Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-10

today simply because none
programs needs it. But in ordel
to beat the Russians in the
race for outer space we abso'
lutely need it-and the devel-
opment of such an engine re-
quires several years.
We don't need excessive
amounts of extra money-wt
certainly don't have to double
our present missile budget. But
some additional funds for basic
and applied research and de-
velopments for future growth
potential, would help tremen-
dously in the long run.
@. With present techniques
would it be possible to launch a
satellite and call that satellite
in on a target at will?
A. Yes. In order to return the
DRIFTING satellite into the at
mosphere. it must be retarded
by a short rocket blast. Once
the original orbit has been &C
curately determined by optical
and radio tracking. it is easy
to calculate how much the or
bital speed must be reduced in
order to place the lowest point
of the new orbit into the upper
most layers of the atmosphere
say so miles up. When the
satellite, as a result of this re-
tardation blast (Which may re-
duce the orbital speed by as
little as a few hundred feet per
second) sweeps through this
low point, it is subjected to so
much air drag that it will rap
idly lose more speed. During
the ensuing descent into the
denser layers of the atmos-
phere it will be subjected to a
terrific rate of aerodynamic
heating which could be COM
pared with an exposure of the
satellites outer skin to a blow
torch. In order to take this
punishment, any recoverable
satellite must be protected by
a suitable heat-protecting en-
velope. Such envelopes have
been successfully developed for
the re-entry into the atmos-
phere of warheads of ballistic
long-range missiles.
After the satellite has thus
been slowed down sufficiently, a
parachute may be deployed to
carry it safely to the ground.
BY triggering the initial re-
tardation blast from the ground
at a carefully precalculated mo-
ment, it appears possible to
restore the satellite with a suf-
ficient accuracy to land within
an area the size of European
Russia.
@. If the Russians have mas
tered the ability to return
satellite to earth at will, what
would be the United States
best defense?
A. Mastery of this recovery
technique in itself does not
constitute a threat to the
United States. 1t should rather
be considered as an important
detail achievement within the
framework Of an obvious all
out effort by the Soviets to es-
tablish themselves as masters
of the space around us. Herein
lies the real threat to our Sc
curity, and only the immediate
enaction Of a well-planed, de-
termined United States space
flight program can neutra-
lie it.
@. In view of Russian devel-
opments, in what directions
should United States research
and United States efforts now
be directed?
A. We should pursue a we'll
planned and co-ordinated re-
search and development pro-
gram covering all aspects of
human flight through outer
space.
Q. In 1853 you predicted that
within few years it would be
possible to launch a space satel-
lite carrying warm blOOded ami
mails. as the Russians have
done. To your knowledge Is
there an organized program in
this country for physiological
research in space travel?
A. The United States Air
Force has department for
space medicine attached to its
School Of Aviation Medicine in
Randolph Field, Tex. The
Nays Air Medical Center at
Pensacola. Fla. is likewise ac-
lively engaged in physiological
reserach in space travel.
The bold experiments carried
out by the Air Forces Col.
Stapp with the rocket sled)
and Mai. Simons with the
high-altitude balloonD have
been extensively covered by
magazines and newspapers. Elk
perimenters from Wright Field,
Ohio. have test-fired rhesus
monkeys in Aerobee rockets as
early as 1850.
But there is little. If any,
professional contact between
these researchers and the pres
ent United States ballistic mis-
sile program.
q. DO you believe a CONSOLE
dated program, such as the
Manhattan Project. would inn
prove our development of mis-
siles? Would this free any sci
entists for work, say in the field
of space travel?
A. We should not lose sight
OF the fact that there are some
fundamental differences be-
tween the situation which led
70 the Manhattan p ject, and
n 70