PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE | 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
O Wes Balloon
292 Feh 52 | Laka City-Dowell Station. pot nF robably Balloon
2. ODATE-TIME GROUP | 4. TYPE OF CSSERYATION fe rosenty Bolloor
. Vi ~*~ 7 O Was Aircraft
Local : OGround- Vi sual GD Ground-Redor Q Probably Aireraft
GMT 01/00302 O Air Visual O Air-intercept Radar |G Possibly Aireroft
5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE G& Wes Astronomical or
0 Yes O Probably Astronomical
DO Ne Mies yy i Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE O Cther i
0D insufficient Data for Evaluation
0 Unknown
Lew secs : ‘ .
110. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
ad, irey red obj w/firey tail about Una ; ics 2teor
same size of obj, traveling at terri > ing ration. ription
speed 2 very nich. CONS nt with . is innaAlyvysi
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
3
5

ot eterna See = M

-RELIMINARY RESULTS FROM OPTI » TRACKING
OF U. S. EARTH SATELLITES
by
J. Allen Hynek* and Fred L. Wnipple**

In the satellite program of the International Geo-
ohysical Year the complex operations performed by the Op-
tical Satellite Tracking Program of the Smithsonian Astro-
physical Observatory are a result of teamwork in the fullest
sense of the word. The manifold tasks include the visual
acquisition of the artificial earth satellives, the com-
putation of search ephemerides and predictions, the opera-
tion of a world-wide network of precision tracking cameras
cavable of photographing small objects at distances of hun-
dreds of miles and timing these pnotograpns to better than
a Chousandena of a second, the screening, reduction, and

analysis of incoming data, and last but not least, the dis-
semination of the reduced data to the scientific community.

Remembering that since October 4, 1957, there has been
a total of eight objects projected into satellite orbits,
we hardly need to point out that the efforts ex tpended by
thousands of persons, including the volunteer Moonwatcn team
members, in the Optical Tracking Program alone are ouvstanding.
With great scientific enthusiasm and satisfaction, our staff
members have participated in this undertaking, often well
beyond the normal call of duty. We have not noted similar
dedication save in times of national emergency.

The cooperation of ree. U0. S. Naval Research Laboratory

in furnishing us with critical prediction data for satellites
with Live radisce: has bean, of major importance. Also, the
computation of epnemerides and orbital data would nave been
virtually impossible without the generous cooperation of the
International Business Machines Corporation and the Compu-
tations Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology in Cambridge

a2. 2 « _— ; _ ce | A as a

% Associate Director, Smithsonian Astrophysical O bservatory,
. 4 2 .. in_ = nro, i] ~=- wD ww
in charge of the Optical Satellite Tracking Program

mithnsonian Astrophysical Observatory

("

eet Director,

Ge

<=

tPctctHit

The subsequent sections of this col] on nave deen
prepared individually by members of the Smithsonian Astro-
physical Observatory who are actively working in this
particular field and therefore best able to present a

articu r
factual and informative account of the respectl
of the program. In this initial chapter, we wl
tierk ee a3 well as outline from an overall po
2

tb of
view the orbital data and results which we hav een able
to obtain with regard to Satellites 1950 Alpha, 1950

Beta One, and 1953 Gamma.

The mainstay of the long-range optical tracking pro-
gram is the worldwide network of precision photograpnic
stations, employing at each observing station a 3-axis,
20-inch aperture , £/1 camera designed especially for th
photographic tracking of artificial earth satellites.

The optics for these cameras were designed by Dr. James

G, Baker, and constructed by the Perkin-Elmer Corporation.

They employ 2 unique 3-corrector lens system having 4
aspherical surfaces, in comoination with a 3l-inch con-
ventional spherical mirror, providing a useable field of
20 oO

30”. The motor —driven mechanical drive provides se-
quential tracking of a satellite and of star background

on the same 250 x 55 mm. film frame, in cyclical succession
so that many individual photograpns can be obtained during

a given satellite passage. The unique mechanical system

was designed by Mr. Joseph Nunn and fabricated by Boller and

Chivens, Inc., all of Soutn Pasadena, California.

The urgency imposed upon the optical tracking program

the launching of the Russian satellit oes ‘made it de-
rable to expedite tne construction of the stations and

tao

, a)

Go

‘

have _ootained oe use of two § i : (Small Missiles

- in addition, s#veral photo-
20doli tes have os n furnished ecuch the courtesy of
U. S. Air Force, ‘thus making possibie the
any #ar lier Gate than otherwise possible an effective
racking network. As Glacussed by Karl G. Henize in his
ort, the full comolement of Baker-Nunn cameras is ex-
ted to de in operation by mid June.

wo &

completion

wv é ry Torre okK @ ORS
I
(e
OQ
fe
as
3
~~
*
ry
Ww
ct
J
»
oO
ro |
cr
uw

ie

|

. Si aN ry me . r Ss we =; Coe Poy PI aah. a ct yt a9! 4 *

ootain the use of auxillary cameras to go into operation
fore the arrival of the Baker-Nunn cameras. - Through the
xcellent cooperation of the Ballistic Researcn Laboratory

err} Spoor

“ven e

wv 4

ee ee ie ee

pend eS rey ce REL sae ee SP a Ee PI Oe yr

APS" Bad Ree ler’ - OBR

7 t& >

a

a

SSS

¥

[ee

For an artificial satellite to be tracked most effective-
ly for scientific purposes, the tracking accuracy must be of
the order of seconds of arc and P Ow) econds of ¢t 1 A
srystal 2lock of extreme precision has been built by the
Ernst Norrman Laboratories, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, for each
of the twelve observing stations. The time presentation
within each camera is photographed on eacn frame.

It can be stated that the scientific value of a satellite
for many SECe Ny S.C as purposes rises greatly with its longevity.
Precision observations of non-aspherical, close artificial
satel ites are of little value in solving major geodetic
problems because of the variable motion introduced by vary-
ing orientation ota the consequent irregular drag. Hence
C

he present schedule in establishing the precision camera
orograms has occasion ned little scientific loss. This more
leisurely program has more than offset this loss, in terms
improved opticai and mechanical verformance

The successful photographs of the first two American
2 lites by several of the network stations is a grati-
Py iz ignal of the routine tracking soon to be effected.

The establishment of the photographic network woul
have been possible without the cooperation of several
ign governments. Particular note must be eeken or the
ssistance received througn the res:
ees from the governments oO: nt
Netherlands Antilles, P the Union of
ica. Their sympa vtnetic appreciation of the urgency
tal program has been indispensible, and our work in
eral countries has deen carried out in a thoroughly
Vv

rt ct

JAP 0

y~

“*

vive 1.G.Y.

5 0
~~ ct t*

3 09
|
3 -'G
a5 6
yu QO

m)

9H OH OO
-o@

Ho

-

~~
on
-
-

*
2%
Oo

ry

Otro VMHCR HS
U
ct OO

I< 0 1°

2 manner appropriate to the spirit of the Inter-
Geophysical Year

"oS @ ch cr
Ooo ®

ty

op @

it~ ct 0 ve my

te

ct

\
re |
 () yO

oa

’
.

<> te
ct
om & cr

3 '3 9
<S
}--

y! 0

comp lem
visual termed MCONWATCH Conceive
orimarily as an ac ition and Peconnas 3sance miss

on to
cover periods immediately after launching and shor’

n z
cision program, is th
a

} o
cr ( by

= {)
© ie
Wi

2 the ootical tracking-pr
to h
n ~

O ct’
Oo wry

7

ad

U9

‘

?

@o'a

;
4
~

2c
1 '
hu

2
ly be-

fore demise, in final stages of she existence of a satellite,
MOONWATCH teams have served continumsly 23s interim *racking
stations during the period of final preparation of the
ng stations The exemplary work of the

olved in this program stands

nm to the satellite progran,

f participation in an

| ee
. tot an ~A Ve sanding

ft
out as a sionittcant
@&
nternational sciznt

Kuntealta, india.,

ry ogre? «

~

rr

Ee Se sn. we A tae No

fe ae SY

~ MET

~

<<

a”

geek

tertens. *

Largely through the 32 of MOONWATCH observations,
the computations and analysis division of Smithsontan
Ast vsical erva 18 been adle to derive lenifi-
cant, an througn eliminary, scientific results. ‘nese
are treated in Chapter Lil and include the orbit dseter-
mination of 1958a and an evaluation of the variable
acceleration of this satellite and of Lbs life expectancy
With respect to 19588., the perigee distance is so
relatively high that Iittle can be sald of its life
expectancy save that in all probability it must be
counted in decades. Its rocket carrier 19598, will
probably have a significantly shorter life time, but

still verhaps a decade or more,

Various computational programs have been devised,
and others are in process, for the utilization of satellite
observations for prediction purposes as contrasted to }
their use for results of geophysical interest.
Ephemerides for general use as well as for specific use
at given geographical points have been programed; ar
example of the latter is the program which prints out

actual Baker-Nunn camera BGUUSHES which can be cabled
directly to the network stations.

Implicit in the prediction program is the objective :
to disseminate not onlv specific predictions but general
satellite information of an astronomical character to
the public through the several mass media, This we
nave recognized and met by concise statements to the
press and by the vreparation of charts illustrating
visible passages of satellites over the United States.

oe, Te

- tat het Ot

Rotem sD

. os ote ata wid

Pine - et ener ore a

ft four of the stations listed above, Super Schmidt

meteor cameras or Small Missile Telecameras have been in-
1lled on an interim basis, As shown in Table Two these

instruments will eventually be replaced by Baker-Nunn ca-
meras, thus resulting in a twelve-station network equipped
jith identical instruments of superior precision and ; accuracy.

The dates in Table One are dates of actual accomplishment
The dates listed below in Table Two represent our present
schedule ror the remain ae Baker-Nunn cameras.

TABLE TWO

Scheduled Operational Dates of Additional Baker Nunn Cameras

Station No. Location Shipping Date Date in
Operation
9006 India 29 Mar. 58 15 May '58
9007 Peru 8 Apr. '58 23 Aor. '5
9003 Iran 18 Apr. 38 S$ May '58
9009 Curacao 28 Apr. '53 8 May '53
9010 Florida 8 May 58 18 May - '58
9011 Argentina 18 May '58 7 June '5
9012 Hawaii 28 May '58 12 June '5

2. Photographic Reduction

Photographs of American satellites 1958 a and 1958 861
were first obtained during the visibility period around
Maren 18, 1958, at our photographic tracking stations. Suc-

cessful photogranny continues and the films showing satellites,

after immediate field reading, are being reduced for precise
lata evaluation. The image quality is such that we may be
adle, with further efforts, to obtain also precise ae biel oa? ai
of Satellite 1958 82. This program for precise data reduction
25 Cambridge is under the supervision of Dr. George Van Bies-
proeck, Consultant. Special precision measuring engines for
tilm reading and search are used, Pentel 2 Be in hnighiy accurate
position information. It is expected that a catalogue of pre-
cision data Prom the tracking cameras can be issued soon in
2 nature similar to the catalogues of MOONWATCH dava.

