NASA Inspection Program 1964

The NASA Inspection of Advanced Research and Technology was held atLangley Research Center on five days, May 18 - 22, 1964, with identicalprograms each day. Approxi~ately 400 persons attended each day,representing other agencies of the Government, NASA, the military services,contractors, foreign governments, educational institutions, and technicalsocieties.

The purpose of the Inspection Program was cited by OART as an opportunityto cope with a number of situations as follows:

a. The number of employees in NASA has grown so rapidly thatthere is a lack of understanding of the extent and types of programs whichexist in our centers, as well as the staff and facilities required to carryout- these programs.

b. The change in our relationship with the military services in thetransition into the national space programs makes it more desirable thatmore research and development segments of the military services becomereacquainted with NASA's role in the national research and technology efforts.

c. Newer and more extensive relationships with other government agenciessuch as AEC, NIH, FAS, U. S. Weather Bureau, NSF, Department of State,and others would make such a presentation most beneficial for future relation­ships.

d. Our relationships with the universities and industrial firms could beenhanced by firsthand orientation of the programs and missions of the variousNASA centers.

e. The number of committee and subcommittees and the general congres­sional organization that are interested in the NASA organization should have abetter opportunity to observe, hear, and see firsthand the examples of theNASA research and technology program.

It was generally agreed by officials of Langley and NASA Headquarters that theprogram was successful and met its objectives well.

Essentially, the program consisted of an assembly immediately follOWingregistration, at which officials of NASA Headquarters and Langley gave areport on NASA programs and accomplishments, together with a capsule

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summary of the day's inspection stops, setting the tone for the tour whichfollowed. In making the tour, guests were divided into ten different groups,each group wearing a different color badge designation. Individual colorgroups boarded busses and during the remainder of the day visited tenresearch facilities for a 20 minute program at each stop related to the workbeing done by that specific facility, or in the case of three stops, work beingdone by other OART centers - Ames, LewiS, and FRC.

Attendance at the Inspection Program was by invitation only. Invitationswere extended to approximately 3800 individuals and acceptances werereceived from more than 2000.

Attached you will find the following related items which I think will be ofinterest:

·...-InvitationAcceptance FormsConfirmation FormProgramInspection Brochure 'u.£J-

esume of comments from some attendees ~ ~vUExamples of complete letters of commendation(Designated as File A, Vol. III of IV)

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ATTACHMENT A

PUBLIC REACTION TO INSPECTION PROGRAM

The following excerpts from some of the letters received at Langle!yResearch Center illustrate how well the program accomplished its purp:>sein informing the public of the NASA's vital role in the conduct of advancedresearch and technology in both the aeronautical and space sciencE3s:

Donald W. Douglas, Jr., Pres.ldent, Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.said - "I consider the recent Field Inspection Tour at Langley themost successful event of its type I hn.ve attended. The demonstra­tions effectively emphasized the importan.ce of a sustained effortin research and technology, and it is regretable that every keymember of the Congress could not witness this evidence of soundprogress in aeronautics and space. "

1. R. Clark, Vice President and General Manager, Ling-Temco- Vought,Vought Aeronautics Division commented that "The reason I am soenthusiastic 1s that the program was educational, current in state­of-the-art technology, was presented with enthusiasm and confidence,and it put aeronautics into proper perspective."

L. Welch Pogue of the law iirm of Pogue and Neal, Washington, D. C.,former chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, described theInspection as "a portrayal of the fundamental research beingconducted by NASA which is most encouraging to citizens of theUnited States." He offered congratulations on the resumption ofthe Inspection- - "as it is very difficult for the public of the UnitedStates--even the public interested in aerospace activities in someparticular way--to gain any adequate impression as to what is beingundertaken by NASA without some personal exposure•.. "

George R. Herbert, President of the Research Triangle Institute, Durham,No:r:th Carolina, observed that I1the presentations by the technicalstafi and the visual impact of the Inspection conveyed the real feelinCJof the importance of the research being undertaklEln. n

Dr. Fran.i.e J. Kraysa, Associate Director of the Smithsonian Institution'sPhysical Sciences Division, l'found e well-plarmed activities mostprofitable--tha various inspection stops had clear and interestinglyarranged displays and demonstrations, and comp:ltent speakers••• It

