Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-01

The solar flare,-a giant
radiation streaming out proba
miles from the suns surface
reached the earth yesterday in
the form Of magnetic storms in
the high atmosphere.
Such hig h : altitude storms.
which sometimes disrupt radio
and telegraph communications
are "as tempestuous as hurri-
canes are in weather disturb
ances," said a special bulletin
from American ICY headquar-
tiers.
Radio blackouts were expected
to occur in many places through
out the world before nightfall
today.
Planes and Ships Warned
Aircraft and ships at sea de-
pendent on radio navigation and
communication have been alerted
to take precautionary measures
in view Of the impending radio
blackout." said the ICY an
nouncement.
Already. the phenomenon has
caused brilliant displays of the
aurora-Northern and Southern
lights-at high ATTITUDES in the
Northern and Southern Hemis-
pheres.
ICY is a cooperative scien-
tif1c effort by 81 nations-includ-
ing Russia and most of her satel-
lites-to CLEAN new information
about the earth, its oceans, its
atmosphere and the sun which
strongly affects life on the planet.
About 10000 scientists are par
ticipating in the 18-month
studies, opening officially today.
Flares Have 11-Year Cycles
Practical benefits such as bet
ter weather forecasting, improved
communications and navigation
are hoped for as a result of the
pooled research.
Solar flares Of varying in
tensity occur periodically on the
sun-reaching maximum inten-
sity in 11-year cycles, as do sun
spots.
In fact, the 18-months-long
!. G. Y. was timed to conform
with the peak of the current IL
year cycle of solar activity.
Actually. the flare erupted
three days ago, but its effects
were not noted until early yes
terday
Russian scientists at Moscow
were the first to report it. They
flashed word to &c. Y. commu-
nications centers all over the
world. including the I. G. Y.
World Warning Agency at Fort
Belvoir, Va.
The word was passed promptly
along to scientists at 1000 I. G.Y.
stations from the Arctic to the
Antarctic. alerting them to in
tenSify their observations and
measurements.
The Navy already had planned
Tor today the first Of a series
OF rocket firings from San Nico-
las Island of the California
coast, to study eruptions on the
sun.
COsmic Cooperation Seen
"The universe itself co-ope-
rated in heralding the beginning
OF I. G. " gleefully proclaimed
DR.. Allen H. Shapley, vice chair
man of the National Academy of
Sciences United States Interna-
tional Committee for Icy.
Studies of the sun are Just
one phase of the concentrated
scientific study.
Among several nations PLAN
ming rocket f1rings. Russia re-
portedly is working on a project
to shoot dogs in rockets up to
l25 miles and have them para
chute to earth in a new appraisal
OF the rigors Of space travel.
Both Russia and the United
States plan to send aloft earth
satellites to learn more about
outer space.
DR.. John p. Hagen. director of
the United States satellite pro-
gram, said in a radio-TV inter-
view yesterday the date for the
first United States launching
probably will be determined in
about a month.
Most Difficulties Met
Most of the difficulties with the
satellites. and their launching
rockets have been ironed out,
he said. but telescopes for trac-
ing the satellites are not now ex-
pected TO be ready until next
spring.
Preparations have been under
way for several years for scien-
tif1c observations in the Ant
arctic as another part of the
general study.
President Eisenhower, in a
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