3. Reduction of PHOTOTRACK Observations

A consideradle number of photograpns of the Soviet sa-
2llites have been received from PHOTOTRACK stations and ama-
seur photographers and are being reduced in an analogous man-
ner. No such photograpns have as yet been received here of the
U. S. satellites.

(Wat Seite teeing.)

then 6 till! me weseet «+

en Be -r-

Ps. 4c > >

0 ® fo eet hehe etnies bree ~

oS syeIRD he

, . . . .
—t ar : — iv) ; ra ‘ y ’ y a. : vr ~ ror"
une U.Se sate aquring a period in wnich many
€

] re ,
sz be | - 1 “ff ) ve te ae re To -" ey . : , ; a } Ty 6 > | - ‘ “TF =
of the 230 stations were engaged in observing 195781 as well.

Two MOONWATCH Tt:

ue observing exveri-

eams reported unique 2xperi
ences. Alamogordo station 102 on March 19 observed 19578,
1958a and 195881; the latter two objects were about i3m 30s
apart. Albuquerque station 103 on March 20 observed 195881,

1958B5 and 1958a in that

The Catalogue lists the observations by object, and
in chronological order. The Key to MOONWATCH Station Code
Numbers gives the geographical coordinates of the stations
listed in the Catalogue.

It will be noted that the position of the satellites
is given either in rignt ascension and declination or in
azimuth and altitude. Azimuth is measured clockwise fr
north through 360°. The Catalogue and Key to Station Co

Numbers follow:

=

=

ee

** tiki a"

eee ee ee Ane eee ee ee is

PS 0th »

EY SER Ba EE eR

Meet Sees

‘ay

KEY TO MOONWATCH STATION

~ *T
DE

THAT

NUD

Station Name
Manhattan, Kansas
Bryan, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
China Lake, California
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Higashimatsuyama, Japan
Kure, Japan
Yokkaichi, Japan
Bloemfontein, S. Africa
Cape Town, S. Africa
Johannesburg, S. Africa

Adelaide, S. Australia

Longitude

,9
96

Jo
97
Ef
105
106
139
132
136
26
18
28

138

28151"
Ol ° aa

20
22
39
57
36
23

33
39

La) La
nr, /

A

.£ fl
UOeU

01.9

t
s

t
;
f

LA lu \,) \

Oo wv

SAV"

ond Cc) Cc Sa

s.r

ro Lo Le
I~) \
2»
O-4

U

MMi z=

f\) Ld

O

ea cM c3 i ca C308 C30 C3)

Oat te VT) ©
1 CO OO

t/2

--

1958 Alpha CATALOGUE OF MOONWATCH OBSERVATIONS

February, 1958

Station Time (UT) Right Azi- Decli- Alti-+ Direetion Ang. Magni- Color
No. Name anh ms Ascen. muth nation tude © of Travel Vel. “ide
102 Alamogordo, N.M. 0303 4610 05 23 180 424 54 73 W-E +omax
098 China Lake,Calif 06 02 24 He 77 15 V1 W-E 1 White
103 Albuquerque, N.M. O7 O1 22 02 180 76 30 “1 40
258 Yokkaichi,Japan 08 09 57 34  O4 10 +08 00 | 7
4o2 Cape Town, S.A. 08 02 54 34 T2 20 00 24
226 Kure, Japan 08 09 56 32 180 OO ; T4 48
210 Hig'sh'ma, Japan 08 09 58 17 O4 28 -05 14 48
402 Cape Town, S.A. 10 02 45 20 Ooo 24 79 24
' 098 China Lake,Calif. 11 03 03 25. 180 37 30 W-E
rE 102 Alamogordo, N.M. 12 02 OO 30 03 49 180 -05 30 49 W-E +f Yellow
402 Cape Town, S.A. 12 02 35 38 “i 00 24 84 00
' 402 Cape Town, S.A. 15 03 21 17 00 24 76 00
600 Adelaide, Aus. 15 18 36 30 320 20 69 30 6.5
600 Adelaide, Aus. 15 18 37 02 03 20 74 20 6.5
402 Cape Town, S.A. 16 02 14 57 OO 24 82 55
600 Adelaide, Aus. 17 18 25 52 337 30 65 00 $748
403 Johannesburg,S.A. 20 01 55 30 13 45 48 -49 42 +3.5
401 Bloemfontein,S.A. 21 02 50 50 0O 24 : 46 4e 6.5
4O1 Bloemfontein,S.A. 23 02 39 38 00 24 30 06 8
401 Bloemfontein,S.A. 25 02 28 12 00 24 17 54
40] Bloemfontein,S.A. 26 18 09 22 00 24 43 06

401 Bloemfontein,S.A. 28 17°57 12 00 24 63 06

ee ee ee ee ee ee eee ee ee ee SARA TOS AES SONI V8 3

1958 Alpha

March, 1958

Station

No.

Name

401
4O3
402
403
4O3
402
403
4O3
098
HO3
402
403

ct o-

_
4

103
069

069
069

401
098
HOS
103
102
102

Bloemfontein,sS.A.
Johannesburg,S.A.
Cape Town, 5.A.
Johannesburg,sS.A.
Johannesburg,S.A.
Cape Town, S.A.
Johannesburg,S.A.
Johannesburg,S.A.
China Lake,Calif
Johannesburg,S.A.
Cape Town, S.A.
Johannesburg,S.A.
Not at station.
Albuquerque, N.M.
Ft Worth, Texas
Not at station.
¥t Worth, Texas
Not at station.
Ft Worth, Texas
Not at station.
Bloemfontein,S.A.
China Lake, Calif
Jowannesburg,S.A.
Albuquerque, NM.
Alamogordo, N.M.
Alamogordo, N.M.

Time (UT)
hw

a

02
02
03
03
O4
O/
O7
Ov
09
12
14
14

Coordinates:

17 44
L7 45
18 37
18 39
17 32
18 10
18 12
18 12
12 50
18 37
18 19
18 22

=

34
06
16
at
06
O/
32

34
4O

28
26
18

15 12 08 54
16 11 O02 34

Coordinates:

16: 1%. 02: 35

Coordinates:

16 11 02 40

Coordinates:

16
18
18
19
19
1g

098 China Lake, Calif 20

‘Sao eeer eal aihaew

a ee.

» whats pbrneatcet”

18 06
12 43
17 50

43. 36:

11 37
11 43

12 26

03

Right Azi-
Ascen. muth

06

O7
26

IS
Of
16
9
16
97

OY

00 24

19 2h

00 24

4B 54

22
58
05

U7
125

af

06
22
23

00 24

180 24
180
OO 24

180

30
OOW

GOW

22° O9OW

25

25

00 24
180 24

48

180
0

180 48

Decli-
nation

Alti-
tude

=32
28

+37
32
+37

+440

‘ee SE Oe eZ ee ee SS. ae 4) gghic

83
50

66
Ou
12

82
Kl:

35
39
69
67
42
O8E
73
30
42 4eNn
30
42 Yon
30
42 4en

64
16
68

19
57

06
15

50

Ke
30
39

30
00

06

Direction Ang.
of Travel Vel.

W-E
We
W-E

“SE Ia AS

1.5

Magni- Color
tude
iy ~ 5
+10
+10
410
+9
‘738 White
6
1
40
+6
Qo Whits
10-5
5 L{)
io, Yellow
3G Yellow
+9 White

S15

nn we lech eg al dies id ENGL Sd ea a RED IRN A ON ISLET: ECOL DOLD A OI LIED BIE DRL SEED OED -

Ae OR ee Seek ee

1958 Alpha

March, 1956

Station
No. Name

103 Albuquerque,N.M.
401 Bloemrontein,S.A.
403 Johannesburg,S.A.
401 Bloemfontein,S.A.
403 Johannesburg,S.A.
103 Albuquerque,N.M.

Time (UT)

|

—

20
20
20
22
22

24

Right Azl- Decli-
Ascen. muth nation

29 22
33 ef
34 11
16 33
17 18
55 43

OT kD

180
00 24
107 30
00 24
07 08 54 418 03
180

LOR LE AB RMN AANA II ABD ALOE LEAL OO. PORTE ES EINE MEN CLEANER AP IE PLS DS EPA AOL EEE |

Ee |

Alti-
tude

Direction
of Travel

Ang.

40 2h
27 30

OO me DE RN ee Dt ee eet OU ener er eet ge eee pene Re ee eee

,

YR KN Se RYee—
He far 3S Heta Une

Marx ny 1953

eee we oe tee ee

Station Time (UT) Right Azi-
No. Name _ qd oh m_s_ <Ascen,. muth
102 Alamogordo, N.M. Lo 223 36 L600) > 0

103
103
065

027

ne DURRE LAUSD
Albuquerque ,
Bryan, Texas
Manhattan, Kan.

NM,
a ° M 7)

Wee, Beta Two
+4 bie LAE
Ww March, 1956
i
103 Albuquerque, N.M.
L y 5é Gat me
March, 19586
102 Alam O} rordo » olla
Ar) additional 1956 G
same day, but it has
‘ oy. So aatial. ttliside nce: See ES hea?

180
180

15 2
52 07
28 36
O7 34

bi a5
19 08

20 11 5S 2 180

27 il Us 20
amma
not

16 25

observation was reported by
yet been possible to evaluate it.

Decli-
nation

Altie-
tude

79 WeE
76 30
Wek
WeE

~O7 36

a Wy

Albuquerque,

NW-SE
N.

wt Lanett a Refs x ys é ee TY Tae Sry TAP w- pe .-* ym | FRY tt 5 Shes?

}

Direction
of Travel

——_—— ——

y

io

Ang. Mag
Vel ° rud

+6

Q

a a

+6

+1

~ ;

ay 5 + /

‘e

+0

2 +O
station LO

-“*

ee
re)
ct 2,
ey

a

=)
{

io

D

~ a
ry

SAPtATHS ER GOR me
~~ (. b ols ip ae
ry r wh 4 + Ta rt: . <—y fe SA =
The Orbit and Variable Acceleration of
< = | dee / C. % ="
~
savellite 1950 Alpha
BY
IY

A

Charles A. Whitney*

Nie The Orbital Parameter:

t- >
s*

There is no need at pr € to alter significant. y the
orbital elements of ae 1958 Alpha as publisned in
the Harvard Announcement Card 1404, reproduced in Chapter V.
2 1
1v; r

imsets

It should be noted that fs ue wet ae empirical andwis
derived from it using tne

~ sae ,

a”*

2. The Variable Acceleration

os 7

During launching, the final stages of 1950 A
i a spin about the body axis. This spin ha
to stabilize the body axis parallel to the velo
roeiret at burnout.

ha were é
en expected

,

J of the

However, such an orientation was soon discovered to
be inconsistent with Smithsonian data on the variations of
acceleration of the rocket. r. Charles Lundquist of the
Army Ballistic Missile Agency informed the writer that
radio-signal strength measurements of the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, indicate
tumbling .with a period of about / seconds. Tnis period is
consis tent with the suggestion that a slight dissipation of
energy and near-con ervation of angular momentum very rapidly

za

ee vt Ry

yas -S

led to a reorientation of the bcody axis into a piane per-

f pendicular to the axis of rotation. The rocket now rotates
2d0ut the axis of greatest moment of inertia, its angular
momentum having been essentially unaltered.

a

FOP TET EE, PO whee: —_—e eal ii) sh E sae Pets. Te eee
tie + Crd Na Very 4 a,

The agreement is adequate to confirm > sugsested
rocket attitude [Lt is easily shown t 12 observed
accelerations are not compatible with the body axis and
the spin axis parallel.

