The,

H O W
A N D
W H Y
U/ondB/iBoo&of
C K E T S
5005
y
_
MM
9
_
' ' ^nd^WoSer V
8
Ac ftm.
W H O W A N D W H Y W O N D E R B O O K O F
R O C K E T S A N D
M I S S I L E S
b y C l a y t o n K n i g h t
E d i t e d u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n of
Dr . P a u l E . Bl a c k wo o d
Wa s h i n g t o n , D. C.
T e x t a n d i l l us t r a t i ons a p p r o v e d b y
Oa k e s A. Wh i t e
Br o o k l y n Ch i l d r e n ' s Mu s e u m
Br o o k l y n , Ne w Yo r k
WON D E R B OOK S . N E W Y OR K
A Division of GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc.
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Th i s b o o k i s o n e i n a s er i es of How and Why Wonder Books f or
y o u n g r e a d e r s d e a l i n g wi t h s ubj e c t s of c u r r e n t i nt e r e s t i n s c i e nc e a n d
t e c h n o l o g y . T h r o u g h a u t h e n t i c t e xt a n d i l l us t r a t i ons , i t p r e s e n t s
br i ef a n s we r s t o s e ve r a l d o z e n i mp o r t a n t q u e s t i o n s a b o u t r o c k e t s a n d
mi s s i l es .
I t r e mi n d s u s t h a t ma n ' s k n o wl e d g e a b o u t t h e u n i v e r s e i s va s t . Ye t
n e w a n d e xc i t i ng d e v e l o p me n t s a r e a n n o u n c e d e v e r y d a y , e v i d e n c e
t h a t s c i e nc e i s mo v i n g a h e a d a t a r e ma r k a b l e p a c e . We k n o w t h a t
t h e r e i s st i l l mu c h mo r e t o b e l e a r n e d . Sc i e nt i s t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e wo r l d
a r e s e e ki ng r e l e nt l e s s l y f or a n e w a n d b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a b o u t
t hi ngs i n n a t u r e , r a n g i n g i n t he i r s e a r c h f r o m t h e t i ni es t a t o m t o t h e
l i mi t s of o u t e r s pa c e . A n d a s t h e a n s we r s t o " h o w" a n d " wh y " ques -
t i ons a r e f o u n d , t h e y p r o v i d e f u r t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g k n o wl e d g e t h a t i s
us ef ul f or c o n t r o l l i n g o u r e n v i r o n me n t .
Ch i l d r e n a l s o a s k " Ho w? " a n d " Wh y ? " T h e y a r e c u r i o u s t o l e a r n
mo r e a n d mo r e a b o u t t h e wo r l d . A n d p a r e n t s t o sat i sf y t he i r o wn
i nt e r e s t a n d t o s t i mu l a t e a n d k e e p u p wi t h y o u t h mu s t b e i n f o r me d
a b o u t mo d e r n a d v a n c e s of s c i e nc e a s wel l . F o r t u n a t e l y , t h r o u g h
b o o k s , p a r e n t s a n d c h i l d r e n c a n r e a d a n d s t u d y t o g e t h e r .
L e a r n i n g t h e how's a n d why's i n o n e fi el d of sci ent i f i c e x p l o r a t i o n
u s u a l l y l e a ds t o i nt e r e s t i n o t h e r fi el ds. T h i s i s t o t h e g o o d b e c a u s e i t
i s i mp o r t a n t f or y o u n g p e o p l e i n ma k i n g c a r e e r c h o i c e s t o k n o w a b o u t
t h e ma n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n s c i e nc e . T h i s b o o k o n r o c k e t s a n d mi s s i l es
i s o n e wh i c h wi l l o p e n n e w h o r i z o n s f or e ve r y r e a d e r a n d e n c o u r a g e
f u r t h e r r e a d i n g a n d e x p l o r a t i o n i n r e l a t e d fi el ds.
Paul E. Blackwood
Dr. Blackwood is a professional employee in the U. S. Office of Education.
This book was edited by him in his private capacity and no official support or
endorsement by the Office of Education is intended or should be inferred.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 67-24097
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1967, 1969 by Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published simultaneously in Canada. Printed in the United States of America.
H O W O L D I S T H E R O C K E T P R I N C I P L E ?
H
I S T O R I C A L r e c o r d s s h o w t h a t a s
e a r l y a s 8 0 0 y e a r s b e f o r e Ch r i s t ,
t h e Ch i n e s e wh o we r e t h e fi rst t o
di s c ove r g u n p o wd e r we r e s h o o t i n g
p o wd e r - p a c k e d t u b e s o n a s t i ck i n t o
t h e ai r t o a mu s e t he i r p e o p l e .
T h e s e r o c k e t s f ol l owe d al l t h r e e of
Si r I s a a c Ne wt o n ' s t h r e e l a ws of mo-
t i on. Ma i n l y , h o we v e r , i t wa s Ne wt o n ' s
t h i r d l a w wh i c h wa s i n ef f ect : F o r e ve r y
action, t h e r e i s a n e q u a l a n d o p p o s i t e
reaction. T h u s , wh e n t h e r o c k e t ' s b u r n -
i ng ga s e s t h r u s t downward, t h e o p p o s i t e
r e a c t i o n i s a t h r u s t upward, s e n d i n g t h e
r o c k e t i n a fi ery a r c i n t o t h e n i g h t s ky.
I n t h e 1 7 0 0 ' s Wi l l i a m Co n g r e v e , i n
E n g l a n d , t e s t e d i mp r o v e d C h i n e s e
r o c k e t s a s w e a p o n s of wa r . T h e y
a c h i e v e d l i t t l e s uc c e s s a t t h e t i me , al -
t h o u g h wh e n F r a n c i s Sc ot t Ke y wr o t e
t h e Star Spangled Banner d u r i n g t h e
Wa r of 18 12 , t h e p h r a s e , " t h e r o c k e t s '
r e d g l a r e " r e f e r r e d t o Co n g r e v e mi s -
si l es f i r ed b y t h e Br i t i s h a g a i n s t F o r t
Mc He n r y .
T h e r e a l f a t h e r of mo d e r n r o c k e t r y
wa s t h e Ame r i c a n , Dr . Ro b e r t Go d -
d a r d , a p h y s i c s p r o f e s s o r wh o , i n t h e
e a r l y 1900' s , b e g a n e x p e r i me n t s wi t h
r o c k e t s t o s e n d we a t h e r - r e c o r d i n g i n-
s t r u me n t s h i g h e r t h a n me t e o r o l o g i c a l
b a l l o o n s h a d e ve r g o n e .
H e t r i e d b o t h s ol i d f uel ( p o wd e r )
a n d l i qui d f uel ( g a s o l i n e a n d o x y g e n ) ,
a n d i n 1 9 2 6 t h e wo r l d ' s fi rst l i qui d- pr o-
pe l l e d r o c k e t wa s s ucces s f ul l y f i r ed a t
Au b u r n , Ma s s a c h u s e t t s .
St a r t i n g wi t h hi s first c r u d e a p p a -
r a t us , h e we n t o n t o a d d g u i d a n c e f ea-
t ur e s , a n a u t o ma t i c p a r a c h u t e t o b r i n g
r e c o r d i n g i n s t r u me n t s b a c k t o e a r t h
saf el y, a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y d e v e l o p e d t h e
p r i n c i p l e of t h e mu l t i - s t a g e r o c k e t
wh i c h , f or t y y e a r s l a t e r , wa s u s e d t o
p u t b o t h Un i t e d St a t e s a n d Ru s s i a n
s pa c e c r a f t i n t o or bi t a r o u n d t h e e a r t h .
Goddard's first rocket
W H E N W E R E R O C K E T S F I R S T U S E D
I N M O D E R N W A R F A R E ?
T
H E F O R M E R d i c t a t o r of Ge r -
ma n y , Ad o l p h Hi t l e r , b o a s t e d h e
wo u l d wi n Wo r l d Wa r I I wi t h hi s
" s e c r e t we a p o n s . " I n t h e s u mme r of
1944, u n u s u a l l a u n c h i n g si t es we r e ob-
s e r ve d a l o n g t he Be l g i a n a n d Du t c h
c oa s t s b y Br i t i s h a i r me n .
So o n af t er , t he s e we a p o n s gi a nt
G e r ma n V- 2 r o c k e t s b e g a n h u r t l i n g
a c r os s t h e En g l i s h c h a n n e l i nt o Lo n -
d o n , t h e c a pi t a l of En g l a n d .
Th i s u s h e r e d i n a n a g e of l ong-
d i s t a n c e r o c k e t - p o we r e d mi s s i l es t h a t
c o u l d c a r r y n u c l e a r wa r h e a d s .
V-2 LAUNCHING
W H A T A R E T H E D I F F E R E N T K I N D S
O F R O C K E T F U E L S ?
T
H E onl y e n g i n e c a p a b l e of o p e r a t -
i ng i n ai r l es s s p a c e i s t h e r o c k e t
wh i c h n e e d s n o o u t s i d e a i r f or c o mb u s -
t i on. I n p l a c e of a t mo s p h e r e , t h e r o c k e t
mu s t h a v e a n oxi di z e r t o ma k e t h e f uel
b u r n u s u a l l y l i qui d o x y g e n , wh i c h
mu s t b e k e p t a t 2 7 2 d e g r e e s b e l o w z e r o,
F. , a n d mu s t b e h a n d l e d car ef ul l y.
Ro c k e t s b u r n i n g s ol i d f uel s d e ma n d
l ess c a r e , b u t t h e f uel c o mb u s t i o n i s
mo r e di ffi cul t t o c o n t r o l .
T h e first r o c k e t e ngi ne s h a d mo d e r -
a t e t h r u s t t h e o n e i n t h e X- l del i v-
e r e d 6 , 0 0 0 p o u n d s b u t t h e Apollo 8
a s t r o n a u t s b e g a n t he i r mo o n j o u r n e y o n
a Sa t u r n 5 r o c k e t wh i c h h a s a 7 _ -mi l -
l i o n - p o u n d t h r u s t ! Nu c l e a r r o c k e t s wi l l
b e e ve n mo r e powe r f ul .
