Evening star., 1935-06-02

INV LII NAhAN Ss
Director. National Bureau Of standsrds,
mittee National Geograp phic-Army Air
Corps Stratosphere Flight
A new frontier of the upper air,
destined to play an increasingly i'm
portant part in the world of tomor-
row, is being opened up by the dar-
ing balloonists of today who are ex-
ploring the stratosphere.
This frontier of the air already Is
known to affect our lives In more
ways than one, and 1t will become
much more important to us In the
future. Perhaps that is the best answer
to the question: why explore the
stratosphere?" which doubtless many
people are asking as they read Of
preparations for the stratosphere flight
in early June sponsored by the Ma
tional Geographic Society and the
United States Army Air Corps.
The stratosphere is only one part
of the new frontier that lies above
our heads, but one of the least ex-
plored. 1t can be thought OF as
shell of very thin, cold air completely
surrounding the earth. Over the
United States it begins about 7 miles
above earth, but over the Equator 1t
begins at about 10 miles up. The
sun shines more brightly in the
stratosphere than it ever does on
earth. and there are practically no
clouds or storms there.
I4-Mile Goal Set.
The blanket of air that surrounds
our earth is like a roof that shelters
a man in a storm. 1t enables him to
live in comfort, but makes 1t dlfh-
cult to know what is happening out
side. The stratosphere balloon. Ex-
plorer II, will seek to rise IA miles
or more. not so much to set An alti-
tude record as to penetrate as far as
possible through the earth's roof OF
air, and get a good idea Of what lies
beyond. If the balloon reaches a
height of IA miles. more than 95 per
cent of the earth's air will lie below
it. More than a score Of instruments
will be carried aloft to make scien-
tific studies.
The light OF the sun, which makes
our own life possible on earth, can
be studied much more accurately
from the stratosphere, because much
of its ultraviolet light cannot pene-
trate to the earth through the roof
of air. Scientists also are anxious to
learn more about the ozone gas that
exists somewhere In the upper air and
which Is believed to protect us from
invisible rays of the sun that might
be extremely harmful could they
reach us.
The mysterious cosmic rays. which
are constantly shooting through our
bodies like invisible arrows from
somewhere out in space. also can be
better studied in the stratosphere.
They are the most powerful rays
known, and If their nature and origin
can be fully explained the past his
tory of the universe and perhaps its
future may be better understood.
Cosmic Rays Interest Science.
Whether the cosmic rays can cause
changes in the cells of living things,
perhaps affecting their offspring, is q
possibility that interests scientists.
Small fruit flies, in which hereditary
changes can be traced easily, there
fore, will be taken aloft to see II the
increased bombardment of rays in the
stratosphere will cause changes that
will appear in later generations.
The weather. important to all Of
us, provides another reason for ex-
ploring the upper air. Winds and air
currents all the way from the earth
up to great heights will be studied on
the balloon fight Better knowledge
of their behavior Is important for
weather forecasting.
Aviation. too. wants to know more
about the winds Of the upper air.
Airplanes are flying higher and
faster, seeking to take advantage Of
the prevailing winds at high levels
and to get above dangerous clouds
and storms.
Winds of the upper air also are
carriers of tiny spores of various
fungi, some of which cause serious
diseases of crops and plants while
others are beneficial or harmless to
man. As an aid in fighting the dis
cdSCc tIldI tllCcC SpNC cpl Cdu, SCieu.
fists want to know whether or not
spores can rise to the great heights
where there are prevailing winds, and
II so whether or not they can live at
such heights. Spores will be hunted
in the stratosphere during the flight
and others will be taken aloft from
the ground to see If they can live in
the cold and rarified air.
Radio Secrets Sought.
Radio, almost a necessity in our
modern world, has secrets hidden in
the upper air. During the flight, be-
havior of ultra-short radio waves will
be tested to learn whether Of not they
can travel beyond the line Of sight.
These very short waves are coming
into increasing use. especially In the
field of television. High above the
stratosphere are regions Of ionized or
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