Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-29
WILL SEND ROCKETS
TO HIGH ATTITUDES
Test of Prof. Goddard's
Theory of Passing Beyond
Earth's Air Envelope.

Tilst tesl OIL WORKING mOueis VI
rocket apparatus by which Prof. Rob-
ert H Goddard hopes to reach alti-
tudes above the earths air envelope
VIII be- made at Worcester Mass,
lato in July or in August. 1t is an
nounced in a bulletin from the Ma
tional Geographic Society's Washing
ton headquarters.
Should Prof Goddards theory
prove workable by his demonstra-
IONS at that time" the bulletin states.
be event may rank in the history
Of rev superaviation science. AS
yet unnamed. along with the trial
lights Of the late Prof. Samuel P.
Langley's flying machines.
"But while the world ridiculed
Langley. and for a time regarded
Bolts telephone and Morse's telegraph
as mere playthings, our amazing
strides in invention have created an
opcn-noinded attitude toward adven-
| lures il ingenuity SO that the God
| GARD experiments are being awaited
| with keen interest
Regarding Ascent to Moon.
Wide publicity has been given the
srecula.ions concerning whether Prof.
/ Goddard's device may be projected to
the moon; and while he holds that
1 j.,
! il is enc OF the less practical aspects
of the device More Immediate posi-
bilities which Prof. Goddard holds
forth include the study of the aurora
of the short wave lengths in the spec
trum of the sun which are entirely
absorbed by the air, and, at more
moderate attitudes, measurements of
wind velocity. humidity. temperature
and pressure, all Of which enter into
weather forecasting.
while the penetration Of the upper
air where there is supposed to exist
a gas unknown on the lower aerial
levels: the projection of a rocket be-
yond The worlds atmosphere and
perhaps its direction to other planets
all offer field of speculation out
rivaling the pure romances of Jules
Verne or II Ct. Wells, the basic prin-
ciples Of the apparatus. like those I'M
DERIVING most inventions, are simple.
Prof. Goddard's Theory.
Briefly, Prof. Goddard's theory is
this: The best rocket which could
be imagined is one in which all heat
energy Of the powder could be con
verted, on burning. into energy OF
motion. In addition this ideal rookie
would consist chiefly Of this propeling
material or powder. With a rocket
great ranges would be obtainable
with a comparatively small initial
mass of rocket.
In the case Of the ordinary rocket
neither of these conditions is real
lied, as only one-fiftieth Of the en-
ergy of the powder is converted. or
burning, into energy Of motion. Fur
thermore. the powder constitutes but
one-fifth the total mass of rocket. So
far the problem is to strip the rockets
body and install the highest powered
engine possible, as one would in &
racing automobile.
Experiments already performed
demonstrate that as much as two
thirds of the heat energy of the pow
der used can be converted into energy
previous efficiency Of but per cent
AS regards the second point-name-
ly, the possibility Of using a large
proportion of the weight Of the rock
ct as propellant-eneugh already has
been done to show that successiv,
charges of propellant may be fired il
the same combustion chamber. an6
experiments in progress are for the
purpose of firing comparatively
large number of charges in succession
in this way
For extremely great attitudes a Sc
ries of secondary rockets. or rocket
within rockets. acting on the same
principle might be utilized.
Velocity, 5000 Feet Per Second.
In his experiments with smokeless
powder. Prof. Goddard already has at
tanned a velocity of nearly 5000 fee
per second-the highest yet attained
for matter in any appreciable quan
tity.
In respect to the possibility Of pro-
jecting rocket to the moon, the aues-
ton has arisen whether, even should
sufficient momentum be obtained, the
direction could be controlled to in
sure hitting that celestial target
Prof. Goddard believes noccfhIe
to correct the flight, direction of
which would be Influenced by man,
disturbing factors. by the use of
photosensitive cells. Thus the reflec-
ton of the moons light upon these
cells. he believes, could be made to
operate automatic devices which
would fire jets so arranged that their
explosion would turn the rocket back
to it's desired course. Rudders could
not be employed, of course. since there
would be no resistance after the pro-
jectile passed outside the -earth's at
moSphere"