Such a direct scaling of the theoretical accelerations
is not strictly legitimate because long-period variations are
improperly manipulated. However, these latter appear smaller
than the air-drag term so the comparison is probably not mis-

eading. Further, it snould be noted that the perigee drops
too fast in the integration, accounting for the increase in
the mean of the theoretical acceleration.

yee

See

ee

Ja

.

| Sa tty? 20

ere. Te yok

yw Ts ETD ETE et 2 OT I PONE PEIN war rr
aS Ss 2 = 39 . ‘» = e . ‘ > L ;

5 Veo ee ware a3 -

a

ji 4 ry Qr ; é x
; dimensionless quantity CHAP, a_/m, where Ls the satellite's
ws
Cross-sc ctional area, m L0S mass, Or the 17 nsionless
aerodynamic drag coefficient that is believed on theoretical
grounds to be approximately 2, and?f_ is > mospheric
7 i {9
density at sea ievel.
¥ p. - . ~ J- . = ~|
Now a, the time derivative of a, is clearly Aa/P where P
is the orbital peri 0g7e Moreover, Kepler's second law states
, . ie , fa ‘ o i 5
Ghat P varies like a-~’“., Therefore P/P = (3/2)a/a, and therefore

P = 3Aa/2a.

The only important contributions to the integral in (1)
come from portions of the orbit near perigee because of the
rapid decrease of density with increasing height. If the
density P(r) is approximated, through a region near perigee

2

and abo it, by
P= fy

Where I is the density at perigee, z is the altitude above.
per ized, and K is the logarithmic. gradient of density near
peri gee

> ey een ee”.

7

K = -2.3026 (d/dz) 1loZ30 ? f

Se
iW
——
. Giles ow s

then the integral can be shown to be given avproximately
but closely by

Q5
Y
2)

>)
F
it)
l
(e)
S=——7
+
ae)
I
\°
es
+
ee
id
Ss)
—
oO
~~
+
ress
MW
(D
!
Uw
' @
¢ '
|
a
LX)
i
+
2
++
iS
Soe a eat eT PEI LSE EER TILT OR 6

“ ae, and where Ty 2
ly imaginary arcument. Ii

with rather high accuracy under 2ll conditions.

The Bessel functions can be expanded asymptotically in
descending powers of c, and if this is done equation (3)
becomes ie

7 [ize
Pie ~ 36,24 FP {.S) 2h £ (e;
m 2 Tr { a / 2 °

PF re ee ethan uate Lee

om ms
—

- a2 es ==

—_
-

ig
:

3 Density inferred from 1958 Alpha.

Dr. Charles A. Whitney provided orbital ita fo
American artificial satelli 1956 Alpha, 2 f Feb a)
The data,2 which he obtained from an analysis of "Moonwatech"
(yisual) and "Minitrack" (radia) observations, were: eccentrici
0.139, inclination 33°.2, argument of perigee 120°.0, anomalis
tic period 0%.0798274, rate of decrease of period 3 © 1O~!
days per period or about Pie per day. From these data I hav
inferred a mean distance of e275/ earth radii, oe ase
to a perigee height above the internatianal ellipsoid of 368
kilometers.

} r

The satellite is’ a cylinder 6 inches in diameter and 80
inches long, with a mass of about 14 kilograms. The area A
of such an object, relevant to its air resistance, is its
area projected on a plane normal to its direction of motion.
The average over all possible orientations for random tumdling
is 1/4 of the total superficial area, or 2520 em=. The same
value is obtained if it is considered that the cylinder spins
abouts a transverse axis, randomly oriented with respect to the

orbital plane, and gradual orbital changes influence the
orientation of the spin axis near perigee from passage to
passage. Averaged alk a spin period, over orientations ofr
the spin axis with respect to the orbit piane, and over the
motion of perigee the Same average value is obtained as for
random tumbling, 2520 em“; this value has been employed as
A in equation (6).

The aerodynamic drag coefficient has bee
The density has been inferred by the method described in
Section 2 of this article from this value, the mass, the
average area, the eccentricity, the mean disvance, the rate

of decrease of eee and the logarithmic derivative of
jensity near perisee given by the ARDC model atmospnere.

n taken to be 2.

bo
ul

~14 , 3
rry 3 - ~ — ” ~ We ~ — - i +
The density thus found, about 1.5 x 10 sm/com- at a
* = ro = ? Sue } — — * 2=
sometric altitude of 368 kilometers (348 cecpotential} is
> ~ > :
— > 79 — _— _— ss ase 7 et eee - -1
about i+ times that predicted at such an altitude by the

ta)

o [ r os a, ee . r= Qe = 3
see also Harvard College Odservatory, Announcement Card

ia} _ mr —_

4ol (1058)

ate al el es , *®

1 ee Te PN Me PR eS eB - , xe! as. ‘fs lela » Aca \

nmarVarc VOLiege voservavory, aAnnouncenmenv ard 1390 )
NS el ce

cy

i)

a)
.

-

tes

UR Arte nee

Vt bed

SEL PEED Prt BO od

ke.

rnc Oe

es.

be Say 2»

~~.

—

-@®

‘oF 7 re wre tay res? “Ste <n tak ae ——«- iT eT '
rE me a . St +73 : j .
3 . a. 34

ARDC model. [Ii

o the middle curve, No. » in
a study? that ten tatively suggested a modification of the
ARDC atmospheric model to sati a. ft . LO~Lien/
2t 220 kilometers (213 geopotential) tha ad bes erred
rom observations of the USSR satellite 195/ Alpha 2 [his
value was about 9 times the ARDC density
The values 4.5 x 107 13 gm/ ‘om? and 1.5 x 10-14 om/om2
depend somewhat, aithough not strongly, upon the gradients of

density of the ARDC model employed in the reductions. it seems
better to adjust the model so as to render it consistent with
the perigee densities that result from the K's of tne adjusted
model. A formal least-squares adjustment has not yet seemed

warranted but a non-least-squares Bevis Cpe allowing for the
effect of the adjustment upon «, has indicated densities of
about 4.0 x 10-1 aay ene at 220 kilometers (geometric) and
about 1.4 x 10-14 om/em3 at 368 kilometers ee oe ECEe Yi These
values do not agree well “en bh the densities predicted by Harris

and Jastrow! as extr apolations from altitudes of about 220
kilometers and below. They appear to be in unexpectedly good
agreement with curve-No. 2 of reference 5, do not involve any
very implausible temperature gradients, and i prefer them.

~

ae

4. Adjustment of the ARDC Atmospher

The pr: ed values at 220 and 368 kilometers can be
represented by an additive correction to the common logarithm
of the density of the ARDC model, of roughly

0.89 + 0.0016 (z - 220)

where Z is the geometric altitude in kilometers above sea-

SLEEP ARES FF

RSS APT, -

:
— <
=, ?
rvy Lan “! io ~ ~ . ~~ — s | TT 5 alr 2
Tes E. Sterne, G. FP. Sehilling, and B. M. Folkxart, Special £
t »T . TTT % 5 - A | e A 2 — here t wal ~
Report No. {, IGY Project No. 30.10, Smithsonian Astrophysical >
yh _—> - . a7 ™ FY
Ioservatory, Camoridge (1957), Figure 2 is
”
- $
mT y c+ Qf ry) ° 2 ~ ° ; 1 ; ; Tf $
i Se wverne and Jo fe chilling, opecial - eport 10 » $4 IGY x
>» a = Cc S03 | - ta com 4 7 Aha = - - ss
Project No. 30.10, Smithsonian Astropnysical Ooservatory, 3
o . —- -
Cambridge (1957). a
. 3
= x
7 Lr a > 2 ~ _n 3 ed -— c $4 :
Harris and R. Jastrow, Science 127, #51 (1950}. *
—_ +
o>
*
y
@
q
z,
‘
te
ae
———— i
oe oro _ = - —— —_ -

“ow

% BETS Pye” ae a: ree -~

ao | ae

per
and the orbital ec
satellite at time C

This equation gives e
Satellites 1957 avi, i

According to Dr.
we had for satellite

Pp = 0707983; P

From these data Lesl
fall toward the end

Before the value

observations, a rough calculation of the drag to

on the basis of the

- — -? 1
satellite and of the
_— i _
had siven a predicted
wnich a life expectan

i
1740 days, or 4 years
O

icy of 3 to 5 years was dedu

w- O2
— J aa
- » “ ’ % 4 | >
ctancy of Satellite 195¢ Alpha
By
.4 ’ Tt
JU Bo Ge ‘ LCC] ia

ele of the Royal Aircraft Establishments,
nas kindly transmitted to us a useful
Dr. D. C. M. Leslie for computing the
te. At a given time t iet P be the

te, P the rate of change of the period,
=ntr xpectancy of the

entricity. The life ex
an then be expressed

| O(e) = errors of order e|

xcellent results when applied to
957 a2 and 1957 8.

ses 7 — -
Charles A. Whitney, on Feoruary 1, 1958
1958 a:

= -4978 x 10° ° /day; e = 0.139.

e's formula yields a 1:
and 9 months; the sat
9
re

of P became accurately known from
be expected
hysical characteristics of the rocket
Smithsonian Interim Atmosphere densities
value of -597 x 1079/ rom

oY /day for
C

=
~~

Physicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

]
“Yarvard Announcement Card No. 1404; March 17, 19538.

T. E. Sterne, B. M. Folkart, and G F. Schillings: Ve
Interim Model Atmospnere Fitted bo Preliminary Densities
Inferred from USSR Satellites". Special Raport No. 7,

IGY Project No. 30.10, Smithsonian Astropnysical Observatory,

2mbridge, December 31, 1957

=~ DL uw

CHAPTER IV

USE ANY DISTRIBUTION OF SATELLITE PREDICTIONS
by

R. M. Adams*

The individual sections of this Chapter discuss in
detail the various eonemerides, or computer programs, used
by the Smithsonian Astropnysical Observatory ror the ana-
lysis of incoming observational data.

f The sub-satellite program, developed by Dr. L. G. Jacchia,

i is a computer program used internally to rapidly analyze
incoming observations and to derive the basic information
for the computation of search ephemerides. The program was
devised by Dr. Jacchia and originally programed for “the

IBM type 650 computer by R. E. Briggs. It was later trans-
lated for use with an IBM type 704 Calculator by C. T. Apple.

