ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

09/09/1955 - 09/30/1958:

Department of Defense
  Department of the Navy
    Executive Office of the Secretary
      Office of Naval Research
        Naval Research Laboratory

10/01/1958 - 04/30/1959:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  Office of Space Flight Development
    Space Projects Center

05/01/1959 - ca. 10/1959:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  Office of Space Flight Development
    Goddard Space Flight Center

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY:

On July 29, 1955 the Eisenhower Administration announced plans for the development of an unmanned Earth satellite to be launched into orbit in conjunction with the International Geophysical Year (July 1, 1957-Dec. 31, 1958). This Scientific Earth Satellite Program became Project Vanguard.

 

A Department of Defense project, Vanguard was assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) on Sept. 9, 1955, the unit under the Office of Naval Research with the most extensive experience in rocket research. The directorship of the Vanguard Division of NRL, composed of NRL's Rocket Development Branch and several scientists from other NRL units, fell to John P. Hagen, Superintendent of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Division.

 

The tasks assigned to the Project Vanguard team were to put an object into orbit around the earth and to conduct at least one scientific experiment using the object. Successful completion of the project required "the development and construction of a suitable launching vehicle; the design and construction of a satellite with its scientific instrumentation; the construction of a launching complex and its instrumentation of down range stations; the design, construction, and installation of a tracking system with its associated stations; and finally the development of a computational system to establish that the object is in orbit and to keep track of it once it is known to be there."

 

 

Following the passage of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 426) and subsequent establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), responsibility for Project Vanguard was transferred from NRL to the new agency by Executive Order 10783 on Oct. 1, 1958. In an effort not to interfere with progress being made by NRL's Vanguard Division, NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan delegated authority for the project back to NRL. The existing staff under Dr. Hagen was retained and the project continued under NASA as it had under the Department of Defense.

 

Responsibility for overseeing the project fell to NASA's Director of Space Flight Development, Abe Silverstein. On May 1, 1959 an umbrella unit responsible for projects concerning earth orbiting craft was created within Silverstein's office. It was to this unit, known as the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), that Project Vanguard was assigned. In Sept. 1959 Dr. Harry L. Goett of NASA's Ames Research Center was appointed director of the GSFC. The project would remain housed at the NRL because the GSFC building in Greenbelt, MD would not be completed until after the dissolution of the project.

 

The Vanguard Division of GSFC was dismantled soon after the successful launching of Vanguard III on Sept. 18, 1959.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY CITATION(S):Rosholt, Robert L. An Administrative History of NASA, 1958-1963. Washington, D.C.: NASA, 1966, pp. 12-13, 44-48, 80; U. S. Government Organizational Manual, 1960-1961. Washington, D.C.: GSA, 1960, pp. 453, 455; Ezell, Linda Neuman. NASA Historical Data Book: Programs and Projects 1958-1968. Washington, D.C.: NASA, 1988, p. 87; Green, Constance McLaughlin and Lomask, Milton. Vanguard: A History. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1971, pp.57-62; "Project Vanguard Report of Progress, Status, and Plans, 1 June 1957," NRL Report No. 4969, Washington, D.C., 1957, pp.1-2.

• NAVAL RESEARCH LAB (NRL) RECORDS CONCERNING PROJECT VANGUARD. 1955-59. (MLR Entry 32, A1).
• PROJECT VANGUARD CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS. (CHRONOLOGICAL FILE). 1955-58. (MLR Entry 33, A1).
• PROJECT VANGUARD CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS. (SUBJECT FILE). 1955-58. (MLR Entry 34, A1).
• PROJECT VANGUARD CONTRACT CASE FILES, 1955-59. (MLR Entry 35, A1).
• REPORTS ON PROJECT VANGUARD. 1955-59. (MLR Entry 36, A1).
• RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PROJECT DIRECTOR. 1955-59. (MLR Entry 37, A1).
• NRL CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS TRANSFERRED TO VANGUARD DIVISION. (MLR Entry 38, A1).
• PROJECT VANGUARD STAFF PUBLICATIONS. 1955-59. (MLR Entry 39, A1).

NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY'S (NRL) RECORDS CONCERNING PROJECT VANGUARD.

1955-58

Boxes 1-32  
MLR Entry 32, A1
Location: 130/25/26/7

Arranged chronologically.

 

This series, created when Project Vanguard was still assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, includes correspondence, memorandums, press releases, and blueprints concerning stages in the planning, construction, and launching of the Vanguard satellite. Progress reports from the Glen L. Martin Company, Project Vanguard's primary contractor, are also included.

 

Subjects covered include: launches; the Viking rocket; rocket boosters; the Minitrack satellite tracking system; propellants; visibility of earth satellites; effects of temperature on a satellite; signal generators; antennas; aerodynamics; radiation; and propulsion.

PROJECT VANGUARD CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS (CHRONOLOGICAL FILE).

1955 - 1958

Boxes 1-16
MLR Entry 33, A1
Location: 130/25/27/5

Arranged in rough chronological order.

 

These correspondence, memorandums, reports, and technical drawings relate to all stages of the development, testing, and launching of the Vanguard satellite.

 

The records deal with: test schedules; missile designs; launching vehicles; contracting; administrative procedures and funding; the Minitrack satellite tracking system; Sputnik; radar; procurement; telemetry; and Air Force Missile Test Center support.

CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS (SUBJECT FILE).

1955 - 1959

Boxes 1-18
MLR Entry 34, A1
Location: 130/25/27/7

Arranged in two sections: one-third arranged by organizational code number which represents a unit in the Project Vanguard organizational structure; two-thirds arranged alphabetically by subject.

 

The series contains progress reports, bulletins, memorandums, Consultative Service Records, congratulatory messages, press releases, and technical drawings relating to the organization and activities of the Scientific Earth Satellite Program (Project Vanguard).

 

Subjects covered by the records include: design and construction of equipment for Vanguard vehicles; administrative correspondence related to organization and staff of the various units; testing requirements; contracts; funding; the Minitrack satellite tracking system; satellites and launch vehicles.

DEPARTMENT CODE LIST:

2000................Technical Information Office
3000................Comptroller's Office
4100................Project Director
4101................Deputy Project Director
4102................Administrative Officer
4103................Management Coordinator
4104................Master Planning Coordinator
4105................Science Program Coordinator
4110................Technical Director
4115................Engineering Consultant
4120................Vehicle Branch
4130................Tracking and Guidance Branch
4132................Data Techniques Group
4140................Theory and Analysis Branch
4150................Electronic Instrumentation Branch
4160................VOG, AFMTC, Patrick AFB (FL)--Manager
4200................Space Sciences Division
4300................Theoretical Division
5100................Applications Research Division
5130................Operational Research Branch
5230................Electronics Branch
5330................Radar Branch
6261................Mechanics Group
7000................Research and Development Office
7100................Atmosphere and Astrophysics Division
7300................Optics Division

PROJECT VANGUARD CONTRACT CASE FILES.

1955 - 1959

Boxes 1-13 
MLR Entry 35, A1 
Location: 130/25/28/3

Arranged alphabetically by name of contractor.

 

This series includes case files for contracts negotiated with the Glen L. Martin Company, Project Vanguard's principle contractor, and with more than fifty subcontractors assigned various jobs for the satellite project. Correspondence related to those contracts, as well as photographs, specifications, technical drawings, and graphs are also interspersed throughout the files.

 

Contracts were awarded for the design and construction of antennas, solar power units, tracking mechanisms, beacons, propulsion systems, gyroscopes, telemetering equipment, office facilities, and various satellite launch vehicle equipment.

CONTRACTS BOX LIST:

Box 1:

Advanced Research Project Agency
Aerojet General Corp.

Box 2:

Air Associates, Inc.
Air Force Missile Test Center 
Aircraft Armaments, Inc.
Army Ballistic Research Laboratory
Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory
Atlantic Research Corp.

