2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

Bob Danielson
Figure 71:
Bob Danielson (right) talking with visitors to NASA Ames
watching an ER-2 launch.
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Bob was a Lockheed engineer, who was a critical
player in the initial acquisition of the ER-2 aircraft
(circa 1971) for the High Altitude Earth Science
program at Ames Research Center. Under Marty
Knutson and in conjunction with a strong ARC
management team, he formed the initial airborne
science group, which elevated remote sensing into
a state-of-the-art science contributor. Under his
engineering oversight, the High Altitude Branch
flourished and provided grist for the mill for the
medium altitude aircraft, which included the C-130,
Convair 990, Lear 23/24, DC-8, BE-200 and the
C-141 Kuiper Space Science aircraft (circa 1974).
During this time, Bob was an indispensable cog in the
safety and oversight for the engineering development
of such programs.
Bob was the first front seater that came down from
the USAF 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
at Kirtland AFB in September of 1968. The fleet of
WB-57s they flew were used for the usual looking at
other people from up high as well as atomic testing
sampling. They called themselves “F Troop” after
the TV show that was popular at the time. A major
at the time, Bob acted as the contingent commander.
NASA/JSC contracted with the USAF in 1968 to
operate a WB-57F: this was the initiation of high
altitude remote sensing in the agency. The 58th
personnel, like Bob, flew front seat and NASA
and USAF personnel flew back seat as sensor
operators/navigators. JSC modified the WB-57F
at General Dynamics, Fort Worth, to accept a
removable NASA earth observation pallet in the
space that had served as the rotating bomb bay. In
1972, the USAF left the program due to budget
constraints and the aircraft was transferred to
NASA and JSC. It was renumbered NASA 925
and was the first NASA high altitude aircraft with
remote sensing capabilities in the inventory. Bob
was a pilot during these first years and in 1972
returned to his USAF duties. Marty hired Bob
when he retired from the USAF and the rest is
history.
I would be remiss, if I didn’t mention a personal
experience with Bob. He was detailed to the DC-8
program to provide engineering oversight during
a major D check in Tucson, Arizona. There were
six of us going to dinner at a steak house, where
suit ties were not welcome and if you tried to
enter with one, you were immediately grabbed
and your tie was scissored off. Bob was the only
one who didn’t get the message and the inevitable
happened. He took it in stride and everyone had a
good laugh.
He will be missed.
Contributed by Geary Tiffany and Ole Smistad