Ephemeris 5, described by John Gaustad, produces sa-
tellite»predictions of a nature which are useful for Moon-
watch and other ooserving teams and, in addition, are also
of interest to the generai public. These predictions are
easily obtained and can be distributed readily. Normal
operatmg procedure consists of mailing these predictions
to Moonwatch teams, astronomical observatories, and otner
groups of anterested opservers on a regular basis. The
predictions are normally accompanied by the orpital elements
used in making the predictions. These predictions are also
used for constructing the charts described by Fairman and
= Veis.

Ephemeris 4, discussed by Charles Moore and Don Lautman,
is designed to produce precise predictions for the twelve
photographic tracking stations established throughout the
world by the Smitnsonian Astrophysical Observatory. These
predictions are sent in coded form by telecommunication

;

shannels on a day by day basis.

x Ephemeris 3, discussed by R. Briggs, is designed to
4 produce a sequence of predictions for particular stations
é in the nature of time, azimuth, altitude, height, and dis-
i bance ror the latit sude crossing, and time, altitude, and
R distance for the meridian crossing. Althouga it was ori-
hh
ier, Iptical Sa
tellite Tracking Program, Smithsonian Astropnysical
Observatory

? -
| * Chief, Comoutations and Analysis Section, ¢ i Sa-
s
;
“4
it

<“>e> .

ae

ce eee

A we4

~ ee ed

The

et es Ee

—

1

UI

individual observing stations, this has

proved to be the case. Due to the comparatively large amount
of machine time required for these predictions, it is now
felt that they will be made only in particular applications
when the situation warrants.

cinally felt that predictions of this nature would be neces-~
=

The charts of predicted satellite positions, described
by Jean B. Fairman and George Veis, were originally intended
for internal use and, incidentally, for presenting predictions
to interested news agencies in a form convenient for public
use. However, the use of these charts has been extended.
They now provide information which is broadcast over the
Civil Air Patrol Communications Network, thus enabling rapid
dissemination of predictions. Arrangements have been made
whereby observing teams are contacted daily by CAP units
providing the most recent predictions of satellite passages.
To a great extent, this arrangement alleviates the problem
encountered in distributing predictions by mail. This is
particularly true, of course, in those instances in which it
is impossible to make accurate predictions for more than 3 or
4 days in advance due to fluctuations in the rate of a satel-
Lite's acceleration.

~ on

» a Ne Cae ae

ee ee

ee oe

eee

4
:
;

¢
a OG =
D o Vn, + vent vr 4 >» te —
Program for Determination of Geographic
, = 4. a hig (ie ~ DAtwmteo
Sud rol ww = Liite rOLTOUS

by

Iuigi G. Jacchia*

=,
>

The sub-satellite-point routine was devised fo
double purpose of rapidly analyzing incoming observ
and of obtaining from them the basic results necessa
compute a search ephemeris. Osculating equatorial e
are assumed for a time Vo (elther an ascending node
perigee crossing) and inStantaneous elements are deri
from them for any time t, using empirical equations t
account ror secular perturbations and drag.

7

,Lons
y to

r

a
a

iH O RI Fy gc
(DS
=
Lu
=
ct
©®

The elements are given in the following form:

a Smo 3

t,, (or co) = t, + ¢yn + egn® + ¢3n°
' , pas 2 r . 3
Q=d, + d,t > d,t + dt

i = constant
q = constant

Here Sy, is the time of ascending-node crossings, t--

the time of perigee crossings, wthe argument of perigee,
i the orbital inclination, q the perigee distance, and

n the number of revolutions elapsed since %,; ¢,, ¢

3

C3 Aa d,, do, da are constants. The right astension of
tne asGending node, Qn, is given only in crude form

(@.,= Gd + a,t), since it is required only to know whether
the observation was made on the ascending or the descending
half of the orvit

Every opservation consist of two spherical co-ordinates
(right ascension and declination, or azimuth and altitude)
referred to a time ¢ and to a set or station co-ordinates,
which are fed into the machine program as aEeuy data. First
the machios computes the value of n at the node or periges
crossing immediately preceding t, then eantne the nodal
sr anomalistic period for that value of n by difrerentiation
oF bn, OF a » and proceeds to compute from it the

- —_— ——_

«DD c > i a } ro . A - a
‘Physicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

eet

LMR RENT ETT EE OL

fr

i

| dell

instantaneous major axis a and the eccentricity e. The
height above the sea level at the time of ohbservati
obteined by an Llterative process -~ first it ti somput

for an orbital point at the latitude of the observing
Station; using this helght, an approximate sub-satellite
point is computed, for which in turn a new height 1 b=
tained using its latitude; this sives 2a new approximation
to the subd-satellite point, and so on.

i

. 7. a ae
ite point is stabi
at

e ell ) 1 2
eous values of a, and tin, are computed from it using the
orbital elements; residuals are taken for both quantities
from emplrical equations to facilitate the task of plotting
their values on large-scale diagrams.

ine program gives somewhat uncertain results when the
observations are made near the orbital avex (the point of
highest or lowest latitude). In those cases, if ay», is
well known from other ooservations, the iteration for the
suo-satellite point can be made to start from ag - Gy,
instead of Fi (ag = right ascension of station, 7%’ = geo-
centric latitude of station). ‘The times t, and t.- wil
Still be useadle, Save se no independent vaiue of a.
can thus ve obtained. aM

aoe, Som
PST IT EE ae Pe EE ee | Ea . s eee See

PDA eee

As tats She 2; Leer y

a

ry>¢
'
’
é
. In a AAIFA AN FH3E reas ta may ha nningnsd te yagreas:
nm aacition tne resuits 7 vDe IUNnaea UU ne sare
wnt waa sds Cath nf a ; ; = , + DADE. Peage
LriuUce. Lenn Ope ~ ~ > i ag ; © I” i= Mmarec ‘
=, =~ me tea Ys ~Tn . aAaA ri , A rx + a.
Ot 1 MmuinutL ; VYiiCc P1OUS an 1 atl Ou a 8 Si So, ~ 4 Ohno nUuMme=
~ wl =p « 7 4% PS - Ip = * — TAasare4 “a5 “» hi ¢ ; \ aw
arpedcon of a muGS, 2t0L vLMe, LONEZLOUGde, and neleniu,
%
~ ’ , -4 r
respectively.

alements necessary as inout data for the pro-~
gram are as follows: an equation either for

of crossing the ascending node or of passa

perigee as a function of the number of rev

he -o~“~~

an
gree ge ee 8 ee Vow

38s
5

j-40

O

a
Ome?)

quadr ratic equations in time for the argument of periges
and the right ascension of the ascending node; the in-
cael pae and the perigee distance The perigee dis-
ance is assumed to be constant over the range of pre- :
iction. From these elements the predictions are made i
vee the standard equations for an elliptic orbit. if
e
Secular and long period perturbations causing |
. changes in the argument of perigee and right ascension 4
of the node are accounted for in the quadratic equations
t

i Py
3 O
; ry

YW)

empirically in the equation for time of n
Or perigee passage. Short period perturb:

a

”
for these elements. Atmospheric drag is a
O
ss

Orv ova @

ry | hy OQ
{pD

not included. The semi-major axis is computed directly 5}
from Kepler's Third Law, using either the nodal 4
anomalistic period, depending on the form of the time ?

quation. This leads to some error in the heights,
Dut for the present satellites, this do nok exceed ;

one mile.

‘3
(D
fp
=
| +e
-
2
Hit

A secondary part of the program is concer
Eyes a "situation" report which gives the most

.
i
:
|
.

ertinent facts about a satellite's orbit. Computed ;
ee any day are the period, rate of change of period, 5
latitude of perigee, rate of change of latitude of perl- z
pee, height of perigee, height of apogee, rate of change “
of height of avogee, and height over a specific paraliel
of latitude (40th for 1957 Alpna and 1957 Beta, 30th for
1958 Alpha and 1958 Beta) for noth the south-north and 4
north-south crossings. %
The program is in operating condition and has been ;
used Successfully for the past several weeks in makings
- predictions for the U S. satellites. Changes are :on=
templated in the future to incorporate 2 more accurate x
method of determining the heights. Tests will be made
to insure that the program works properly for specias
ses such as inclinations greater than ninety degrees
(vetrograde satellites).

ELE ORES III TF, BE aT WE OE EL LE EN AL TT TOES ER INR TRF TCP RENS TP ee NRARNT US ENTE

:
.

Str

“~~

ET RT ia ayer

-redictions for Photographic Satellite
Tracking Stations -- APO Ephemeris

by

Charles H. Moore* and Don Ac Lautman**

Ephemeris 4 is the computer program for predicting

satellite positions for the ere gia Nunn camera stations.
The present formulation- utilizes the current tly best set
of elements ides aes aged accounting for the drag by means

3 a polynomial in the mean motion, and including only
secular perturbations. The prediction subroutine is a
umaeioal integration which includes the effects of oblate-
ness and drag exactly. In the case of satellites which

are high enough so that drag can be neglected, a complete
first-order perturbation theory including periodic per-
turbations can be used.

The basic requirements demanded of predictions in-

Be anded for camera stations are: a predictions muss be
limited to observabie vasses and (2 predictions must be

je Por the point of culmination. The ontimum approacn
would be to integrate the equation of motion for the sa-
sllite, obtaining these predictions, as well as otner data,
ectly. However, a quicker, See eal accurate, method

lop

1
is SERCUSRES pocket: which nas been ae ped in an attempt
Tt

This program for the IBM EDPM 704 employs the orbital

elements of the satellite and transforms them by grapnical
(trigonometric) means into specific predictions. The ac-
suracy of the predictions is well within the accuracy of

the orbital elements employed, and is probably the best that
can be gotten without employing more sopnisticated metnods,
and is fitted to the requirements of the Baker-Nunn tracking
Sameras.

“

The input to the computer consists basically of the
coordinates of the stations (latitude, longitude and height
above sea level) and the orbital elements. The latter in-
clude the time at which the satellite is at the ascending
. Physical Science Aide, Optical Satellite Tracking Program

Smithsonian Astrophysical Ooservatory
* Mathematician, Optical Satellite Tracking Program, Smith-
Sonian Astropnysical Observatory

Pie fa aks

éweieits< Ue

ee ee eS

si i al

AN NES Dye’ l 8 ta

ee ae BT. 4

- ata .

=e 42 ae
(2) ‘ime of closest apvproach
3) Apparent angular velocit
hy a z ne | 7 Le = — a a x 4. z — Ts = |
4) Angle between point of closestapproach and
ocr 4 -, a ~ * aan . > +} ~ oO yy -
passage into or out of the earth's shadow.
13 ‘ 1 olf -
2 Time of intersection with the earth's shadow

6 Distance of
7 Z2enithn angle

a

rs

the satellite

of the sun,
The advantages of the program are an expected minimum

of computation time, and the elimination of superfluous data,

namely non- -observable predictions. With such a program,

predictions can be made to the necessary accuracy 2S soon as

orbital elements are available. The disadvantage of the pro-

gram is its dependence upon the independently determined or-

bital elements.

