Overcoming the Problems

By early in 1962 there was very visible progress with the terraforming of the bowl, the construction of the towers and anchors, the delivery of steel for the construction of the suspended platform, the start of the rim wall needed to support the reflector, and the completion of the operations building and the Visiting Scientist Quarters. The downtown staff were about to move to the new operations building, which must have been a significant morale booster. The transmitter was delivered in August after passing its tests at the manufacturer. A temporary large horn was constructed allowing the detection of radar signals reflected from the moon and, later, the lower ionosphere. Meanwhile, the suspended structure was under construction in the bowl. Its lift in October was a very big day for the project and all involved. However, the schedule delays and cost increases continued leading to some changes in the project management at Cornell.