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11 - Turmoils of Leadership

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2013

Martin Harwit
Martin Harwit
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

In Chapters 7 and 9 we saw how strongly the conclusions we reach about the structure of the Universe can be shaped by intrusions that have no formal role in the philosophy of science. Technological innovations, governmental priorities, economic factors, as well as scientific advisory and oversight boards all play a role in the shaping of astronomy. Astrophysics is continually under pressure from forces pulling in different directions, destabilizing ongoing efforts, and keeping the field off balance.

How astrophysics nevertheless manages to advance is difficult to grasp in the abstract. The present chapter attempts to sketch realistically how modern astronomy is conducted and the vital role a well-coordinated communal approach can play as long as it remains sufficiently flexible to recover from inevitable setbacks. As we shall see, steadfast leadership is the essential ingredient of ultimate success.

A Logical Way to Proceed

By the mid-1970s, it was easy to see how the influx of new detection techniques introduced by the military in World War II and the Cold War had led to undreamed-of discoveries. Earlier theories had given us no inkling to expect the existence of quasars, pulsars, or the detection of cosmic masers, all initially revealed by radio astronomy. Similarly significant discoveries were being made in the gamma-ray, X-ray, and infrared regimes.

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In Search of the True Universe
The Tools, Shaping, and Cost of Cosmological Thought
 , pp. 230 - 255
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