Gasoline
Ignition
Combustion
Chamber
Rubber-base
Fuel
Liquid
Hydrogen
Fluorine
Oxidizer
Combustion
Chamber
Aluminum
floating
in kerosene
Liquid
Oxygen
LIQUID FUEL SOLID FUEL EXOTIC FUEL
METAL FUEL
Specific Thrust: 264.
The liquid fuel flow is easy to
control. The rocket design is
complicated, and mechanical
failures are apt to occur.
Specific Thrust: Above 250. Specific Thrust; 373.
Solid fuel is easily stored and Exotic fuel gives the rocket
handled, but fuel combustion is greater speed and larger load-
hard to control. carrying capacity, but is difficult
to store and handle.
Specific Thrust: 325.
!t is easily made and stored,
but metal fuel is apt to clog
pipelines. It is also hard to keep
aluminum in suspension.
H O W D O E S T H E M O D E R N A R M Y U S E R O C K E T S ?
T
O B E r e a d y f or b a t t l e u n d e r a t o mi c
wa r c ondi t i ons , t h e mo d e r n a r my
mu s t h a v e ma s s i ve s t r i ki ng f i r e powe r
t h a t c a n b e mo v e d t o t h e t h r e a t e n e d
a r e a s wi t h g r e a t r a pi di t y.
T h e U. S. A r my h a s d e v e l o p e d a
wh o l e f a mi l y of s ol i d- f uel ed r o c k e t s
mo u n t e d o n mo b i l e - l a u n c h e r s wh i c h
h a v e t a k e n t h e p l a c e a n d e x c e e d e d t h e
f i r e p o we r of c o n v e n t i o n a l a r t i l l e r y .
Th e i r r a n g e va r i e s f r o m r o c k e t s wh i c h
c a n s t o p a t a n k a t 2 , 0 0 0 y a r d s , t o 27-
f oot mi s s i l es t h a t , g u i d e d b y r a d i o , c a n
bl a s t a t a r g e t t we n t y mi l e s a wa y wi t h a
1 5 0 0 - p o u n d wa r h e a d . Be c a u s e of t h e
s o l i d f ue l , A r m y r o c k e t mi s s i l e s a r e
mo r e n e a r l y t r oubl e - f r e e t h a n t h o s e us-
i ng l i qui d p r o p e l l a n t a n d a r e e a s i e r f or
t he c r e ws t o h a n d l e .
LACROSSE Mounted on a mobile-
launcher, the Lacrosse can hit and
destroy enemy strong points up to
20 miles away. It is a solid-propel-
lant missile easily handled by in-
f ant r ymen, and can be gui ded
accurately to its target by radio.
DART This small but effective
anti-tank rocket, with a range of
over 2,000 yards, is used by infan-
try and armored combat units.
T h e c h a n g e - o v e r f r o m t h e e a r l y d a y s
of h o r s e - d r a wn g u n s u s e d i n Wo r l d
Wa r I t o t h e me c h a n i z e d a r t i l l e r y of
Wo r l d Wa r I I i s n o w b e i n g c a r r i e d f or -
wa r d b y t h e r e - e q u i p me n t of o u r mo d -
e r n a r mi e s wi t h r o c k e t mi s s i l es .
No t onl y a r e t he s h o r t - r a n g e mi s s i l es
mo r e a c c u r a t e a n d mu c h mo r e de s t r uc -
t i ve, b u t r o c k e t p r o p u l s i o n h a s e x t e n d e d
t h e r a n g e of we a p o n s f ar b e y o n d t h a t
r e a c h e d b y ol d- t i me c a n n o n .
HONEST JOHN Honest John is a
3-ton, 27-foot, solid-propellant mis-
sile with a range of about 30 miles.
W E R E M A N Y R O C K E T S F I R E D I N W O R L D W A R I I ?
A
L T H O U G H t h e Ge r ma n s h a d bui l t
{ a n d f i r ed h u g e r o c k e t mi s s i l es i n t o
E n g l a n d , t h e y s pe nt l i t t l e t i me o r ef f or t
o n s ma l l e r a r t i l l e r y- t ype r o c k e t s .
Ho we v e r , t h e Ru s s i a n s , i n v a d e d b y
Ge r ma n y a n d d e s p e r a t e f or i n c r e a s e d
f i r e powe r , p e r f e c t e d s e ve r a l ef f ect i ve
t y p e s of r o c k e t ba t t e r i e s . T h e y we r e al -
mo s t t h e o n l y n a t i o n f i ght i ng i n Wo r l d
Wa r I I t o us e r o c k e t s o n l a n d .
v ('
T h e Un i t e d St a t e s Na v y wa s a l s o
q u i c k t o t es t t h e v a l u e of r o c k e t s a n d
fi rst u s e d t h e m i n t h e i n v a s i o n of No r t h
Af r i c a i n 1 9 4 2 t o gi ve s u p p o r t t o l a nd-
i ng cr af t s t o r mi n g t h e b e a c h e s .
La t e r , i n t h e i s l a nd b a t t l e s of t h e
Paci f i c, wh e n U. S. Ma r i n e s h a d g o n e
a s h o r e a n d t h e bi g g u n s a n d t h e ai r
b o mb i n g h a d c e a s e d, i t wa s t h e r o c k e t s
t h a t g a v e s u p p o r t t o t h e l a n d f or ces .
I S T H E R O C K E T M I S S I L E R E P L A C I N G A R T I L L E R Y ?
D
E F E N S E a g a i n s t l ow-
flying p l a n e s h a s b e e n
s t e p p e d u p by t h e Ar my ' s
H A W K , a q u i c k - f i r i n g ,
s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t mi s s i l e .
It c a n be fired eas i l y a ny-
wh e r e i n t h e field f r o m a
mo b i l e l a u n c h e r o r f r o m
s mal l a i r c r a f t a n d he l i c op-
t er s. A si st er we a p o n t o t h e
hi gh- a l t i t ude Ni k e Z E U S
a n d Ni k e S P R I N T , i t i s di -
r e c t e d b y l ow- a l t i t ude r a -
d a r wh i c h c a n r e s p o n d
i ns t a nt l y t o t h e s wi f t es t
e n e my p l a n ' s a t t e mp t s t o
e s c a pe .
W H A T T Y P E S O F R O C K E T S A R E S H O T
F R O M P L A N E S ?
W
H E N j et p l a n e s b e g a n flying a t
t wi c e t he s pe e d of s o u n d , t h e r e wa s
i ns i s t e nt n e e d f or f ast er - f i r i ng a n d mo r e
de s t r uc t i ve we a p o n s .
I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e 50- c a l i be r bul l e t o r
t h e c a n n o n shel l , t h e r o c k e t wi t h i t s i n-
c r e di bl e ve l oc i t y a n d de s t r uc t i ve p o we r
wa s a p a r t i a l a n s we r t o t h e p r o b l e m.
T h e e l e c t r oni c b r a i n t h a t i s bui l t i n t o a
r o c k e t c a n eas i l y o u t wi t b o mb e r s a n d
f i ght er ai r cr af t t r yi ng t o e s c a p e i t . T h u s
t he r o c k e t i s r e g a r d e d a s a pe r f e c t ai r -
b o r n e we a p o n .
The FALCON, a 6V
2
-f oot , 112-pound
rocket, can outmaneuver and destroy air-
craft at any altitude.
The SIDEWINDER, a solid-propellant rocket, is named after a fast and deadly rattlesnake.
This rocket strikes fast and is infrared-guided to its target.

The SPARROW III is a 1 2-foot rocket which
rides a radar beam to the target. Used by
both the U.S Navy and the Marine Corps, it
attains a speed of more than 1,500 mph
within seconds after being fired from its fit-
ting beneath a supersonic plane.
The ZUNI, a slim solid-propellant rocket
whose guidance fins are fol ded until the
rocket is launched from its carrier, can be
fired singly or in salvos at supersonic speeds.
A R E R O C K E T S S U P E R I O R T O G U N S
A S A N T I A I R C R A F T W E A P O N S ?
R
I N G I N G al l t h e i mp o r t a n t U. S. gov-
e r n me n t a l a n d i n d u s t r i a l c e n t e r s
a r e ba t t e r i e s of Ni k e S P R I N T mi s s i l es
wh i c h h a v e t a k e n t h e p l a c e of c onve n-
t i o n a l a nt i a i r c r a f t ar t i l l er y.
Ke p t i n u n d e r g r o u n d c o n c r e t e pi t s
unt i l t h e mo me n t of firing, t he i r me c h a n -
i cal l a u n c h e r s p o i n t t h e m i n t o t h e s ky
a n d wi t hi n a ma t t e r of s e c o n d s t h e t wo-
s t a ge r o c k e t , wi t h a n a t o mi c wa r h e a d ,
c a n s pe e d al of t a t 2 , 2 0 0 mp h .
T h e first s t a ge of t h e mi s s i l e a
s ol i d- pr ope l l a nt b o o s t e r t h r u s t s t h e
S P R I N T t h r o u g h i t s first s e c o n d s of
ve r t i c a l flight a n d t h e n d r o p s a wa y a s
t h e s e c o n d s t a ge t u r n s a n d h e a d s f or t h e
t a r ge t .
T h e e l a b o r a t e c o n t r o l e q u i p me n t
wi t hi n i t s s e c o n d s t a ge c ons i s t s of r a d a r ,
a n e l e c t r o n i c c o mp u t e r , a n d d i r e c t i o n a l
g u i d a n c e s ys t e ms mu c h mo r e c o m-
pl e x t h a n a n y a r t i l l e r y shel l wh i c h
t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e s p e e d a n d c o u r s e
of a n e n e my a i r c r a f t a n d i n t e r c e p t i t a t
d i s t a n c e s u p t o 7 5 mi l e s a wa y .
