1957-1959 IBM 704 Computer - Vanguard Satellite Program Science in Space (Burroughs Datatron) NASA

This 1960 film from the National Academy of Sciences focuses on the 1957 to 1959 time period and the developments in the U.S. Space exploration activities especially the early Satellite Program and Vanguard Project. Project Vanguard was a program managed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), established to launch the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit using a Vanguard rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Vanguard rockets were used by Project Vanguard from 1957 to 1959. In response to the Soviet Russia launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, the U.S. increased its funding and research into space satellites and related technologies. Numerous launches were attempted including the unfortunate televised failure of Vanguard TV3 on December 6, 1957. On March 17, 1958, Vanguard 1 was successfully launched into earth orbit. Space Race and Digital Computers - - - - - From an historical perspective, this time period was one of tremendous growth in the early digital co