The Other Space Race: Eisenhower and the Quest for Aerospace Security

353 Pages·2015·5.29 MB·English

by  Nicholas Michael Sambaluk

OLSEN
initiatives played overseas, Eisenhower’s policy Advance Praise for The Other Space Race Sambaluk The world typically remembers the space
relied on space reconnaissance happening quietly race as the Cold War competition between
and behind the scenes. “ Sambaluk’s scholarly survey of this most sensational subject amply demonstrates the The the USSR and the United States, begin-
T
wisdom of Eisenhower’s ‘building blocks’ approach to space technology, a wisdom ning with the Soviet launch of the first satellite
The Other Space Race is the story of how nei- unfortunately discarded by the Kennedy administration.” h (Sputnik I) in 1957 and culminating in the U.S.
ther policy was fully realized. By examining
— WALTER A. McDOUGALL, University of Pennsylvania, Pulitzer Prize–winning author moon landing in 1969. But even before Sputnik,
the important but largely forgotten period of e
of . . . the Heavens and the Earth: A Political History of the Space Age the United States had already taken important
research between 1954 and 1961, Nicholas
Michael Sambaluk provides a more meaningful “ Dr. Sambaluk fills a void in the historiography of America’s space technology. He steps outside of the public eye. The Eisenhower
O Other administration quietly worked to establish a
context for understanding space security policy addresses many of the factors and competing interests that shaped America’s early
precedent for peaceful satellite flight over inter-
space programs. A well-researched and organized work that should be on the shelf of
and space history.
t national borders and to use space-based surveil-
every historian of the ‘new frontier.’ ”
h lance systems to gain information that would
—DR. JOHN CURATOLA, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
minimize the chance of a surprise Soviet attack.
e
“ Nick Sambaluk has written an important new book about Ike and the early days of The Air Force, convinced that space would ulti-
the space race. He provides insights into Eisenhower in a field that has deserved more r Space mately become a realm of combat, conducted
historical exploration.” initial studies about hypersonic armed vehicles

—WILLIAM B. LACY, director, Dole Institute of Politics S that could skim the upper atmosphere or even
orbit the planet. For the supporters of armed
“ Nick Sambaluk’s fascinating book deals with the past but speaks to the present—an p space exploitation, as for many Americans
advanced technology Air Force project, rising costs, uncertain mission: and no, it’s
in general, deterrence dictated preeminence.
not the F-35! As Sambaluk shows in his analysis of the ‘Dyna-Soar’ project, some- a Race
High-profile Soviet space accomplishments
times the past really can be prologue.”
c suddenly made these issues seem more urgent
—ROBERT M. CITINO, author of The Wehrmacht Retreats: The Campaigns of 1943 and transformed the degree to which the debate
e was made public.
“ Sambaluk lays bare the tension between the military strategies and policies of pres-
NICHOLAS MICHAEL SAMBALUK is an idents and the competing goals of the military industrial complex. The Other Space Between 1954 and 1961 military planners and
assistant professor of practice in military sci- Race should be on the reading lists of every member of Congress, the current and R political leaders competed to cultivate public
ence and technology at Purdue University and next presidential administration, and any American citizen concerned with the nation’s Eisenhower and the attitudes that would support their plans for seiz-
a research fellow at the Army Cyber Institute at military affairs.” a ing the initiative in space security issues. Key
West Point. — COL. GIAN GENTILE, USA (Ret.), author of Wrong Turn: America’s Deadly Embrace Quest for Aerospace Security Air Force figures such as Chief of Staff Gen.
c
of Counterinsurgency; former professor of military history at West Point; senior
Thomas White labored hard for the develop-
historian at the RAND Corporation
e ment of armed flight technologies that could
traverse both air and space environments. The
TRANSFORMING WAR Air Force’s flagship vehicle for controlling
aerospace was the Dynamic Soarer space glider
bomber, a heat-resistant single-seat space shuttle
meant to conduct reconnaissance, bombing, and
other missions to ensure American superiority—
and peace. In contrast, President Eisenhower
Jacket image: Dwight D. Eisenhower (courtesy the New envisioned non-weaponized satellite reconnais-
York Times) and design study from declassified document
sance systems as the best tools to ensure peace. In
“DYNA SOAR Hypersonic Conceptual Test Vehicle” For more information on this and other
(U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio) great books, visit www.nip.org. NAVAL keeping with the low-profile but important roles
HISTORY • UNITED STATES INSTITUTE Nicholas Michael Sambaluk that CIA actions and U.S. Information Agency
Jacket design: Kathleen Dyson eBook edition also available. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. PRESS
(continued on back flap)
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The
Other
Space
Race
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Transforming War
Paul J. Springer, editor
To ensure success, the conduct of war requires rapid and effective
adaptation to changing circumstances. While every conflict involves
a degree of flexibility and innovation, there are certain changes that
have occurred throughout history that stand out because they fundamen-
tally altered the conduct of warfare. The most prominent of these changes
have been labeled “Revolutions in Military Affairs” (RMAs). These so-called
revolutions include technological innovations as well as entirely new
approaches to strategy. Revolutionary ideas in military theory, doctrine,
and operations have also permanently changed the methods, means, and
objectives of warfare.
This series examines fundamental transformations that have occurred
in warfare. It places particular emphasis upon RMAs to examine how the
development of a new idea or device can alter not only the conduct of
wars, but their effect upon participants, supporters, and uninvolved par-
ties. The unifying concept of the series is not geographical or temporal;
rather, it is the notion of change in conflict and its subsequent impact. This
has allowed the incorporation of a wide variety of scholars, approaches,
disciplines, and conclusions to be brought under the umbrella of the series.
The works include biographies, examinations of transformative events, and
analyses of key technological innovations that provide a greater under-
standing of how and why modern conflict is carried out, and how it may
change the battlefields of the future.
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The
Other
Space
Race
Eisenhower and the
Quest for Aerospace Security
Nicholas Michael Sambaluk
Naval Institute Press | Annapolis, Maryland
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Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
© 2015 by Nicholas Michael Sambaluk
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sambaluk, Nicholas Michael, author.
The other space race : Eisenhower and the quest for aerospace security /
Nicholas Michael Sambaluk.
pages cm— (Transforming War)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-61251-886-2 (alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-61251-887-9 (ebook)
1. Space race—History—20th century. 2. Astronautics and state—United
States—History—20th century. 3. Aeronautics and state—United States—
History—20th century. 4. National security—United States—History—20th
century. 5. Astronautics, Military—History—20th century. 6. Eisenhower,
Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890–1969. I. Title.
TL789.8.U5S26 2015
358’.8—dc23
2015025439
∞ Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992 (Permanence
of Paper).
Printed in the United States of America.
23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First printing
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For Mom and Dad
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In preparation for modern war it is essential that the possibility
of new weapons be considered in strategy.
— IRVIN STEWART, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT1
What we can afford least is to define the problem of future war as
we would like it to be, and by doing so introduce into our defense
vulnerabilities based on self-delusion.
— MAJ. GEN. H. R. MCMASTER, USA, COMMANDER, U.S. ARMY
MANEUVER CENTER OF EXCELLENCE2
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