A Nike HERCULES stands
ready for firing.
12
A R E R O C K E T S U S E D T O D R I V E T A R G E T D R O N E S ?
W
I T H t h e s pe e ds of fighter a n d
b o mb e r a i r c r a f t i n c r e a s i n g e ve r y
y e a r a n d t he a l t i t u d e a t wh i c h t h e y fly
i nc r e a s i ng, t h e fighter pi l ot ' s n e e d t o
pe r f e c t hi s ai r - t o- ai r a i m a l s o i nc r e a s e s .
T o fulfill t hi s n e e d , u n ma n n e d t a r g e t
d r o n e s h a v e b e e n p e r f e c t e d s ma l l
r e pl i c a s of f ul l - scal e p l a n e s wh i c h c a n
r e a c h t h e s a me a l t i t u d e s a n d s pe e ds .
S o me a r e g u i d e d a n d p u t t h r o u g h t he i r
p a c e s b y r a d i o - c o n t r o l f r o m a mo t h e r
p l a n e .
T h e s e d r o n e s unl e s s t h e y a r e hi t
d u r i n g p r a c t i c e a r e r e c o v e r a b l e b y
p a r a c h u t e . On e t y p e t h e F I R E B E E ,
i s dr i ve n b y a s mal l j et e n g i n e af t er i t
h a s b e e n b o o s t e d t o t o p s p e e d b y a
r o c k e t .
This rocket-powered drone is used for target practice.
T H E X K D 4 R Na v y d r o n e i s wh o l l y
r o c k e t - p o we r e d . T h e b o d y a n d wi n g s
a r e ma d e of mo l d e d pl a s t i c , a n d i t c a n
be l a u n c h e d f r o m a f i ght er a i r c r a f t .
I t flies i t sel f , u n d e r t h e me c h a n i c a l
d i r e c t i o n of a flight-control p a c k a g e p u t
i n p l a c e i n t h e f us e l a ge b e f o r e l e a vi ng
t h e g r o u n d .
I t c a n d u p l i c a t e a n y of t h e flying
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of a f ul l - si ze p l a n e .
13
H O W D O R O C K E T S " B O O S T " J E T - P R O P E L L E D
M I S S I L E S O N T H E I R W A Y T O A T A R G E T ?
Ai r F o r c e c o mb a t t e a ms a r e r e a d y
t o s e nd t h e M A C E , a pi l ot l e s s j et - pr o-
pe l l e d mi s s i l e wi t h a n u c l e a r wa r h e a d ,
t o a t a r g e t o v e r 6 0 0 mi l e s a wa y . T h e s e
mi s s i l es a r e l a u n c h e d f r o m s peci al l y-
bui l t p o we r f u l ve hi c l e s c a l l e d zer o-
l e n g t h - l a u n c h e r s . Ne a r d a n g e r p o i n t s
a r o u n d t h e wo r l d t h e d e a d l y we a p o n s
a r e h i d d e n a l o n g wo o d e d hi l l s i des i n
E u r o p e , o r o n t r o p i c a l c o r a l h e a d l a n d s
i n t h e Paci f i c. Gu i d e d a f t e r l a u n c h i n g ,
t h e mi s s i l e wi t h i t s f e a r s o me wa r h e a d
flies t o i t s d i s t a n t e n e my t a r g e t wi t h
u n e r r i n g a c c u r a c y .
I n p a r t s , t h e M A C E a n d al l e qui p-
me n t c a n b e l o a d e d a b o a r d a c a r g o
p l a n e , flown t o a n y p a r t of t h e wo r l d ,
a n d b e r e a d y f or firing wi t h i n h o u r s .
14
T o as s i s t t h e MA C E ' s j et e n g i n e o n
t h e t ake- of f , a R A T O u n i t i s a t t a c h e d
t o t h e t ai l of t h e mi s s i l e. T h i s sol i d-
p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t b o o s t e r gi ves i t t h e
n e c e s s a r y a c c e l e r a t i o n t o wa r d ful l fly-
i ng s pe e d. Wh e n t hi s h a s
b e e n a c h i e v e d a n d t h e
b o o s t e r i s n o l o n g e r n e e d e d ,
i t f a l l s a w a y , w h i l e t h e
M A C E goe s o n a l o n e .
15
H O W D O E S T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S N A V Y
U S E R O C K E T S ?
The TERRIER,
a two-stage missile,
is taking the place
of naval artillery.
A F T E R t h e us e of r o c k e t s
# \ t o wa r d t h e e n d of Wo r l d
Wa r I I , t h e U. S. Na v y de-
v e l o p e d s h i p b o a r d r o c k e t
we a p o n s f or s h o r e s u p p o r t a n d a s ant i -
a i r c r a f t mi s s i l es . Bo t h t h e T E R R I E R ,
a ne e dl e - nos e mi s s i l e, a n d t h e T A L O S ,
a l o n g - r a n g e r a mj e t we a p o n wh i c h i s
b o o s t e d i n t o t h e s ki es b y a r o c k e t , h a v e
g u i d a n c e s ys t e ms s o u n c a n n i l y a c c u r a t e
t h a t t a r g e t s c a n b e s p o t t e d b e y o n d t h e
r a n g e of h u ma n vi s i on a n d d e s t r o y e d .
The TALOS is a two-stage missile
with a rocket booster that drops
off after sufficient speed has been
attained by the missile.
16
H O W D O E S T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S N A V Y P L A N
T O U S E R O C K E T S I N U N D E R S E A W A R F A R E ?
W
H E N a l u r k i n g e n e my s u b ma r i n e
i s l oc a t e d, s ur f a c e s hi ps c a n fi re
a R A T ( r oc ke t - a s s i s t e d t o r p e d o ) t o-
wa r d t he s u s p e c t e d a r e a . T h e r o c k e t
hur l s t h e t o r p e d o i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e
Rocket falls away
Parachute opens
t a r ge t , a p a r a c h u t e l o we r s i t i n t o t h e
wa t e r cl os e b y , a n d a h o mi n g de vi c e
gui de s i t t o t h e ki l l .
T h e U. S. Na v y i s b u i l d i n g a fleet of
a t o mi c s u b ma r i n e s c a p a b l e of l a u n c h -
i ng a s al vo of P O L A R I S mi s s i l es wh i c h
c a n fly s upe r s oni c a l l y t o a t a r g e t 1, 500
mi l es a wa y .
T h e s u b ma r i n e s c a n r e ma i n s ub-
me r g e d f ar f r o m l a n d f or we e k s a n d ,
wh e n t h e t i me c o me s t o s t r i ke, c a n fire
t he i r mi s s i l es f r om t h e d e p t h s of t h e
sea o r f r om t h e s ur f ace.
^
Homing device finds target
T h e first s ucces s f ul firing of a bal l i s-
t i c mi s s i l e f r o m u n d e r wa t e r t o o k p l a c e
o n J u l y 2 0 , 1960, wh e n a P O L A R I S
mi s s i l e wa s fired f r o m t h e n u c l e a r s ub-
ma r i n e George Washington. At t h e
t i me of t h e firing, t h e George Washing-
ton wa s s u b me r g e d i n 5 0 t o 6 0 f eet of
wa t e r .
I N W H A T N E W W A Y S W I L L R O C K E T S B E U S E D ?
T
O B E s ur e t h a t a t o mi c bat t l ef i el ds
a r e swi f t l y o c c u p i e d af t er a d e t o n a -
t i on, n e w, f a s t - movi ng we a p o n s mu s t b e
devi s ed.
T h e e x p e r i me n t a l v e r t i c a l - r i s i n g
r o c k e t l a u n c h e r i s d e s i g n e d t o fit t h a t
ne e d. P o we r e d b y t wo j et e ngi ne s wh i c h
a l s o dr i ve f our d u c t e d f a ns f or ve r t i c a l
lift, t hi s ve hi c l e i s fitted wi t h t wo r evol v-
i ng b a n k s of r o c k e t s t h a t c a n b e fired
s i ngl y o r i n s a l vos t o gi ve s u p p o r t t o
a d v a n c i n g b a t t l e g r o u p s .
Ke p t i n h i d i n g b e h i n d a r a mp a r t of
mo u n t a i n s , t h e r o c k e t l a u n c h e r s c a n
p r o c e e d t o t h e a t o mi c bl a s t si t e a s s oon
a s r a d i a t i o n l i ft s, i n o r d e r t o c ove r t he
o c c u p a t i o n of t h e bat t l ef i el d b y g r o u n d
f or c e s wi t h o u t de l a y.
18
H O W I S F U E L C O N S E R V E D I N L A U N C H I N G
P R O B E R O C K E T S ?
I
N S T E A D of f i r i ng r o c k e t s f r o m p a d s
a t g r o u n d l evel , t h e U. S. Ai r F o r c e ,
i n " Pr o j e c t F a r s i d e , " s e nt a mul t i - s t a ge
mi s s i l e t o 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 f eet a l t i t ude , sus-
p e n d e d b y a p o l y e t h y l e n e b a l l o o n . A t
t h a t p o i n t t he r o c k e t s we r e t r i gge r e d.
L a u n c h i n g t he r o c k e t s f r om t hi s al t i -
t u d e i ns t e a d of f r om t h e g r o u n d , c on-
s e r ve d f uel . S o me of t h e m h a v e s o a r e d
4 , 0 0 0 mi l e s i n t o s pa c e , s e n d i n g b a c k
d a t a o n mi c r o- me t e or i t e s , t e mp e r a t u r e
a n d r a d i a t i o n .
The rocket frame (on a truck) awaits inflation of the plastic balloon.
19
H O W W I L L P E R M A N E N T M I S S I L E B A S E S B E
C O N S T R U C T E D F O R I N S T A N T U S E A G A I N S T
E N E M Y A T T A C K ?
