Conceived in 1958, Project Celescope was an experiment undertaken by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) to study the atmospheres of the hotter stars by means of photometric measurements in those regions of the ultraviolet that are accessible only from above the earth's atmosphere. Measurements were obtained by mounting telescopes in an orbiting satellite that would focus starlight on ultraviolet-sensitive television cameras. Project Celescope was funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of their Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) program. The project reached a climax on December 7, 1968, when NASA launched the second OAO satellite containing the Celescope experiment. More than 8,500 photographs of over 2,800 areas of the sky were made during the experiment's lifetime.
From 1958 to 1965, Project Celescope existed as a separate division of SAO. In 1965 the project was placed under administrative control of the newly created Department of Flight Operations. The project's primary staff included Fred Lawrence Whipple, Project Director; Robert T. Davis, Project Scientist; and Francis R. Nitchie, Jr., Engineering Administrator, 1958-1962. In 1962, the title of the latter position was changed to Project Manager. Project Managers included G. K. Megerian, 1962; Charles A. Lundquist, Acting Project Manager, 1963; and John J. Burke, 1964-1968.
From the description of Project Celescope, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 1958-1968 Records. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79753070
