Vanguard Satellite Transistors
1950s Vanguard Satellite Transistors
From: http://semiconductormuseum.com/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery_VanguardTransistors.pdf
Vanguard 1 Satellite Transmitter Project by Michael Rainey
http://aa1tj.blogspot.com/2012/06/vanguard-1-satellite-transmitter.html
Michael Rainey, a highly inventive and historically-minded ham radio operator (call sign AA1TJ) has researched the technical details of the transmitter circuits used in the Vanguard 1 satellite and has constructed a modern day replica. Use the link above to view Mike’s transmitter in operation.
Western Electric Transistor History by Mark Burgess
Visit Mark’s well researched and enjoyable website on early transistor history, and learn about the Diffusion Technologies at Bell Labs”. This article provides excellent background for the pioneering work at Bell Labs that was the basis for diffused transistors used in the Vanguard satellite.
Bell Labs and Western Electric Power Transistors by Joe Knight
Joe Knight is the author of the most comprehensive and often-referenced web series on early power transistor technology. This link will direct you to his 28 page presentation with details and photos of early Bell Labs/Western Electric transistors, including the first diffused devices from the 1950s.
Transistor Museum Oral History by George Ludwig
http://semiconductormuseum.com/Transistors/LectureHall/Ludwig/Ludwig_Index.htm
Dr. George Ludwig was the principle designer of the transistor-based cosmic ray instrumentation package for the Explorer 1 satellite, and worked extensively on early satellite electronics at JPL. This informative 2004 Transistor Museum interview with Dr. Ludwig contains a wealth of information about the first transistors used in Vanguard and Explorer.
Vanguard Progress Report No. 10, October 15 1956
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/342505.pdf
Many of the early progress reports on the Vanguard satellite program are currently available on the web. The specific link above references a 1956 report which contains an interesting discussion on vibration test results of the GA 53233 transistor, serial #851. Other reports are also available with additional information on the early transistors.
Vanguard I Satellite by R.L. Easton and M.J. Votaw at the U.S. Navy Research Lab
http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/rsi/30/2/10.1063/1.1716492
Note: This document is copyrighted by The American Institute of Physics and available online for $28.00 even though taxpayer funds created it. If you want to read it, go to a nearby university and read it for free. This very informative paper, published in the Feb 1959 “Review of Scientific Instruments” describes the instrumentation used in the Vanguard I satellite, including details of the GA-53233 and GF-45017 transistors. 1959 IGY Research Paper written by R.L. Easton and M.J. Votaw at the U.S. Navy Research Lab.
1962 Production Engineering Report on Diffused Transistors at Laureldale, PA
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/406465.pdf
The U.S. Army Signal Corps funded much of the diffused transistor research and production at the Western Electric semiconductor facility at Laureldale Pa. This report provides an excellent overview of this work from 1962, including a discussion of diffused transistors in the Nike missile program.
JPL History of the Sputnik, Vanguard and Explorer Satellites by JPL/Cal Tech
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/explorer/downloads/Explorer1.pdf
This is an excellent article by JPL/Cal Tech which documents the exciting history of the early U.S. satellite program, including both Vanguard and Explorer. There is much technical detail and solid background material presented.
NRL 50th Anniversary Legacy of Vanguard I by The Naval Research Lab
http://www.nrl.navy.mil/vanguard50/legacy.php
The Naval Research Lab, a major contributor to the success of the Vanguard I satellite, established this excellent website to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launch.