U.S. SPACE PLANS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 12

U.S. SPACE PLANS

“To Moon And Back In 1968” IN.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Sept 21. Between 1965 and 1975 the United States space research programme provided for 742 launchings using large boosters, the United States Army Attache (Colonel M. A Miller) told a meeting of the Wellington branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. These excluded any launch* ings connected with the ballistic missile programme. iThis was the target scientific > programme presented to ‘Congress as the basis for [funding over the years. It depended on the progress made from year to year and wjould be governed by the allocation of funds.

Project Mercury was the next stage—a series of space capsule tests, manned or unmanned. Three launchings of the three-man capsule would get Project Apollo under way in 1963. Interplanetary Sights were scheduled this year—hard lunar landings where the satellite was not expected to remain intact, and soft lunar landings. A start would be made on the soft lunar landing and return in 1965 Mars and Venus probes were planned for this year. In 1964 advance planetary landings would start, and in 1968 manned lunar landing and return.

The programme was designed for scientific development and information gathered would be made available to all nations, said. Colonel Miller.