Scientists Discuss New Space Projects

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28758, 2 December 1958, Page 15

Scientists Discuss New Space Projects

I Specially written tor 'The Press’ by FRANK OLIVER.)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30. American rocket and space experts have been in convention at San Antonio, Texas, and have agreed among themselves that the soundness of space projects has been thoroughly proved in principle, that the problem of getting man into space is “as good as solved” with a bit more effort but that the big question mark still hanging over the whole thing is—how can man survive in that new environment? One paper has likened these scientists In convention to a meeting of professional gamblers confidently counting on time to cure a run of bad luck. ■ In spite of the failure of lunar probes these scientists are very confident about putting a satellite into orbit round the moon. These are the objectives Space and rocket men hope to achieve in the near future, after a successful lunar probe: In mid-1959: An attempt to launch a satellite that will circle the planet Venus. In 1959: The United States to put up an earth satellite as big as the Russian one and a half ton sputnik HI. In 1960: The firing of a satellite attempt on Mars. Scientists of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration say this country already has the basic knowledge, the know-how, for the shots at Venus and Mars. But why stop at 1960? Well, these space men do not.' - By 1961 they say an attempt will be made to pioneer experimentally the use of earth satellites as navigational aids for ships, submarines and planes. Scientists say a satellite with a radio would be superior to the stars as navigational help. For' instance, they say. a submarine under the Arctic ice could work out its position day and night by means of such satellite radios. By 1963 scientists say there probably will be an attempt to pipneer the use of satellites

equipped with TV in weather forecasting. Such instruments would view cloud formations, compare earth and cloud temperatures and make possible long range weather predictions much more accurate than today’s efforts. There are those who think that in time the weather can actually be controlled. Sometime in 1965 there may be an attempt to use satellities to relay inter-continental television broadcasting and the same type of satellite could, with modifications. be used to relay 10.009 telephone conversations across the Atlantic or Pacific. First Space Station The following year, says the mind - staggering programme. America should be ready to launch an earth satellite of 20 tons, this to become a space station big enough to hold a well equipped laboratory and a couple of scientists. It does not end with that of course. By 1968. say the spacemen. Americans should be able to manage a landing on the moon •—and the return trip. After that scientists hope to develop a practical nuclear-powered space ship. This programme is not, of course, guaranteed, but it represents the dates by which time scientists think they will have the ability to try these ventures “with a reasonable degree of hope of success.” But to return to more immediate things, the next big event is expected to occur about December 15 this year. The Air Force is expected, about that date, to attempt to launch its first Sentry satellite. This will not be from i Cape Canaveral, Florida, but from Vandenberg Air Force base in California, and whereas the Canaveral launchings are aimed along an equatorial plane the Sentry will be aimed towards a north-south orbit. “Animals Got Ready” Meanwhile, for space launchings later, a variety of animals are being got ready for flights into outer space before man attempts it. These animals range from mice to small monkeys in size and include rats and guineapigs. They have been bred and

are being trained and conditioned for “nose cone” travel. Human "guinea pigs” also are being conditioned. It is disclosed that recently a naval flight surgeon spent three days and nights in a simulated space chamber duplicating conditions so far as they are known to exist between 15 and 25 miles above the earth. This test demonstrated, said a high ranking naval doctor, that the Navy's pressure suit permits completely operational flight and return capabilities for pilots exposed to atmospheric pressures approaching that of a complete vacuum. At the San Antonio meeting there was much discussion of the coming Army attempt to orbit the moon with a satellite. The three efforts of the Air Force tailed because of small troubles, once the substitution of an unreliable gyro for conventional navigational equipment in order to save payload, and another time a booster shot between third and fourth stages of the "souped up” Thor which failed to fire properly. The Army, it is reported, will have no sqch jury-rigging or electronic short cuts. It will use the more powerful Jupiter to get abundant power that will allow a good margin for error. Scientists have cut the odds to three to one in the Army moon probe attempt and Dr. Werner von Braun, the man who had much to do with the first successful American satellite, says the worst the Army shot is likely to do is miss the moon completely and deliver its satellite to orbit round the sun. The planned speed for the payload is 25.500 miles per hour, considerably above the almost 24.000 miles per hour needed to overcome the earth’s gravitational pull. This should cut travel time to the moon to just under 34 hours, well below the estimated two days for the Air Force attempts which failed. Friend Of The Family if there’s * cough 01 cold in vouf family circle you will find a friend in Baxters Lung Preserver “Baxters’ has become increasingly popular with each succeeding generation because •Baxters” is a fast-acting cough and cold remedy. Baxter!, Ltd. Chch. —-Advt»