STATION ON THE MOON Soviet Plans Disclosed

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 3

STATION ON THE MOON Soviet Plans Disclosed

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON. October 18. Russia hinted today, two weeks after its successful launching of the first earth satellite, that it hoped to have a “physical station’’ on the moon shortly. A United States scientist said this was definitely within the realm of present possibility. The statement that Russia soon might have a station on the moon came from Frcfessor Alensander Aleksandrov, rector of Leningrad University. Uis comment was made in a statement to the Soviet Government newspaper. “Izvestia.” which was broadcast from Moscow.

No details of the proposed moon station were given. I’ was presumed it would be some sort of an automatic unmanned station.

Commenting on the Russian plan,. Dr. J. Allen Hynek. Associate Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, said the problem of reaching the moon would not be much more difficult, than that of launching a satellite. “It is very definitely in thej realm of present possibility.” he I said, adding that a satellite, would have to be launched into I space at seven miles a second to' reach the moon, compared with five miles a second to orbit around the world. • I

The problem, he said, would be in the controls to aim the satellite at the moon and enable it to land there without destroying itself. There has been considerable speculation that the Russians might attempt a moon rocket on November 7, to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution.