Haystack celebrates Herb Weiss and six decades of making history
An exhibit commemorating some of the significant milestones in Haystack’s history was unveiled on September 28, 2021. The display chronicles many of the major contributions of Haystack scientists and engineers to radio science over the past six decades.
The talk given by Weiss was a rare chance to hear about the founding of Haystack Observatory, made even more memorable as he spoke just before his 103rd birthday. A small crowd of Haystack employees welcomed the Weiss family, although most in the audience were watching remotely online due to the ongoing pandemic.
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Weiss joined MIT Lincoln Laboratory in 1951 as one of the first employees after its establishment in 1950. He conceived the idea for a very high-power radar located in Westford, Massachusetts, in the mid-1950s; the Millstone Hill radar was brought online as a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) prototype in 1957. The Westford Radio Telescope 18m radar dish was completed in 1961. Construction of the Haystack 37m radio antenna and enclosing radome was completed in 1964.
Weiss was presented by Haystack Director Colin J. Lonsdale with a plaque commemorating Weiss’s decades of service and the importance of his numerous contributions.
The exhibit content, including historical photographs and content from scientific discoveries, will be made available online in early 2022.
