Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

Exploring the Unknown 75
A. Background
1. I made my first contact with ARPA personnel on May 14, 1958. At that
time the NACA was under the impression that it was to work with Dr. Batdorf
to prepare a man-in-space program that would be acceptable to both the
NACA and ARPA from a technical standpoint. My first visit to the Pentagon
revealed that ARPA had a somewhat different impression of what was to take
place. I was told that at the request of Mr. Johnson a panel had been formed in
ARPA to create a man-in-space program and to advise him how this program
could best be managed. ARPA had formed this panel approximately a week
earlier from members of the ARPA technical staff under the Chairmanship of
Dr. Batdorf. I was told that this was only one of many such working groups that
was concurrently attacking various jobs in ARPA and that the membership on
these various panels greatly overlapped. Accordingly, my position on the manin-space
panel was a special one resulting from an invitation by Dr. York.
2. Inasmuch as this situation was not exactly in keeping with my impression
of what it should be, I told the panel that while I would sit as a member
of their panel I would also consider myself as a liaison representative of the
NACA. In this respect, I reminded them that the direct responsibility for the
man-in-space program may quite likely be given to the soon to be created
civilian space agency. Thus, I would be concerned that the man-in-space program
to be formulated would be one that is acceptable to the NASA and that
the management responsibility would be one which could be transferred with
the least difficulty. I stated further that if there are any final agreements to
be reached between ARPA and NACA they would have to be approved by
higher authority, presumably Dr. Dryden and Dr. York and quite possibly by
knowledgeable people from the White House. Dr. Batdorf concurred with
this and stated that the ARPA staff, most of whom work for IDA, serve only in
an advisory capacity.
3. My dealings with the ARPA panel have been quite pleasant and I
think fruitful. On the majority of the issues the panel has reached essentially
unanimous agreement. On controversial subjects my viewpoints are apparently
being given fair consideration. In addition, the panel is quite aware that
the NACA has a firm position in the man-in-space business. From this standpoint,
I have additional influence when the question of acceptability to NACA
arises in certain instances.
4. While a good number of the ARPA staff have attended the panel discussions
and the presentations made to the panels by the services, those who
actually serve on the panel are:
1. Dr. Sam Batdorf, recently from Lockheed
2. Dr. Arthur Stosick, recently from JPL
3. Mr. Bob Youngquist, recently from RMI
4. Mr. Jack Irvine, recently from Convair