as a backup for VANGUARD. Presentations were made to the Ad Hoc Study Group on Special Capabilities on 23 April 1956, but, in May, the group stated that the VANGUARD program was not meeting with any serious difficulty, and backup was not contemplated at that time. The Army was to make no plans using either the JUPITER or REDSTONE for scientific satellites 131 . From time to time, however, during 1957, information was requested on Redstone satellite capabilities from such individuals as Dr. C. C. Furnas of the ad hoc group. Additionally, Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger presented a paper to the Army Science Symposium on 28 June on the ABMA potential in an earth satellite project. In a conversation between Maj. Gen. Andrew P. O’Meara of Army R&D and General Medaris, General O'Meara stated that DOD had questioned how ABMA had gotten satellite money. General Medaris replied that the JUPITER C's were re-entry vehicles 132 . When the Russians launched SPUTNIK I, to the shock of the United States, Secretary Brucker three days later once again offered Army capabilities to hoist a satellite. He pointed out there were eight JUPITER C’s that could be used that had proved to be excess to the re-entry program subsequent to the August 1957 recovery of the scaled-down nose cone. In fact, the re- entry tests had proven three stages of the four-stage rocket that was considered necessary to launch a satellite. DOD then asked the Army in what way they _____________________________

131. Ltr, ABMA to COFORD, 9 Jul 57, subj: Potential Sat Capability of ABMA; Present by Col J. C. Nickerson to Ad Hoc Study Group on Spec Capabilities, 23 Apr 56; Memo, OASD to Army R&D, 15 May 56, subj: Army Capabilities for Scientific Sats, Hist Off files. 132. Msg, ORDAB-C-46-1, ABMA to Army R&D, 31 Jan 57; Present, Potential Contribution to Earth Sat Project by ABMA & JPL, 3 Jul 57; MFR by Maj Gen A. P. O'Meara, 22 Jun 57, subj: Conversation with Gen Medaris at RSA, Hist Off files.