H
I D D E N d e e p b e l o w t h e g r o u n d i n
c o n c r e t e si l os, i n t e r c o n t i n e n t a l
mi ssi l es s t a n d r e a d y f or q u i c k firing i n
t he c a s e of a t t a c k . Wi t h i n a n u n d e r -
g r o u n d l a b y r i n t h , t h e mi s s i l e b a t t e r y
c o n t r o l c e n t e r h a s c o mp u t e r s , f uel i ng
f aci l i t i es, a n d s uppl y a n d l i vi ng q u a r -
t er s . Wh e n t h e a l a r m i s s o u n d e d , c on-
c r e t e t r a p d o o r s o p e n a n d t h e mi s s i l es
a r e b r o u g h t a b o v e g r o u n d , t he i r a i m
a n d r a n g e d a t a a l r e a d y set . T h e L a u n c h
Offi cer c a n fire t h e m s i ngl y o r i n s al vos .
21
H O W A R E M I S S I L E S L A U N C H E D W H E R E
T H E R E A R E N O P E R M A N E N T B A S E S ?
T
H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A R M Y ' S
C O R P O R A L mi s s i l e i s de l i ve r e d t o
t h e me n i n t h e field e n c a s e d i n a pr es -
s ur i z e d c yl i nde r 5 0 f eet l ong, t o g u a r d
i t s de l i c a t e i n s t r u me n t a t i o n f r o m d a m-
a ge . Af t e r i t i s r e mo v e d f r o m t hi s pr o-
t e c t i ve t ube , t h e n o s e c o n e a n d t ai l fi ns
a r e s e c u r e d i n p l a c e a n d a g i a n t t r a ns -
p o r t e r ve hi c l e t a k e s t h e mi s s i l e t o t h e
f uel i ng s t a t i on wh e r e c h e mi c a l s a r e
p u mp e d i n t o i t f r o m s t eel f uel t a n k s .
Wi t h o u t t h e l a u n c h i n g f aci l i t i es t o
b e f o u n d a t a p e r ma n e n t mi s s i l e ba s e ,
al l s or t s of s t r a n g e ve hi c l e s a r e n e e d e d .
Missile being removed from shipping case
These tanks contain aniline, a fuel
used in the launching of missiles.
V a n s wh i c h h o u s e r a d a r t r a c k i n g
i n s t r u me n t s a n d e l e c t r o n i c c o mp u t e r s
mu s t b e p l a c e d i n pos i t i on. T h e t r a ns -
p o r t e r s l owl y p o i n t s t h e mi s s i l e u p wa r d
a n d s et s i t u p o n a p o r t a b l e st eel pl at -
f o r m o n t h e g r o u n d . T o e n a b l e me n t o
r e a c h a n y p a r t of t h e ve r t i c a l mi ssi l e,
a p o r t a b l e c r a n e i s u s e d f or t h e l ast -
mi n u t e a d j u s t me n t s . A fire t r u c k s t a n d s
b y i n c a s e of a n a c c i d e n t . El e c t r i c c a bl e s
a n d h o s e s ma y b e s e e n e v e r y wh e r e , s up-
pl yi ng f uel , p o we r a n d d a t a f or t h e
l a u n c h i n g .
22
As t h e firing mo me n t a p p r o a c h e s ,
h o s e s a n d wi r e s a r e r e e l e d i n al l
e xc e pt o n e t o t he mi ssi l e. Fi n a l p r e p a r a -
t i ons a r e c o mp l e t e d , t h e p o r t a b l e gen-
e r a t o r h u ms a n d t he c o u n t d o wn be gi ns :
" s e ve n . . . six . . . five . . . f our . . . t h r e e
. . . t wo . . . o n e . . . F I R E ! " I ns i de t he
C O R P O R A L , va l ve s o p e n a n d c o m-
pr e s s e d ai r bl a s t s t h e fuel mi x t u r e i nt o
t h e r o c k e t e ngi ne .
A r o a r i s h e a r d , d u s t s c a t t e r s i n a n e xpl os i ve c l o u d
a r o u n d t h e b a s e of t h e mi s s i l e a n d e ve r s o s l owl y
a t first t h e C O R P O R A L b e g i n s i t s fire-trailing
a s c e nt i n t o t h e s ky. T w o mi l e s u p , i t t i l t s a n d s c r e a ms
off t o wa r d a t a r g e t 6 0 t o 7 0 mi l e s a wa y .
23
W H A T R E C O R D S W E R E M A D E W I T H A M E R I C A ' S
F I R S T R O C K E T P L A N E S ?
p o i n t a t wh i c h i t wa s f e a r e d t h e t er r i f i c
s pe e ds mi g h t me l t t h e s t r u c t u r e of t h e
cr af t . Bui l t of t i t a n i u m ( l i ght e r t h a n
s t e e l ) , i t flew o v e r 2 , 1 0 0 mp h a n d i n
1 9 5 6 i t c l i mb e d t o 2 5 mi l e s a b o v e t h e
s ur f a c e of t h e e a r t h . I t s r o c k e t e n g i n e s
b u r n e d a n a l c ohol - wa t e r mi x t u r e a n d
u s e d l i qui d o x y g e n as a n oxi di z e r .
T
H E B E L L X- l , p i l o t e d b y Ca p t .
Ch a r l e s E . Ye a g e r of t h e Un i t e d
St a t e s Ai r F o r c e , wa s t h e wo r l d ' s first
ma n n e d a i r c r a f t t o fly f as t er t h a n t h e
s pe e d of s o u n d . I t t r a v e l e d a t 1, 6 5 0 mp h
a n d i n 1 9 5 4 r e a c h e d a n a l t i t u d e of 17
mi l es .
Ro c k e t - d r i v e n p l a n e s h a v i n g b r o k e n
t h e s o u n d ba r r i e r , t h e X- 2 wa s d e s i g n e d
t o p r o b e t he t h e r ma l b a r r i e r t h a t
T h e " X " s er i es of r o c k e t p l a n e s a r e
bui l t f or r e s e a r c h a n d c a r r y f uel f or n o
mo r e t h a n five mi n u t e s of p o we r e d
flight. Ca r r i e d al of t u n d e r t h e wi n g of
a mo t h e r p l a n e , t h e y a r e r e l e a s e d a b o v e
3 5 , 0 0 0 f eet , wh e r e t h e r o c k e t e ngi ne s
a r e i gni t e d.
24
W H A T D O E S T H E X - 1 5 A C C O M P L I S H ?
T
H E X- 1 5 , a n e x p e r i me n t a l r o c k e t
pl a ne , wa s d e v e l o p e d f or ma n n e d
r o c k e t r e s e a r c h a t t h e ve r y e d g e of
s pa c e , a b o v e 9 9 . 9 9 p e r c e n t of t h e
e a r t h' s a t mo s p h e r e . T h e X- 1 5 c a r r i e s
out i t s r e s e a r c h a b o v e t h e de s e r t n e a r
E d wa r d s Ai r F o r c e Ba s e i n Ca l i f or ni a .
T h e X- 1 5 i s c a r r i e d b e n e a t h t h e wi n g
of a B- 5 2 b o mb e r t o a n a l t i t u d e of be-
t we e n 4 0 , 0 0 0 t o 5 0 , 0 0 0 f eet , f r o m
wh e r e i t i s r e l e a s e d. I t p l u mme t s f or
1, 500 f eet , a n d t h e n i t s 600, 000- hor s e -
p o we r e ngi ne i gni t es a n d b u r n s f or 9 0
s e c onds . T h e r o c k e t p l a n e flashes up-
wa r d t o wa r d c i s l una r s pa c e . Af t e r t h e
r o c k e t h a s b u r n e d out , t h e X- 1 5 st i l l
c o n t i n u e s u p wa r d f or t h o u s a n d s of f eet
a n d t h e n a r c h e s d o wn wa r d , r e e n t e r i n g
t h e t h i c k e r a t mo s p h e r e . I t gl i des b a c k
t o e a r t h a n d , us i ng s ki s i ns t e a d of
whe e l s , l a n d s o n t h e des er t .
T h e X- 1 5 h a s s o a r e d t o 67 mi l e s
a b o v e t h e e a r t h a n d h a s r e a c h e d s pe e ds
of 4 , 5 3 4 mi l es p e r h o u r , n i n e t i me s t h e
s p e e d of s o u n d . T h e ne we s t X- 1 5
p l a n e s a r e de s i gne d t o fly e ve n hi ghe r ,
a t s pe e ds u p t o 5 , 3 0 0 mi l es p e r h o u r .
25
W H I C H A R E T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S
L O N G - R A N G E M I S S I L E S ?
M
I S S I L E e x p e r i me n t s i n t h e Un i t e d
St a t e s Ar my , Na v y a n d Ai r F o r c e
b e g a n s oon af t er t h e e n d of Wo r l d Wa r
I I , wh e n a q u a n t i t y of c a p t u r e d Ge r -
ma n V- 2 mi s s i l es , t o g e t h e r wi t h G e r ma n
r o c k e t s peci al i s t s , we r e b r o u g h t f r o m
E u r o p e .
Ro c k e t bui l di ng, a l mo s t a b a n d o n e d
s i nce Ro b e r t Go d d a r d ' s e x p e r i me n t s i n
t h e e a r l y 1900' s , we n t i n t o h i g h g e a r i n
o r d e r t o pe r f e c t mi s s i l es c a p a b l e of
c a r r y i n g a n u c l e a r wa r h e a d t o a n e n e my
t a r ge t . Wi t h t h e i nc r e a s e i n p o we r of
r o c k e t e n g i n e s a n d t h e u s e of mul t i -
s t a ge mi s s i l es , t he i r r a n g e wa s i n c r e a s e d
t o o v e r 5 , 0 0 0 mi l es .
A mi ssi l e, i n t h e mi l i t a r y s ens e, i s a
r o c k e t c a r r y i n g a n e xpl os i ve wa r h e a d .
Th u s , n o t al l r o c k e t s a r e mi ssi l es.
