Maiden Voyage Of Huge U.S. Rocket

Press, Volume C, Issue 29657, 30 October 1961, Page 11

Maiden Voyage Of Huge U.S. Rocket

(ti ZJ>.A.-Reuter—Co'PtrW*t> CAPE CANAVERAL, October 28. i T* 1 ® United States yesterday successfully launched the world’s biggest known rocket on a flawless maiden flight into space.

The huge Saturn rocket has been developed specifically to send vehicles to the moon and the planets. The 16-storey high Saturn roared from its launching pad at 3.06 am. (New Zealand time) and climbed nearly 100 miles into space. The monster vehicle gushed torrents at flame from its eight-engine power plant as it lifted from its pad. It sent an unearthly howl rolling over the Cape as it thundered skyward, trailing its tremendous tail of fire. Eight Engines The 162 ft three-stage rocket, whose eight engines have 1.300.0001 b of thrust, was being given a test intended to take it 06 miles high at speeds of up to 3700 miles an hour. Only the first stage was being tested in the maiden launching. The upper two stages contained 23.000 gallons of water as ballast. The major goals of yesterday’s firing, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, were to check engine performance and test the Saturn’s aerodynamic design. No attempt would be made

to recover it from the ocean bottom. The rocket bit within seven miles of its planned target area, 225 miles south-east of Cape Canaveral on a nearperfect flight A number of radios on board radioed back information that was recorded on many miles of magnetic tape at tracking stations.