Sep 16 1959

From The Space Library

Army Jupiter launched with NASA biomedical experiment from Cape Canaveral, destroyed by a range officer after fishtailing.

Full-sized USAF Minuteman ICBM model launched from underground silo.

The ARPA-NASA Booster Evaluation Committee appointed by Herbert F. York, DOD Director of Defense Research and Engineering, April 15, 1959, convened to review plans for advanced launch vehicles. A comparison of the Saturn (C-1) and the Titan-C boosters showed that the Saturn, with its substantially greater payload capacity, would be ready at least one year sooner than the Titan-C. In addition, the cost estimates on the Titan-C proved to be unrealistic. On the basis of the Advanced Research Projects Agency presentation, York agreed to continue the Saturn program but, following the meeting, began negotiations with NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan to transfer the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (and, therefore, Saturn ) to NASA.

To Amend the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Hearings, p. 410; Senate Staff Report, Manned Space Flight Program, p. 175.