Larger and more powerful than any mis-
sile booster is the Saturn 5 rocket. It is
278 feet tall and weighs 3,000 tons. Its
five 1,500,000-pound-thrust engines give
it a total thrust of 7,500,000 pounds,
making it the world's most powerful
rocket. The first launching of a Saturn 5
took place November 9, 1967. A little
more than a year later, a Saturn 5 boosted
the Apollo 8 spacecraft on man's first
journey to the moon.
JUPITER THOR
Service Branch
Height (feet)
Weight (pounds)
Range (miles)
Contractor
U.S. Army
58
105,000
1,50Q
Chrysler
U.S. Air Force
62
110,000
1,500
Douglas
26
REDSTONE
U.S. Army
69
2 0 0 +
Chrysler
^W
VANGUARD
U.S. Navy
72
22,000
300 Mi. Alt.
Martin

ATLAS
U.S. Air Force
75
243,000
9,000
Convair
27
H O W F A S T M U S T A R O C K E T T R A V E L T O
E S C A P E E A R T H ' S G R A V I T A T I O N A L P U L L ?
T
O G O t o t h e mo o n o u r onl y na t -
u r a l s a t e l l i t e a r o c k e t mi s s i l e mu s t
a t t a i n a s pe e d of 2 5 , 0 0 0 mp h t o e s c a p e
f r om t h e e a r t h ' s pul l . T h i s mu s t b e d o n e
wi t h mul t i - s t a ge r oc ke t s , e a c h i ndi vi d-
u a l s t a ge s e ndi ng t h e mi s s i l e f a r t h e r
i nt o s pa c e a n d a t i nc r e a s i ng s pe e d.
Wh e n t h e l as t s t a ge i s fired, t h e mi s s i l e
mu s t b e t r a ve l i ng a t s e ve n mi l e s p e r
s e c ond. At t hi s p o i n t i t wi l l c o n t i n u e t o
c oa s t , wi t h o u t p o we r , a n d s ci ent i s t s be-
l i eve t h a t a s i t c o me s wi t hi n 3 0 , 0 0 0
mi l e s of t h e mo o n , t h e mi s s i l e wi l l be gi n
t o or bi t a r o u n d t h a t b o d y .
28
29
H O W D O E S A R O C K E T W O R K ?
T
H E M I G H T Y Saturn 5 a n d t h e
F o u r t h of J u l y s k y r o c k e t h a v e
mu c h i n c o mmo n . T h e y b o t h wo r k o n
t h e s a me pr i nc i pl e , r e l yi ng f or s ucces s
o n a l a w of mo t i o n di s c ove r e d b y Si r
I s a a c Ne wt o n , a br i l l i a nt ma t h e ma t i -
c i a n a n d s ci ent i s t . I t s t a t e s t h a t for
every action, there is an equal and op-
posite reaction. I n o t h e r wo r d s , wh e n -
e ve r a f or c e e xe r t s a p u s h o r a p u l l o n
a n obj e c t i n o n e di r e c t i on ( a n a c t i o n ) ,
t h e obj e c t i t sel f e xe r t s a n e q u a l p u s h
o r p u l l i n t h e o p p o s i t e di r e c t i on ( a
r e a c t i o n ) . If y o u fire a g u n , i t mo v e s
b a c k wa r d i t r ecoi l s , o r " k i c k s "
a ga i ns t y o u r s h o u l d e r wi t h a f or c e
e q u a l t o t h a t of t h e bul l e t mo v i n g f or -
wa r d o u t of t h e g u n ba r r e l . T h e bul l e t
mo v i n g f o r wa r d is a n a c t i on, a n d t h e
g u n mo v i n g b a c k wa r d i s a r e a c t i o n . A s
a n o t h e r e x a mp l e of Ne wt o n ' s r e a c t i o n
pr i nc i pl e , if y o u j u mp f o r wa r d off a
s c oot e r , t h e s c oot e r i t sel f mo v e s b a c k -
wa r d . Yo u r f o r wa r d j u mp i s t h e a c t i o n ;
t h e s c oot e r ' s mo v e b a c k wa r d i s t h e r e-
a c t i on. Wh e n b u r n i n g ga s r u s h e s o u t of
t h e r e a r of a r o c k e t , i t i s a n a c t i o n
wh o s e r e a c t i o n i s t h e f o r wa r d mo t i o n of
t h e r o c k e t . T o n s of b u r n i n g ga s r u s h
o u t of t h e r e a r of Saturn 5 e ve r y s e c o n d
a n d gi ve t h e r o c k e t i t s 7 Vi - mi l l i on-
p o u n d t h r u s t .
T h e b u r n i n g gas i s p r o d u c e d b y ig-
n i t e d r o c k e t f uel . T h e r e a r e t wo ma i n
t ype s of r o c k e t f uel : s ol i d a n d l i qui d.
S o me s ol i d f uel s a r e b l a c k g u n p o wd e r ,
s moke l e s s p o wd e r , a n d a c h e mi c a l t h a t
i s pr i nc i pa l l y r u b b e r . A mo n g t h e l i qui d
PROPELLANT
Components (and their distri-
bution) in a typical rocket.
f uel s i n us e a r e h y d r o g e n p e r o x i d e ( t h e
s a me l i qui d t h a t i s a h o u s e h o l d ant i -
s ept i c, o n l y mu c h mo r e c o n c e n t r a t e d
a n d p u r e r ) , a l c ohol , ga s ol i ne , hydr o-
ge n, fluorine, a n d l i qui d oxyge n. Ro c -
k e t f uel s a r e b e t t e r t e r me d r o c k e t pr o-
pe l l a nt s .
PAMAO , GUI DANCE
CHEMICAL ROCKET
LIQUID PROPELLANT
THRUST CHAMBER
PRESSURI ZI NG TANKS
TURBI NE
EXHAUST
HEAT-SI NK
NOSE CONE
-OXI DI ZER FUEL
7
TURBOPUMP
PROPELLANT PUMPS
VERNI ER
ROCKETS
30
A sol i d p r o p e l l a n t i s eas i es t t o us e.
T h e s ol i d- pr ope l l a nt r o c k e t e n g i n e n e e d
cons i s t onl y of a p l a c e t o b u r n t h e pr o-
pe l l a nt ( a c o mb u s t i o n c h a mb e r ) , a n
e x h a u s t noz z l e a t t h e r o c k e t ' s r e a r , a n d
a devi ce t o i gni t e t h e p r o p e l l a n t . Li q u i d
p r o p e l l a n t s a r e mu c h mo r e c ompl i -
c a t e d t o us e t h a n s ol i d one s . T h e l i qui d-
p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t e ngi ne c ons i s t s of a t
l eas t t wo s t o r a g e t a n k s , a n d p u mp s
f or ce t h e p r o p e l l a n t t h r o u g h p i p e s t o
t h e c o mb u s t i o n c h a mb e r . A p o we r sys-
t e m f or t h e p u mp s a n d ma n y k i n d s of
c ont r ol s a r e a l s o n e c e s s a r y p a r t s of t h e
l i qui d- pr ope l l a nt r o c k e t . T o c o mp e n -
s a t e f or a mo r e c o mp l i c a t e d c o mb u s -
t i on s ys t em, t h o u g h , a l i qui d- pr ope l l a nt
r o c k e t h a s c e r t a i n a d v a n t a g e s : i t c a n
b e ma d e mo r e p o we r f u l t h a n a s ol i d
p r o p e l l a n t e ngi ne ; t h e t h r u s t of t h e en-
gi ne c a n b e v a r i e d ( a s ol i d- pr ope l l a nt
e ngi ne ' s t h r u s t c a n n o t ) ; s o me l i qui d
p r o p e l l a n t e ngi ne s c a n b e s t o p p e d a n d
r e s t a r t e d whi l e t h e r o c k e t i s i n flight,
wh e r e a s s ol i d p r o p e l l a n t s c a n onl y b e
s t o p p e d a n d n o t r e s t a r t e d ; a n d finally,
l i qui d p r o p e l l a n t s c os t l ess t h a n s ol i d
pr ope l l a nt s .
A l a r ge mo d e r n r o c k e t wi t h h u n -
d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s of p a r t s a n d r e qui r -
i ng d o z e n s of me n t o l a u n c h i t i s n o t v e r y
mu c h l i ke a F o u r t h of J u l y s k y r o c k e t
. . . ye t t h e r e i s n o di f f er ence i n t h e pr i n-
ci pl e t h a t mo v e s e i t he r t h e h u g e r o c k e t
or t h e s ma l l one . I t i s Ne wt o n ' s f unda -
me n t a l r e a c t i o n l a w t h a t dr i ves al l
r o c k e t s o n t he i r flights.
For every action, there is an
equal and opposite reaction.
31
W H Y M U S T R O C K E T S B E U S E D F O R T R A V E L
I N O U T E R S P A C E ?
W
H E N ma n flies t h r o u g h t h e i ono-
s p h e r e e x t e n d i n g f r o m 5 0 t o
5 0 0 mi l e s a b o v e t h e e a r t h a n d c on-
t i n u e s i nt o t h e e x o s p h e r e , h e wi l l b e
a r r i vi ng i n o u t e r s p a c e wh e r e n o a t mo s -
p h e r e exi st s. L o n g b e f o r e t hi s p o i n t i s
r e a c h e d , pi s t on a n d j et e n g i n e s wo u l d
h a v e s t o p p e d r u n n i n g b e c a u s e , t o con-
t i nue t o o p e r a t e , t h e y mu s t d r a w i n ai r
( o x y g e n ) t o mi x wi t h t h e f uel t h e y us e.
I t wa s t h e Ame r i c a n r o c k e t s ci ent i s t ,
Ro b b e r t Go d d a r d wh o first p r o v e d ,
b o t h ma t h e ma t i c a l l y a n d b y a c t u a l t es t ,
t h a t a r o c k e t wi l l wo r k i n a v a c u u m.
