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Rocket, v. 1, issue 1, March 1940

Page 26

26

MUST IT BE ROCKETS?
by SA LEBERER

In this very interesting age of modern miracles in which we live, few of us ever stop to think how important they are to twentieth century existence. We, today, accept and use electricity, the automobile, the airplane, the steamship and a thousand and one conveniences of everyday life as a matter of fact even though a scant half century ago one lived, figuratively speaking, in the dark ages.

Yes, we are indeed fortunate to be destined to play our part in life's great drama during this enlightening era. However, in the true sense of the word we have only scratched the surface. In other words we are conscious of the fact that many scientific achievements and discoveries have yet to take place. In every branch of science today new theories and facts are constantly being brought to light. Science is progress -- progress is what the human race strives for.

Among the many comparatively new frontiers of today one of the most outstanding is the conquest of space. Slowly but surely events have shaped themselves so that man finally conquered the seas. Next man desired to fly ---- witness the present day aircraft. Today one gazes in awe and admiration at the heavens and wonders what new secret will be unveiled when at last man leaves the earth for the first time. The problems to be solved and the obstacles to be overcome by the spacecraft engineers are many and complex indeed. Yet the situation is at a parallel with that which confronted Columbus when he boldly set sail in the Santa Maria.

As yet man has no "Santa Maria" in which to venture forth into space. Yet much is being done to solve this particular problem. Today when speaking of interplanetary travel one immediately thinks of a huge, sleek, shining space ship, not unlike a dirigible. We picture it seemingly hung in black, velvety space, long plumes of rocket fire streaming from its tail, completely surrounded by myriads of unbelievably bright and varied colored points of light. Out of the rear port windows we see the earth, bluish-green in color, held in space by forces which are known but not seen. We are hardly a half-dozen hours departed from earth and over the dark portion we can already see the moon slowly coming into view. Yes, this could be a typical scene in future planetary travel. But --- must it be a rocket ship?

Let's use the above scene for an example of what I am getting at. That is every thing but the plumes of rocket fire and in this case a ship constructed in the shape of a hollow sphere. By what means is this ship to be powered? How is it kept under control and made to navigate the spaceways?

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26 MUST IT BE ROCKETS? by SA LEBERER In this very interesting age of modern miracles in which we live, few of us ever stop to think how important they are to twentieth century existence. We, today, accept and use electricity, the automobile, the airplane, the steamship and a thousand and one conveniences of everyday life as a matter of fact even though a scant half century ago one lived, figuratively speaking, in the dark ages. Yes, we are indeed fortunate to be destined to play our part in life's great drama during this enlightening era. However, in the true sense of the word we have only scratched the surface. In other words we are conscious of the fact that many scientific achievements and discoveries have yet to take place. In every branch of science today new theories and facts are constantly being brought to light. Science is progress -- progress is what the human race strives for. Among the many comparatively new frontiers of today one of the most outstanding is the conquest of space. Slowly but surely events have shaped themselves so that man finally conquered the seas. Next man desired to fly ---- witness the present day aircraft. Today one gazes in awe and admiration at the heavens and wonders what new secret will be unveiled when at last man leaves the earth for the first time. The problems to be solved and the obstacles to be overcome by the spacecraft engineers are many and complex indeed. Yet the situation is at a parallel with that which confronted Columbus when he boldly set sail in the Santa Maria. As yet man has no "Santa Maria" in which to venture forth into space. Yet much is being done to solve this particular problem. Today when speaking of interplanetary travel one immediately thinks of a huge, sleek, shining space ship, not unlike a dirigible. We picture it seemingly hung in black, velvety space, long plumes of rocket fire streaming from its tail, completely surrounded by myriads of unbelievably bright and varied colored points of light. Out of the rear port windows we see the earth, bluish-green in color, held in space by forces which are known but not seen. We are hardly a half-dozen hours departed from earth and over the dark portion we can already see the moon slowly coming into view. Yes, this could be a typical scene in future planetary travel. But --- must it be a rocket ship? Let's use the above scene for an example of what I am getting at. That is every thing but the plumes of rocket fire and in this case a ship constructed in the shape of a hollow sphere. By what means is this ship to be powered? How is it kept under control and made to navigate the spaceways?