The International Geophysical Year: The French participation and its influence on the beginning of the national space research
- Paper number
IAC-08.E4.1.2
- Author
Mr. Hervé Moulin, Institut Français d'Histoire de l'Espace, France
- Year
2008
- Abstract
In 1957-1958, the International Geophysical Year (IGY) was the most important scintific cooperation programme in the world, after the Second World War. Thousand scientists from sixty-seven conutries were involved in this large operation, among them a lot of French scientists. IGY was previously called the IPY (International Polar Year) and France, as many other countries, has been concerned in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions researches. Everybody know that the IGY is at the origin of Spoutnik and the first launches of Russian and American satellites. But, we know less about the IGY rockets programme itself, in which France had intentend to participate. This paper will discuss on this programme with a special hightlight on some aspects of the French participation and its relationship with the IGY programe. This approach arises several questions, such as: Which French scientists have been involved? What was the attitude of the French Government about this programme, etc. Focusing our analyze on the interrogation: Did the IGY have a real influence on the beginning of the French space research activties?
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E4.1.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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