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The International Geophysical Year

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Vanguard |  | US Announcement
Following a suggestion by NAS member Lloyd Berkner, the InternationalCouncil of Scientific Unions (ICSU) in 1952 proposed a comprehensive seriesof global geophysical activities to span the period July 1957-December1958. The International Geophysical Year (IGY), as it was called, was timedto coincide with the high point of the eleven-year cycle of sunspot activity.

In March of 1953, the NAS appointed a US National Committee to overseeUS participation in the IGY. The US program included investigations ofaurora and airglow, cosmic rays, geomagnetism, glaciology, gravity, theionosphere, determinations of longitude and latitude, meteorology, oceanography,seismology, solar activity, and the upper atmosphere. In connection withupper atmosphere research, the US undertook to develop an orbiting satelliteprogram. It was from the IGY rocket and satellite research that the USdeveloped its space program -- with the advice of the NAS **SpaceScience Board.**

The International Geophysical Year collection contains correspondence,reports, meeting minutes, photographs, and other records documenting theprograms and activities of the US National Committee for the IGY. The collectioncovers the years 1953-1962 and spans approximately 152 linear feet. Thehistorical records of the IGY can be found in the Archives of the NationalAcademy of Sciences-National Research Council; e-mail archives@nas.edufor further information. 

Text copied by permission of the National Academy of Sciences. 
For further information, please email histinfo@hq.nasa.gov
Updated February 2, 2005   |
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