Idaho Skies Transcript for December 18th and 19th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for December 18th and 19th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
The moon’s new on the 18th.

PAUL
That means stargazers won’t be able to see it for a couple of days.

RACHEL
And when they do, it will be a thin crescent in the low southwest.

PAUL
So get ready to go moon watching in another two or three days.

RACHEL
Let’s dial the way back machine to December 18th, 1958.

PAUL
The Space Age is just over a year old and the United States is trying to place more and better satellites into Earth orbit.

RACHEL
One of our countries first successes was a communication satellite.

PAUL
Called Project Score, this satellite was actually an empty rocket booster.

RACHEL
But the empty Atlas booster carried a tape recorder and radio.

PAUL
Which allowed select ground stations to send a message to the Atlas for storage on its tape recorder.

RACHEL
Then when the Atlas passed over a second ground station, it would replay the message over the radio.

PAUL
The dual redundant radio, antennas, and tape recorders weighed 150 pounds.

RACHEL
And the tape recorder could store a message up to four minutes long.

PAUL
President Eisenhower recorded a Christmas message on Project Score.

RACHEL
His message was for peace on Earth and goodwill.

PAUL
Being a large, but empty booster meant that air drag had a strong effect on the satellite.

RACHEL
As a result, Project Score only remained in orbit for 36 days.

PAUL
And during that month, it illustrated some of the promise of the newly born Space Age.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 18th and 19th of December.

PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com

For Idaho Skies this is Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.