This chronology recalls key events in USAF’s quest for strategic “high ground.” 50 Years of Space and Compiled by the staff of Air Force Magazine Missiles Today’s Air Force space and missile Gen. Bernard A. Schriever professionals view July 1, 1954, as the red-letter date of their busi- ness—the moment that USAF fully and formally jumped into the space and missile field. Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Power, commander of Air Research and Development Command, ordered the creation in Inglewood, Calif., of the Western Development Division, headed by the now- legendary Brig. Gen. Bernard A. Schriever. WDD’s first job was to build strategic missiles for the Air Force, but such rockets could also launch Earth-circling satellites. Soon, WDD was building them, too, and forging the complex structure of modern military space power. In the 50 years that have elapsed, the Air Force has remained at the forefront of world strategic space systems, technologies, and operations. USAF Delta II launch Data on these pages are drawn from several official and nonofficial studies. The principal source is Air Force Space Command. 70 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 erations of land-based ICBMs to the June 16, 1958. Boeing and Martin Air Force. are named prime contractors to de- Feb. 15, 1956. Responsibility for velop competitive designs for the Air the advanced satellite system WS 117L Force’s X-20 Dyna-Soar boost-glide (later, Satellite and Missile Observa- space vehicle. This project, although tion System, or SAMOS) is officially later canceled, is the first step toward transferred to WDD. producing a workable space shuttle. Oct. 29, 1956. Lockheed is awarded June 30, 1958. Pentagon notifies the prime contract for the develop- AFBMD that it has transferred to the ment of the Military Satellite System Advanced Research Projects Agency and its associated Hustler (later redes- (ARPA) authority to develop the Mili- ignated Agena) upper stage vehicle. tary Satellite System, WS 117L. March 1957. WDD begins feasi- July 29, 1958. President Dwight D. bility studies on a defense alarm sys- Eisenhower signs the National Aero- tem (MIDAS) satellite that would pro- nautics and Space Act. vide early warning of hostile missile Sept. 4, 1958. The Transit and launches. TIROS satellite programs are initiated June 1, 1957. WDD is redesignated with booster responsibilities assigned Air Force Ballistic Missile Division to AFBMD. Transit is a navigation (AFBMD). satellite, while TIROS (Television In- September 1957. US and Canada frared Observation Satellite) is to take create the North American Air De- television pictures of cloud cover and fense Command (NORAD) for defense transmit meteorological information for of air and space over the US and relay to ground stations. Canada. Nov. 25, 1958. AFBMD receives Oct. 4, 1957. Soviet Union stuns the its first specific NASA request to world with the launch of Sputnik, support research leading to manned world’s first man-made satellite, aboard spaceflight. An Atlas C booster is to one of their new SS-6 ICBMs. be the first of 13 ballistic missile boost- Nov. 13, 1957. Schriever directs ers to be procured for NASA. Air Force planning for development December 1958. ARDC assumes of man-carrying vehicle systems for space track mission for the Air Force. July 1, 1954. Air Research and space operation. Development Command establishes Nov. 29, 1957. Air Force Chief of the Western Development Division Staff Gen. Thomas D. White declares (WDD), in Inglewood, Calif., under the Air Force “must win the capability command of Brig. Gen. Bernard A. to control space.” Schriever. He is formally given full Dec. 17, 1957. The Air Force’s authority over the Atlas ICBM project. HGM-16 Atlas ICBM makes its first Sept. 8, 1954. The Air Force ap- successful launch and flight from Cape proves the WDD’s selection of the Canaveral. Ramo-Wooldridge Corp. to perform Jan. 31, 1958. The Army’s Ex- systems engineering and technical di- plorer 1, the first US satellite suc- rection functions for Project Atlas. cessfully sent into space, is launched Dec. 13, 1954. An Air Force pro- at Cape Canaveral. curement authorization sets aside $3.6 Feb. 10, 1958. A1C Donald G. million in production funding for At- Farrell, in a mock moon voyage, en- las. This is the first production fund- ters a cramped, windowless space cabin ing for an ICBM program. simulator at Randolph AFB, Tex., Jan. 6, 1955. USAF awards a con- where he spends a week under harsh tract to the Convair Division of Gen- physical and psychological conditions. eral Dynamics Corp., for development He emerges in good shape, convinc- and fabrication of the Atlas airframe ing space officials that humans are and control system, the integration indeed psychologically suited to ac- and assembly of the various