Baker report, 1968 congressional hearings

Robert Baker Statement (Extracted)
STATEMENT BY DR. ROBERT M. L. BAKER, JR.
1. Biography
2. Oral Statement
3. Attachments & Appendices
(The biography of Dr. Baker, Jr., is as follows:)
DR. ROBERT M. L. BAKER, JR.
Dr. Baker is a 36 year old scientist who received his BA with Highest Honors in Physics and Mathematics at UCLA in
1954, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1956 he was granted a MA in Physics, and was the recipient of the UCLA
Physics Prize. In 1958 Dr. Baker received a PhD in Engineering, which was the first of its kind to be granted in the nation
with a specialty in Astronautics.
With respect to his academic background. Dr. Baker was on the Faculty of the Department of Astronomy at UCLA from
1959 to 1963. Since that time he has been on the Faculty of the Department of Engineering at UCLA where he currently
offers courses in astronautics, fluid mechanics, and structural mechanics.
Dr. Baker is an internationally recognized expert in various fields of science and engineering. He was a research
contributor to .the development of preliminary orbit determination procedures utilizing radar data, astrodynamic constants,
near free-molecular flow drag—all utilized in the nation's space programs. He has also developed unique theories in the
area of hydrofoil marine craft design.
In private industry Dr. Baker has initiated, supervised, and conducted research programs in astronautics, physics, fluid
mechanics, mathematics, and computer program design. He has contributed to problem definition and analysis of scientific
and engineering problems in both industrial and military projects.
Dr. Baker's industrial career began in 1954 as a consultant to Douglas Aircraft Company. Between 1957 and 1960 he was a
Senior Scientist at Aeronutronic-Philco-Ford. While in the Air Force during 1960 and 1961, he was a project officer on a
number of classified Air Force projects. Between 1961 and 1964 he was the head of Lockheed's Astrodynamics Research
Center, where he directed the efforts of approximately 25 scientists in various scientific areas. In 1964 Dr. Baker joined the
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), first as Associate Manager for Research and Analysis, and later as the Senior
Scientist of CSC's System Sciences subdivision. In this latter capacity he is currently involved in several Air Force, Navy,
and NASA projects.
[[125]]
Dr. Baker represented the United States Air Force at the International Astronautical Federation meeting in Stockholm,
Sweden in 1961, represented the United States at the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics European
Conferences in 1962 and in 1965 and was an invitee to the Astronomical Councile [sic] of the Academy of Sciences of
USSR in Moscow in 1967. He was voted an Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in
1965. From 1963 to 1964 he was the National Chairman of the Astrodynamics Technical Committee of the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and is currently a member of Computer Sciences Technical Committee.
Dr. Baker has been the Editor of the Journal of the Astronautical Sciences since 1968. He was the joint editor of the
Proceedings of the 1961 International Astronautical Federation Congress and the senior author of the first textbook on
astrodynamics: An Introduction to Astrodynamics published in 1960. Dr. Baker is the author of four books and over 70
technical papers (see Appendix 2).
Dr. Baker's professional society memberships include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Phi Beta
Kappa, Sigma Xi, Sigma Pi Sigma, American Astronautical Society (Fellow), British Interplanetary Society (Fellow),
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Associate Fellow and member of the Computer Sciences Technical