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This collection is a complete set of copies of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Archives microfilm reel 10-3, which represents Dr. Homer Stewart's file on the so-called 'Stewart Committee.' This Committee was established during the summer of 1955 by Donald Quarles, Assistant Secretary of Defense, as the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Special Capabilities with the specific task of picking between three contending proposals for the first US satellite. The committee chose the Naval Research Laboratory's Vanguard proposal to be the first American satellite project and after their decision, they continued in an advisory capacity regarding the project.

Identifier

NASM.1998.0010

Creator

Stewart, Homer

Date

1955-1958

Provenance

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, transfer, 1997, 1998-0010, Public Domain

Extent

0.45 Cubic feet ((1 legal document box))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection includes Stewart's accumulated files covering the Committee's activities from Fall 1955 until its termination in May 1958, after the launch of the first US satellite. These papers give useful insights into the secret deliberations on the progress of selecting the Vanguard proposal and highlights the considerable problems of that satellite project.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Topics

Artificial satellites
Rockets (Aeronautics)
Astronautics
Project Vanguard
Astronautics and state

Type

Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Reports