Seer a> en ant ~~ - Pm as o~ . . ~ - neers ot sae ¥. . w?
Forehead Meco Nae ea coals dial UL Sahel aeniesnd sot Rirtinke Ss Ree dieete ee 8 ale ee Te

eo ~ <2
= .

Se veer
7 Yee: be Sie? TS Pees

oF

SR a

SAPP Ca

Sand a Le

>
~ =

’

° @— 2S it

=e we -

_e— .

= : -

-
-
Ld
0
b

Der c =] a
£ i ' raxn OL IDOYV Predi< 4 } ? )rP
- . _ “+ 4
2 4° . - oP a
specific Joor La, wLvesS - ALU nemeris J
by

This program computes for a given observing station a
sequence of satellite positions in altitude-azimuth and
corresponding times. This sequence comprises all the ob-
servable (visual or otherwise) latitude and meridian crossings
which will occur within a specified interval of time. Ac-
curacy is limited at the present to the use of first and
second derivatives’ of the nodal period, to the use of first
derivatives tn the Thotions of perigee and the node, and to
the assumption of constant perigee distance. When the ef-
fects of air drag are included under these restrictions,
experience has shown that over two weeks the positions may.
be in error by at most four degrees and the times in error
by a Pew seconds.

As yet, Ephemeris 3 has not been used for the American
satellites. It is planned to make minor revisions in the
program so that the anomalistic period or the sat

be used in place of the nodal period. Further, d
of the anomalistic period will include trigonometric ar
exponential terms. These changes are presently being deve-
loped and the program will see use when the operational si-
tuation warrants the comparatively large amount of machine

time reauired.

cae

Soe nict Pg sd

oe

Sage RRO SOREN rE sae

<

Fab
-

3 Andes ta o€

+ 2 Qa tee ARH

eet ET 6. OPE A on Foy @

~
rs
ee ee

a 1

"

- 34 -
’ = a. i. 3 qQ be =~ “I rT 9 4
C 1a FUSS OL redat 2720 avelszloe rosiisi >

T 7 ‘ 2 en re atoa-
Jean B. Fairman* and George Veis**
In an effort to provide more information in ga
+4 5 - 7 ; + ”_ -~ r a
immediately useful, without considerable comput tLo for

observers in the U.S. and readily understandable to oe
general public, we have made our prediction data avail-
able in several forms other than the formal Epnemeride

the primary prediction material sent By mail.

1. Visibility Maps

The first of these additional distributio
was our production for the newspapers, wire se
networks of daily maps of the northern hemiphere
the visible passes of the satellites. The aimo
distribution has been to encourage the ee
these maps and/or peu geae eb ah ona da
by the papers both for the ecific information
many observers and for th interest of the gene
er, aS a eye eee to the sometimes delayed ma
hey have been regularly picked u
and sent to New York for di
correspondent tl a a gen
subscribing pape As
own.following this Paciicn:

t-/ ry % >

.
L€&

cave

6)

CT ee cT ©

? -

jj ~~
pS ew
‘SO ct ct @
f2 i
=“ 0
er
hd
it~ (Dp »
tg @
#7]

yh Oo
md
> oO

rr Dd
ct
Oo
a.

awoyo-,
bug P Fj

Ww
i

ch map contains all visible passages of t
te for the morning or evening twilight period of
GAY; and shows in an easy to grasp fasnion the

cation and direction of the pass relative to

ho can locate himself easily on the map.
zned to anopear as simpl
ef lx peat the meaning of
d in the samples).

1)
tr
WM t= [I

; (D i
jor <

fh) 0’

iO Urey ey fu

0

= j-*
ctere’ © 30 ec

~

ib Oo
i
<0
aH)
“3
)
)

}+
,s
(D
I
oO i
¥
'
Ty
v

OtZrnrtat Va
>i @

ad +
rs

- —- ~
IMpPUvte?, UO

ie ode an tae ee el

6%,
Y

.)

~

ae } ica

oo

_

bse
ID

Us

The visible portion of each passage
and its dashed extension repr
of the orbit which lies wit
lity. Each of the cross ba
presents a minute of travel, 4
lite's passage over any point can
he dot separating the solid and
{t locates the point at which the satellite e
aves the earth's shadow, and the line which in
2 opposite end of the visible orbit represents ¢
twilight (Civil Twilight) boundary. The closed dotted
or dashed form encloses the complete area within which
the satellite may be seen above 15° altitude. In addition
to the twilight boundary, the other sides of the are
show the distance from which the satellite may be seen,
as a function of its height.

visible in

3
c @ (b GS

i.

etrROORtCMNO <
Teh or PV ry
vo

In spite of the relative simplicity of the diagram,
Lts construction incorporates corrections for the
following factors, wnich give it a reasonably good de-
gree of accuracy:

(1) Inclination of the orbit.

(2) Period or speed of the satellite--this affects
the time markings on the satellite path.

(3) Eccentricity and true anomaly. Corrections for
these factors further refine the time intervals.

on
j=
~~

and location of the earth's shadow depend on
this factor.

(5) Rotation of the earth. This affects the longi-
tude of the subdesatellite points.

Height of the satellite. Distances of visibility

(inter Te on RS

oy <r eS eee

5 Das Biel er er EOE AE

(6) Regression of the ascending node. This correction

further locates the points over which the satellite

will pass.

(7) Changes in the coordinates of perigee. Correction
for this adds to the accuracy of she height and
period adjustments.

(8) Changes in the declination of the sun. This revision
updates the twilight time limits and position of the
2arth’s shadow.

i) 7 :
ay vie gt eS 9s 7
Lae F) Pf ere
1 —* rr ee we etet

» tae

"pais, recs tengo, Hi aire nataaR

aeRO Seas ai Seca Seid see SRT ee et RARER RIE nr err NS
, j ;

.
= BG us
rc on oe 4y L. + Bond eh aD ° ai o. L,4 “FWY
(9) Changes in the Greenwich Hour Angle of the sun.
This correction refines the time designations around
7) | -—
the earth.

7 oc

The production of these maps was bezun for Satellite
1958 Alpha on February 26, in anticipation of the visibility
period which lasted from about February 2/7 to March 27. The

maps have been produced and distributed regularly throughout
the period, including a total of 30 daily projections of

visiodle passages of 1958 Alpha,

2. Modified Maps

In a further effort to encourgge the regular publishing
of satellite data, we cay cooperated with various publica-
bions in drawing up modifications of the standard, individual
maps. The most successful venture of this sort to date have
been the modified maps carried by the New York Times from
Maren 19, when visibility of all the satellites was at its
peak, through March 22, when visibility from the U. S. was
diminishing. ¥

SAT a Sod tie.

These particular modified maps combined in one

ustration the visible paths of all the satellites, snowing

time intervals of visihility for each passage, but omitting
Simplicity the areas of visibility. In this map, Satellite
98 Alpha is represented by the heavier orbital paths, the
lighter paths describing Satellite 1957 Beta one. Those visible §&
passages which terminate in an arrow actually move out of ¢
visibility beyond the margins of the page. The particular
map included here, for comparison with the first, was sent
to the Times before Satellite 1958 Beta was launched and so
does not include it, although it was added by the paper before 8
publication. 3

2
-L
v
-
ea

m2) iy wb “4

L
A
0:
9
~

We hope to establish this sort of regular publication even
more firmly during tme-next visibility period. 4
3. Broadcast Releases 4
Realizing that even if a large percentage of news- |
papers published the maps, that some observers would still .
not be reached, we have arranged through the effor of ;
ne U. S. National Committee for the fiternational. ‘Geo- :
physical Year and the cooneration and facilities of the
Civil Air Patrol, to get our predictions to the observing
, veams and the pudlic through the Ciyil Air Patrol's
J scheduled shortwave broadcasts. This program operates ,

—"

é,
¥

hand-in-hand with the “Relative Posttion Grid" kit
t T

issued by the U.S.National Committee of the I.G.Y

to all opsServing teams, hich allows these observer
with the addition of our specially taillored prediction
messages, to produce for themselves "maps" giving the
Same sort of information which our regular maps would
otherwise supply.

in addition to the channels of communication
supplied by the Civil Air Patrol, we have been aided in
setting these predictions onto the air by the American
Radio Relay League.

When the last visibility period began on Feoruary
27, We started--sending these special predictisns to
the National Academy of Sciences for relay to the
Civil Air Patzol broadcast stations, and are now sending
the predictions directly to four Civil Air Patrol
Stations, across the country. These predictions were
issued regularly for Satellite 19538 Alpha throughout
the last visibility period until March 27. During
the subsequent period of no visibility, a statement
is substituted for the regular messages to that effect.

.” We

; =. ‘
i eee

These three areas of activity, then, are the means /
by which we have to 2ate attempted to supplement the
mailings of standard 30th Parallel Crossings in order
to get the needed information to observing teams in
this country in an easy to use form, which can readily
be revised and corrected without time lapse to provide
the very latest information, on time. We have had

an encouraging measure of success in this area, and
anticipate further venefits from these efforts.

> RS

Hatetee

oO Adds 0 oe om

— LO pt

CUAPTER V

HARVARD ANNOUNCEMENT CARDS

Announcement Card 1390

Satellite 19538a«, -- The U.S.A, National Committee for
the Internationai Geophysical Year has announced that an
instrumented earth satellite was placed in ee 23 Feb- ?
ruary 1, 3555™05% U.T, at a point approximately 25°.34 N ;
and 430° 61 W. It wae Pavogned Py by a U.S, Army nantter C

rocket on February 1 487 U.T. from Cape Canaveral,
Florida at 289.5 N and 80°.6 W.

Including the empty rocket casing of the last stage, 2
the satellite weighs about 30 lbs, is cylindrical in shape c

with a length of 80 inches and a diameter of 6 inches. it RS
contains two radio transmitters; amplitude modulated trans- ¢
mission at 1038.03 mc with power level of 50 milliwatts; sy
phase modulated transmission at 108.0 me with power level. of iw

10 milliwatts; telemetry of data by both transmitters. ti

The surface of the satellite is white and may be ,
visible with binoculars under optimum conditions. Scienti-
va fic experiments include cosmic ray observations, meteoric v
impact, and temperature measurements.

February 1, 1958 Fred L. Whipple

Announcement Card 1393

Satellite 1958«, -- Dr. Paul Herget and Dr. Raynor L.
Duncombe of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington,
D.C, have obtained the following preliminary. orbitai eiements
for Satellite 1958x% from analysis of Minitrack obgervations
extending over the first 32 revolutions, for 35534 YT. on
February 1, 1958:

Minimum Height 219 miles
Maximum Height 1587 miles
Period 114.95 minutes
Eccentricity 6.14052
Inclination a3 20 a
Longitude of Ascending
Node 342°.95 (motion 4
~4,.26 per day) :
Argument of Perigee 120°.76 (motion
+6.31 per day) 5
Mean Anomaly at Epoch 14° .68 4
.

