What does GPY stand for?

participation in the International Geophysical Year.

Fifty years ago, the world's scientists collaborated on an unprecedented scale over 18 months during the International Geophysical Year.

Following pressure by the American Rocket Society, the National Science Foundation, and the International Geophysical Year, military interest picked up and in early 1955 the Air Force and Navy were working on Project Orbiter, which involved using a Jupiter C rocket to launch a little satellite called Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958.

The first Polar Year was declared in 1882-1883 and was followed by a second in 1932-1933 and a third in 1957-1958, during the International Geophysical Year.

Insignificant change in Antarctic snowfall since the International Geophysical Year.

Just as there was once a geophysical year, perhaps we should proclaim a geo-spiritual year in which nations and governments will co-operate in massive research and moral rehabilitation programmes to devise effective means for the reduction or elimination of vice and crime, of marital faithlessness and immorality gnawing at the roots of our common civilisation and our common heritage.

It was officially launched to correspond with the International Geophysical Year, but many Americans feared more sinister motives of the new technology.

The published text states: "Overflights were assumed away as the United States and the Soviet Union launched scientific satellites to mark the International Geophysical Year in 1957.