Box 3:

Bendix Radio Corp.
Benson-Lehner Corp.
Brooks and Perkins, Inc.

Box 4:

Comprehensive Designers, Inc.
Connecticut Telephone and Electric Corp.
Consultants and Designers, Inc.
Cook Electric Company
Department of Defense
Derby Steel Company
Designers for Industry

Box 5:

Electronic Communications, Inc.
Elsin Electronics Corp.
Federal Communications Commission
Fischer and Associates, Inc.
General Controls Company
General Electric Company

Box 6:

General Mills, Inc.
Grand Central Rocket Company
Greer Hydraulics, Inc.
Hazeltine Electronics
Hercules Powder Company

Box 7:

Hoover Electronics
Industrial Engineering Corp.
International Business Machines Corp.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
King Engineering Company
Lowery Hydropress
William T. Lyons Company, Inc.
Glen L. Martin Company

Box 8:

Glen L. Martin Company (cont'd.)

Box 9:

Glen L. Martin Company (cont'd.)
Melpar, Inc.

Box 10:

Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company
Morrow Brothers, Inc.
Naval Research Laboratory

Box 11:

Navy
New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts

Box 12:

Pennsylvania Furnace and Iron Company
Polarad Electronics Corp.
Radiation, Inc.
Radio Corporation of America
Rahm Instrument Company
Raymond Engineering Laboratory, Inc.
Reaction Motors, Inc.
Reeves Instrument Corp.
Sacramento Telecasters
Sylvania Electric Products, Inc.

Box 13:

Technical Appliance Corp.
University of Cinncinnati
University of Illinois-Urbana
Varian Associates
Vickers, Inc.
Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Zenith Radio Corp.
 

REPORTS ON PROJECT VANGUARD.

1955 - 1959

Boxes 1-9 
MLR Entry 36, A1
Location: 130/25/28/4

Arranged generally by agency report number. Unnumbered reports are filed near the end of the series and are arranged chronologically. Filed in the last two boxes are summary progress reports.

 

Compiled by the Glen L. Martin Company, Project Vanguard's primary contractor, the reports detail progress made in constructing and testing the satellite equipment involved in the project. The narrative reports are interspersed with technical drawings, tables, graphs, diagrams, and specifications.

 

The June 1, 1957 NRL report in Box 9 chronicles the origin of the project, its organizational structure, progress to date, and prospects for the future based primarily on funding projections.

 

Topics covered in these reports include: launch schedules; instrument test results; ground stations; the Minitrack satellite tracking system; missile recovery; operation and safety requirements; test vehicle design and construction; and test flight results.

RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PROJECT DIRECTOR.

1955 - 1959

Boxes 1-5
MLR Entry 37, A1
Location: 130/25/28/6

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

 

Included are correspondence, memorandums, Congressional documents, budgets, press releases, bibliographies, photographs, and newspaper clippings related to the administration of Project Vanguard.

 

Project Director John P. Hagen's personal working files are included in Boxes 3 and 4. An office reference file is also included.

 

Subjects covered include: funding; launch schedules; the Minitrack satellite tracking system; Executive Order 10783; National Aeronautics and Space Act (P.L. 85-322); Congressional appropriations committee preparations; and Project Vanguard policy developments.

NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (NRL) CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS TRANSFERRED TO THE VANGUARD DIVISION.

1955 - 1959

Boxes 1-7
MLR Entry 38, A1
Location: 130/25/28/6

Arranged by subject.

 

This series contains reports, memorandums, and minutes related to the administration and functions of the Vanguard Division of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after October 1958. Included are many letters from the public suggesting improvements to the satellite and recommending onboard experiments, offering praise and criticism, and asking questions about Project Vanguard.

 

The records also deal with: the transfer of Project Vanguard from NRL to NASA; public opinion of the project; administrative and budgeting procedures; the International Geophysical Year; public relations; and Canadian cooperation with satellite tracking.

FOLDER TITLE LIST:

Box 1:

Folder No.