Semi-major Axis 1.2278 earth radii

mk: ale
The following optical observations of Satellite 1958x
have been received from Moonwatch teams:

Date Time Position Type of
February  U.T. R.A, Dec. Obs,

Alamogordo, New Mexico
1, (Lat. 32°, 52) 24" N Long. 105° 57' 02" W)
2. 28457549 gusge To™ -+93°06" vis. +8 mac.
” Manhattan, Kansas
(Lat. 39° 09'.75 N Long. 96% 28'.85 W)
3 1h44mz6s 5h37m -1°40' vis. +5 mag.
Alamogordo, New Mexico
(tat. 32° 52" 26" N Long. 105° 57' 02" W)
3 3h46mzos 5h23m +14°54' vis.+8 mag.
China Lake, California

(Lat. 35°.657 N Long. 117°.663 W)
6 2h24m4,28az, N 177°.25 E Alt. 71° vis.

February 5, 19538 Fred L. Whipple

Announcement Card 1404

Satellite 1958x. -- Dr. Charles A. Whitney of the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory has obtained the
following orbital elements for Satellite 1958a from an

analysis of MOONWATCH and Minitrack observations through
March 3, 1958:

Epoch and Time at Perigee 1958 Feb. 19 35 52m 538

e = .139 q= 1.0566 Q = 1.3985 (apogee distance)

i = 33°.19 *343°.4 w=120°.0

Times at Perigee Feb. 1.16182+ 0.798274 N - 1.910
x 1077N* + 0.00025 sin. .0177 (N - 20)

Motion of Perigee and Ascending Node (deg/day)

6) = 6.334 +0.00084 (T - Feb. 1.0)

= -4.237 - 0.00059 (T - Feb. 1.0)

March 17, 1958 Fred L. Whipple

St

CAF DOE T2 es Rice

-~

~ mate f

Biber a Ane ee I mage

= - .
eee ae Sart Ny ee ee ee ee

BACTERIOLOGS
Unique Bird Digests Wax
With Help of Bacterium

~ PART OF the honey-guides’ seeret is
out. Studies of this unusual family of
\irican birds show thac they digest bees’
wax with the help of a bacterium found
i their intestinal trace.

Scientists are hopeful the discovery may
offer a clue to a new attack against tuber-
ctlosis.

The new bacterium was discovered by
Drs. Herbert Friedmann, curator of birds
at the Smithsonian [nstirution, and Jerome
Kern, formerly of the department of bac-
teriology at the Walter Reed Medical Cen-
ter’s Army Medical Services Graduate
School. [It has been found to have some
“degree of interference” with the tubercu-
losis-causing bacterium.

Por years, scientists have been searching
for ways to destroy the lipoidal or waxy
content of the disease organism. It is this
woxy contenc thac very likely protects the
organism against therapeutic attack. Fur-
ther studies are planned to see how the
Yaxy content is affected by the new bac-
corum,

Micrococens cerolyticus, as the “wax-
breaking” bacterium is called, was described
to the fohns Hopkins University’s Society
of Hygiene meeting in Baltimore, Md.
identincation of the bacterium is the result
ef more than three vears’ study of the
honey-guides and their behavior and
lnclogy. Dr. Samuel J, Ajl, Walter Reed

Mecical Center, has assisted in the research.
Science News Letter, January 25, 1958

MAEDICINE
Allergies May Be Factor
in Childhood Leukemia

»” ALLERGIES in mothers and children
may be an important factor in the de
velopment of childhood leukemia.

This has been indicated by an epidemi-
clogtcal study of the cancerous blood disease
ty Dr. Miriam D. Manning, and Benjamin
F. Carroll, Children’s Cancer Research
Foundaueon, Boston, Mass.. and the Na-
‘ienal Cancer Institute, reported in the
Journal af the National Cancer Institute
(Dec. 1957).

The scientists found a significantly larger
number of mothers of children with both

ukemi ond lymphatic cancer had a his
tory of hav fever, asthma or hives, com-
tired with control groups or with those
yaving other rypes of cancer. Their children
ilso had « higher incidence of allergy, often
ippeuring as eczema,

\nother signtheanre finding was that al-
most twice as inany mothers of leukemic
chikiren had been exposed to X-rays before
ihe lurth of their child compared wach
aber groups. The X-ray exposure included

Scienck News Lerten for January 23, 195°

any and all “therapeutic irradiation” both
before or during pregnancy, without reli
tion to the site or dosage of exposure.

The mothers and children did not as a
rule have the same allergy, This might
indicate that the child of an allergic mother
greater suscoprbiity,
though nor necessarily the same form of
allergy, to sensitizing agents that may later
damage the blood-forming ability of bone
marrow,

Other researchers have already shown
that hypersensitivity can be transmitted be-
tween mother and unborn child.

It may be that the child receives a hyper-
sensitive state from the mother which turns
into leukemia only upon Jater exposure to
bone-marrow depressing agents,

“We believe that the data presented
justify and should stimulate further in-
vestigation along this line of approach to
the problem of acute leukemia in children,”
they conclude.

Science News Letter, January 25, 1958

;
With J

erorr life
Caries it

ANTHROPOLOGY

Big Chest, More Blood
Help indian on Andes

> ADAPTATION through heredity and
further adaptation during the individual's
lifetime work together to make the big-
chested, stocky little Andean Indians able
ta live and work hard two miles or more
above the level of the sea.

The changes that these uvo forces of
adaptation have made in the Indian's body
were studied at Hacienda Vicos, high in the
Peruvian Andes, by Dr. Marshall T. New-
inan, physical anthropologist of the Smith-
sontan Institution, Washington.

Mose striking is the enormous size of
the Vicos Indian's chest and the lungs inside
it. There is a decided enlargement of the
lower part of the rib cage so that the
Indian can breathe deep and the diaphragm
is also set low. An expanded inner lining
of the lungs makes it possible to pick up
the maximum of oxygen from the thin
mountain air.

The Andean Indian also has more blood
than the man at sea level—on the average
two extra quarts. The red cells in his blood
are larger, providing more surtace for tak-
ing up oxygen, Dr. Newman reports in
Natural Hestory (Jan.).

With this larger quantiry of thicker
blood, the Indians also have a larger, more
powerful heart to pump it, They seem to
have 2 better blood supply in their extremt-
ties, because even tn the intense cold of the
mountain too before sunrise, thetr bare fcet
and hands are warm.

Another adaptation chat protects them
beth trom the strains of alorude and the
intense cold is their stecky butld. This

reduces the distunce thar blenl must cir-
culate to the extremities and also reduces
the surface area of the bealy which can
cause loss of body heat by raciation.

Dr. Newman learned the effects of high
sitttude during a study of the Vicos. In-
cians’ blaad oressure. Much of the dic
presented in his report is the work of the
Insteuce of Andean Biology, Lima, Peru.

Science News Letter, January 25, 1953

Xp -
MEDICINE
Blood and Giass Create
Pain-Producing Chemical

> A PAIN PRODUCING

qe ] ci hi! uel p! crite 2

lortnied
poly stites ap 4
with glass ts describes? by Dr J. Morgotis of
Middlesex Hospital Medical School, 1.
don, England, tn Nutere (Dec. 28, 1957)

The pain-producing substance appears to
be formed by the action of an enzyme in
the plasma, but it is rapidly destroyed by
another type of chemical substance in the
phisma, called a peptidase.

The formation of the pain-producing sub-
stince ts similar to the initation of blood
clorting by glass.

Chemical analysis showed that the pain-
producing substance is formed in several
steps. When the plasma is exposed to glass,
a substance that has been called “contact
factor” is first formed. This “contact factor”
then starts further reactions which lead to
formation of the pain-producing substance.

The “contact factor” is most active after
two minutes, but within 20 to 30 minutes
its activity has decreased to negligible values,
Dr. Margolis reports.

The “contact factor” develops normally
in the plasma of persons with certain blood
disorders, such as hemophilia and Christmas
disease, in which the blood has lost much
of its ability to clot.

Apart from glass, certain other surfaces
are capable of activating both pain-produc-
ing substance and biood clotting. The exact
surface conditions that are involved are still
being studied but a clue to the mechanism
may lie in the behavior of dried silica gel
and alumina.

These are both inactive to begin with,
but become quite active after being heated
to above 1,000 degrees centigrade.

Science News Letter, January 25, 1958

'
tihishbitice

ANTHROPOLOGY

New Dates Add to Man’‘s
Antiquity in America

> MAN IS now known to have lived in
what is now Alabama close to 9,000 years
wo. This is the oldest radiocarbon date
for material associated with man’s
in the eastern United States.

The date, 7,95) plus or minus 200 vears
ago, ts published in Scrence (Dec. 27, 1957)
by Drs. W. S. Broecker and | Pe Kulp ot
the Lamont Geological Observatory, Co-
lumbia University, Palisades, N. Y.

The date was obtined from charcaal
found 13 feer beluw ground level tn Russel
Cave, Jackson County.

The radiocarbon dates reported from 1s
yore Obwvservatory aly SUirest that man
occupied the west coms? af North Arvericit
much longer ago. Charred dwart
moth bones found 36 feer below the top
of the alluvium were Gated ar 20700 weyers
wo plus or minus 3,000.

“This stuggests.” the scientists say, “that
nian oecupied the west coast of North Aner
ica before the major tke advance of the
letters part of the Wisconsin ghactal verios!.”

Science News Letter, Jonuory 15, 1743

tools

Tall.

ss

” “Science News Lerrtr for faanary 23, 1958
once ~*,
ASTRONOMY

While none of the five planets usually visible to the
naked eye can be seen on February evenings, there are a num-
ber of first magnitude stars visible, Sirius the brightest of all.

By JAMES STOKLEY

» BRIGHTEST STAR of the February
evening sky is Sirtus, which shines in the
south in the constellation of Canis Major,
the great dog. Beeause of this, Sirius is
vlven called che dog star. Also, it is asso
cuited with the so-called “dog days” of mid-
vimimer. About that time of year the sun
vanes rather close to Sirtus. Ancient peo-
vies thought, mistakenly, that the rays of
iis star combined with the heat of the sun
to produce the sultry weather which, they
supposed, caused dogs to go mad.

Sirius is shown on the accompanying
cups, which give the appearance of the
Lies at about 10:00 p.m., your own kind of
stuudard time, at the beginning of Febru-
ry. un hour earlier at the middle of the
nionch and about 8:00 p.m. as it comes to

l end,

\round Sirius ace the other bright stars

the winter evening. Above and right
vou can see the constellation of Orion, the
warrior, with two first magnitude stars:
ietelgeuse and Rigel. Berween these are
tie three stars named Anilam, Alnitak and
\lintaka, that form the warrior’s belt. <A
ittle higher is Beilanix, in his shoulder.

Sill higher and farther right we come to
yurus, the bull. In this group stands red
\idebaran, another star of the first magni-
tude.

