U.S. SHIP IN THE STRATOSPHERE PLANNED

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1949, Page 5

U.S. SHIP IN THE STRATOSPHERE PLANNED

WASHINGTON, Feb 15

United States Government scientists are working on a “space ship which would “flash through the stratosphere at nearly 10,000 miles an hour.” This is disclosed in a chart issued by the Curtis Wright Corporation, the oldest Ameucan a craft firm. ‘ „ The chart shows that, secret Government research is being conducted on this project, on a 1 rocket aeroplane intended to fly at 3000 to 4000 miles an hour, and a guided missile with a speed above 2000 mile.-, an hour. No other details are given in the chart. The' Secretary of Defence (Mr James Forrestal) in a recent annual report .said that ail the armed services were working on research problems relating to “an earth satellite vehicle programme.” Some scientists believe that the nation which first creates an outer space platform for guiding or launching atomic rockets will dominate the earth. Such a mil' - * tary direction post could control long-range rockets, dropping them anywhere on the earth, and in. peace time could be used for navigation and as a reflector for radar waves. The man-made satellite would probably be automatic and crewless at the start,, but later it might then be found to be possible to send crews to and fro between the Earth and the space ship.