Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM

Monday, November 29, 2004 / 3:30 PM, Building 8 Auditorium [Note Room Change]

Ronald Muller

"The Echo Balloon Satellites"

ABSTRACT -- Echo I and Echo II were 100 and 135 foot diameter balloons launched by Goddard in the early 1960s. They were used to make the first cost-to-coast telephone calls using a satellite. You'll hear president Eisenhower's voice message that was the first communication using a satellite. Analysis of their orbits allowed determining the density of the atmosphere at orbital altitudes and solar pressure effects. As important as these contributions were, perhaps their most valuable contribution to the nation was their very bright visibility. They told the world that the US was not as far behind the Russians in the "space race" as some believed at the time. The talk will give a first hand account of the sub-orbital tests and orbital launch of Echo II. Included will be vintage video including the first video images from space -- the suborbital inflation test balloon that burst on inflation. The video of a successful suborbital inflation test will be shown and then the first video taken from orbit -- the successful inflation of the Echo II satellite. The legacy of the Echo satellites to today's missions -- communications, gossamer structures, solar sailing, video from space -- will be incorporated into the talk.

SPEAKER -- Ronald Muller joined Goddard in 1959 after three years in the Navy on Project Vanguard at NRL. At Goddard he held many engineering positions until he retired in 1997. As a young engineer, he built the first digital telemetry system to fly on a scientific satellite. Later he managed a branch that built and flew the first digital programmable computer in space and then the first satellite-to-satellite communication system. He developed the first GPS flight system for Landsats 4 and 5. He was a charter member of the Preliminary Systems Design Group and did the Phase A study for UARS and COBE and other satellites. His last position at Goddard was the Program Systems Engineer for the Earth Observation System Program. Mr. Muller continues to help design new Goddard missions under the QSS MEDS task order contract. He recently was presented with the Flight Program and Projects' quot;Mission Impossible" peer award.