Bugs Don't Have Antennas

About the Book

This book includes some of the author’s memoirs from his career of over 40 years in the industry variously and progressively known as electronics, defense, military-industrial complex, aerospace, telecommunications, and cyberspace. It begins with memories of his collegiate experience studying electrical engineering at the time electronics was making the transition from vacuum tubes toward the solid state electronics revolution. His exposure to several early guided missile programs included Atlas ICBM, Terrier surface to air missile, Sidewinder air to air missile, and Polaris undersea IRBM. From there, he was exposed to Midas/Samos satellites as a step that shaped his career leading into various increasingly highly classified satellite programs. These programs started with the early TT&C (tracking, telemetry and command) ground stations that controlled and processed the satellites and their data streams. As the satellite payloads rapidly increased in capability, complexity, capacity and communications, they demanded increases in the processing and distribution capabilities of the supporting ground stations. As these technologies evolved, the constant challenge was that of “pushing the envelope” to stay ahead of the perceived Soviet threat. While most of his career was on these classified programs, he avoids any of the aspects that might still be of continuing security concern since several are still in use today. In addition to tracing the author’s career, this book touches on the persistent and spectacular growth of computer technology leading toward its all-encompassing present day influence in our lives. Additionally, this book describes a later, unclassified application of some of the space age technologies to the medical world which the author believes offers promise of great humanitarian benefit in the future. Although this book contains some technical descriptions, for the most part it avoids the heavy jargon of the industry. It includes numerous unusual, sometimes humorous, and occasionally insightful recollections of his experiences during the Cold War. Hopefully, it is written in such a manner as to entertain rather than to cure insomnia.

About the Author

Jim Howat retired after a career as a student, engineer and manager in the increasingly classified world of aerospace engineering. This is his first attempt at seemingly literate authorship.