On July 1 , 1957 , theInternational Geophysical Year(IGY ) begin . It hold out 18 months .
The mind was hatched in the early 1950s when physicistLloyd Berknerproposed a cosmopolitan crusade to track geophysical data . The idea was to collect and partake scientific data about the Earth — notably its air , its sea , its glacier , and its Sunday — no matter of political boundaries . A total of67 countriesgot onboard .
Berkner study the Earth ’s atm , and he proposed mid-1957 through the end of 1958 for the IGY . This timing would take into account scientist to observe a period of tumultuous sunspots at the tallness of their 11 - yr cycle . As a member of the National Academy of Sciences , Berkner ’s proposal went over well .
As part of the IGY , the U.S. start to rage up its orbital satellite - construction efforts . They hoped to launch satellites to collect geophysical data , and that try feed directly into the creation of NASA in July , 1958 . Of course , Americans ' dream of satellite domination were cut off when the Soviet Union successfully launchedSputnik 1usinga military intercontinental ballistic missileon October 4 , 1957 , go against its hope to keep the military out of the scientific activities of the IGY . ( The launch was pre - proclaimed ; the ICBM was not . ) The IGY score the beginning of the place subspecies , but it was alsoa remarkable collaboration on Earth , particularly in the areas of south-polar enquiry and glaciology .
During the IGY , orbiter launching attack bump well-nigh every calendar month . AfterSputnik 1 , the USSR sent upSputnik 2with the frank Laika alongside . A calendar month subsequently , the U.S. responded withVanguard TV-3(Test Vehicle-3 ) , which blew up on the launch pad . ( SubsequentVanguardandSputniklaunches were littered with failures , but winner nose through as well . ) The first American artificial satellite to pass on arena , Explorer 1 , went up on January 31 , 1958 as part of the IGY . It discover the Van Allen radiation belts . ( In the persona above , Dr. James Van Allen stands in the heart of three scientist , holding aloft a framework of theExplorer 1launch rocket salad . )
The force of the IGY are still feel today , in the satellites we apply to honor our satellite and in the open research processes organization like NOAA useto subject area oceans and weather .
Just before the IGY began , President Eisenhower gave a one - instant argument on the project :
Far more telling was an BBC television plan calledThe Restless Sphere . host by Prince Philip , the Duke of Edinburgh , this 70 - minute show prod into all manner of science , include the various satellite projects in progress around the Earth . This was broadcast on June 30 , 1957 , and is a brilliant time condensation . Enjoy :
