Space Bomber For Orbiting Earth

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29952, 13 October 1962, Page 13

Space Bomber For Orbiting Earth

(« 2J* A.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, October 12.

The scientist who invented the famous “dam buster” bomb is now working on a space bomber capable of orbiting the earth.

Strictest secrecy surrounded details of the craft, the “Daily Telegraph” said today. The scientist is Dr. Barnes Wallis, who invented the bomb that burst the German industrial dams in 1943. The newspaper said the Air Minister was satisfied the design was militarily sound, scientifically feasible and within Britain’s financial rance. The Royal Air Force Establishment at Farnborough favoured a pick-a-back design in which a space bomber was carried to great heights and speed by a mother aeroplane before launching. But Dr. Wallis was known to be convinced of the lead-

bility of a single craft which could climb to high altitudes, cruise, manoeuvre, orbit the earth 'several times and land anywhere at will Nuclear Deterrent The "Daily Telegraph” said the new design would guarantee the effectiveness of Britain’s nuclear deterrent in the foreeeesMe future. Besides the "dambuster” bomb. Dr. Wallis invented an "earthquake” bomb te shake down viaducts. He proved thia type of bomb could shake Britain’s underground-stored Blue

Streak missiles thus rendering them useless for several Streak was cancelled largely because of this vulnerability, the newspaper said.