I t s f uel , wh e n mi x e d wi t h l i qui d oxy-
ge n ( o f t e n c a l l e d L O X ) i n t h e firing
c h a mb e r , wi l l e x p l o d e a n d b u r n , cr eat -
i ng thrust. Th e r e f o r e , t h e r o c k e t e ngi ne
i s u n l i k e a n y o t h e r i n t h a t i t c a r r i e s i t s
o wn " a i r " wi t h i t .
A n o t h e r of i t s a d v a n t a g e s f o r
ma n n e d s p a c e t r a v e l i s t h a t i t s s p e e d of
a c c e l e r a t i o n c a n b e s o c o n t r o l l e d by
t h e flow of f uel , t h a t t h e i ni t i al " bl as t -
f r o m t h e g r o u n d c a n b e k e p t a t
ma n c a n s t a n d .
This f our - bar r el ed rocket
engi ne, wei ghi ng onl y 210
pounds, pr oduced 6, 000
pounds of ihrust. It pushed the
X- l through the sonic barrier
to a height of 90,000 feet.
32
r
' Satellite
is mounted
above
"" Fuel
LOX
Fuel
Pumps
Rocket
Motor
H O W I S A M U L T I - S T A G E
M I S S I L E C O N S T R U C T E D ?
I
T WA S Ame r i c a' s o wn Dr . Go dda r d
wh o first di s covered t hat by mount -
i ng o ne rocket a t o p anot her aut o-
mat i cal l y firing t he ne xt s t age above
whe n t he first had bur ne d out s peeds
and di s t ances c oul d be ac hi e ve d t hat
we r e i mpos s i bl e wi t h a si ngl e- st age
rocket . I n s o me i ns t ances , t he i nstru-
me n t - c a r r y i n g s a t e l l i t e h a s i t s o w n
r oc ke t e ngi ne whi c h g o e s i nt o orbi t , t oo.
Fuel
Second
Stage
11,000
Pumps
Rocket
Motor
Rocket
Motor
EXPLORER I SATELLITE
Outside and
Interior
Temperature
Recorders
Cosmic
Ray
Recorder
Antenna
Wires
Micrometeorite
Erosion Gauges
AMERICA'S
VANGUARD I
Released from a
protecti ve nose
cone, this instru-
mented satellite
goes into orbit.
33
H O W D I D P R O J E C T A R G U S C R E A T E
A M I S S I L E S H I E L D A R O U N D T H E E A R T H ?
Three small atomic warheads were
exploded at high altitudes in the
fal l of 1958.
The Explorer IV satellite, which was
launched earlier in July, 1958, and
in a polar orbit, reported results of
the high blasts.
I
N t h e a u t u mn of 1958, t h r e e r o c k e t s
wi t h n u c l e a r wa r h e a d s we r e s ecr et l y
fired a b o v e t h e S o u t h At l a n t i c Oc e a n
t o a n a l t i t ude of t h r e e h u n d r e d mi l es ,
wh e r e t h e wa r h e a d s we r e e x p l o d e d .
T h e or bi t i ng Explorer 4 s at el l i t e r adi -
o e d b a c k t o e a r t h t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e
c l o u d of r a d i a t i o n l eft b y t h e e xpl os i on.
The converted missile ship Norton Sound,
in the South Atlantic, from which the
atomic warheads were fired.
34
<*=*;. r . . - - - - - * *
Areas marked A and B are cross sections
radiation belts that surround the earth,
the Project Argus experiment.
-
of the doughnut-shaped Van Allen
The white cross marks the site of
T h e obj e c t of Project Argus wa s t o
find o u t if n u c l e a r e xpl os i ons i n s pa c e
c o u l d b e u s e d t o d i s r u p t a n e n e my ' s
mi s s i l e- gui di ng r a d a r a n d r a d i o . Wh e n
t h e 300- mi l e - hi gh e xpl os i ons o c c u r r e d ,
t h e r e l e a s e d ne ga t i ve l y c h a r g e d el ec-
t r o n s we r e c a u g h t u p b y t h e e a r t h ' s
i nvi s i bl e ma g n e t i c field a n d s we pt east -
wa r d . Wi t h i n a n h o u r , t h e y h a d envel -
o p e d o u r p l a n e t wi t h a t hi n vei l of
r a d i a t i o n t h a t ef f ect i vel y d i s r u p t e d r a-
di o a n d r a d a r t r a ns mi s s i ons .
Ma n y s ci ent i s t s be l i e ve t h a t a wa y t o
e x p l o d e s u p e r s o n i c mi s s i l es ha r ml e s s l y
h i g h i n t h e a t mo s p h e r e i s t o e x p l o d e
n e u t r o n - r e l e a s i n g n u c l e a r b o mb s .
T h e first U. S. s at el l i t e, Explorer 1,
di s c ove r e d t h a t t h e r e a r e t wo be l t s of
i nt e ns e r a d i a t i o n wh i c h s u r r o u n d o u r
p l a n e t e x c e p t f or a r e a s ove r t h e
No r t h a n d So u t h Pol e s . Th e s e a r e t h e
Va n Al l e n r a d i a t i o n bel t s . On e ( A )
exi s t s a b o u t 3 , 5 0 0 mi l e s b e y o n d o u r at -
mo s p h e r e . An o t h e r be l t of r a d i a t i o n
( B ) exi s t s b e t we e n 8 , 0 0 0 a n d 12 , 0 0 0
mi l e s b e y o n d o u r a t mo s p h e r e .
35
M U S T P I L O T L E S S M I S S I L E S B E A S S I S T E D
O F F T H E G R O U N D ?
Unt i l t he j et - propul si on po we r pl ant t o flying s peed by rocket s. Wh e n flying
of any l ong- range pi l ot l es s b o mb can s peed has be e n at t ai ned, t he boos t er
r e ac h i t s f ul l t hrust , i t mus t be boos t e d rocket s c an be dropped.
Th e S N A R K, whi c h c an fly 5 , 0 0 0
mi l e s and di ve t o i t s t arget f r om 6 0 , 0 0 0
f eet , i s dri ven by a jet e ngi ne after i t i s
hurt l ed i nt o f ree fl i ght by t wo rocket s.
On t he ot her hand, t he B O MA R C ,
an ant i ai rcraf t a nd ant i mi ssi l e mi ssi l e,
i s propel l ed at t wi ce t he s peed of s ound
by t wo ramj et engi nes .
Fuel Spray
Th e ramj et i s a s i mpl e t ube wi t h n o
mo v i ng part s. Ho we v e r , i t doe s not
begi n t o f unc t i on unt i l air i s dri ven
t hr ough i t at very hi gh speed. A power-
ful rocket i s us e d t o r e ac h t hi s speed.
Flame Holder and Igniter Combustion Chamber
36
The tall structure at the left, used to fuel and service
each separate stage of the missile, is rolled back
before the firing takes place.
W H A T W A S T H E F I R S T U N I T E D S T A T E S S A T E L L I T E
P U T I N T O O R B I T A R O U N D T H E E A R T H ?
O
N January 31, 1958, a Jupi t er- C
mi ssi l e wa s l aunc he d f rom Ca pe
Canaveral , Fl ori da. A n Ar my Re ds t o ne
t he first st age sent it 6 0 mi l es up.
At 2 1 2 mi l es t he gr ound cont rol l er
t i pped t he vehi cl e t o a cours e paral l el
wi t h t he eart h.
Si x s e c onds l at er t he t hi rd- st age rock-
et s of t he mi ssi l e r a mme d t he Expl or e r
I sat el l i t e i nt o orbi t ar ound t he eart h.
37
W H A T W A S P R O J E C T M E R C U R Y ?
A
M E R I C A ' S P R O J E C T M E R -
C U R Y h a d t h r e e obj e c t i ve s : t o
s t u d y ma n ' s abi l i t y t o t r a ve l i n s pa c e ;
t o p l a c e ma n n e d s at el l i t es i n or bi t
a r o u n d t h e e a r t h ; a n d t o r e t u r n t h e pi -
l ot a n d hi s s p a c e c a p s u l e s af el y t o e a r t h.
O n Ma y 5, 19 6 1, Na v y C o mma n d e r
Al a n B. S h e p a r d , J r . , Ame r i c a ' s first
a s t r o n a u t , wa s l a u n c h e d i n t o s p a c e i n
t h e Me r c u r y c a p s u l e Freedom 7 f or a
15- mi nut e , 115- mi l e- hi gh s u b o r b i t a l
flight. An o t h e r s u b o r b i t a l flight wa s
ma d e i n Liberty Bell 7 b y Ma r i n e Ca p -
t a i n Vi r gi l I . Gr i s s o m. T h e n t h e r e fol -
Artist's conception, cutaway view, of a space
capsule of a type to follow Project Mercury.
This larger capsule carries two astronauts.
Retro-rockets
to slow up re-entry
to earth's atmosphere
38
l o we d f our or bi t a l flights b y Pr o j e c t
Me r c u r y a s t r o n a u t s , Ma r i n e Lt . Co l o -
ne l J o h n Gl e n n i n Friendship 7, L t .
C o mma n d e r M. Sc ot t Ca r p e n t e r i n Au-
rora 7, C o mma n d e r Wa l t e r M. Sc hi r r a ,
J r . i n Sigma 7, a n d finally Ai r F o r c e
Co l o n e l L . Go r d o n Co o p e r , J r . i n Faith
7. Co l o n e l Co o p e r o r b i t e d t h e e a r t h 2 2
t i me s i n 34V^ h o u r s a n d t r a v e l e d mo r e
t h a n hal f a mi l l i on mi l es .
T h e Me r c u r y c a p s u l e s we r e 7 f eet
i n d i a me t e r a t t h e b a s e a n d 10 f eet t al l .
T h e y o r b i t e d b e t we e n 1 0 0 a n d 15 0
mi l es a b o v e t h e e a r t h . T h e c a p s u l e wa s
s l owe d a t r e e n t r y t i me b y firing r e t r o-
r o c k e t s .
e space vehicle prepares to land. Its
nose, triggered by the astronauts, is ejected
loosing the parachute. At the same time,
the retro-rockets slow the capsule's earth-
ward descent.
