SOVIET SPACE EXPERTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28872, 17 April 1959, Page 14

SOVIET SPACE EXPERTS

Arrival In Auckland (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 16. Russia has no shortage of volunteers for the first trip to the moon. A leading Soviet space satellite expert, Professor L. I. Sedov, said in Auckland last night that Moscow University had recieved many letters from people all over the world volunteering as passengers in the first Russian moon rocket. There had been no New Zealanders offering, he said. There might be after he had lectured in New Zealand, he added with a smile.

Professor Sedov, with Dr. K. I. Ivanov, pro-rector of Moscow University , arrived last night on a 10 day goodwill visit to New Zealand.

They were met at Whenuapai by the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand (Sir David Smith) and the professor of chemistry at Victoria University (Professor S. N. Slater).

Speaking through an interpreter, Professor Sedov said that further Soviet research on space travel would follow along previous lines.

‘‘We will continue to make steps forward in the same direction—upward/’ he said. "There is no definite timetable as far as sending a man into space. This problem depends on much preliminary work as we have to secure the return of the man to earth. This problem has not yet been solved.’’ To a question on whether the Soviet was embarking on a space race with America, Professor Sedov said: "No, our work is done methodically and systematically with no thought of a race.” Was the first sputnik rocketed into orbit at the first attempt? Professor Sedov, a specialist in the launching of sputniks, gave an emphatic ‘‘Yes.”

‘‘The first shot was completely successful,” he said. "I was, however, at a scientific conference in Barcelona at the time.”

Professor Ivanov said there had always been a great interest in science in Russian universities. "As a result of this great interest our space achievements have taken place.” There were 39 universities and more than 800 institutes of higher learning in Russia, he said. As there was not sufficient space for all applicants, the best were selected by competitive examination. Former servicemen were, however, given special priority, as were applicants who had worked two years in factories.

Russian authorities believed that people with practical experience in the world were better qualified to acquire knowledge and the Supreme Soviet had recently emphasised that there should be closer association between universities, secondary schools and life. The visiting scientists will spend two days in Auckland. Professor Sedov will give a lecture on astro-physics this evening at Auckland University.

Christchurch Visit Next Week

Professor K. I. Ivanoy and Professor L. I. Sedov will visit Canterbury at the end of next week. After their arrival about noon next Thursday, they will spend the afternoon inspecting applied and pure science departments of the University of Canterbury. Next Friday morning they will visit the physics department field station for meteor research and then go to Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. On Friday afternoon, the visitors will have the option of a trip along the Summit road to the ionosphere station at Godley Head or visits to other university and research departments. There will be a meeting with university staff in the evening.

The Russians will return to Wellington on the Saturday.