The Path Taken...Army Space Technology Beginnings

Department of Defense DoD Space efforts can be divided into four basic areas Space support, force enhancements, Space control, and Space applications. In each of these key areas, the Army has a rich history and has made significant contributions. Space Support - it does take a rocket scientist. Collectively, the technologies required to achieve and sustain Space operations in orbit are referred to as Space support. This includes the launch, tracking, control, and satellite bus. The Armys historical role in Space support is probably the one most often chronicled. The Armys development of launch capabilities by the Von Braun team at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the best known. The Army Ordnance Corps started long-range surface-to-surface guided-missile research with Cal Tech in a remote area outside of Pasadena, Calif., in May 1944. These facilities were the beginnings of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL. In less than a year, the contract for the Hermes project was given to General Electric and in February 1945, Bell Laboratories received a contract for the Nike project. These two missiles became the progenitors of many of the Armys contributions to the application of rocket science.