West Ford and the scientists

Throughout Project West Ford, from its inception until after the formation of a dipole belt in May, 1963, the possibly harmful effects of the experiment itself and of possible future belts of orbiting dipoles have concerned many scientists. The author was Chairman of the Committee of the Space Science Board of the National Academy of Sciences which endeavored to inform scientists throughout the world both of the project and of the predicted and observed effects of the experimental belt on astronomical and radio-astronomical measurements. The article represents the author's personal summary of the history of interaction between West Ford and the scientific community.