May 25 1959
From The Space Library
The first meeting of the Research Steering Committee on Manned Space Flight was held at NASA Headquarters. Members of the Committee attending were: Harry J. Goett, Chairman; Milton B. Ames, Jr. (part-time); De E. Beeler; Alfred J. Eggers, Jr.; Maxime A. Faget; Laurence K. Loftin, Jr.; George M. Low; Bruce T. Lundin; and Harris M. Schurmeier. Observers were John H. Disher, Robert M. Crane, Warren J. North, Milton W. Rosen (part-time), and H. Kurt Strass.
The purpose of the Committee was to take a long-term look at man-in-space problems, leading eventually to recommendations on future missions and on broad aspects of Center research programs to ensure that the Centers were providing proper information. Committee investigations would range beyond Mercury and Dyna-Soar but would not be overly concerned with specific vehicular configurations. The Committee would report directly to the Office of Aeronautical and Space Research.
Minutes, Research Steering Committee on Manned Space Flight, May 25-26, 1959, pp. 1-2.
The national booster program, Dyna-Soar, and Project Mercury were discussed by the Research Steering Committee. Members also presented reviews of Center programs related to manned space flight. Maxime A. Faget of STG endorsed lunar exploration as the present goal of the Committee although recognizing the end objective as manned interplanetary travel. George M. Low of NASA Headquarters recommended that the Committee:
- Adopt the lunar landing mission as its long-range objective.
- Investigate vehicle staging so that Saturn could be used for manned lunar landings without complete reliance on Nova.
- Make a study of whether parachute or airport landing techniques should be emphasized.
- Consider nuclear rocket propulsion possibilities for space flight.
- Attach importance to research on auxiliary power plants such as hydrogen-oxygen systems.
Minutes, Research Steering Committee on Manned Space Flight, May 25-26, 1959, pp. 3-10.
Tentative manned space flight priorities were established by the Research Steering Committee: Project Mercury, ballistic probes, environmental satellite, maneuverable manned satellite, manned space flight laboratory, lunar reconnaissance satellite, lunar landing, Mars Venus reconnaissance, and Mars-Venus landing. The Committee agreed that each NASA Center should study a manned lunar landing and return mission, the study to include the type of propulsion, vehicle configuration, structure, anti guidance requirements. Such a mission was an end objective; it did not have to be supported on the basis that it would lead to a more useful end. It would also focus attention at the Centers on the problems of true space flight.
Minutes, Research Steering Committee on Manned Space Flight, May 25-26, 1959, pp. 10, 11; memorandum, Harry J. Goett to Ira H. Abbott, Director of Aeronautical and Space Research, "Interim Report on Operations of 'Research Steering Committee on Manned Space Flight' " July 17. 1959.
