Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-12-31
Hold Your Hats

Glen Martin, famous builder of air.
planes, has predicted that during the
next half-century interstellar space
ships capable of speeds up to $4,000
miles per hour will be available. It
almost takes ones breath to think of
such speed! A trip from Washington
to the North Pole will take about 10
minutes. Continuing on the other side
Of the world over Russia, India, and the
Indian Ocean, the pilot will reach the
South Pole within the next half-hour.
Rounding it and skirting the west coast
Of South America he will reach WASH
ington within an hour from the time
he left it. Whew!
For the benefit of any amateur adj
venturer who may be saving up to
buy one Of the speed ships, am men
tioning a few details he will need to
consider before starting for interstellar
space.
OF course we are already in inter-
stellar space; there are stars all around
us, millions Of them. The explorer is
probably interested in the stars them
selves rather than in the empty space
surrounding them.
My first suggestion is that before
setting out for any star few practice
runs be made to the moon and some
of the nearer planets. At $4,000 miles
an hour the moon can be reached in a
little less than 10 hours. The pilot will
see what no one else has ever seen
the other side of the moon. (The moon
manages somehow to keep the same
side always turned toward the earth.)
The pilot must take with him plenty
of air, as there is none on the moon.
Also he should take along sandwich
or two as he must remain in his pres
surized cabin for the round trip-about
20 hours. If he attempts to leave it
he will explode like an overStuffed
balloon.
Next he might try a trip to Venus.
The Naval Observatory will tell him
when that planet will next be nearest
the earth. At that time the trip can be
made in about seven weeks. A co-pilot
will be essential, of course. A landing
may be attempted, as water and air
probably are available. It would not
be safe, however, to take chance on
refuelling; better take along enough
fuel for IA weeks to assure safe return.
Next he might visit Mars. If the man
from Mars can't be persuaded to be
co-pilot, / am sure there will be any
number of volunteers from among the
small fry. The one-way trip, at the
time when the planet is nearest the
earth, can be accomplished in from two
to three months. Air and water will be
available. but even the summers on
Mars are not warm. / would advise
against landing on that hemisphere
where it is winter at the time.
Now with the experience gained from
practice runs the pilot will be ready
to visit q star. The nearest one is the
sun. On account of the temperature,
there can be no landing. so fuel and
food for q 10-month round trip will
have to be taken along.
Perhaps the explorer, unlike the
astronomers, does not think Of the sun
as a star and wants to visit a real"
star. To avoid encouragement, I sug-
gest he select one of the nearer stars.
II he chooses the one (other than the
SUM that is nearest the earth and has
no engine trouble or other cause of
delay. undertakes no side trips, and
can keep up the pace of $4,000 miles
an hour, he can expect to reach his
deStination-one way-in about 80 900
years.
when I consider Thy heavens, the
work Of Thy fingers. g.
The moon and the stars which Thou
hast ordained.
What is man that Thou art mindful
Of him
Or the son of man that Thou visitest
him!" A. G. Murray.