there was some cooperation between groups, there was no focus to assist a scientist
or prospective user of high altitude balloons to make effective use of this vehicle.
In June of 1960, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) was
established by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).
One of its missions was stated as: “To provide, cooperate in providing, or arrange
for and support the provision of, national facilities for atmospheric research in
such fields as ballooning, research aircraft, rockets, large-capacity computers,
micro-meteorological networks, etc.”
Dr. Walter Orr Roberts, NCAR’s director and UCAR’s principal officer called
a meeting in December 1960 of government and university users in order to discuss scientific ballooning. The conclusions of this meeting were to establish a
Balloon Engineering Group at NCAR and to appoint an NCAR Panel on Scientific
Use of Balloons. Dr. Roberts then took the first step by recruiting a staff for the
Balloon Engineering Group within NCAR. Mr. Vincent E. Lally became the head
of the group in June 1961 and a small number of engineers and technicians formed
the nucleus.
The NCAR group negotiated with the FAA a set of operational rules that formed
the basis for the excellent working relationship that has existed through the years.
The next step was to determine a location for balloon flight operations. Dr. Martin
Schwarzschild of Princeton had made one test flight from Hope, Arkansas, and he
was interested in using this site for future flights of his Stratoscope telescope. The
NCAR group and the U.S. Weather Bureau made a climatological study based on
ballooning requirements and recommended a region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and
northeast Texas for balloon flight operations.
The first meeting of the NCAR Panel on Scientific Balloon was on 17 October
1961. Dr. Verner Suomi of the University of Wisconsin was elected Chairman.
Other members were James Angeli, Alvin Howell, Allen Hynek, Charles Moore,
Edward Ney, and Martin Schwarzschild. Among other actions by the Panel was
the recommendation that NCAR establish a permanent balloon facility.
The site search for a permanent facility continued with assistance from the
U.S. Weather Bureau and close collaboration with the FAA. Hope, Arkansas was
the initial choice, but was turned down by the FAA due to an unacceptably high
air traffic density. Crockett and Palestine in Texas were under consideration. The
choice of Palestine was approved by the FAA. The choice was approved on 26
March 1962 by NCAR, and a formal recommendation was sent to the National
Science Foundation. In April, the NSF signed an agreement with the City of
Palestine to establish a base on land adjacent to the Palestine Airport.
With Mr. Vincent Lally as the first NCAR Director of the facility, the first flight
was made from the Palestine launch pad on 12 December 1962 to test the launch
system for the Stratoscope II balloon. This launch occurred after several months
of construction at the site. The initial work included a 6.5 acre paved launch area,
Appendix 1: A Brief History of the NSBF/CSBF 257
or prospective user of high altitude balloons to make effective use of this vehicle.
In June of 1960, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) was
established by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).
One of its missions was stated as: “To provide, cooperate in providing, or arrange
for and support the provision of, national facilities for atmospheric research in
such fields as ballooning, research aircraft, rockets, large-capacity computers,
micro-meteorological networks, etc.”
Dr. Walter Orr Roberts, NCAR’s director and UCAR’s principal officer called
a meeting in December 1960 of government and university users in order to discuss scientific ballooning. The conclusions of this meeting were to establish a
Balloon Engineering Group at NCAR and to appoint an NCAR Panel on Scientific
Use of Balloons. Dr. Roberts then took the first step by recruiting a staff for the
Balloon Engineering Group within NCAR. Mr. Vincent E. Lally became the head
of the group in June 1961 and a small number of engineers and technicians formed
the nucleus.
The NCAR group negotiated with the FAA a set of operational rules that formed
the basis for the excellent working relationship that has existed through the years.
The next step was to determine a location for balloon flight operations. Dr. Martin
Schwarzschild of Princeton had made one test flight from Hope, Arkansas, and he
was interested in using this site for future flights of his Stratoscope telescope. The
NCAR group and the U.S. Weather Bureau made a climatological study based on
ballooning requirements and recommended a region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and
northeast Texas for balloon flight operations.
The first meeting of the NCAR Panel on Scientific Balloon was on 17 October
1961. Dr. Verner Suomi of the University of Wisconsin was elected Chairman.
Other members were James Angeli, Alvin Howell, Allen Hynek, Charles Moore,
Edward Ney, and Martin Schwarzschild. Among other actions by the Panel was
the recommendation that NCAR establish a permanent balloon facility.
The site search for a permanent facility continued with assistance from the
U.S. Weather Bureau and close collaboration with the FAA. Hope, Arkansas was
the initial choice, but was turned down by the FAA due to an unacceptably high
air traffic density. Crockett and Palestine in Texas were under consideration. The
choice of Palestine was approved by the FAA. The choice was approved on 26
March 1962 by NCAR, and a formal recommendation was sent to the National
Science Foundation. In April, the NSF signed an agreement with the City of
Palestine to establish a base on land adjacent to the Palestine Airport.
With Mr. Vincent Lally as the first NCAR Director of the facility, the first flight
was made from the Palestine launch pad on 12 December 1962 to test the launch
system for the Stratoscope II balloon. This launch occurred after several months
of construction at the site. The initial work included a 6.5 acre paved launch area,
Appendix 1: A Brief History of the NSBF/CSBF 257