Developer Of Many Early Satellite Testing Methods And Facilities

Another of the pioneers of the United State's early space program has passed away. John New, who had been an engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center during the early days of satellite development died July 28th at the age of 89.

NASA Photo

Mr. New was credited with developing many of the facilities and operations used to test satellites in the early 1960's. He joined NASA in 1959 at the then-new Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, as the founding director of what was eventually called the Test and Evaluation Division at the center. The Washington Post reports that his lab in a converted warehouse was soon expanded to include dozens of buildings.

New and his engineers borrowed much of their early satellite test equipment, and what they couldn't borrow they reportedly made from scratch. Within two years of the establishment of the facility, the agency had launched three satellites, all tested by Mr. New and his staff. Among the facilities they built were a launch simulator, vacuum chamber, and devices to test environmental conditions like vibration, heat and electromagnetism. Mr. New worked at Goddard for over 15 years, retiring in 1976.

FMI: www.nasa.gov