Scrapbook 2: Sep 1962 — X-15, Project West Ford, laser weapons

COST OF SPACE

PRESIDENTIAL addresses to the British Association for the Advancement of Science are found not seldom to have over-reached their object in prophecies either of inspissated gloom or untrammelled optimism. Sir JOHN COCKCROFT at yesterday’s meeting in Manchester did neither. For this, in an age of dazzling scientific virtuosity in space, we should perhaps be grateful. His views on space travel as distinct from space research were nothing if not platonic. Misjudged enthusiasm in such a field entails the risk of completely open-ended expenditure. We must manage our outlay differently from the United States or Russia. This should not mean that we should leave everything to the giants, but that we should not try to rival their expenditure.

Even though we firmly eschew all thoughts of British-sponsored trips to the moon, there is more to be done in the field of space research on grounds of national interest than we can hope effectively to cope with single handed. Whether by luck or good management this is something we have not attempted to do. It is not that our space developments have been exactly costless. But at least we have sought to make them international affairs. Sir JOHN referred to the launching, with American co-operation, of the British satellite within which a number of experiments are now proceeding. And there is the further prospect that the European Space Research Organisation will soon take shape.

We are reminded that our commitment here will take a sizeable slice of our budget for basic research. If we are to make a really serious effort in space developments, it had clearly best be done within this European context. Moreover, we should not be deterred by the fact that the French, West Germans and Italians are also planning projects of their own. What we have to ensure, however, is that while putting our full weight behind this co-operative endeavour, we do not, as Sir JOHN emphasised, reduce the funds available for basic research in our universities in times of financial stringency.

INDONESIAN ROCKET

Dr. Hadinoto, an Indonesian scientist, said in Jakarta yesterday that Indonesia hopes to launch its first space rocket for scientific purposes in 1964. The project will have Russian support.—A.P.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP)—The X15 Rocket ship’s mighty engine has been given its longest workout aloft—127 seconds. The previous high was 120 seconds.

Space agency test pilot John B. McKay flew to an altitude of 67,000 feet and hit a maximum speed of 2,693 miles per hour.

McKay was testing three factors—heat transfer rates over the X15’s metal skin; stability with its ventral fin—part of the tail—removed; and ability of a newly designed cockpit window to withstand heat.

To maintain the long burning time, McKay held the engine’s power to 75 per cent of maximum thrust for the first 75 seconds after it was dropped from the B52 mother ship. Then it cut it to 40 per cent.

10-Minute Flight

He landed at 10:14 a.m. after a 10-minute flight.

Normally, the 57,000-pound thrust engine is operated at maximum power.

McKay flew the rocket craft at low angles of attack—an average 3 degrees—and at relatively low air speeds.

Sensors on the surface of the craft checked the heat buildup.

Knowledge of the plane’s ability to withstand heat will be valuable in designing future spacecraft for reentry into the earth’s atmosphere.

AMERICA has successfully launched more than 20 SECRET satellites this year, it is revealed today.

Russia has sent up seven hush-hush sputniks.

Some of the American satellites are no longer in orbit. But others are still circling Earth and carrying out undisclosed duties.

The figures are given by the British aeronautical magazine, Flight, which publishes a table of successful American and Soviet Space launchings.

Earlier this week Sir Bernard Lovell, director of the radio-telescope station at Jodrell Bank, said he knew America had launched at least 12 unmanned satellites in secret.

Today’s figures increase world speculation about the use of satellites for military purposes.

All the secret American satellites listed by “Flight” were launched by the Air Force.

“Flight” comments: “Military undertakings bedevil the scientific recording of man’s entry into Space.”

Army Gets First Supply Of Pershing Equipment

ORLANDO, Fla. (Special)—The Army has announced that it has accepted—ahead of schedule—the first tactical Pershing missile equipment.

The Pershing equipment will be issued to artillery and ordnance units at Ft. Sill, Okla., and Redstone Arsenal, Ala. Special ceremonies marking the delivery were conducted here recently with key contractor and Army officials participating.

Delivery of the tactical equipment met, and bettered, a target date set by the Army four years ago. Delivery of the artillery equipment was a month ahead of schedule.

Pershing, a selective range artillery missile, has undergone extensive flight testing at Cape Canaveral.

Pershing is built by Martin Company’s Orlando Division under the technical direction of the Army Missile Comd, Redstone Arsenal.

Col O. M. Hirsch, Pershing weapon system manager for the Army, called delivery of the tactical equipment a “significant achievement for the Army and the entire contractor team.”

The 1st Arty has been activated at Ft. Sill and the 1st has been undergoing extensive training at the Guided Missile School at Redstone Arsenal.

Pershing training equipment has been in the hands of the artillery school and 1st Missile Brigade at Ft. Sill and the guided missile school at Redstone Arsenal for many months.

The tactical equipment turned over to the Army, however, is the first in this category.

Pershing, a two-stage ballistic missile system capable of delivering nuclear warheads to ranges of several hundred miles, has been assigned to the field Army and Army Group Support Mission.