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Dr. H. H. Kurzweg, NASA Di ector of Ecsearch, Office of AdvancedResearch and Technology, reported that the I!ma..'Yly commentswl:'Jch I've heard.•• were all favorable "t 1 respect to contentand the very professional manner in which the entire inspectionwas handled. Everybody seems to have left with a greaterrealization of the extent and diversi'y 0 Langley's capabilities. II

F. C. Ruling, regional vice-president of the General Electric Company,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "was tre endously impressed withthe breadth of the advanced research•.. and the significant contri­but"ons that your programs have made to aeronautics and spacedevelopments. 11

:Marcellus Wright, Jr., Marcellus Wri9ht and Son, architects, Richmond,considered the Inspection "beautif ly staged from start to fin1s..i.a d everyone was impressc by the precision timing which wasmaintained. The friendly and help ul aU'ention given to the visitorswas most a.ppreciated and served- to add so much to the smoothnesso the entire operation. II

arol E. Wessman, Dean Oi the Unive "~d.ty of Washin9ton's college otengineering, Seattle, said the Ilvic~L was an extremely enlighteningand educational exper" ence for me. I was particularly impressedby the organization of the entire affair. \Vhat unpressed me most,however, were the fine talks given by many young engineers at thevarious exhibits. " '-

John V. Robinson, Assistant Director lor S )ace Developments for thetate of New York, stated that L'1.e Inspection "afforded me a

propitious opportunity to learn the current status of research anddevelopment being conduc ed at one of NASA's principal centers. "

R. E. Fadum, Dean of Engineering at orth Carolina State College,s~d: I1The schedule included a good cross-section of activity andgave me a much better understanding 0 ... the scope of the Center'srole••• "

Charles L. Kessler (Captain, U. S. Navy), Director of the StateHeadquarters for Selective Service, felt that a "sense of dedicationwas in the very atmosphere••• "

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Victor \V. Buhr of Clark, Buh', and x"en, architect<"'-ena'neers,orfolk, said, "everyone vas imp- essed with the COll pl xityand

rna -nitude of your many problGms a.nd with the very ef'lcicntmanner in which your research associated therewith has beencon uded."

s. D. -arper, Director of Engineering of tho Special Systems Divisiono Honeywell, Inc., sal : "r arn left with the vivid impression thatLangley is a tremendous force for the good of this nation and issetting a national standard in efficiency. II

:N1ajor General J. Stanley Holtoner, USAF, Commandant of the ArmedForces Staff College, . Torfolk, men'loned that "many of our studentswere so favorably impressed that they returned with their familieson Saturday to observe the public open house. "

Sidney R. Curtis, Vice-President of General D-ynamics/Electronics,Rochester, N. Y., said, "This was a stimulating and provocativeexperience for me and was particularly helpful in understandinghow NASA fits into the over-all economy. "

Rear Admiral Henry J. Vluc seh, Commander, Fifth District, U. S.Coast Guard, Portsmouth, said he and his group llcarne away withan understanding of the vast scope and tremendous iraportance ofthe work being do c••. II

1. H. Lampe, Dean of Engineering at Old DOlllinion Cc'llege, Norfolk,called the Inspection "extremely well organ.i..zed, effectivelypresented, and inspirational as to technical developments andadvances for our way of life ahead. "

R. A. Thompson, representing the Standard 011 Comp=my, Cleveland,Ohio, stated that "the isplays ~vere directly to the point, and thelectures and demonstra ions were g :lared both to the specialist andn¢n- specialists. "

Richard W. Neale, General Marketing lJlanager, The Ches.apeake andPotomac 'Telephone Company of ri.r~fin1a., Richmond, declared,"I'm sorry that morc pBople in this great cour try of ours can't havethe same opportunity" to see the Inspection.

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Rear Admiral W. A. Stuart, COl del' of Hunter Killer Force,U. S. Atlantic 1'leet, cor mented, "'The preci"'e and efficientmanner in which the Insp:.ction wac:; run and the vast a.mount ofinteresting iniorma 'on disserninatlad in tho short tim~~ wasparticularly impressive... I "eel that acquainting each otherwith the advanc ments, projects, and problen. s of our indivldualfields is of utmost importance. It

J"ohn Newbauer, Editor of Astrona tics and Aeron.'1uttcs, said hi;;found the Inspection "exceptionally informative and helpful inbroadening my view of the nation's tecrm" cal dev~\ opmEintssupporting advanced space vehicle and aircraft developments. "