Canadian Aeronautical Institute Astronautics Section

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The astronautics section of the Canadian Aeronautical Institute (CAI) was first formed on Jun 16 1958. Three senior members of CAI spent time during the spring of 1958 investigating the level of interest amongst CAI members for an Astronautics section. They were Gordon N. Patterson of UTIA, R.J. Templin of the National Research Council and M.G. Whillans of the Defence Research Board. The interim committee was comprised of three members of the National Research Council (NRC).

  • W.F. Campbell
  • J.G. LaBerge
  • J.A. van der Blick

A letter was drafted by the committee and drew applications for membership from 41 CAI members. This group formed the nucleus of the organisation in August 1958.

The first executive committee was installed at the CAI annual general meeting on Oct 9 1958 at the Royal Canadian Air Force Officer's Mess in Ottawa. The term was 12 months. The first executive committee consisted of:

  • Chairman - Dr H.S. Ribner (UTIA)
  • Vice Chairman - D. Bogdanoff (Canadair)
  • Sec/Treasurer - J.A. van der Blick (NRC)
  • Past Chairman of Interim Committee - W.F. Campbell (NRC)

At the first session Campbell, Bogdanoff and Ribner presented papers.

By May of 1959 the group had 80 members. At the second annual meeting, which took place at the Decennial Symposium at University of Toronto Institute of Aerospace, the second committee was appointed:

  • Chairman - D. Bogdanoff (Canadair)
  • Vice Chairman - H.J.Luckert (Canadair)
  • Sec/Treasurer - D.G. Gould (NRC)
  • Past Chairman - Dr H.S. Ribner (UTIA)

In May 1960 membership rose to 92. The third general meeting took place at the Canadian High Altitude Research Symposium in Ottawa on Oct 20 1960.

  • Chairman - P.M. Millmann (NRC)
  • Vice Chairman - G. Glinski (Carlton University)
  • Sec/Treasurer - J.G. Laberge (NRC)
  • Past Chairman - D. Bogdanoff (Canadair)

Group Chairmen:

  • Montreal - H.J. Luckert
  • Toronto - Irving I. Glass

Membership stood at 97 by the spring of 1961. The annual meeting took place October 26 1961 in Toronto and was co-sponsored by the Canadian Astronautical Society, UTIA, and the David Dunlap Observatory. The symposium was titled Interplanetary Explorations. At this conference the astronautics section agreed to merge with the Canadian Astronautical Society. The parent organisation was renamed the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute officially on April 9th 1962.

CAI President W.P. Gouin is presented with the assets of the Canadian Astronautical Society by Dr Phil Lapp

Appointed that year were:

  • Chairman - Irving I. Glass (UTIA)
  • Vice Chairman - G/C D.G.M. Nelson (RCAF)
  • Sec/Treasurer - I.J. Billington (Dilworth Secord Associates Inc)
  • Past Chairman - P.M. Millmann (NRC)

Group Chairmen: Montreal/Ottawa - H.J. Luckert (Canadair)

A new board was elected for 1962-63:

  • Chairman - H.J. Luckert (Canadair)
  • Vice Chairman - Gerald V. Bull (McGill University)
  • Sec/Treasurer - J.P. Kerr (Canadair)
  • Past Chairman - Irving I. Glass (UTIA)

Group Chairmen:

On February 28 1963 the symposium took place in Montreal with a title Satellites and Spacecraft.

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