Diversions of a radio telescope

Author:

Graham-Smith Sir Francis1,Lovell Sir Bernard1

Affiliation:

1. University of Manchester, Jodrell Bank ObservatoryMacclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9DL, UK

Abstract

The first use of the 250-foot radio telescope at Jodrell Bank, an instrument designed for academic research, was as a radar, when it obtained echoes from the rocket launcher of Sputnik 1 in October 1957. It was soon realized that this was the only radar system capable of detecting intercontinental missiles soon after their launch from within the USSR. The Air Ministry then organized the installation of a more powerful radar on the telescope. It has been revealed only recently that for several years Jodrell Bank played a role in defence during a critical period of the Cold War.

Publisher

The Royal Society

Subject

History and Philosophy of Science

Reference26 articles.

1. B. Lovell The story of Jodrell Bank (Oxford University Press 1968) ch. 30.

2. Sir Robert Cockburn was Controller of Guided Weapons and Electronics Ministry of Supply 1956–59.

3. CSAGI (Comité Spécial de l'Anneé Géophysique Internationale). International collaboration in science had been fostered during the twentieth century by the growth of International Scientific Unions. When CSAGI was established there were 16 of these unions effectively covering nearly all scientific disciplines. Although there had been political exclusions in 1952 any nation with scientific activities of any significance had been without question an adhering member with the national scientific organizations (in the UK this was the Royal Society) providing the financial support for the work of the international body.

4. ‘A steerable radio telescope’ a collection of papers describing the proposal written by B. Lovell J. A. Clegg and J. G. Davies (the ‘Blue Book’) deposited in the University of Manchester John Rylands Library.

5. Dr John P. Hagen the radio-physicist in the Naval Research Laboratory who was appointed director of the Vanguard project subsequently described some of the unbelievable difficulties that the project faced. The most revealing of these was that the Army turned down his request to be allowed to use its rocket testing pads at Cape Canaveral on the grounds that this would interfere with their missile test programme. The Vanguard team therefore had to build its own launch complex and blockhouse for which no funds had been provided. This construction work took one and a half years.

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