Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-29
U. S. Deterrent Depends
On Superior Research,
Development Program

OSs~
Men, Rockets and Space Rats"
(Messner; $3.50 that Col. Everest
thinks the thermal barrier could
be very easily conquered" He says:
They already have the theoretical
ways to combat 1t. But to prove
out the theories, they'll Just have
to go right ahead and build air
planes that can fly at very high
[speedsl for long periods of time.
so that they can find the bugs and
correct any miscalculations."
Col. Everest was asked II he
thought 1t was possible now to build
a research plane capable Of flying at
from to is times the speed Of
sound (the ICBM's speed) for long
periods. He answered: "Abso-
lutely."
AIRCRAFT PROPULSION
A giant B-36 over Texas is now
testing the ability Of aircraft to
carry the heavy shielding required
for atomic reactors. The Job of the
scientists and engineers is to reduce
the amount of shielding necessary
and to find lighter metals to do an
efficient Job. Another team of SCI
entists is working on a project to
eliminate shielding altogether. per-
haps by eliminating radiation or
combining it with fields of force.
Representative Carl Hinshaw of
California Is one Of the pioneers in
obtaining congressional appropria-
tons for aircraft nuclear propul-
sion. He believes: 1T just might be
that nuclear power would be the
key to success Of the ICBM-and at
the same time 1t could provide part
Of the warhead. II you have nuclear
power UP there why not explode it?"
ALTITUDE AND SPEED
Radar is ineffective at very low
attitudes. Scientists are wondering
II some kind Of earth-skimming
aircraft. travelling at slower speed,
might not be an effective weapon.
Also, the possibilities Of slow speed
aircraft at extremely high attitudes
needs exploring. engineers claim.
INFRA-RED
Detection systems developed in
World War II were based on radar.
to the virtual exclusion Of infra-red
light. Scientists think this area
could be profitably exploited. If they
had the money and the talent as
sembled.
NAVIGATION
Mapping is still far from an exact
science. For instance. the Air
Forces first pilotless bomber, the
Matador, had to be destroyed be-
cause its controllers maps showed
the Bahamas Islands to be where
they In fact were not. If the
ICBM is to be navigated by refer
ence to the stars. these references
viii have to be accurately correlated
with prospective target areas. The
coming International Geophysical
Year may answer some Of the nee
essary questions. but scientists feel
this project may take longer than
cracking the thermal barrier.
STRUCTURE
Eighty per cent OF the weight in
an experimental Viking rocket
comes from the fuel. IL per cent
from "payload structure" The
ICBM will have to increase the
proportion Of fuel to "payload."
Scientists have now reduced the
payload proportion to per cent,
already a significant Improvement.
But more reduction Is needed.
NOISE
Sound literally can kill. The
noise made by big rockets already
Is problem. Jet engines with after
burners produce / million times as
much noise as conventional piston
propeller engines. The ICBM will
cause another "quantum jump"
AAo hOAoC WA1 NC 0kCC1d4 kTUb~
lem In launching.
MAN
Not very many scientists rest
easily knowing that the ICBM may
be used without q man in it to
exercise judgment In case some
thing goes wrong. There are many
who still hope to keep the man in
the aircraft. or to bring him close
enough to the scene to be more
effective. Space suits. election
seats. and other devices are now
being developed of course. But few
except the most theoretical SCI
entists have any hope. Of getting q
man into the ICBM before 1t is
ready for action as an unnamed
weapon.
This enumeration Of specific areas
is abbreviated. of course. 1t neglects
completely such broad areas as
space biology and physiology, anti
gravity propulsion (using Einstein's
field theory. communications. and
others.