Professor to Serve on History Committee

History professor Dr. Donald Elder III (Faculty) was appointed to the History Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

Interview by Wendel Sloan

Q. Tell us about your appointment to the IAA.

A. I was pleasantly surprised when asked to serve on the IAA History Committee. Established during the early days of the Space Age, the IAA promotes programs that foster peaceful and productive uses of outer space. Members have included famous individuals associated with the Space Age, from Wernher von Braun to Carl Sagan. As a member, I will work with colleagues from around the world to preserve and publicize the history of the Space Age.

Q. What is your involvement with space topics?

A. I wrote my dissertation on how foreign perceptions of the American space program affected our diplomatic relations during President Eisenhower’s administration. Much of my dissertation focused on how our first telecommunication satellite (known as Echo I) had significantly enhanced the nation’s image. In 1995, my work was published as Out From Behind the Eight- Ball: The History of Project Echo and was recognized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics as the best work in the field. They, as well as the American Astronautical Society, asked me to become a member of their history committees. Four years later, I became a judge for the Eugene M. Emme Prize, an annual award given to the best book on the history of the Space Age.

In 2010, ENMU President Dr. Steven Gamble recommended me to Governor Bill Richardson as a possible successor on the New Mexico Museum of Space History Commission. Upon their vote, I became a state commissioner, and in 2013, Governor Suzanna Martinez reappointed me to the position.

Q. How do you view the importance of space exploration? Should countries work together or separately?

A. I have always believed that we have benefited greatly from space programs. Weather forecasting used to be a remarkably imprecise science; however, after the 1960 U.S. launch of TIROS, the world’s first weather observation satellite, forecasting has become much more reliable. Satellites have also revolutionized the telecommunication industry. While most of the satellites launched have had peaceful applications, some have been placed into orbit to conduct surveillance. Clearly, the world would operate much differently in many respects had the Space Age never occurred.

For manned missions, the record is more mixed. Astronauts have helped us learn about our world and the universe, but some would argue that robotic missions could have gathered the same information at a fraction of the cost. I feel that humans give greater flexibility in terms of research than robotic systems do, but I certainly see the point that we have perhaps paid too high a price for this knowledge. I also believe that cooperation offers a better path forward than competition (with the obvious exception of surveillance).

Q. Are there legitimate concerns about space being used for military advantage by different countries?

A. In 1983, Ronald Reagan committed the nation to a program to develop a defensive shield. Named the Strategic Defense Initiative, the program is known today as the Missile Defense Agency. Much about this program is classified, as is any work that the U.S. and other nations are conducting on space-based weapons systems. This does represent a potential for either a first strike or a retaliatory response.

Q. How does space exploration benefit average citizens?

A. For years, items like Velcro and Tang pointed to tangible benefits that came from the manned space program. It turned out that both of those products and many others predated the Space Age, yet a recent poll revealed that 71 percent of the American public feels that the manned space program has been “worth it.” It seems that manned spaceflight has served as an inspiration. The image of astronauts risking their lives to go into a strange and potentially dangerous environment parallels the admiration we hold for our nation’s explorers and pioneers. At the risk of sounding like a cliché, the words of William Shatner in Star Trek about going where no one has ever gone before still ring true for many Americans.

Q. Other thoughts?

A. To be recognized by my peers and to serve on the IAA History Committee is an honor that I still find hard to believe. It’s a validation of my research and scholarship efforts on a scale that I could only dream of when I started my career in higher education. I only hope that I can prove worthy of this opportunity to deepen our understanding of this important aspect of our past.