Infrared Pioneers Honored
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (6/28/99) -- Four employees of The Aerospace Corporation, now retired, were honored as pioneers in the development of the nation's first operational infrared early warning spacecraft systems: the Missile Defense Alarm System (MIDAS) and the Defense Support Program (DSP).
Dr. David Cohn, Jim Creswell, Ellis Lapin and Joe Statsinger were recognized for their achievements in developing, launching and operating U.S. satellites developed to guard against surprise ballistic missile attacks.
The four received plaques June 3 at a luncheon at Los Angeles Air Force Base as part of a day-long conference exploring the many facets of space-based infrared systems. The keynote speaker was Maj. Gen. Robert Hinson, commander, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The conference, hosted by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and sponsored by the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) program office, was held to discuss the past, present and future of infrared systems in space and to honor the country's infrared pioneers.
Introductory remarks were delivered by Lt. Gen. Eugene Tattini, SMC commander; Col. Daniel Burkett, SBIRS system program director; and Dr. George Paulikas, former executive vice president of The Aerospace Corporation.
The MIDAS program, also known as Air Force Program 461, carried out 12 launches between 1960 and 1966 using four different types of increasingly sophisticated infrared sensors. The objective was to develop a satellite that could carry an infrared sensor to detect ICBM launches.
Early attempts failed, but in 1963 MIDAS Flights 7 and 9 were successful, proving that space-based infrared systems would work for early missile-launch warning.
Other panels were convened during the day to discuss DSP and the SBIRS High program.
The conference concluded with the dedication of an infrared pioneers display, which included photographs of 31 individuals from government, the Air Force, industry and The Aerospace Corporation who were designated infrared pioneers.
