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Undersea to Space 1957-1979 |
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SPACE NAVIGATION
Between the expected activities of a retiree, such as traveling and spending time with family, Weems continued to lead an extraordinary life. When Russia launched the Sputnik into orbit in October of 1957, Captain Weems, at the age of 68, turned his mind to the problems of navigation in outer space. It was during the orbit of the Sputnik that NASA scientists first fathomed the use of a global positioning system - a system that would revolutionize navigation in the late 20th century.
Weems patented a "Method for Space Navigation." This invention was a lightweight transparent sphere with which the space navigator would look through the sphere at earth and observe the planet as a backdrop of navigation stars.
Weems new invention was noted by the U.S. Navy and, at the age of 71, he was called back into active duty for six months on January 23, 1961 to conduct a class on Space Navigation. He was the oldest U.S. Naval Officer ever called to active duty.
Weems conducted a seminar with four "at or near genius" ensigns which resulted in the publication of Pilot Class in Space Navigation: Final Report.
SUNKEN CITY OF PORT ROYAL
Weems' map of the sunken city of Port Royal, Jamaica, was published in the February 1960 edition of National Geographic. This map was drawn by the same man who was once a young midshipman who struggled with mechanical drawing. In 1960, National Geographic presented Weems with a lifetime membership and the prestigious gold John Oliver la Gorce Medal.
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He began a new adventure as a pioneer in early underwater archaeology when he joined friend and business partner, Edwin A Link, as a diver and assistant navigator on the expedition to locate Columbus's route to the New World. In 1959, he joined with the Link, National Geographic, and the Smithsonian to explore the sunken city of Port Royal Jamaica - a colonial city that sank in 1692 during a catastrophic earthquake. Though today underwater archaeology is an accepted field of historical study, Weems was on the cutting edge of historic underwater exploration.
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Click Here to visit the Annapolis Maritime Museum
Please use the select box below to access additional Contributions of Captain Weems:
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