Ken McCracken was a Tasmanian student physicist when the Russians launched Sputnik 1. Through his amateur radio contacts he was able to help confirm that the satellite orbited over Australia and was not the hoax some Americans believed.
He's one of the most individualistic rocket scientists to hit the Americans -- and one of the most successful. Ken McCracken learned his astronomy in Tasmania over 50 years ago. He learned to be self-reliant both in Australia and Papua New Guinea and then joined NASA in the United States. It was a surprisingly productive relationship. Dr McCracken looks back on a wonderful career in space research and gives advice on how to deal with tricky bureaucrats.
He's one of the most individualistic rocket scientists to hit the Americans -- and one of the most successful. Ken McCracken learned his astronomy in Tasmania over 50 years ago. He learned to be self-reliant both in Australia and Papua New Guinea and then joined NASA in the United States. It was a surprisingly productive relationship. Dr McCracken looks back on a wonderful career in space research and gives advice on how to deal with tricky bureaucrats.
