Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-20
Treatise on Methods of Liv-
ing in "Etherodrome" Wins
Prize for D. c. Scientist.
BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
OF VOYAGE CONSIDERED
Noel Deisch Is Given Honorable
Mention by Astronomical
Society of France.

III ADOtNAkAS he hLTNhIs
Can human beings ever navigate
empty space to the moon or any of the
planets2
Noel Deisch, 3201 Nineteenth street,
has been awarded honorable mention by
the Astronomical Society of France for
theoretical solution of some of the
outstanding difficulties in the way of
conquerins the millions of miles which
separate the earth from It's nearest
planetary neighbors.
Deisch's work was submitted in COM
petition for the Esnault-Pelterie prize
established two years ago to be awarded
for scientific advances toward the So
luton of this problem. He considered
chiefly the biological and biochemical
factors, which win be encountered.
Problem Is Divided.
The problem naturally divides into
two parts. One concerns the mechani-
cal means of propulsion out of the
earth'S atmosphere and through empty
space. Theoretically this is not inpos-
sible through the use of a reactor- motor
or continuously discharging rocket.
This is described as providing the most
effcient use of energy for propulsive
puI pUoSS hIOWn 10 man ana It's use mas
been demonstrated In rocket automo-
biles.
Once ship propelled by this princi-
pie had been shot to the outer limits
of the earth's atmosphere, its naviga-
ton through space with no resisting
medium would be comparatively simple.
Practically, of course, the difficulties are
such that the experiment would be i'm
possible in the present state of kncwl-
edge.
Deisch proceeds on the assumption
that the "etherodrome" has been per-
fected mechanically and comes to the
second part of the problem, whether it
would be possible for human beings to
remain alive under the conditions of
SUCH a voyage. Here again he finds it
| theoretically poss, lie, unless entirely
unsupported factors were encountered.
| Deisch, an inventor and Catholic
/ University graduate, who majored In
biology goes deeply into the effect of
Daily Life on World Cited.
TT seems certain" he says, chat
| there is nothing inherent In the consti-
tuition of the cosmic spaces, and quite
| probably nothing by way of 'contamina-
| ton that would In q positive way
bafle an excursion out to the worlds in
| the sky. We need only TO look at the
| striking example of our own planet,
| which is nothing more than a great
| etherodrome carrying us forever as
| passengers on q tour through the
wilderness of intersteller space. and all
| with so little incident that 1t seldom
| occurs to us that we are daily sweeping
! through hundreds of thousands of kilo-
meters of the astronomical world"
But the practical difficulties are great
In order to leave the earth's atmosphere
| the star ship would have to be relatively
light and its load computed to q fine
| degree. The crew and passengers would
be inclosed In an air-tight compartment.
| They would require constant supply
| of oxygen to live. Humans aboard
| continually would inhale oxygen. soon
exhausting the normal supply in the
| air-tight chamber and exhale poisonous
| carbon dioxide, which soon would kill
| them.
Possibility of Breaking Covered
Hence, it would be necessary for the
| ship to carry oxygen and some means of
absorbing or breaking up the carbon
| dioxide. Some day 1t may be possible
| to break up the carbon dioxide into pure
| oxygen and carbon as soon as 1t Is ex-
| hailed. so that the air can be used over
and over again as long as necessary.
ent possibilities. The expedient of car
| rying enough oxygen in compressed or
| liquid form in containers. he believes,
would be impractical because of the
great weight.
The solution he offers is to carry the
| oxygen solution. preferably as solution
of hydrogen peroxide. Then 1t could
be released as needed by means of a
chemical reagent. Deisch figures the
weight of hydrogen peroxide necessary
to supply oxygen for one man for "a
hours, under the probable conditions of
exertton which would obtain on such
a trip, as $3.50 grams, compared to
1880 grams OF oxygen compressed In
cylinder.
He would get rid of the poisonous
carbon dioxide by carrying a supply of
tracing this from the air-calcium
oxide. DeiSch provides other chemical
agents for getting rid of the noxious
gases which would be produced inside
the compartment, such as carbon
monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, etc.
Pressure Would Play Part.
But even with their breathing at
tended to, the human beings shut I'D
in the air-tight compartment would be
In precarious position. The air in
side would exert a tremendous pressure
against the walls, which would not be
offset by any pressure outside. This
would be partly attended to in the
design of the ship. The walls could be
lightened, he points out by the demon
strated fact that men, after q period of
acclima tization, can live comfortably
at half the ordinary atmospheric pres
sures. The pressure could be reduced
by increasing the proportion of oxygen
in the air. Deisch also deals with the
AYa@%tAy uE ASax. =
by satisfactory chemical means.
With q proper insulating system he
believes that the human bodies them
selves would act as furnaces to keep