1......Minutes of the Negotiation on Vanguard Program, 04/02/1956
2....."A Method of Improving the Performance of the Vanguard First Stage Powerplant" (NRL Rpt. 582), 04/04/1956
3....."Tankage Failures of Aerobee-Hi and Vanguard Rockets" (NRL Rpt. 656), 12/1956
4.....Monthly Reports to the President on Project Vanguard with Memorandums, 1957-1958
5.....Field Operations Report on TV-1, 05/14/1957
6.....Design Specifications for Vanguard Launch Vehicles
7.....Miscellaneous Memorandums and Correspondence,   
8.....Project Vanguard Organizational Charts and Memorandums
9.....Confidentiality/Publicity Problems, 1959
10.....Project Vanguard Status Reports, Schedules, and Charts
11.....Vanguard Test Program Report, 07/02/1956

Box 2:

Folder

12/12a.General Correspondence
13.....Correspondence Critical of Vanguard's Failed Launches, 1957-1958
14.....Inventory of Vanguard File, 03/25/1960
15/15a.Miscellaneous Budget Materials

Box 3:

Folder

16.....Correspondence Relating to Religious Medals
17/17a.Correspondence--Suggestions
18.....Records Related to Exhibits and Displays
19.....Miscellaneous Memorandums
20.....Policy and Management Meeting Reports
21.....Staff Meeting Minutes
22.....Technical Board Meeting Minutes, 1955-1956
23.....Technical Board Meeting Minutes, 1957

Box 4:

Folder

24.....Technical Board Meeting Minutes, 1958
25.....NASA: Transfer of NRL
26.....NASA: Committee Review Report, 01/1959
27/27a.NASA: Headquarters Correspondence and Memorandums, 1959

Box 5:

Folder

27b....NASA: Headquarters Correspondence and Memorandums, 1959
28.....Air Force Missile Test Center--Patrick Air Force Base Memorandums and Reports
29.....NASA Briefings and Announcements, 1959
30.....NASA General Directives
31.....NASA's Vanguard Case History
32.....Miscellaneous Langley and Lewis Research Centers Records (NASA)
33.....Correspondence from Aerolab Development Company (NASA)
34.....USAF Air Research and Development Command Correspondence with NASA
35.....Three Letters to Barnes Engineering Company from NASA
36.....Canadian Commercial Corp.--Proposed Minitrack Station in Newfoundland
37.....Canadian Joint Staff Correspondence
38.....Personnel Immigration Letters from NASA
39.....Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Inc., Correspondence, 1959
40.....Fort Churchill, Canada, Aerobee-Hi Rockets NASA 4.07 and NASA 4.08 Report
41.....Correspondence Regarding the International Geophysical Year (IGY)

Box 6:

Folder

42.....Correspondence Regarding U.S. Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, VA (NASA)
43.....NASA Correspondence with NRL
44.....NRL-Glen L. Martin Company Meeting Records, 1956-1958
45.....Correspondence Between NASA and the Department of the Navy, 1958-1959
46.....Miscellaneous Correspondence
47/47a/b..Glen L. Martin Company Progress Letters, 09/23/1955-08/15/1958

Box 7:

Folder

48.....Public Information Letters, 1956
49/49a.Public Information Letters, 1957
50.....Public Information Letters, 1958

PROJECT VANGUARD STAFF PUBLICATIONS.

1955 - 1959

Boxes 1-2
MLR Entry 39. A1
Location: 130/25/28/7

Arranged alphabetically by Project Vanguard operational unit name.

 

This series includes published reports, articles, and texts of speeches written by Project Vanguard staff detailing the history of the project, technological advances underway, and the problems of space research in general. One folder contains articles written by non-Vanguard scientists concerning the project, its significance, and satellite technology.

 

Topics include: Sputnik, various Vanguard vehicles, satellites, properties of the Earth's atmosphere, testing procedures, telemetering, and the Minitrack satellite tracking system.

 

Diagrams, a blueprint, and photographs are interspersed throughout the series.