\urtga, the chartoteer, is directly over-
ead, sith brilliant Capella. Below this
croup, toward the southeast, you come to
(comin, the mvins. In it are tvo prominent
vars, Castor and Pollux, which were the

ves of the twins, favorite gods in the
‘cient Roman mythology. However, only

flux is of the first magnitude; Castor, a
litle fainter, ws of the second. And below
© twins, in the direction of the big dog,
ve come to Canis Minor, the lesser dog, in

uch Procyon stands,

snl another first magnitude star appears

the cast, in Leo, the hon. This ts Regulus,
* the end of the handle of the “sickle,” a

valler star group. The blade of the im-
around the word “Leo”
“aan the map.

4.3, making it the brightest object in the
sky. Hence, Venus will continue to be
visible even after the sky has gotten quite
bright, and other stars and planets have
vanished.

Around midnight the planet Jupiter, now
slightly brighter than Sirius, will rise in the
east, in the constellation of Virgo, the vir-
gin. This group is not shown on the maps,
but it is next to Leo, and appears after that
group has risen higher. For a few hours
before sunrise Mars can be seen low in the
southeast, in Sagittarius, the archer. This
planet is considerably fainter than those al-
ready mentioned; it ts about 1.5 magnitude,
or a little brighter than the stars of Orion's
belr.

Saturn also rises in the early morning
hours, even ahead of Mars, and is in
Ophiuchus, just east of red Antares, which
is in Scorpius, the scorpion. In brightness
Saturn is about equal to a typical first mag-
nitude star.

Alshough none of the Ave planets thar
are visible to the naked evye—Mercury,
Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn—are now
in the evening sky, two of the other three
are there, and may be seen with a telescope

eC

1942

_ apne
ANDAOMEDA \*™"

\ CEPH

Ki oheratz

?

“Tisnh?t curves

~anets Invisible in February

Jf . Fredy
J 4” bodes,
“oy planets are visible to the naked cye < oSiriys 3) ~ *
-ebruary evenings. Mercury is nearly in , : oa ge Senidawus y
me direction as the sun, and cannot HYBAA gu S$ ay ™ ,
wen oat all ia February. Venus, which vy # MaOR LEDUS

* ay Perret

choy in the evening sky until
‘chs dato, IS NOW Passing In front

in utd is stimularty invisible. By ana
f February, however, 1 wall appear 4 EAST
i) tae southeast tust before sunrise. In
ness, ic will be of magnitude minus -* Oe

-_ = LAE — sks eee eae a ©

a

CAMELOPARDALIS

Palarss

“asa
dl
MINDS} canes ,
oaaco} = (vewarici

ap
fy ~~ thuuaa

tuce South

j f . ; P = tix st
oD ie Ai iies f= ;
LY ‘

Dog Star Shines in South

of sufficient power. One of these is Uranus,
whit hi iS MOW ta CGartcer, the ; if, a group
between Leo anc Geman | he approxs-

mate position of Uranus is shown by a
stall X, under the letter “Av in the nume
of the constellation. At present its magni.
tude is 5.8, which makes it less than 4a
sixtieth af the brightness of Regulus, stand-
ings nearby.

It is generally considered that stars as
faint as the sixth magnitude can just be
seen with the naked eye, under the roost
favorable conditions of a clear, dark sky.
Theoretically, it is thus possible to sce
Uranus without a telescope, but this is very
difficult, unless you are far from the city’s
glare and smoky atmosphere.

Uranus’ Discovery

Uranus was discovered in I781 by an
English amateur astronomer, William Her-
sche!l. When he first saw it, with a tele-
scope that he had made himself, equipped
with a concave mirror 6.5 inches in diam-
eter, he realized that it did not look like a
star, A few days later, when he saw it
again, Uranus had moved a little, so he
concluded that he had found a new comet
—and so announced it. Computitons
showed it to be another planet, more than
19,000,000 miles from the sun, abour nvice
as far as Saturn. [ft revolves around the
sun in 34 years and turns on its axis in I!

LYNX

uasa =
MAJOA

a
—_— @
° Pollen efi

WEST?

SYMBOLS FOR STARS IN ORDER OF BRIGHTNESS

s

- -
.

: Sie: ss jas

a

vrs A

~

t.

oS

a

“™

va Ss

Ve

i~we

x

~ a»
hours Wranus has five moons, visible anty
through lurge telescupes. Herschel himseli

discovered two, which he named Tina

and Oberon. Two mere, Ariel and Urn-
bricl, were found in [55] by another Eng
lish astronomer. The last. Miranda. was

first detected by Dr. G. P. Kuiper, aa
American astronomer, at the McDonald
Observatory in Texas in [4s

During the early years of the 19th cen-
tury astronomers tound Uranus was net
moving according to their predictions, and
decided there must be another planet sull
farther out, which was pulling on it. Nep-
tune was responsible. It was found in
1846, close to the place where it was ex-
pected to be.

At present Neptune is in the constella-
tion of Virgo, not far from Jupiter, and
rises about midnight. Neptune is about
2,791,000,000 miles from the sun, which it
goes around in 165 years, and it has two
satellites: Triton, discovered in 1846, and
Nereid. The latter was also discovered by
Dr. Kuiper, in 1949,

The most distant known planet is Pluto,
discovered by C. W. Tombaugh, at the
Lowell Observatory at Flagstati, Ariz., in
1930. Its average distance from the sun is
3,67 1,000,000 miles: it goes around in 248
years. Probably it is no larger than the
earth, and no satellites have yet been dis-
covered. At present it is in the evening sky,
in Leo, alongside the sickle. Its position
also is shown by a smail X on our map.
Heurvever, only a very large telescope will
reveal this planet, which is about the 15th
magnitude. It has been suggested that
Pluro was originally formed as a satellite
of Neptune, then later escyfteadbe™

On Feb. 19 at midnight, Pluto and the
earth will be lined up id the signe diresuon

. * °
from the sun. Itis then said whgdn dppos
tion with the sun, i.e, Pluto an@ the stn are
in opposite directions from the earth. At
such a tip ote yy is closer to the

ewrth than atany other ume durityathe year?
#7 Pluto will then be 3,U95,000,000 miles

Celestial Time Table for February

Feb. EST
5 tz:23p.m. Algol (variable star in Perseus)
arominimum brightness
$s 3:05 a.m. Full mun.
S:t2p.m. Algol at minimum.
5s 6:00 pan. Mean nearest; distance 224,204

-

seth. Oo.

9 8:25 a.m. Moon passes Jupiter.
10) «66334 p.m. Moon in last quarter,
3% 0 3:sQ a.m. Mion passes Saturn.

{4 6:20am, Moon posses Mars.

s

tS (Ors. 2.0L New fron,

»?

tao midnight Pluto in opposition and acurest
earth: titance SOUS 009M
Thee,

2t to;00 aun. Moon farthest; distance 252.54:

thee
22 «1:08 a.m. Algol ar minimum.
24 O:57 Pm. Alvol at minimum,
2 8693:31 p.m. Moon in frst quarter.

Subtract ote Sour for CST, two lwurs tor
MST, and three for PST.

Science News Letter, January 25, 1958

= * ‘ -

.

i eee

A Te ee

- -

No Case (information Oniy) 8 February 1953 ue a
Micro, North Carolina

Tvan Sanderson Sees Green Fireball: On the night of Saturday, February 8, the well-
known zoologist, author, iV star, and CSI Vice President, Summ, was
driving back to New York from the South, with three friends, At 10:35 pom. they
were heading northeast on Route 301 in southern North Carolina, and had just
passed the tiny village of Micro (about 30 miles southeast of Raleigh). Robert
Duncan, in the back seat, noticed a bright "peacock-green"” luminous codject rising
behind the trees in the southwest and catching up with the car. A moment later
the brakes were slammed on as it was seen by Ivan and Richard Florimont, in the
front seat. Not quite one-third the size of a full moon, it had a blunt front
and a tapering sharp tail, from which spurted a few orange sparks that forked like
those struck from a flint. It appeared like a rounded, three-dimensional thing,
not a mere glaring light, It passed over, to their left, and within four seconds
was lost to view vehind pine trees in the north-northeast. No sound was heard.
Ivan had the impression that it was a good many miles away. (The appearance and

horizontal course of this object seem to put it in the general class of the enig-
matic "green fireballs.") | \a SS -

= =

», TUESDAY, FEBRUARY *?, 1958

——

—-_

- —

Northern Lights Give |
Bright, Colo: ea Show

Shimmering arcs and fiery curtains of red, green and white biszed
across the sky in a darziing phenomenon known as the northern lights
or aurora borealis Monday night.

Sky-gazers throughout Fairborn and most of the nation observed the
northern lights which normally are seen at high latitudes.

The lights were chserved in points as scattered as Rozion, New |
York, Des Moines, Ia., A’buquerque, N.M., Tylss, Oxla., ge ye
Tenn, Seatile, 1 Los Angeles, Chicago and as ‘far south as Ve TD sack
Fiz.

One persoa living in the Wright View area called the Daily Herald|
after noting the red sky to know if Fairborn had a hig fire.

Toe unusually intense dissiay had marked effect on radio trans-
aission and teletyps wires. Radio hams in the Minneapolis orea re-

ported they were unabie to operate during the display.

Qantof Satollifo Giron.

TE ETN er eevee -

724

MAARISUMNM LOVN FLOUR ——

‘ 313 W. St. Louis Street « “
on Lebanon, illinois 2? xy -.

KIGCC, AAFIGCC ;

No Case (Information Only) February 1958
.. Naples, Italy
“ad
2

Devartment of the Air Force
Office of tne Secretary
wesnington, D. C.

Dear Sirs:

unidentified object hed landed end exploded in Naples, Itely.
wnet was this odjecte :

Sincerely yours;
RY 6 x , : ~
i i? pon te >< Chink

+. : -

Harrison Leon Church

Fe e . i 2
~~ ¥ - t
ms 3 ' > OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AiR SS OATEe =
AGS res OFF 1OR4
a ROUTING SLIP -5 2) {S53
| 3
a COPIES} —. | ae COPIES
1O OFFICE TO TO OFFICE TO
SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR | fied
|SECRETARY AIR FORCE
} bie : IF
LA | ACMINISTRATIVE
; = nm
Git OF STAFF Moki eta s |
, i | ae ee
| UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL. COUNSEL
| | a4
| ASSISTANT SECRETARY OFFICE OF
| FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LEGISLATIVE LIAISON
|ASSISTANT SECRETARY OFFICE oF
‘MATERIEL INFORMATION SERVICES
‘asst SECTY MANPOWER,
(PERSCNNEL & RESERVE FORCES
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

TYPE OF ACTION
| app RoPRIATE ACTION ACTION ASSIGNED TO

| REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

| DIBECT REPLY ATTENTION
INFO ON WHICH TO BASE REPLY

| (NFORMATION

COORDINATION COORDINATE WITH

/NOTE AND RETURN
| NOTE AND FORWARD

; FILE
| PREPARE REPLY FOR SIGNATURE OF SUSPENSE DATE
‘
REMARKS
‘
Pa
BY OYRECTION OF: ,
° Chary bP 4 fees
L/ | THE SECRETARY <anee
THE UNDER SECRETARY vee wed toa peel ie sats
| 76 Cos Was ap: Se
| THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY sd ; :

SORES ——-— — EE |

U. 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING CFFICE. 1956 O—-370354

AFHO , nee sy 0796

< Pee

’ ; / ’
— ~ . _ ‘ . 3 fo ’
SG AT =~ </ Va } Mg okay] ma / ris ;
Kine in a word pe

5 March 19535

Dear Mir. Qian

This is to acknowledge your letter of

15 February concerning an unidentified flying
object in Naples, Italy.

The U. S. Air Force has received no report
on this sighting or incident.

fhe United Press carried a news item on or
ebout 12 February 1958 stating a military type
rocket inadvertently placed in an incinerator
hed caused 2 mystericus explosion in heples,
and it caused much excitement until military
@uthorities explained the mishsp.