subsystems tual spaceflight. with the airframe and control system, Feb. 27, 1958. Secretary of De- and for checkout and testing. fense Neil H. McElroy authorizes the Oct. 27, 1955. Glenn L. Martin Air- Air Force to start research and devel- craft Co. is given a contract authoriz- opment on a new ICBM. This is the ing the design, development, and test- genesis of Minuteman. ing of the two-stage Titan ICBM. March 31, 1958. Schriever directs Nov. 26, 1955. Secretary of De- planning for a full-scale manned mili- USAF’s X-20 Dyna-Soar boost-glide fense Charles E. Wilson assigns re- tary space systems program aimed at a space vehicle. This was the first step sponsibility for development and op- lunar landing operation. toward a usable space shuttle. AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 71 Dec. 18, 1958. Project Score, a lifts NASA’s Echo 1, the first passive communications repeater satellite, is communications satellite to be placed launched by an Atlas booster into Earth into orbit. orbit. The satellite on Dec. 19 broad- Aug. 18, 1960. Discoverer/Corona casts a Christmas message from Presi- satellite takes first image of Soviet dent Eisenhower to Earth, the first territory ever snapped from space. time a human voice has been relayed Aug. 19, 1960. Crew of a modified from space. C-119J uses two trailing wire hooks to Jan. 4, 1959. Vandenberg AFB, Ca- snag a descending Discoverer 14 cap- lif., and Pacific Missile Range are de- sule over the Pacific. It is the first clared operational for missile launchings. aerial recovery of an object returned Feb. 6, 1959. Air Force crew from orbit. launches the first XSM-68A (later re- Aug. 31, 1960. President Eisenhower designated HGM-25A) Titan ICBM shifts SAMOS program from Air Force from Cape Canaveral. into a small civilian-directed Pentagon Feb. 28, 1959. In test, USAF suc- office. This is the genesis of the Na- cessfully launches the Discoverer 1, tional Reconnaissance Office (NRO). the world’s first polar-orbiting satel- Sept. 15, 1960. DOD shifts its de- lite, from Vandenberg. It is part of the fense communications satellite program secret Corona program. to the Army and renames it Project April 2, 1959. NASA announces Advent. the identities of seven Project Mer- Sept. 23, 1960. ARDC recommends cury astronauts: USAF Capts. L. splitting USAF’s Los Angeles R&D Gordon Cooper Jr., Virgil I. “Gus” complex. Plan calls for keeping space Grissom, and Donald K. “Deke” activities in Los Angeles and moving Slayton, Navy Lt. Cmdrs. Walter M. missile activities to Norton AFB, Calif. Schirra Jr. and Alan B. Shepard Jr., October 1960. NORAD assumes Navy Lt. M. Scott Carpenter, and operational control of all space defense Marine Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. An Atlas booster fitted with a communications repeater satellite responsibilities with formation of the April 6, 1959. The first military waits on the pad at Patrick AFB, Fla. Space Detection and Tracking System. unit to be charged with conducting Feb. 1, 1961. First LGM-30A Min- military satellite operations, USAF’s uteman ICBM is test launched from 6594th Test Wing, is established at Oct. 6, 1959. AFBMD issues an Palo Alto, Calif. abbreviated development plan for Vela April 13, 1959. Air Force Thor/ Hotel system to detect and locate Agena A boosts into orbit the Discov- nuclear detonations in space. erer 2 satellite, the first satellite to be April 1, 1960. US launches TIROS stabilized in orbit in all three axes, to 1, world’s first meteorological satel- be maneuvered on command from lite, from Cape Canaveral. Earth, to separate a re-entry vehicle on April 13, 1960. Transit 1B be- command, and to send its re-entry ve- comes first US navigation satellite hicle back to Earth. in space. Aug. 7, 1959. US carries out first May 20, 1960. Air Force Atlas satellite intercontinental relay of a ICBM, launched from Cape Canaveral, voice message. boosts a 1.5-ton payload 9,040 miles Aug. 7, 1959. Explorer 6 spacecraft to the Indian Ocean, the longest-ever transmits first television pictures from flight for a US ICBM. space. May 24, 1960. MIDAS 2 becomes Aug. 31, 1959. Strategic Air Com- the first early warning satellite in or- mand (SAC) takes command of Van- bit. denberg’s Complex 576A, USAF’s June 22, 1960. US launches Ga- first fully operational ICBM complex. lactic Radiation and Background Sept. 9, 1959. SAC crew at Van- (GRAB) satellite, the nation’s first denberg conducts first West Coast successful reconnaissance spacecraft. launch of an operational Atlas missile, It collects electronic intelligence which lands near Wake Island. (Elint) from Soviet air defense ra- Sept. 18, 1959. USAF states that dars. the Pentagon has approved the trans- Aug. 11, 1960. Discoverer 13 satel- fer of MIDAS and SAMOS back to the lite, launched on Aug. 10, ejects a Air Force.