significant NASA activities are recounted in the attached report. Just as significant as the undertakings making headlines today are some of the qualitative aspects of NASA's first months. In this respect, one of the foremost accomplishments lies in the progress made toward coordinating our National Space Program. Scientific and engineering skills, previously scattered among many Government projects and private groupings, are being drawn together into a more effective whole, dedicated to peaceful uses of aeronautics and space. Even while this effort is being completed, NASA is concentrating on organizing the scientific and engineering resources available to conduct a more effective program. The first objective given in the National Aeronautics and Space Act is: "the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space." NASA is enjoined to "arrange for participation by the scientific community in planning scientific measurements and observations to be made through use of aeronautical and space vehicles, and conduct or arrange for the conduct of such measurements and observations." Implementation of the space science program has been proceeding well. NASA has sought the advice and counsel of the Space Science Board of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Board has been studying the scientific merits and priorities of the types of measurements to be made in space. The Board has also suggested qualified groups to attack various aeronautical and space problems. NASA is formulating its research and development programs on the basis of this and other advice from its 14 advisory committees whose memberships include leading scientists and engineers from the universities, industry, the Armed Forces, and other Government agencies. In addition, NASA has negotiated with several private and Government groups to develop data-gathering instrumentation and later, to analyze the information obtained. Our experiments, failures as well as successes, have clearly demonstrated that space is accessible to man. We have entered one of those pivotal stages of history when a great change in perspective is experienced. As we orient ourselves toward space, we should not lose sight of the fact that the goals can be attained only with great and continued expenditures of effort, skill, and time, expenditures that will certainly bring large benefits in their train to men everywhere. NASA SATELLITES Vanguard II-Cloud Cover Satellite Inflatable Satellites Twelve-foot Diameter Spheres Table 1. NASA Satellites, Lunar Probes, and Space Probes, October 1, 1958 to March 31, 1959. Hundred-foot Diameter Spheres. TRACKING RESOURCES ENLARGED. International Aspects.. NASA-DOD Tracking Agreement. NASA Program....... NATIONAL SPACE VEHICLE PROGRAM. Five Vehicles Involved. Project Scout. Vega Program. Centaur Program.. 1.5 Million-Pound-Thrust Single-Chamber Rocket Engine. RESEARCH PRIMARILY FOR SPACE ACTIVITIES. Investigations of Space Environment. Nuclear Energy Applications for Space. RESEARCH SUPPORTING AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACTIVITIES. Aircraft as Well as Space Projects. Shorter Take-Offs, Landings__ Supersonic and Hypersonic Aircraft Aerodynamic Heat Studies Stability and Control Studies Helicopters Powerplant Research Flight Simulators.. The "Sidearm Controller". NASA Plum Brook Reactor. Other Areas of Investigation.. RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM. Multilateral Cooperation. Regional Cooperation. Bilateral Agreements. IV. NASA-ITS ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS... NASA FOUNDED ON GOING RESEARCH ORGANIZATION AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES SHIFTED TO NASA. 18 18 19 19 20 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 29 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 32 32 32 33 33 33 34 34 34 34 35 35 35 36 Contracts with Other Government Agencies 49 49 49 APPENDIX A-NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACT OF 1958. 50 63 APPENDIX B-MEMBERSHIPS OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES 64 AISON COMMITTEE.. 65 APPENDIX E-ADMINISTRATOR'S PROCLAMATION.. 66 APPENDIX F-MEMBERSHIP OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LIFE 68 APPENDIX G-MEMBERSHIPS OF RESEARCH ADVISORY COM- 69 APPENDIX H-COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ON JET PROPULSION 81 APPENDIX I-COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ON ARMY ORDNANCE 85 APPENDIX J-PRINCIPAL NASA CONTRACTS OCT. 1, 1958- 88 |