Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
1957: Cold War Cooperation
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021
1. 1957: Cold War Cooperation Marker
At the height of the Cold War mistrust, scientist from around the world pressed for international cooperation in finding out more about the Sun, the Earth and its atmosphere. From July 1957 to December 1958, scientists from 67 nations worked together to fill a pool of geological information that is still in use. Named the International Geophysical Year, it was the first sign of spring for a world frozen in fear of nuclear war.
A major contribution to this information pool was made by Explorer I. A Juno I rocket launched the 11-pound satellite into orbit where it detected vast layers of energy-emitting particles. These layers were later named the Van Allen Belts after James A. Allen, the American astrophysicist who built the instruments carried by Explorer I.
The particles in the Van Allen Belts are believed to be pieces of the sun, exploded into space during solar flares and captured by Earth’s gravity.
[Caption:]
Events like the Aurora Australis are caused by solar particles that are captured by the Van Allen Radiation Belts.
Erected by Kennedy
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1957.
Location. 28° 31.408′ N, 80° 41′ W. Marker is on Merritt Island, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker can be reached from Space Commerce Way, 1.2 miles south of NASA Parkway West, on the left when traveling east. Located within the Rocket Garden exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 NASA Pkwy W, Merritt Island FL 32953, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Saturn V (here, next to this marker); Chasing the Russian Bear (a few steps from this marker); Getting History Off the Ground (a few steps from this marker); Global Television Arrives (a few steps from this marker); Learning to Phone Home (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sun Rides a Workhorse (within shouting distance of this marker); Shaping Things to Come (within shouting distance of this marker); Working in Space, Two By Two (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Merritt Island.
Also see . . .
1. Explorer I. (Submitted on June 30, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Wikipedia (Submitted on June 30, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021
2. 1957: Cold War Cooperation Marker
3. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. NASA website. (Submitted on July 1, 2021.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 278 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
