Evening star., 1955-09-18
By JOHN r. sEMBOwER

ANN ARBoR, Mich. - The
forerunner Of the electronic
BRAIN" often mentioned in
connection with forecasts Of
the first man-made satellites,
may already exist here at the
University Of Michigan where
scientists are building sleek
needle-nosed rockets for the
Defense Department.
Michigan's "bfain." which Is
to be carried more than 40
miles above the earth. II about
the, size Of q bowling ball. and
therefore naturally may be Of
a ''lower order" than the first
brains for the satellites which
usually are spoken Of as being
about as big - . basketball.
The principle 10 the same.
however. The aluminium
spheres which are 'spassen-
gers" for the test rockets are
jammed full Of electronic
equipment. and - they fall
will radio back information on
such things as the rate Of
descent. air density and tenn
perature. and cosmic rays.
Elaborate ground equipment
will record on aim and wire
tape the data collected and
transmitted by the robot dur
ing the precious seconds when
it is falling to destruction.
The rocket which carries it
up automatically opens at
peak altitude and releases the
brain"
Although these rockets
maximum height is consider
ably below what win be neces-
sary for q true satellite In q
perpetual orbit, scientists and
military men expect to get
valuable information on air
temperatures and density at
various levels. and to be able
to relate 1t to storms. solar
activity, magnetic fields and
other banning phenomena.
GeophysieoI Year Role
Unless something more elab-
crate comes along. scientists
expect these rockets with
their 'rudimentary electronic
brains" to play a significant
role in the fact-gathering Of
the 1875 International Geo.
physical Year, when scientists
around the world are going to
make their most concerted and
co-ordinated effort to solve
some Of the mysteries OF the
earth as q planet.
Several members Of the team
of rocket scientists here have
been scouting the area near
Fort Churchill in Manitoba.
Canada, in preparation for
building the launching sites
there.
The rockets now being made
are sent to the National Ad-
visory Committee for Aeronau-
tics proving ground at Wal
lop's Island. Va. It is warned
that their cleaning exteriors
could stir additional rumors Of
flying saucers on their flights
into the upper atmosphere.
I'm Washington, q spokes-
man for the National Advis-
ory Committee for Aeronau-
tics confirmed that the Uni
versity Of Michigan projectile
would be shot off at Wallop's
Island.
(This island, the NACA
spokesman said, is located
south of Chincoteague Island,
on the Atlantic side Of the Del
marva Peninsula. It is about
eight miles long and varies In
width from one-half to one
mile. A former Navy installa-
ton, it was turned over to
NACA In 1945 and Is now
used exclusively by that agency.
(NACA's Wallop's Island ia
cility specializes In shooting
"aerodynamic shapes. These
are extremely accurate small
scale models Of projected air.
craft. Rugged to rockets and
fired into the, air. their per-
formance and efficiency can be
checked by observers on the
ground.
Zone of the shapes tested
at Wallop's Island. the NACA
revealed last week, was the So
called coke bottle" fuselage.
which was announced recent
ly as a startling new develop
ment In aerodynamics.
(Most of the models used at
wallop's Island are made at
the Air Forces Langley Air
Force Base. near Old Point
Comfort. Va. Occasionally. at
Defense Department request,