Design & Planning: IEEE Dr Robert Wilson STEM Lunch w Leaders A Day at the Museum

IEEE Dr Robert Wilson STEM Lunch w Leaders and Luminaries A Day at the Museum, Communications Society, Region 1, Humanitarian Technologies, WIE, Instrumentation & Measurement / Computer Joint Chapter, Professional Activities, AT&T Labs History, IEEE History, Holmdel High School, Toms River Schools, NOKIA History, and more, designing, planning and coordinating the Event. Meeting for planning, logistics, scheduling, promotion, and more. Promoting upcoming IEEE Milestone Project Echo, Telstar, and discovery of cosmic background radiation, evidence of the Big Bang Theory of the origin of the Universe. Kick off for the Horn Antenna Science, Technology, Educational and Cultural Initiative and Preservation Center.

There is no single event more transformative in the second half of the twentieth century than the discovery of the cosmic background radiation, verifying the Big Bang Theory, which described the formation of the Universe. Behind that discovery is a unique horn-antenna constructed on Crawford Hill at Holmdel New Jersey.

The sophisticated functionality of the Horn Antenna was designed and developed in phases by both commercial and US government entities, resulting in a sensitive antenna capable of detecting cosmic background radiation, which was interpreted as the signature of the Big Bang. First Project Echo (1959 – 1961) constructed a long-distance wireless communication system which included a novel tracking horn-reflector antenna, a maser preamplifier, and an FM (Frequency Modulated) demodulator. This low noise receiver was the first to provide a high-quality long distance voice circuit via the Echo 1 passive satellite.

The system capabilities were later expanded (1962 – 1963) with transmissions to the Telstar active satellite made possible by the invention of the solar cell. Further experiments (1964) led to the discovery of the cosmic background radiation, verifying the Big Bang Theory which describes the formation of the Universe.

These discoveries mentioned and directly connected with the unique antenna represent the intersection and advancement of several scientific, engineering, computational, philosophical, and cultural fields of study critically important for all of humanity. On this site, and through this Milestone, we recognize the advancement of all those fundamental constructs of our worldview.

With the placement of this IEEE Milestone at the AT&T Labs Science & Technology Innovation Center and Museum, we will find a secure dignified location. The facility was designed, developed, documented by expert professional Historians, and is staffed with expert Docents who are themselves accomplished Researchers. Many of them have worked with the Horn Antenna, and or with people who built or used the Horn Antenna for their work.

The AT&T Labs Science & Technology Innovation Center and Museum location is filled with treasures: artifacts, demonstrators, and history. There are other IEEE Milestones at the location. Displays and interactive media represent the milestones and researchers who participated in the antenna and related systems design, development, operation, interpretation, and sharing the revolutionary discoveries that shaped our modern world of satellite, space communications, our understanding of ourselves, and the Big Bang Theory origins of the Universe in which we live.

The current location of the Horn Antenna is involved in a real estate transaction; the property must be renovated and again opened to the public. When the property is publicly accessible, then another plaque may be placed at that location at the expense of those who wish to place the plaque. In addition, the Town of Holmdel, New Jersey will own the property and the Horn Antenna. It might be desirable to place another plaque at one or more of the town facilities such as Town Hall, at the expense of those who wish to place a plaque. If another Labs location such as NOKIA will be another location for a plaque, then it will be at the expense of those who will place the plaque.

There is interest in developing a tour site, education center, and more to include the Horn Antenna site and also by virtual connection to focus on topics related to the Milestone, for example, radio astronomy, communication, science, programming, engineering, women who programmed at Bell Labs and Langley for example, and more.

Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/387270