May 1 1959

From The Space Library

NASA's Administrator announced the naming of Goddard Space Flight Center under construction near Greenbelt, Md., in commemoration of Robert H. Goddard, American pioneer in rocket research. Dr. Harry J. Goett was appointed Director in September.

Smithsonian Optical Tracking Station at Woomera, Australia, successfully photographed VANGUARD I earth satellite at the apogee of its orbit, nearly 2,500 miles from earth. Compared to taking picture of golf ball 800 miles away, this feat was repeated on May 3 and 4.

The Army Ordnance Missile Command submitted to NASA a report entitled "Preliminary Study of an Unmanned Lunar Soft Landing Vehicle," recommending the use of the Saturn booster.

Senate Staff Report, Manned Space Flight Program, p. 168.

STG was transferred to the authority of the newly formed Goddard Space Flight Center but remained based at Langley Field, Va.

Memorandum, T. E. Jenkins to Assistant Directors and Division Chiefs, Goddard Space Flight Center, "Organization and Functions of the Goddard Space Flight Center," May 1, 1959, with attachment: Abe Silverstein, Director of Space Flight Development, "Organization of Activities of Goddard Space Flight Center," May 1, 1959.