posted 08-31-2008 05:49 AM               

(Yes, that's not quite correct but it will do for this question.)

History tends to record this as being a stuff-up by the US, and being followed by a scramble to catch up after the Sputnik launch.

I have another opinion, and would like to hear peoples thoughts on it.

The Eisenhower administration was well aware of the capabilities and relative merits of all the competing launch vehicles (Atlas, Vanguard, Jupiter). It would seem - even without hindsight - that the Vanguard option was a poor choice (even considering the political implications of a "German" rocket).

During this period, Eisenhower had proposed an "Open Skies" policy with the USSR. This would be a bi-lateral agreement to allow reconnaissance overflight of each other in order to allay fears about weapons development / intentions. The USSR rejected the proposal.

The US administration knew well that once orbital flight had been achieved, payloads of 'spy satellites' would soon follow. There was a fear, though, that this 'orbital overflight' might be seen as a violation of sovereign territory by the USSR. The USSR might protest and seek to obtain a ban on intelligence gathering payloads.

I believe that the Eisenhower administration purposely 'knobbled' their own orbital attempts until the USSR had achieved orbital flight. Once the USSR had their own payload in orbit, crossing over US territory, they could not easily complain about similar US actions.

I think this was actually a very shrewd move by the administration to pave the way for reconnaissance satellites.

posted 09-01-2008 04:39 AM               

With hindsight, it's now clearly the reason why Von Braun and his team were ordered to stop short of orbital flight on 20 September 1956. They could have - and I personally am sure they would have - launched the first satellite on that day, if they'd been allowed to.

I wonder whether Von Braun knew why they were being held back? If not, he and his team must have worn their scalps raw by scratching them that day.

posted 09-03-2008 06:31 AM               

Opposite sides of the fence.

Colin, you mention the documents that would appear to support my theory; any links?

Spacecat, are there any online documents I can read regarding your take on it? I haven't had time to go through NSA archives, etc, so if there are specific documents I should read, it would be appreciated.

posted 09-03-2008 09:05 PM            

As for on-line sources- our friend, Dwayne Day has been researching this period and connections between space and intelligence-gathering extensively -- check out his Space Review articles, especially:

• Tinker, tailor, satellite, spy
  
• Bissell's people
  
• The spooks and the Sputniks

Hope these give you some leads!