Moon Not Earth’s Only Satellite

Press, Issue 30997, 1 March 1966, Page 21

Moon Not Earth’s Only Satellite

Two earth satellites in addi. tion to the moon have been located and observed by two engineers of the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. For the last two years, whenever astronomical and weather conditions have permitted, then men have tracked the two clouds of cosmic debris orbiting earth in the same path as the moon. The two astronomers have also substantiated a 200-year-old theory first advanced by the French mathematician, Joseph Louis Lagrange, that gravity-free areas of stable equilibrium exist in the earthmoon system.

Details of these discoveries, which may have consequences of far-reaching importance to space exploration, were given by Messrs W. Simpson and R. G. Miller, director and assistant director of the Locksley Observatory in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which is run by the Lockheed Employees’ Recreation Association.

“We have proved to ourselves and can prove to the world that the moon is not the earth’s only satellite,” they said. One of the clouds of debris leads and the other trails the moon ; each about 60 degrees from it. This is in accord with the hypothesis formulated by Lagrange. Their report also supports the claims published in 1961 by the Polish astronomer, Kordylewski, that he had observed such cosmic clouds on many occasions.

Mr Simpson said the size of the debris might range from microns to small boulders. The size of the clouds themselves appeared to be several times that of the moon’s diameter.

Using a technique they evolved themselves, Messrs Simpson and Miller made their first sighting on January 4, 1964, and the latest on February 13, 1966, Points of stable equilibrium, known as libration

points, are areas where balance exists between the earth’s and moon’s gravitational fields, so that the object in that area is not subject to gravitational pull from either. According to Lagrange there are five such areas in the earth-moon system. Confirmation of their existence and location presents numerous possibilities for space exploration. The Lockheed engineers believe communications satellites might be placed in libration points and remain there indefinitely, never facing decay in orbit. Libration points might also accommodate space laboratories, observatories or perhaps even gravity-free refuelling depots for interplanetary spacecraft. Still another important aspect is the opportunity they provide for studying debris which may have come from all over the solar system and possibly from deep space.