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References

1. The Space Telescope: A Study of NASA, Science, Technology, and Politics, Robert W., Smith, with contributions by Paul A., Hanle, Robert H., Kargon & Joseph N., Tatarewicz. Cambridge University Press, 1993.Google Scholar
2. http://books.google.com/books/about/Outlook for space.html?id=yxUgAAAALAAJ
3. Makingthe invisible visible: Ahistory of the Spitzer Infrared Telescope Facility (1971–2003), Renee M., Rottner & Christine M., Beckman, Monographs in aerospace history, NASA-SP 4547, 2012, contains an interview of Franklin D. Martin conducted by the historian Renee Rottner in 2009, from which I have quoted here. L am indebted to Frank Martin for permission to quote him.Google Scholar
4. The Number of Class A Phenomena Characterizing the Universe, Martin, Harwit, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 16, 378–409, 1975.
5. Cosmic Discovery, The Search, Scope and Heritage of Astronomy, Martin, Harwit. New York: Basic Books, 1981.Google Scholar
6. Address Before A Joint Session of the Congress Reporting on the Sate of the Union, President Ronald W. Reagan, http://reagan2020.us/speeches/state_of_the_union_1984.asp
7. For a detailed description of the turmoil surrounding the community's belated backing of the HST see Robert W. Smith's book Ibid., The Space Telescope, pp.138–46.
8. Letter from George Field to The Honorable Jake Garn, March 8, 1984.
9. How NASA Builds Teams, C. J., Pellerin. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2009, p. 196.Google Scholar
10. Ibid. Making the invisible visible, Rottner & Beckman, 2012. I thank Charlie Pellerin for permission to quote him.
11. Lbid., Cosmic Discovery, Harwit.
12. Letter from Pellerin to Harwit, December 21, 1984.
13. Minutes of the Astrophysics Program Coordination Group, January 3, 1985, p. 1.
14. Ibid. Minutes, p. 6.
15. Minutes of the Astrophysics Council Meeting, February 22, 1985, p. 4.
16. Ibid., Minutes pp. 2–3.
17. Letter from Richard L. Daniels to EZ/Director, Astrophysics Division, May 9, 1985.
18. Ibid., How NASA Builds Teams, Pellerin, p. 198.
19. The Great Observatories for Space Astrophysics, prepared under the auspices of the NASA Astrophysics Division, Dr. Charles H. Pellerin Jr., Director, by Martin, Harwit, Cornell University and Valerie Neal, Essex Corporation in consultation with the Astrophysics Management Operations Working Group; graphic design and illustration by Brien O'Brien.
20. Letter from Riccardo Giacconi to The Honorable Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1985.
21. Minutes of the Meeting of the AMOWG, July 22, 1985, p. 3.
22. Speakers, Congressional Lecture Series, Space Science for the Non-Scientist. Announcements of the individual talks are filed under October 30, November 6, 14, and 21, December 2, and December 5, 1985.
23. Minutes of the Meeting of the Astrophysics Council, March 25 and 26, 1985, p. 3.
24. Space Astrophysics in the 1990's:The Decade of Achievement, filed under February 12,1985 because of the designation A. F. p. 2/12/85 at the upper right. (The initials probably refer to Adrienne Pedersen of the BDM Corporation, which supported the Astrophysics Division at the time.)
25. Ibid., Minutes of the Meeting of the Astrophysics Council, March 25 and 26, 1985, p. 3.
26. Letter from Martin Harwit to Burton Edelson, April 5, 1985.
27. Minutes of the Meeting of the AMOWG (Astrophysics Council), September 20,1985, pp. 3–4.
28. Letter from George Field to Martin Harwit, October 15, 1985.
29. Minutes of the AMOWG meeting, December 6,1985, p. 1.
30. Postscript (P.S.) on a typed note dated December 24, 1985 and headed “For George Field”
31. Hand written notes some dated “3/1/85,” some overwritten as “3/1/1986” (but all of them meaning January 3, 1986); see p. 5.
32. Letter from Martin Harwit to George Field, January 7, 1986; see the attached “Enclosure.”
33. Ibid., Handwritten notes some dated “3/1/85,” some overwritten as “3/1/1986”; see p. 5.
34. Letter from Harwit to George Field, January 7, 1986.
35. Ibid., “Enclosure” attached to letter from Harwit to Field, dated January 7, 1986.
36. Letter from Martin Harwit to William R. Graham, January 20, 1986.
37. Letter from Martin Harwit to Burton I. Edelson, January 20, 1986.
38. Letter from Charles J. Pellerin, Jr. to A/Dr. Graham, Jan 22, 1986.
39. Minutes of the Astrophysics Management Operations Working Group April 17,1986, p. 2.
40. Minutes of AMOWG meeting held on June 3, 1986, pp. 2–3.
41. Ibid., p. 4.
42. Minutes of the August 15, 1986 AMOWG meeting, p. 2.
43. Ibid., Minutes of the August 15,1986 AMOWG meeting, p. 3.
44. http://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/04/us/president-scales-back-plans-for-space-station-over-costs.html
45. Ibid., Minutes of the August 15,1986 Meeting of the AMOWG, p. 6.
46. Letter from Harvey Tananbaum to Martin Harwit, September 22, 1986.
47. New Windows on the Universe: The NASA Great Observatories, slide set and text prepared by C., Jones, C., Stern, and W., Forman, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics © 1987 SAO.
48. Astrophysics Council Membership 1985–1986 (revised 3/6/85).
49. Letter from Edelson to Harwit, dated July 26, 1985.
50. Memorandum from Martin Harwit to Claude Canizares, Warren Moos, Sabatino Sofia, Stephen Strom, and Michael Turner, dated November 27, 1985.
51. Letter from Claude Canizares to Martin Harwit, December 12, 1985.
52. Ibid., Minutes of the Astrophysics Management Operations Working Group April 17, 1986, p. 2.
53. Letter from George Field to Dr. William Graham, 31 December, 1986.
54. Minutes of the AMOWG Meeting of February 24, 1987, p. 2.
55. Handwritten letter from Martin to George, dated March 1, 1987, final paragraph.
56. Ibid., Minutes of the August 15,1986 Meeting of the AMOWG, p. 6.
57. Letter from Martin Harwit to Roger Bonnet, August 22, 1986.
58. Letter from Martin Harwit to Roger Bonnet, November 26, 1986.
59. Letter from R. M. Bonnet to Martin Harwit, December 11, 1986.
60. Ibid., Minutes of the AMOWG Meeting of February 24,1987, p. 4.
61. Minutes of the June 23, 1987 AMOWG meeting, p. 3.
62. Letter from Charles J. Pellerin, Jr. to James C. Fletcher, March 14, 1985.
63. Conversation of Charles J. Pellerin with Martin Harwit, at Pellerin's home, Boulder, CO, May 26, 2008.
64. Letter from James C. Fletcher to the Hon. Edward P. Boland, Chair Subcommittee on HUD-Independent Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, October 14,1987 (NASA Headquarters Archives, AXAF-1 File 5604); a copy of this letter is also in Martin Harwit's files.
65. Letter from James W. Head III and Martin Harwit to Charles Pellerin and Geoffrey Briggs, July 24, 1987.
66. Ibid., Minutes of the AMOWG Meeting of June 23, 1987, p. 4.
67. Revealing the Universe, The Making of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, Wallace, Tucker and Karen, Tucker. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001, pp. 102–4.Google Scholar
68. Ibid., The Space Telescope, Smith.
69. WhatItCo$t$, http://historical.whatitcosts.com/facts-space-station.htm
70. Space Station: U.S. Life-Cycle Funding Requirements, Testimony Before the Committee on Science, House of Representatives, June 24, 1998.
71. Shuttle programme, Roger, Pielke & Radford, Byerly, Nature, 472, 38, April 7, 2011.
72. Ibid., The Number of Class A Phenomena, Harwit.
73. Ibid., Cosmic Discovery, Harwit.

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  • Turmoils of Leadership
  • Martin Harwit, Cornell University, New York
  • Book: In Search of the True Universe
  • Online publication: 05 December 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107358409.013
Available formats
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  • Turmoils of Leadership
  • Martin Harwit, Cornell University, New York
  • Book: In Search of the True Universe
  • Online publication: 05 December 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107358409.013
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Turmoils of Leadership
  • Martin Harwit, Cornell University, New York
  • Book: In Search of the True Universe
  • Online publication: 05 December 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107358409.013
Available formats
×