X-Nico

4 unusual facts about International Geophysical Year


144th Airlift Squadron

The aircraft were also used as part of the 1957–1958 International Geophysical Year experiments, which were conducted in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon Territory.

Atka Iceport

It was named by personnel of the USS Atka, under U.S. Navy Commander Glen Jacobsen, which moored here in February 1955 while investigating possible base sites for International Geophysical Year operations.

Paradise Harbor

The shelter constitutes a representative example of pre-IGY activity in Antarctica.

Wild Wild World

The documentary was filmed in the "Geo-Goshical Year 75,000,000 B.C." (satirizing the International Geophysical Year 1957-'58), in breathtaking Cromagnonscope.


Galindez Island

This was replaced on 30th May, 1954 by a larger hut on nearby Galindez Island ("Coronation Hut" after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953) and was a key observatory during the International Geophysical Year 1957/58.

Homer E. Newell, Jr.

In 1954, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower assigned NRL responsibility to launch satellites during the International Geophysical Year (IGY), Newell was promoted to Acting Superintendent of NRL's Atmosphere and Astrophysics division, with an additional assignment as science coordinator for Project Vanguard.

Jean Alt

Alt was a scientist of the IGY, who take part of the American mission, named Deep Freeze III, in Little America V (an Antarctica base) during the winter party 1958.

Merle Tuve

He served on the first U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, on the National Research Council Committee on Growth, and on the U.S. Committee for the International Geophysical Year.

Van Allen Range

It was named after James A. Van Allen, an American scientist and one of the original organizers of the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58.

William Roy Piggott

He edited the still valid official booklet of reduction rules for ionospheric soundings with Karl Rawer and was engaged in international activities during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and for a long time afterwards.


see also