39
W H A T D A N G E R S D O E S M A N F A C E I N O U T E R S P A C E ?
Re-entry
into Earth's
Heavier
Atmosphere
F
U T U R E as t ronaut s wi l l e nc ount e r
ma n y hazards and pr obl e ms as t he y
t ravel great er di s t ances i nt o out er s pace.
S o me of t hes e hazards have al ready
be e n i nves t i gat ed by unma nne d satel -
lonospheric
Currents
l i t es t h a t h a v e r a d i o e d b a c k i mp o r t a n t
i n f o r ma t i o n . S o me of t h e s e h a z a r d s
h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n i nve s t i ga t e d b y
Ame r i c a n a n d Ru s s i a n a s t r o n a u t s . So
f ar , n o ill effect s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d .
H O W M U S T M A N B E P R O T E C T E D
I N S P A C E V E H I C L E S ?
D
U R I N G j ourneys i nt o s pace, hu-
ma ns mus t carry wi t h t he m a suffi-
ci ent s uppl y of oxyge n, f o o d and l i qui d
t o l ast unt i l t hei r ret urn t o eart h. Th e y
mus t al s o be pr ot e c t e d agai ns t seari ng
heat , bi t t er col d, and s hi el ded agai ns t
i nt ens e radi at i on k n o wn t o exi s t i n
bands ar ound t he eart h. Ma n mus t be
hel d i n pl ac e duri ng rapi d accel erat i on
and brut al decel erat i on whi l e l eavi ng
and ret urni ng t o our at mos phere. On c e
i n space, he mus t l earn t o c o pe wi t h
t he pr obl e ms of wei ght l es s nes s and pe-
ri ods of c ompl e t e i nact i vi t y.
41
H O W C A N M A N ' S S A F E R E T U R N
T O T H E E A R T H ' S A T M O S P H E R E B E S O L V E D ?
R
E T U R N I N G t o e a r t h f r o m s p a c e i s
a s g r e a t a p r o b l e m a s l e a vi ng f or
s pa c e . F o r ma n y ye a r s , s ci ent i s t s h a v e
wo r k e d t o o v e r c o me t h e di ffi cul t i es of
r e - e nt r y.
Wh e n a s p a c e s hi p, t r a ve l i ng a t t h o u -
s a n d s of mi l e s a n h o u r , d e s c e n d s t o wa r d
e a r t h , t h e a t mo s p h e r e c r e a t e s e n o u g h
f r i ct i on t o me l t t h e s hi p' s me t a l hul l .
Spe c i a l me t a l s a n d s peci al i ns ul a t i ng
ma t e r i a l s h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d t o over -
c o me t h e h a z a r d s of r e - e nt r y, e n a b l i n g
t h e Ame r i c a n a n d Ru s s i a n a s t r o n a u t s
t o r e t u r n saf el y.
T h e Project Mercury c a p s u l e h a s a spe-
ci al s ur f a c e , s o me of wh i c h b u r n s a wa y ,
t h e r e b y p r o t e c t i n g t h e me t a l b e n e a t h .
Wh e n t h e r e t u r n i n g s hi p i s cl os e t o t h e
e a r t h ' s s ur f a c e , a p a r a c h u t e o p e n s t o
s l ow i t s d e s c e n t t o l a n d i n g s pe e d.
W H E R E D O W E S T A N D I N S P A C E A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S ?
T h e S p a c e Ag e o p e n e d wh e n Ru s s i a
l a u n c h e d t h e first s at el l i t e, Sputnik I.
Si nc e t h e n a b e wi l d e r i n g a mo u n t of ef-
f or t a n d mo n e y h a s b e e n p u t i n t o s p a c e
e x p l o r a t i o n b y t h e Un i t e d St a t e s a n d
Ru s s i a , a n d a s ma l l e r a mo u n t b y a f ew
o t h e r n a t i o n s .
We l l ove r a t h o u s a n d s pa c e c r a f t h a v e
b e e n l a u n c h e d . T h e y h a v e b e e n of ma n y
di f f er ent ki nds . Mo s t h a v e b e e n ar t i -
ficial s at el l i t es s e nt or bi t i ng a r o u n d t h e
e a r t h . T h e s e s at el l i t es h a v e c a r r i e d
i n s t r u me n t s t h a t h a v e me a s u r e d t h e
e a r t h ' s ma g n e t i c field, i t s r a d i a t i o n field,
i t s s h a p e , a n d i t s si ze. Ot h e r s at el l i t es
h a v e p h o t o g r a p h e d c l ouds , s e n d i n g
b a c k t o e a r t h h u n d r e d s a n d h u n d r e d s
of p i c t u r e s e ve r y d a y of t h e ye a r . T h e s e
p h o t o s h a v e e n a b l e d s ci ent i s t s t o pr e-
di c t we a t h e r mo r e a c c u r a t e l y t h a n t h e y
e ve r h a v e d o n e be f or e . Ot h e r s at el l i t es
h a v e s e nt o u t s i gnal s t h a t h e l p oc e a n-
g o i n g ves s el s n a v i g a t e mo r e pr eci s el y.
St i l l o t h e r s at el l i t es h a v e me a s u r e d t h e
t i ny me t e o r s t h a t b o mb a r d t h e e a r t h ' s
a t mo s p h e r e b y t h e bi l l i ons e ve r y da y.
Sp a c e c r a f t h a v e g o n e t o t h e mo o n , t o
Ve n u s , a n d t o Ma r s t o e x p l o r e t he s e
pl a ne t s . Ot h e r s h a v e j o u r n e y e d c l os e t o
t h e s u n t o ge t i n f o r ma t i o n a b o u t t h a t
h u g e a s t r o n o mi c a l b o d y . T h e Un i t e d
St a t e s s e nt Mariner II o n a mi s s i on t o
Ve n u s , o u r n e a r e s t n e i g h b o r i n t h e s ol a r
s ys t e m, a n d l e a r n e d t h a t i t i s t o o h o t
f or l i vi ng t hi ngs a s we k n o w t h e m o n
e a r t h t o exi s t t he r e . T h e Un i t e d St a t e s
a l s o s e nt Mariner IV to p h o t o g r a p h
Ma r s a n d l e a r n e d t h a t Ma r s h a s a sur -
f a c e p o c k e d wi t h c r a t e r s , l i ke t h e
mo o n ' s s ur f ace.
I n 19 6 7 , b o t h t h e Un i t e d St a t e s a n d
t h e U. S. S. R. s e nt s p a c e p r o b e s t o t h e
p l a n e t Ve n u s wh i c h r e v e a l e d t h a t i t s
s ur f a c e i s t o o h o t mo r e t h a n 5 0 0 F .
t o s u p p o r t l i fe a s we k n o w i t . T h e
U. S. p r o b e Mariner II h a d f o u n d ,
b a c k i n 1962, t h a t Ve n u s r o t a t e s i n a
di r e c t i on o p p o s i t e t o t h a t of t h e e a r t h .
On e r o t a t i o n t a k e s 2 2 5 e a r t h da ys . T h e
l ong Ve n u s i a n da y, e q u a l t o mo r e t h a n
10 0 e a r t h da ys , a l l ows t h e s u r f a c e of
Ve n u s t o b e c o me ve r y h o t , a n d Ve n u s '
t h i c k a t mo s p h e r e of c a r b o n d i o x i d e
h o l d s i n t h e h e a t . I t wi l l b e a l o n g t i me
be f or e me n find a wa y t o e x p l o r e Ve n u s .
T h e mo o n h a s b e e n e x p l o r e d b y u n -
ma n n e d s pa c e c r a f t . I n 1959, Ru s s i a ' s
Lunik III p h o t o g r a p h e d t h e f a r s i de of
t h e mo o n . I n 1 9 6 4 a n d 1965, t h e
Un i t e d St a t e s ma d e mo r e t h a n 1 7 , 0 0 0
cl os e- up p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e mo o n wi t h
t el evi s i on c a me r a s a b o a r d t h r e e Rang-
ers. Ru s s i a s of t - l a nde d a c a me r a o n t h e
mo o n i n e a r l y 1 9 6 6 a n d t h e Un i t e d
St a t e s f ol l owe d wi t h s i mi l a r f eat s , t h e
Surveyor s pa c e p r o b e s . T h e Un i t e d
St a t e s t h o r o u g h l y ma p p e d t h e l u n a r
One of the first living space travellers was a dog; it
was a passenger in a Russian spacecraft, Sputnik II
(October, 1957).
s ur f a c e b y me a n s of t e l e vi s i on c a me r a s
c a l l e d Lunar Or biters. Al l t hi s p h o t o g -
r a p h y h a d o n e ma i n p u r p o s e t o h e l p
s ci ent i s t s find a s ui t a bl e l a n d i n g si t e o n
t h e mo o n f or a s t r o n a u t s .
T h e a s t r o n a u t s t he ms e l ve s t r a i n e d a t
s pa c e v o y a g i n g i n Project Mercury a n d
Project Gemini. T h e n , i n l a t e 19 6 8 , t h e
gr e a t e s t a c h i e v e me n t i n ma n n e d s pa c e
flight s o f a r wa s ma d e b y t h e Un i t e d
St at es . Th i s wa s t h e mo o n - o r b i t i n g voy-
a g e of t h e t h r e e Apollo 8 a s t r o n a u t s ,
F r a n k Bo r ma n , J a me s Love l l , a n d Wi l -
l i a m An d e r s . Ha v i n g ma d e t hi s t ech-
ni c a l l y flawless v o y a g e , ma n i s j us t a
s t e p a wa y f r o m s e t t i ng f oot o n a n as t r o-
n o mi c a l b o d y o t h e r t h a n t h e e a r t h , t h e
e a r t h ' s mo o n .
