long rolls of photographic paper enclosed in canisters.  When the tests ended, we took the canisters from the recorders and rushed them to the dark-room for developing.  

    As we spread the rolls of developed data (still not quite dry from the developing process) on the viewing table, Dr. van Allen, puffing a cloud of smoke from his pipe, would intently examine the various squiggles to determine how his satellite and its radiation detectors had survived the vibration test.  Later we would go through the same process as the operation of the satellite was verified in extremes of temperature.

    When we had short breaks from our hectic test schedule, Dr. James Van Allen enjoyed explaining the mechanisms and purpose of his experiments.  He was also very concerned that the radiation belt above the earth might mean that man would never be able to go into space.  The measurements to be made by instruments on this satellite would attempt to map that radiation belt.  If it could be determined that the radiation was limited to only certain areas, then there might still be a place in space for man and even for satellites that will make true global communication possible.

Two Van Allen Probes were flown and shed light on the radiation belts surrounding Earth.  This information allowed for the implementing of proper protection from the radiation for man and machine as further space exploration proceeded.

Copyright 2013© Willie E. Weaver