Remembering the Space Age. - Black Vault Radio Network (BVRN)

IMaGINING aN aerOSpaCe aGeNCY IN the atOMIC aGe
which make private ownership difcult.” 41 again, we have an example of the
adoption of policies crafted for atomic energy without reasoned analysis of
their relevance to an aerospace agency. the fnal language adopted assigned
intellectual property to the government, with the administrator having the
right to waive this right if he so desired.
It cannot be overstated how formative the experience with atomic energy
was on the psyche of those determining the shape of NaSa. the belief that
atomic energy would infuse all aspects of future technology was widely held in
1950s america, and rocketry was no exception. the realities of chemical reactive
propulsion dictate a maximum theoretical efciency (specifc impulse) due to
limited available chemical enthalpy, but the exit velocity of a thermal nuclear
rocket is limited only by material failure at high temperatures. the aeC, for
these reasons, launched just such a nuclear rocket research program (rOVer)
in 1956. Stanislaus Ulam, testifying before the house Select Committee on
astronautics and Space exploration, reafrmed that “it is not a question of
conjecture or optimism, but one might say it is mathematically certain that
it will be the nuclearly powered vehicle which will hold the stage in the near
future.” 42 With historical actors like Ulam making such statements, it becomes
clear that the birth of NaSa as an institution must be historically analyzed
through the lens of the atomic experience. the concept of the stewardship of
the state over technological afairs had become ingrained in the imagination in
the atomic era and was adopted without serious protest during the formation of
NaSa. Indeed, a sharp contrast can be drawn to the violent reaction by private
interests to the original atomic energy act and the relatively benign reception
of the National air and Space act. a profound transformation had occurred in
the intervening years.
CONCLUSION
Under the atomic energy Commission, technocracy had been introduced
to america. Under NaSa, it was wedded to the federal framework. there are
fundamental diferences to the two cases, as in the ability to control nuclear
material and the need to enforce atomic secrecy through the curtailment of
granting patents. But throughout the whole of the discussions in both the
executive and legislative branches during 1957-1958, it remains clear that
the framers of the new aerospace agency were profoundly afected by their
experience with atomic energy, specifcally the aeC. When conceiving of
a new agency, bureaucrats and legislators actively reached into the past and
41. hans adler to William Finan,“Subject:hr 12575.”June 4,1958,folder 12400,(NaSa historical
reference Collection, NaSa headquarters,Washington, DC).
42. Hearings Before the Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration, 85th Congress, 2nd
session, p. 602.
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