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Shangri-la, issue 7, July-August 1948

Page 4

Facilities of the Station now in operation include large pilot plant installations for the experimental development and production of solid propellants and other weapon components. There are nine principal range areas for guided missle and rocket firings, for operational testing of aircraft and ground firing equipment, and for terminal ballistics research. The Naval Air Facility has 9,000-foot runways and hangars adequate to handle the B-29's which have been brought here for the joint Army-Navy high altitude research projects. In addition, the field is equipped to handle all types of tests with aviation ordinance material. The principal water ranges are at Morris Dam reserve near Pasadena. These have deep water suitable for experimental work with torpedoes and for investigations to water entry and underwater ballistics.
The desert climate aids the primary function of this Station. Good flying conditions are present 350 days out of the year and the winter weather is mild enough for range operations the year around. While the temperature drops to below freezing during the nights, the average daytime temperature is around 65 degrees. During the summer months, the daytime temperature frequently exceeds 100 degrees, but the low humidity keeps these temperatures from being uncomfortable. The nights are comparatively cool, since there is an average temperature differential of 30 degrees between day and night temperatures.
THE WEAPON SHOP, or Michelson Laboratory, is virtually self-sufficient. Air-conditioning makes it comfortable. Earthquake resistant, it contains extensive facilities for all types of basic and applied research in the fields of physical and chemical science, aerophysics, mathematics, electronics, metallurgy, propulsion systems for rockets and missles, and fire control and guidance systems. Its huge machine shop is capable of handling work ranging from heavy metal tooling to the manufacture of complicated parts for extremely delicate instruments.
Still under construction in the laboratory are the all-weather and altitude testing rooms. Here the Navy will be able to reproduce custom-made weather at will, simplifying the testing of new weapons under simulated atmospheric conditions---such as sand storms, icing, rain, salt spray, wind, altitude changes, or any combination of these.
THE WEAPON SHOP is undoubtedly Man's most ambitious project. Its destructive potential is terrific, of course. However, the destructive potential remains just that---potential---outside the confines of the 1,000 miles of Shop. The constructive potential is the more satisfying, from any standpoint we now consider sane.
Yes, THE WEAPON SHOP is a wonderful thing. If it can't help Man, it can destroy Man.

END

FLASH! The editor has just read the Minutes of Jean Cox, and He notices a terrible misquotation. L. Ron Hubbard did not say that Joe Stalin is not getting any younger; he said Joe is not getting any older. --- He does look youthful in the newsreels...

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Facilities of the Station now in operation include large pilot plant installations for the experimental development and production of solid propellants and other weapon components. There are nine principal range areas for guided missle and rocket firings, for operational testing of aircraft and ground firing equipment, and for terminal ballistics research. The Naval Air Facility has 9,000-foot runways and hangars adequate to handle the B-29's which have been brought here for the joint Army-Navy high altitude research projects. In addition, the field is equipped to handle all types of tests with aviation ordinance material. The principal water ranges are at Morris Dam reserve near Pasadena. These have deep water suitable for experimental work with torpedoes and for investigations to water entry and underwater ballistics. The desert climate aids the primary function of this Station. Good flying conditions are present 350 days out of the year and the winter weather is mild enough for range operations the year around. While the temperature drops to below freezing during the nights, the average daytime temperature is around 65 degrees. During the summer months, the daytime temperature frequently exceeds 100 degrees, but the low humidity keeps these temperatures from being uncomfortable. The nights are comparatively cool, since there is an average temperature differential of 30 degrees between day and night temperatures. THE WEAPON SHOP, or Michelson Laboratory, is virtually self-sufficient. Air-conditioning makes it comfortable. Earthquake resistant, it contains extensive facilities for all types of basic and applied research in the fields of physical and chemical science, aerophysics, mathematics, electronics, metallurgy, propulsion systems for rockets and missles, and fire control and guidance systems. Its huge machine shop is capable of handling work ranging from heavy metal tooling to the manufacture of complicated parts for extremely delicate instruments. Still under construction in the laboratory are the all-weather and altitude testing rooms. Here the Navy will be able to reproduce custom-made weather at will, simplifying the testing of new weapons under simulated atmospheric conditions---such as sand storms, icing, rain, salt spray, wind, altitude changes, or any combination of these. THE WEAPON SHOP is undoubtedly Man's most ambitious project. Its destructive potential is terrific, of course. However, the destructive potential remains just that---potential---outside the confines of the 1,000 miles of Shop. The constructive potential is the more satisfying, from any standpoint we now consider sane. Yes, THE WEAPON SHOP is a wonderful thing. If it can't help Man, it can destroy Man. END FLASH! The editor has just read the Minutes of Jean Cox, and He notices a terrible misquotation. L. Ron Hubbard did not say that Joe Stalin is not getting any younger; he said Joe is not getting any older. --- He does look youthful in the newsreels... (4)