TAC A Signal Corps Space Odyssey by Dr. Hans K Ziegler , page 24

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Dr. Ziegler (left) and then Col. H. McD. Brown (right) say goodbye to Dr. Werner Von Braun after one of his visits
to USARSDL, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, 13
November 1959.

IGY project and of long range antimissile missile programs required very special attention within the broad concept of Guided Missiles. So on 7 February 1957. the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was established as a separate powerful agency for this purpose. It also reported directly to the Secretarv of Defense. In one of his first actions, Roy Johnson. ARPA's director. rejected an ABMA proposal for a 500 pound global reconnaissance satellite. with the explanation that this type of satellite was to be an Air Force responsibility. Gen. Medaris, after ABMA's successful launch of Explorer 1 and his hope that he would now be given a bigger role in satellite work. had submitted his proposal - a longtime favorite dream of his - on I February 1958.
But there was a third step of drastic organizational change in the making. In recognition of the increasing civilian interest in scientific and practical aspects of satellites and space probes. it vas considered necessary to further separate civilian and military projects. Although, for the time being, only the military services had the capabilities and facilities to launch space devices, a future civilian organization would ha\ a to eventually attain self-sufficiency in every respect. This was to be accomplished by drawing from both existing manpower talent and from facility resources of the services and other agencies. as well as by developing its own resources.
After early suggestions in November 1957, President Eisenhower proposed in a message to Congress (on 2 April 1958) the establishment of a National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) into which, as a first step, the existing National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) would be absorbed. Civilian oriented projects presently under ARPA would be transferred to NASA. The

complexities of establishing such an agency delayed its activation until 1 October 1958.
On the 1958 satellite scoreboard meanwhile, Explorer 11 failed to orbit on 5 March, but Explorer III was successfully launched on 26 March; another Vanguard test ended in failure on 28 April. As already mentioned. Sputnik III appeared on IS May, followed by the failures of the first two full size Vanguards on 27 May and 26 June.
And this is the way it was in spring 1958 when the then Col. H. McD. Brown arrived at Fort Monmouth to take over command of SRDL from the then Brig. General E. F. Cook.
We at SRDL were proud of the space contributions we had been able to achieve at that point in time. mainly the first in solar power and the almost completed first cloud cover instrumentation, which was still waiting for Vanguard to carry it into orbit. Since March, we were also involved in a new advanced concept of meteorological satellites and many plans for communications satellites were longing for action.
But our future involvement in space projects seemed to depend strongly on decisions to be rendered by the new super organizations. Although we were quite confident that ARPA would give us fair opportunities, the effect of N ASA, especially the possible impact on our manpower resources, was more frightening. Moreover a strained atmosphere of keen and jealous competition prevailed among the various organizations hitherto involved and true credits for achievements in projects, which included participation of a conglomerate of military and civilian agencies. were hard to obtain. With the new super agencies, no doubt struggling to quickly prove the value of their existence, improvement in this respect could hardly be expected soon.
In summary, the inheritance awaiting Col. Brown when he arrived at SRDL was a mixture of pride over past accomplishments, ongoing projects and solid plans for future progress tempered with anxieties about the opportunities for their execution, and a good measure of past and anticipated frustrations - all of this. however, topped by the availability of an enormous pool of outstandingly competent and dedicated scientists and engineers, enthusiastically poised to attack any challenges of electronics technology. The laboratories at that time encompassed a work force of some 3000 civilian and almost 500 military personnel in five operating departments covering the broad Signal Corps R&D mission assignments: communications; surveillance, including EW; meteorology and avionics; components, covering passive and active devices and power sources; engineering sciences, including electromagnetic environment aspects; and exploratory research, supporting all activities.

Dr. Hans K. Ziegler vas born in Munich. W. Germany, where he received his degrees from the Technical University. For 10 rears he carried out research in German Industry and then was invited in 1947 to join the US Army Signal Corps' Laboratories at Fort Monmouth, N.J., whose Chief Scientist he became in 1959. After the Army reorganization he was appointed in 1963 to Deputy for Science and Chief Scientist of the US Army Electronics Command and in 1971 to Director of the US Army Electronics Technology & Devices Laboratory, from N-here he retired in 1977. Dr. Ziegler has presented and published numerous papers, is a fellow of the IEEE and the A AS and a member of the Signal Corps Association.
The Army has recognized his achievements with two Meritorious - and the coveted Exceptional - Civil Service Awards.

24 THE ARMY COMMUNICATOR FALL 1981
Page updated January 4, 2004 page created November 04, 2000

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