PROTECTIVE NOSE CONE
ULTRA-VIOLET AND X-RAY
INSTRUMENTS
TRANSMITTERS AND
RECORDING
INSTRUMENTS
DOG'S SEALED
COMPARTMENT
H O W D O E S M A N E X P E C T T O L I V E I N O U T E R S P A C E ?
S
P A C E s ci ent i s t s h a v e p l a c e d i n t o
or bi t a r o u n d t h e e a r t h p e r ma n e n t
s at el l i t es u s e d a s r e l a y s t a t i ons f or r a -
d i o a n d t el evi s i on b r o a d c a s t s . T h e s e a r e
c a l l e d c o mmu n i c a t i o n s s at el l i t es . Ot h e r
l o n g - t e r m s at el l i t es o b s e r v e t h e we a t h e r
a n d a i d n a v i g a t i o n .
Va r i o u s t y p e s of s p a c e s t a t i ons f or
di f f er ent us e s wi l l b e l of t ed i nt o or bi t
i n s e p a r a t e s e c t i ons a n d a s s e mb l e d b y
wo r k me n i n s p a c e s ui t s . A t r e g u l a r i n-
t e r va l s t h e s at el l i t es wi l l b e r e s t o c k e d
wi t h pr ovi s i ons , f uel a n d r el i ef c r e ws
s e nt u p f r o m t h e e a r t h .
Interplanetary Space Stations
44
A Manned Winged Rocket Plane
As t r o n o me r s wi l l we l c o me t h e o p p o r -
t u n i t y t o c o n t i n u e t he i r s t udi es of t h e
uni ve r s e f r o m a v a n t a g e p o i n t o u t s i d e
t h e e a r t h ' s a t mo s p h e r e . T h e y wi l l b e
e q u i p p e d wi t h u n ma n n e d " s n o o p e r
c r a f t " t o e x p l o r e o u t e r s pa c e a n d r e p o r t
b a c k b y r a d i o . T h e wi n g e d r o c k e t p l a n e
( s h o wn a b o v e , r i g h t ) i s r e t u r n i n g af t er
c a r r y i n g s uppl i e s t o a s at el l i t e.
45
W H E R E C A N M A N G O W H E N H E L E A V E S
T H E E A R T H ?
T
H E E A R T H is a s mal l p l a n e t a mo n g
bi l l i ons of s t a r s a n d o t h e r cel es t i al
b o d i e s i n a uni ve r s e t h a t e x t e n d s be-
y o n d ma n ' s i ma g i n a t i o n . A t r u e s t a r i s
a n y h e a v e n l y b o d y l i ke o u r s un, wh i c h
i s s el f - l umi nous ; p l a n e t s a n d s at el l i t es
s hi ne b y r ef l ect ed l i ght . T h e s ol a r sys-
t e m t o wh i c h t he e a r t h b e l o n g s i s ma d e
u p of n i n e p l a n e t s wh i c h r e vol ve a r o u n d
t h e s un. Sat el l i t es , l i ke t h e mo o n wh i c h
or bi t s a r o u n d t h e e a r t h , ci r cl e a r o u n d
t h e pl a ne t s . O u r s ol a r s ys t e m i s o n l y a
t i ny p a r t of a l a r ge r g a l a x y of s t a r s
t h e Mi l k y Wa y a n d a s t r o n o me r s
h a v e di s c ove r e d a b o u t a h u n d r e d mi l -
l i on s u c h gal axi es , e a c h of wh i c h ma y
c o n t a i n a h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d pl a ne t s .
I t s e e ms l i kel y t h a t s o me wh e r e a mo n g
t he s e bi l l i ons of h e a v e n l y bodi e s , l i vi ng
c o n d i t i o n s s ui t a bl e t o ma n ma y b e pr es -
e nt . H e h a s t h r i v e d o n e a r t h b e c a u s e of
a c o mb i n a t i o n of e l e me n t s : a d e e p b a n d
of a t mo s p h e r e , wa t e r t o d r i n k , a n d h e a t
f or wa r mt h a n d c o o k i n g .
A mo n g t h e p l a n e t s a n d s at el l i t es of
o u r s ol a r s ys t e m, ma n y a r e t o o h o t o r
t o o c ol d t o s u p p o r t h u ma n l i fe, whi l e
o t h e r s gi ve off c h e mi c a l f u me s t h a t
wo u l d d e s t r o y i t . As t r o n o me r s bel i eve
t h a t of al l t h e p l a n e t s i n o u r s ol a r sys-
t e m, o n l y Ma r s mi g h t b e l i va bl e f or
h u ma n be i ngs .
H O W F A R A W A Y A R E O T H E R P L A N E T S
I N O U R S O L A R S Y S T E M ?
Planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Mean Distance
from Sun
(Millions of Miles)
36
67.2
93
141.5
483.3
886
1,783
2,793
3,675
Length
of Year
88 days
225 days
365 days
687 days
11.86 years
29.46 years
84 years
164.8 years
248.4 years
Period
of Rotation
88 days
Unknown
1 day
24.6 hours
9.9 hours
10.2 hours
10.7 hours
15.8 hours
Unknown
Diameter
(Miles)
3, 000
7, 600
7,920
4,220
89,000
75,000
31,000
28,000
6, 300
Gravity
at Surface
( Ear t h=l )
0. 27
0.85
1.00
0.38
2.64
1.17
0.92
1.12
Unknown
46
RELATIVE SIZES OF THE PLANETS
Mercury
Mars
Earth
Uranus
Venus
RELATIVE DISTANCES OF THE PLANETS
FROM THE SUN
Pluto
T H E S A T E L L I T E S O F T H E P L A N E T S
MARS: 2 satellites. Diameters: 5 and 1 miles. Orbits: 3,700 and 14,500 miles. Circuit time: Vi and 1 Vi days.
JUPITER: 12 satellites. Diameters: 20 to 3,200 miles. Orbits: 112,600 to 14,888,000 miles. Circuit time:
V2 to 760 days.
SATURN: 9 satellites. Diameters: 200 to 3,550 miles. Orbits: 115,000 to 8,034,000 miles. Circuit time:
1 to 550 days.
URANUS: 5 satellites. Diameters: 150 to 1,000 miles. Orbits: 80,800 to 364,000 miles. Circuit time: 1 Vi
to 1 3 V2 days.
NEPTUNE: 2 satellites. Diameters: 200 and 3,000 miles. Orbits: 220,000 and 5,000,000 miles. Circuit
time: 6 and 730 days.
47
W H E N W I L L T R U E S P A C E T R A V E L B E G I N ?
B
E F O R E i t i s saf e f or ma n t o t r a ve l
i n o u t e r s pa c e , t h e r e a r e ma n y
f r i ght e ni ng h a z a r d s f or wh i c h s ci ent i s t s
mu s t find a ns we r s . Ex p e r t s a l r e a d y
k n o w a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s f r o m c o s mi c
r a ys , a b a n d of i n t e n s e r a d i a t i o n , wa n -
d e r i n g me t e o r i t e s , bl ast - of f s pe e ds a n d
t h e p r o b l e m of r e - e nt r y. On l y af t er
g r o u n d - b a s e d e x p e r i me n t s a n d mo r e
ma n n e d or bi t a l a n d l u n a r flights b y
a s t r o n a u t s i n t o t h e f r i nges of t h e e a r t h' s
a t mo s p h e r e wi l l ma n f eel saf e t o j o u r n e y
t o t h e o t h e r pl a ne t s , wi t h s t o p o v e r s a t
s p a c e s t a t i ons o r b i t i n g t h e e a r t h .
In the future, manned space stations orbiting around the earth may be
visited regularly by shuttle-craft with supplies and men.
48
HOW AND WHY WONDER BOOKS
Produced and approved by noted authorities, these books
answer the questions most often asked about science, na-
ture and history. They are presented in a clear, readable
style, and contain many colorful and instructive illus-
trations. Readers will want to explore each of these
fascinating subjects and collect these volumes as
authentic, ready-reference, basic library.
5001
5002
5003
5004
5005
5007
5008
5009
5010
5011
5012.
5013
5014
5015
5016
5017
5018
5020
5021
5022
5023
5024
5025
5026
5027
5028
5029
5030
5031
5032
5033
5034
DINOSAURS
WEATHER
ELECTRICITY
ROCKS AND MINERALS
ROCKETS AND MISSILES
INSECTS
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
BIRDS
OUR EARTH
BEGINNING SCIENCE
MACHINES
THE HUMAN BODY
SEA SHELLS
ATOMIC ENERGY
THE MICROSCOPE
THE CIVIL WAR
MATHEMATICS
BALLET
CHEMISTRY
HORSES
EXPLORATIONS AND
DISCOVERIES
PRIMITIVE MAN
NORTH AMERICA
PLANETS AND
INTERPLANETARY TRAVEL
WILD ANIMALS
SOUND
LOST CITIES
ANTS AND BEES
WILD FLOWERS
DOGS
PREHISTORIC MAMMALS
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
5035
5036
5037
5039
5040
5041
5042
5043
5045
5046
5047
5049
5050
5051
5053
5054
5055
5056
5057
5058
5059
5060
5061
5062
5063
5064
5065
5066
5067
5068
5069
WORLD WAR II
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
ROBOTS AND
ELECTRONIC BRAINS
LIGHT AND COLOR
WINNING OF THE WEST
THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
CAVES TO SKYSCRAPERS
TIME
MAGNETS AND MAGNETISM
GUNS
FAMOUS SCIENTISTS
OLD TESTAMENT
BUILDING
TREES
OCEANOGRAPHY
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS
MUSHROOMS, FERNS AND
MOSSES
THE POLAR REGIONS
COINS AND CURRENCY
BASIC INVENTIONS
THE FIRST WORLD WAR
ELECTRONICS
DESERTS
AIR AND WATER
STARS
AIRPLANES AND THE STORY
OF FLIGHT
FISH
BOATS AND SHIPS
THE MOON
TRAINS AND RAILROADS
WO N D E R B OOKS
A Division of Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.
New York, N. Y. 10010