BLUE WATER DECISION WILL BE ON COST

DAILY TELEGRAPH REPORTER

IT is unlikely that the Government’s decision on Blue Water will be made known before Parliament reassembles in October. If it is cancelled it will be on purely financial grounds.

It is not in the same category as the intermediate range ballistic missile Blue Streak, which became obsolete during development. It leads the 70-mile range missiles.

A decision not to proceed with Blue Water need not denote a change in defence policy. Rhine Army at present has three types of nuclear weapons: Honest John, a free flight rocket due to be replaced by an improved version, the 8in howitzer and the 70-mile Corporal.

CORPORAL OBSOLETE

Corporal is obsolete and is being replaced in the American, German and other allied armies by Sergeant. Since Sergeant is more expensive and tactically inferior to Blue Water, we will not buy it.

As far as the tactics of I (Br) Corps are concerned, a decision not to proceed with Blue Water, standing alone, would have no effect. Corporal is an Army group weapon and the two Royal Artillery regiments which are armed with it are in general support of the Northern Army Group.

If Britain is not to have Blue Water, she will be unable to provide the 70-mile range nuclear weapon required of her under MC 70, the current NATO plan. Support of units to be equipped with Sergeant would presumably be given to I (Br) Corps.

WASHINGTON, Saturday.

A THIRD American attempt to establish a ring of tiny metal filaments, or “dipoles,” round the earth will be made soon. This plan, known as Project West Ford, has been condemned by British and other scientists abroad as likely to harm astronomical observation.

The purpose of the ring of “needles” is to see if such a device could serve as a long-range military communications system bouncing back radio signals. Before the first launching attempt, a committee of scientists studied foreign protests.

Its report stated that a single filament belt would “probably not have an adverse effect on any branch of science.” But it was “seriously concerned” lest a series of systems would harm optical and radio astronomical observations.

In order to meet these objections future launchings will create a filament belt which will not last long. The canister containing the dipoles will release them only on command from the ground and only when the orbit guarantees a short life for the belt.

Energy beam as space weapon

From Our Own Correspondent WASHINGTON, Saturday.

Russia is believed to be engaged in a vigorous research and development programme for using a high energy Laser beam as a space weapon.

Gen. Schriever, head of the Air Force Systems Command, says that Lasers could have destructive and lethal effects on space vehicles.

Gen. Schriever recently told the House of Representatives operations sub-committee that he would not recommend research and development on active space weapons at present, but both he and Gen. Lemay, Air Force chief of staff, have expressed concern lest Russia beat the United States in development of military space vehicles.

“If we can’t deal with such satellites the ability of this nation to exist and preserve its essential values will be severely compromised or non-existent, Gen. Schriever said.

SPACEMAN’S NERVES

From Our Own Correspondent NEW YORK, Saturday.

Lt.-Col. John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, declined an invitation to try a new high altitude roller-coaster at the State Fair in Columbus, Ohio. “Things like that make me nervous,” he said.

SERVICE THIS YEAR

By Our Air Staff

The Blue Steel stand-off flying nuclear bomb will be in RAF service this year. Mr. Fraser, Air Minister, said so in a written Commons reply yesterday.

Already many V-bomber crews are fully trained in using Blue Steel. The training has been done on a weapon put at Bomber Command’s disposal.

The Blue Steel now entering service is very different from its original conception. Its range is now measured in hundreds of miles.

It navigates and penetrates at very great height and at several times the speed of sound. Then it strikes its target in a vertical dive. Its warhead is at least one megaton.

FRENCH SATELLITE

France plans to put a 150lb earth satellite in orbit in March, 1965, M. Peyrefette, the Minister of Information, said yesterday. It would be followed almost at once by other satellites three or four times as large.—BUP.

SPUTNIK THEORY

Fragment unidentified

SCIENTISTS at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, were unable to confirm to-day that a piece of metal which two policemen found in a Wisconsin street was part of the Russian Sputnik IV. The fragment, weighing 20lb, is shaped like a giant bottlecap.

The observatory said the metal was definitely man-made but there were no markings to suggest which country it came from. The observatory is sending the fragment to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Washington.

Moon-Man Plan Called ‘Like a Stunt’

CHICAGO (AP) — Lewis L. Strauss, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, says the Administration’s projected plan to place a man on the moon in 10 years “seems perilously like a stunt.”

Strauss said the Department of Defense “has said that there will be no weapon development connected with it.” And, he added, if its value “to merely impress others as a scientific achievement is questionable, what is left seems perilously like a stunt.”

He told a dinner of the United Republican Fund of Illinois that the stated overall cost of the project is about $20 billion. He added:

“Let me guess that, from some experience with government spending on new projects, the final figure is more likely to be some multiple of 20 billion.”

Strauss said he does not oppose “if it is conducted in coordination with military necessity.”

ATLAS SUCCESS

From Our Own Correspondent NEW YORK, Thursday.

The third launch of an Atlas-F missile from Vandenberg Air Force base, California, yesterday was successful. The advanced model soared 4,000 miles to an undisclosed target in the Pacific.