Space Achievements

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32037, 11 July 1969, Page 10

Space Achievements

Sir, —It is deplorable that in “Stepping Stones to the Moon,” Dr Colin Keay should perpetuate the myth of German contribution to the success of Soviet space achievements. In view of the categorical denial by Soviet space scientists of any such contribution, when this particular propaganda fiction was first broadcast, I would challenge Dr Keay to substantiate his statement that Soviet rockets, anyway, were “developed directly from the V2.” It is also astounding that in a review of Soviet space achievements however brief, he should not once mention Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the scientist to whose work, practical and theoretical, on space flight, a monument stands in Moscow. A wry little commentary on the determination of Western propagandists to place the laurels of Soviet space successes on German brows is provided by reports that two successful launchings of the E.L.D.O. rocket from Woomera have been due to the third, West German, stage failing to ignite. So much' for the allpervasive superiority of German rocket technology.— Yours, etc., M. HOLLAND, President, Christchurch Branch of N.Z.-U.S.S.R. Society. July 9, 1969.