The Godfather of Satellites: Arthur C. Clarke and the Battle for Narrative Space in the Popular Culture of Spaceflight, 1945-1995 David Skogerboe 6623115 Master’s Thesis History and Philosophy of Science Utrecht University Supervisor: Dr. David Baneke Second Reader: Dr. Daan Wegener June 30th, 2020 Abstract In February 1945, Arthur C. Clarke penned a Letter to the Editor of Wireless World magazine titled “V2 for Ionospheric Research?” wherein he suggested that the V2 rocket could act as a means to launch an ‘artificial satellite’ capable of relaying global television coverage. Clarke’s envisioning of the geostationary communication satellite earned him the cultural distinction as the “father” or “inventor” of satellites and Clarke, the self-proclaimed “Godfather” of satellites, would remain an avid advocate, advisor, speaker, promoter, and popularizer of satellite technology for the entirety of his career – beginning with this representation of the V2 as a benevolent taxi for imagined television satellites with immense commercial potential. Human spaceflight and deep space exploration have long controlled the narrative space within the popular culture of spaceflight. Yet the satellite, growing in complexity and necessity year after year, remained largely unknown to the man on the street, its services quickly taken for granted, and Clarke sought to rectify that. But just as the rocket before it, the satellite was born from and was often associated with the military, and Clarke investing decades rejecting the common military rationale for developing space technologies. Rather, Clarke would represent satellites as “weapons of peace,” not pieces of weapons, better exploited for the benefit of humanity than national security. While Clarke’s science fiction and work with Kubrick on 2001: A Space Odyssey has yielded historical attention, his public advocacy has not. Further still, his work specifically popularizing satellites is but a footnote, yet it held a significant proportion of his professional endeavors. Using primary source material from the NASA History Division archives, the Arthur C. Clarke Collection (the “Clarkives”) at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and many of Clarke’s publications over the years, the scope and scale of his satellite advocacy becomes clear. Clarke maintained correspondence with NASA Administrators, former astronauts and cosmonauts, Congressional and industry leaders, prominent space scientists, and Walter Cronkite; he spoke before the US Congress, the United Nations, UNESCO, and the Pope; and he wrote in great abundance, with over twenty publications in Playboy alone. Building upon previous work that showcases how the popular culture is an inspiration for and driver of public and private space policy and investment, this analysis will examine: In what ways did Clarke represent satellites and what was his intention for representing them as such? To what extent were his satellite representations integrated into his visions of the human future in space? Who was audience and what outcome, public and policy, was he trying to encourage? And how, and why, his representations evolved over time – from the space age utopian dreams of human space exploration, to the globalized, Earthbound post-Apollo Period, into the era of the US Space Shuttle and the exploitation of low-Earth orbit. This thesis will show that throughout his career, Clarke represented the satellite as the key to achieving the Space Age dream of solar system colonization. To Clarke, the satellite was the foundational infrastructure necessary for any human endeavor in space. Satellites facilitated an internationalized, global space effort and provided achievable short-term projects that yielded tangible down to earth benefits that drove investment and established public need. Clarke worked tirelessly to disassociate the satellite from its affiliation as a piece of Cold War weaponry and recast it as a “weapon of peace” in service of present-day stability and prosperity, and a vital component to the establishment of the limitless frontier of space. 1 Acknowledgements Like any grand project, this thesis was the collective effort of numerous individuals who deserve recognition. First and foremost, none of this would have been possible without the mind of my advisor, David Baneke. His contribution began far before this thesis did, back to when he voted for my acceptance into the History and Philosophy of Science program following my interview. And it continued as he enlightened me to all of the nuances of the history of science in the multiple courses he taught in my first year. And by happenstance, we shared an interest in space history, and it was in one of his classes that I was introduced to the concept of astroculture that came to inspire this thesis. When I expressed an interest in applying to an internship at the NASA History Division in Washington, DC, he was there to encourage me, review my resume, and offer a recommendation when called upon. And as my thesis progressed, he offered just the right amount of guidance and freedom to help me create something unique to my strengths and interests. David has not been the only educator that has left their mark. Daan Wegener was equally responsible for my early education in history of science, co-teaching with David in the introductory course and providing an impactful course on science and the public that has shaped the direction of my research, and career trajectory. Among my sphere of influence at Utrecht University, I want to give a moment of appreciation to the efforts of the Descartes Center, as the many colloquiums, and hosting of the HSS 2019 conference, have exposed me to countless new avenues of thought and encouraged me to view myself as a true member of the academic community. From day one, we were historians of science and I appreciated that as I sought to establish my sea legs in a new discipline. This leads me to my cohort, who have never failed to keep me on my toes, endlessly engaging in meaningful conversation and offering assistance at the drop of a hat. A special shoutout to Pim Sierink, who took the time out of his own busy thesis schedule to read through my near completed draft not once, but twice! A favor I look forward to reciprocating. I can only imagine that David’s recommendation to NASA was a good one, as I was lucky enough to become an intern at the NASA History Division in Washington DC during Fall 2019, and my experience could not have been more intellectually engaging. With my desk in eye shot of the treasure trove that is the NASA HQ archives, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum just three blocks away, I was able to spend months in the Mecca of space history. A special thanks to Chief Historian Bill Barry and my supervisor Cat Baldwin, who not only gave me the opportunity but made sure I had all the tools to take full advantage of it, offering me several hours every day to invest in my own research. In fact, a special thanks goes out to the entire team at the NASA HQ History Division; Steven Garber, Craig Haibon, Nadine Andreassen, Robyn Rodgers, Colin Fries, Liz Suchow, and my fellow intern Andrew Parco. Every day spent in the windowless box in the basement was a budding space historian’s dream come true. And their enthusiasm, willingness to help, and constructive conversations served as a reminder that I was exactly where I should have been. Further, I must express immense gratitude to the McGuirk family, who graciously kept me warm, dry, and fed during my internship. As I had mentioned earlier, it was David that introduced me to the work of Alexander Geppert that served as the inspiration for this thesis. By cosmic chance, Alexander too found himself in a temporary office off the Mall, 2 having been awarded the NASM Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History. When I reached out to request a moment of his time, he was happy to oblige, and our improbable in-person discussions were enormously helpful. I want to be sure to thank all of the NASM historians and archivists I encountered along the way. I was always warmly welcomed into their colloquiums and they were enthusiastic in assisting me when I began navigating the “Clarkives.” No acknowledgement section is complete without an expression of gratitude to the support system that makes the entire endeavor possible. My wife, Michele Skogerboe, has selflessly facilitated my success for years, and to her, I pour all of my remaining gratitude, and then some. I can imagine she will be grateful to hear about something other than Arthur C. Clarke for a while. That being said, the Godfather and I will meet again soon, as I fully intend to continue treading into the many futures he’s imagined. 1 1 NASA, Photograph of Arthur C. Clarke, NASA Image: 76-007273, Clarke, Arthur C. (1972 TO 1996), Record Number 330, NASA Headquarters Historical Reference Collection, Washington DC. Cover Page Image: Photo Credit Arthur C. Clarke Trust, Arthur C. Clarke meeting Pope John Paul II in 1984, Accessed May 6 2020. http://arthurcclarke.org/site/life/life-1980/. 3 Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................................