Sincerely,

LAWRENCE J. TACKER

Major, USAF

Executive Officer

Public os plpnaaaae Division
Office of Information Services

COMEBACK-SAPIS- 3
READER-SAPIS-1

| STAYBACK-SAFIS-3

Special Report No, 1]
IGY Project No. 30.10
NSF Grant No. Y/30.10/167

STATUS REPORTS ON OPTICAL OBSERVATIONS
OF SATELLITES 1958 ALPHA AND 1958 BETA
|
c
Project Director: Fred L. Whipple
Associate Director: J, Allen Hynek
Edited by: G, F, Schilling
|
' a
March 3l, 1958 ¥
Cambridge, Massachusetts ‘

™ ~
vz

srr ?
,

No. Case (Information Onty) 44 #epruary 199% .
Columbus, Ohio

...Also in Columbus, seven persons
vetehed a 40-foct-long orange-colored saucer fcr 2 period of several minutes,
on the night of Fed. 22nd. The object hai "a2 scrt of tail in the ossesite dir-
zction from which itemoved.’ it was flying et an altitude of abcut 2700 Peet.

vain Me Fi

“ACCORDING TO ORe

nT APPROACHED WE WERE ABLE TO DETECT WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SOLID SODY BEHINO
THE GLOWe THE OSJECT SEEMED TO BSE TwO HEMISPHERES ON ‘Slice oF EACH OTHER

-ONTOURS VERY CLEARLYe THE BOTTOM WAS SMALLER THAN THE TOP HEMISPHERE AND iT

“SE SKY» ITS LUMINOUS FOCUS ON THE GROUND ROTATING AROUND ITSELFe THEN THE

ee = me kee —* —

CORSE SSE EIS PE SEM AHR K HOE EE EEE EERE RR EE EE

SGe 24) > Litis FN NAZARE ANO SALVADOR LORENZEN P 143 ) 3 WITNESSESO

OR ' ae A LAWYER IN, SENAT<S NATIONAL DEPARTMENT >s O
\NOEL MENDES AND A FRIENDse ANTONIO DE ARAUIO® WERE DREVING RQETWEEN NAZARE ANDO
ALVYADOR» IN BAHIAs (ABOUT 1200 MILES FROM PONTA PORANs SRAZILe) BETWEEN O
HESE TwO TOWNS LIE TwO SMALL VILLAGES, SANTO ANTONIO DE JESUS AND CONCEICAO ¢
LME TOA. AT 3205 AeMe SOMEWHERE SETWEEN THE TWO VILLAGES. THEIR CAR BEGAN 6

-OUG HING AND MISSING ANO THEN ABRUPTLY THE MOTOR STOPPED DEAD. THE MEN

oO

N\TTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE TROUBLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE NEXT INHASITED SPOT WASO
(SOME DISTANCE AWAYs AND THEY DE SCIDED TO SLEEP AT THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND IN

‘= MORNING» OO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAR.

_IT_WAS THEN THAT THEY SPOTTED A HUGE LUMINOUS OBJECT HOVERING OVERHEAD.»
REPORT. *IT GLOWED WITH A STRANGE LIGHT WHICH
SSEMEO FLUID» BETWEEN SILVER AND BLUESe AT FIRST IT WAS ONLY A LIGHT» SUT AS

4

|
'
'

=TWEEN THEM A LUMINOUS DISK OR RING SPINNING AT HIGH SPE [T WAS THE
OURSE OF THE SRILLIANT GLOW SURROUNDING THE WHOLE O8J ers THE OSYECT CAME

ILENTLY TOWARD THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT TWO HUNORED ANO FORTY FEET FROM THE
SSERVERS AND ABOUT NINETY FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THEN IT DESCENOED IN A

URIOUS MANNER AS THOUGH IT WERE A FALLING LEAFe IT STEADIED ITSELF AT ABOUT
INE OR TWELVE FEET ABOVE GROUND» AND THE THREE MEN WERE ASLE TO DISCERN ITS

\S SLIGHTLY FLATTENED UNDERNEATHe ITS LUMINCSITY SPREAD IN A CURTAIN OF
(GHT SUSPENDED BETWEEN THE UFO AND THE GROUND BELOW.
THE FRIGHTENED DRIVER» MENDES» GOT BACK INTO THE CARe THE OTHER TWO,

NEVER» DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE. AND WALKED TOWARD THE STRANGE OBVECTe AS
Y_APPROACHED THE ILLUMINATED AREA (ABOUT TWICE THE SIZE OF THE UFOs WHICH |;
=ARED TO BE ABOUT 60 TO 75 FEET IN DIAMETER) THE OBYECT SUDDENLY TOOK OFF
_A VERTICAL CLIMBe IT STOPPED AT ABOUT 600 FEET» AND MADE A TIGHT CIRCLE IN

|

W) fw | wt fu iN wh = als mi re ee re ee OO

“O STOPPED AGAIN AND TILTED FORTY-FIVE DEGREES. IN THIS PO SITION THE __ =
TATING RING WAS MORE EASILY VIEWED AND OR. PEREIRA GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT
T WAS NOTCHED LIKE A COGWHEEL. WHOSE INDENTATIONS APPEARED TO BE OBLIQUE

SLATIVE TO THE EDGE OF THE RINGe MINUTES LATER THE OCSYECT SEGAN TO MOVE

SALNoW IN A SERIES OF HIGH={$SPEED MANEUVERS ACROSS THE SKYs SOMETIMES MOVING
RTICALL Ys SOMETIMES IN TIGHT CIRCLES AROUND THE CAR AND SOMETIMES IN

“RP ATGHT LINES IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONSe IN THE STRAIGHT=LINE MANEUVERS IT.
f/ED #MORE SAPLOLY THAN LIGHTNING,* BECOMING AT TIMES A SMALL ODOT OF LIGHT IN

SKY IN A SPLIT=-SECOND*s THEN FOR A SECOND TIME THE OSJECT “EXECUTED THE

— -- a ee oo ee

del

{J't) bd ) Wot 039

AD-LEA=* DESCENT» STOPPING ASOUT 9 TO 12 FEET FROM THE GROUNDe WHEN “She
ISERVERS TRIED TO APPROACH ITs THE OBJECT TOOK OFF VERTICALLY AT HIGH SPEEO ¢
i WAS SONE e THE TIME WAS 4035 he Me *

ST. Se30_AeMor THE OBYECT APPEARED FOR THE “LAST TIME) AT. A LOW ALTITUDE. 4
\LVERY IN COLOR AND WITH NO GLOWe IT WAS MOTIONLESS» TILTED TO ONE SIDEe> 4

2 1T SUODENLY_SHOT UP AT TREMENOOUS SPEED AND VANISHED IN A_SPLIT=SECONDe 4:

ANB a i F
~TEVPTEO TO START THEIR CARe TO THE UR SURPRISE THE MOTOR FUNCTION ‘EO

va wWiTH NO FURTHER STALLING» AND THE CAR MADE THE REST OF THE TRIP TO 46

.OR wl THOUT_TROUBLE oa s 3 , ae Pree ae 47

© te em 20 be 60 66 06 +6 0e we te 62 oe te ee ees MW te MW Ow ew Se mF

r oy ~ * : * _ | i lest Sf rs f . } ang ae
TDETR / Ma j H Quintanilla, Jx/70916/766738/mhs/27 *t 65
T UFO Sighting, 27 February 1958

i OCT 838i 1986
h Hq USAF (SaFoIcc)

Reference the attached letter from Rggummgpe reporting

; his observation which occurred on 27 Februsry 1953. The following
is a suggested reply. mc

, | a. Dear Mr caine

. or There have been many accusations made against the Air
ica Force concerning our alleged official stand that "there just sin't
no such thing.” We have never made such a statement. Our official
' stand is that there has been no evidence submitted to or discovered
by the Air Force that sightings categorized as unidentified are
extraterrestrial vehicles.

If you had reported your observation tc the Air Force, our
enalysts and evaluators would have attempted to determine what you
‘ ' had observed. If we had been unable to find a logical answer, then
your case would have been categorized as wildentified. The Air
Force would not have made your name available to the press without
your permission.

It would be extremely difficult at this late date to perform
& comprehensive investigation on your observation. It will be filed
with our 1958 cases for information purposes, however, it will not
be considered a case. There were no UFO reports submitted to the

Air Force for 27 February 1953.

FOR THE COMMANDER

Sy

. Hf Bee .

‘ LOUIS DE GOES, Colonel, USAF 1 Atch

: : Deputy for Technology and Subsystems Ltr, R. Hartinger
COORDINATION

DATES 2Zecres

Ow t

‘ / - i

DETR /MAT H_QU {TANILEA, JR
f c) ; - fin ge fe

C deed! U). 2+. J Bae a DATE 27 CCV GC

r Fah 5

** Ow cet Bi a — aT: ITT Ti. r ' ll aT. in o Yee >]

-"ND Case (Information Unly) 28 February 19538
Miami, Florida

;

af Soace Animals: New evidence for the animal theory: falls of rapidly-evaporating

<<)» ““Wsky jelly" (compare evaporation of angel hair) in Miami, Fl ruary
ber 1958 pees as witness) ard Australia in 1950, aia a |

ee ere ee I i eel eae es = ‘i o- P

Y

er

~—
RES

The original invent OL this collection of snort
reports was the presentation of preliminary data, to
the U. S. National Committee for the International
Geoonysical Year, obtained by the Optical Satellite
Tracking Program of the Smithsonian Astroohysical Ob-
3ervatory with regara to the first artificial eartn
satellite launched by the tnited States on January 31,
1953.

At the present time, however, three more objects
have been successfully Launched into satellite orbits
from Cape Canaveral, florida. The collection has there-

fore been expanded to Inelude such additional orbital
t{nformation and results of data analyses as eould be
put into usable form, as well as descriptions of the
principal machine computation programs in use.

Since wa are endeavoring to make these satellite
data available as rapidly as possible to all scientists
participating in the International Geopnysical Year,
we have of necessity 4neluded informacion of an ex-
sremely preliminary nature.

wb
ry
oY
{v
rs
er

4
Ww
Q
y
$e
i od
t-
| aed
rs
i

Cambridge, Massachusetts

March 31, 1958

cree: +

a

weet? +See *>

wt ape ae canes °°

- te oot t”

sn