I'm curious why Project Vanguard won out over Project Orbiter?Orbiter seemed to have off the shelf equipment whereas Vanguard was a new design, and Explorer 1 would be launched off a similar concept...
You are likely to get a range of answers to this question.
One answer is that the Eisenhower Administration favored a "civilian" program rather than one based on military missiles.
The Army, Air Force, and Naval Research Lab all made proposals, but only the NRL proposal used something not based on a ballistic missile.
Another answer is that the Administration didn't want the Army's Germans to do it.
Plain old inter-service rivalry is oft-mentioned as playing a role. The Air Force was pushing to control all missile work at the time, unhappy that the Army had any long range missile role.
Other answers mention that NRL's proposal was simply better than the Army's at the time, in terms of its plan for science.
Keep in mind that the original plan for Vanguard would have used more existing hardware (Viking plus Aerobee-Hi), but that plan soon folded in the face of reality after the contract was awarded.
Understandable, but the fact is the NRL proposal was operated by the USN whether or not it was based on a ballistic missile program.
It is important to remember that WS-117L (Corona, SAMOS, MIDAS) was already under development. Eisenhower was quite determined that the first US satellite to reach orbit be civilian in nature. Since Vanguard was part of the IGY investigations and NRL was the US point organization for IGY, it just made sense to have them do Vanguard as an extension of the ongoing Viking upper atmosphere investigations.Jupiter C was a modified Redstone ballistic missile developed to test RVs. Viking and Aerobee were sounding rockets from the get-go. The decision was as much about 'optics' as it was science.There was also some concern that the Soviets would try to claim that their airspace extended to infinity. Having a civilian scientific satellite in orbit first was considered less provocative than leading with a recon sat.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 12/06/2018 05:16 amKeep in mind that the original plan for Vanguard would have used more existing hardware (Viking plus Aerobee-Hi), but that plan soon folded in the face of reality after the contract was awarded.What variables prevented that from occurring?
It is important to remember that WS-117L (Corona, SAMOS, MIDAS) was already under development.
This was big part of it. "Freedom of the Skies." Ike wanted a civilian spacecraft to prove the concept. It was revealed recently that the CIA provided some funding for Vanguard just for this purpose. The Soviets going first was a blessing in disguise.
Quote from: Zipper730 on 12/06/2018 12:47 amI'm curious why Project Vanguard won out over Project Orbiter?Orbiter seemed to have off the shelf equipment whereas Vanguard was a new design, and Explorer 1 would be launched off a similar concept...You are likely to get a range of answers to this question. One answer is that the Eisenhower Administration favored a "civilian" program rather than one based on military missiles. The Army, Air Force, and Naval Research Lab all made proposals, but only the NRL proposal used something not based on a ballistic missile. Another answer is that the Administration didn't want the Army's Germans to do it. Eisenhower, after all, had served as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force in the fight against Germany.Plain old inter-service rivalry is oft-mentioned as playing a role. The Air Force was pushing to control all missile work at the time, unhappy that the Army had any long range missile role.Other answers mention that NRL's proposal was simply better than the Army's at the time, in terms of its plan for science. Keep in mind that the original plan for Vanguard would have used more existing hardware (Viking plus Aerobee-Hi), but that plan soon folded in the face of reality after the contract was awarded. - Ed Kyle
In my opinion Von Braun's ties to Nazi party were the most significant reason. Imagine the historical significance of an ex Nazi party member the head of the 1st satellite. The fact that the Russians did it first and all the hysteria that followed, cleared the decks so to speak for Von Braun's future involvement in the US space program.I wonder sometimes how much the space race history would have changed had we put the 1st satellite up? For example the justification for the Apollo program for landing a man on the moon was it was a space feat that we thought we could beat the Russians at. Had we already beaten the Russians at the 1st satellite, would the tremendous cost of project Apollo still have been justified?
In my opinion Von Braun's ties to Nazi party were the most significant reason. Imagine the historical significance of an ex Nazi party member the head of the 1st satellite.
Eisenhower was quite determined that the first US satellite to reach orbit be civilian in nature. Since Vanguard was part of the IGY investigations and NRL was the US point organization for IGY, it just made sense to have them do Vanguard as an extension of the ongoing Viking upper atmosphere investigations.
There was also some concern that the Soviets would try to claim that their airspace extended to infinity.
Also, Vanguard was the whole program. Launch vehicle, spacecraft and tracking system.
No, it was operated by civilians in a lab that happen to also report and support the USN.
Physics of getting to orbit. More energy was needed than the Viking plus Aerobee-Hi combination could provide. The final configuration was a minimalist launch vehicle as it was. It could only orbit about 20 lbs.
Quote from: GClark on 12/06/2018 02:26 pmEisenhower was quite determined that the first US satellite to reach orbit be civilian in nature. Since Vanguard was part of the IGY investigations and NRL was the US point organization for IGY, it just made sense to have them do Vanguard as an extension of the ongoing Viking upper atmosphere investigations.What's IGY?
From what I found, the Explorer 1 satellite was about 30.8 pounds, so they needed the ability to orbit another 11 pounds for it to work. I'm curious what changes were made to Vanguard by the time it went from proposal to first flight?
1. That was a serious possibility?2. I assume by tracking you mean radar-sites to follow the satellite?3. So the fact that there was a layer of separation between the uniformed personnel and the people making the rocket played a role?4. I'm not a real expert on orbital mechanics, but I figure the flight path is "flatter" than a ballistic trajectory so you'd need an extra burn or two and some maneuvering to get into an orbital flight-path?5. From what I found, the Explorer 1 satellite was about 30.8 pounds, so they needed the ability to orbit another 11 pounds for it to work. 5. I'm curious what changes were made to Vanguard by the time it went from proposal to first flight?