Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-28
Toward the Stars

OWQBO SIHC Jul
In its fascinating and lucid state
ment on outer space, the Presidents
Science Advisory Committee has cited
four main factors that give importance,
urgency and inevitability" to what our
Nation must do now to advance into
regions far beyond the earth. AS dra-
matized by the decision ordering the
Army and Air Force to get to work at
once on several lunar probes" the moon
is reckoning to us. So are Mars and
Venus and all those seemingly empty
corridors that stretch up and up, in a
kind of awesome and infinite Splendor,
between us and the stars.
Why should we venture into these
places? Why are we not content to stay
where we are? The answer is. simple
enough. 1t can be found in the four
factors stressed by the Presidents COM
mittee. First of all, with his adven-
turous spirit, his inquiring mind, his
Unsuitable curiosity, man feels an in
escapable compulsion to explore the
heavens. Second, if space is to be ex-
plotted militarily-aS it can be to a
highly significant though limited de-
gree-we must be prepared to use it
to defend ourselves. Third, our inter-
national prestige and well-being de-
mand that we be strong and
bold" in undertaking spatial projects.
And fourth, since knowledge is power
for enormous good as well as enormous
evil, we must go forward in this field
to increase our understanding of the
earth, the solar system and the universe.
To that end, as the Presidents COM
mittee has urged, we must develop a
great and varied family of satellites
little and big ones, simple and elaborate
oneS-that will be of immense value in
advancing pure science and perfecting
such practical things as reconnaissance,
weather forecasting and communica-
tions, including DRIFTING relay stations
for intercontinental television. Beyond
that, as the Army and Air Force now
have been directed to do, we must ex-
plore the moon with remotely controlled
rockets and other devices designed to
land there, report back to us and even
return to earth, and we must reach out
in the same way to Mars and Venus.
All this and more besides must be I'M
dertaken as the indispensable prelude to
that day when man himself, breaking
out of the chains of gravity, will become
lunar and interplanetary traveller.
Needless to say, in addition to brains
and courage, lot of money will have
to be put to work to carry out this pro-
gram. BY way Of example, couple of
billion dollars, spent over a number Of
years, may be required to land a man
on the moon and return him safely to
earth. So taxpayers have reason to ask,
can such expenditures be justified? Will
the results be worthwhile? The Presi-
dents committee has no doubt as to
the answer. The answer is yes-yes,
not merely in terms of pure knowledge,
but also in terms of intellectually valu-
able dividends applicable to everyday
life throughout our world. Indeed, that
is one reason why the committees men,
berS, noting its universal promise, have
suggested that space exploration be
converted into great international
cooperative enterprise.
The President has made the same
suggestion. What remains to be seen is
whether the Kremlin can be persuaded
to participate fully and sincerely in such
peace-promoting venture. At the mo-
ment the outlook on that score is dubi-
Gus. All we can be sure of is that our
own country, with or without Soviet
cooperation, can, must and will move
toward the stars. We have no other
choice, nor should we want any other,
in the revolutionary age now burgeoning
before lis.