U.S. “SPACE CAPSULE”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28792, 13 January 1959, Page 3

U.S. “SPACE CAPSULE”

Plans For Man In Satellite

(N .Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, January 10. Work on a one-ton space capsule to carry a man into orbit around the earth will start soon in the United States, the Government space agency announced yesterday. The spokesman for the agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, said the contract for the capsule may be awarded within two weeks. . The spokesman made this bare Statement, but declined to say when such a capsule might be completed, or when the United States might be ready to launch a man into space. But he did not deny published reports in technical journals and newspapers that the capsule would be designed to keep a man alive for 40 hours. The purpose would be for the human volunteer .to circle the earth between two and 18 times, then drop into the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea, whence he would be picked up by rescue teams. The United States space capsule will be designed to replace the nose cone of the United States Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile, according to news reports. A report in the New York “World-Telegram and Sun” today said the capsule would measure about six feet and a half across inside. The man would sit in a semi-hunched position—facing skyward as he awaits blast-off. If the launching was successful the Atlas in three minutes would attain the needed speed of about 18,000 m.p.h. and take the spaceman into a path 125-140 miles above the earth, well below the hazardous radiation belt discovered by United States Army satellites. “Though preliminary equipment tests may begin as early as May, a United States attempt to put a man into orbit is not anticipated until 1961—after monkeys and chimpanzees have made , safe round-trip journeys,” the “WorldTelegram and Sun” said.