c___.

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.AR&ED FORCES STAF'F COLLEGE

NORFOLK ll, VIRGINIA

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Q.

T R A N S C R I P T

DXrE:

O F

PROCEEDINGS

Thursday, October 20, 1955

Irr*arvw

PLACES:

Anacostia, Maryland

ARlED FORCES STAFF' C O D G E

Norfolk ll, Virginia

Thursday, October 20, 1955

The meeting was convened a t 0900, pursuant t o L t r 0 #30, 18 Oct 55,

at Naval Photographic Center, Naval Air S t a t i o n , Anacostia, Maryland.

The fo:llowing w e r e present:

Rear Admiral Harold M. Briggs, USN, 61082, Moderator

Colonel Charles T. Homer, 023530, USA
Colonel Richard W. E t t e r , 5386A, USAF'
Captain Isador J. Schwartz, USN, 71635
Lieutenant Colonel Edwin 14. Sayre, 033220, USA
Commander W i l l i a m S. Finn, USN, 81182
Colonel Donald R. Ward, 033646, USA
Lieutenant Colonel James V, Sanden, 024213, USA
Lieutenant Colonel John W. Callaway, 024081, USA
Lieutenant Colonel John R. O s w a l t , 023690, USA
Lieutenant Colonel George C. Fairbanks, 03314.5, USA
Lieutenant Colonel William E. Abblitt, USNC, 06986
Commander Chester D. Rogers, USN, 104864
Commander Dale C. Reed, USN, 123668
Colonel Travis Hoover, @+&LA, USAF
Colonel Joseph E. Habeger, 5012A, USAF
Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Bird, 7892A, USAF'
Lieutenant Colonel Jack C. White, 7816A, USAF
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Love, 10129A, US@

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I am Admiral ?3riggs, Deputy Commandant a t t h e Armed

I ah happy to,welcome you t o another o f f i c e r s ' confer&ce,

ADMIRAL BRIGGS:

Forces S t a f f College,
another cliscussion of a timely and important subject, Our subject today i s t h e
2hdllenge of Outer Space. Is space t r a v e l r e a l l y possible? If sos how soon
can we reasonably expect it? What w i l l men gain by i t ? What military advantage
will be won by t h e first nation t o conquer space?

To an8wer these questions we have a s m w guest today D r , Wernher von

Braun, widely known a u t h o r i t y on rockets and space. . A native of Germany, he
played a leading role i n t h e development of t h e V-2 Rocket. Since the end of
World Cfar.11 he has been a leading rockat and guided missile s c i e n t i s t of the
Department of t h e A m y . He i s now Director 0
: t h e Guided Missile Division a t
Redstone Arsenal., Huntsville, Alabama.

The members of our axdience today are f r o m t h e Armed Forces S t a f f

Colldge a t Norfolk, Virginia. They and o t h e r s who attended t h e Armed Forces6taf.if %allege have been caref.ully s e l e c t e d f r o m all t h e armed services t o - ' .
kecefve t r a i n i n g i n j o i n t and combined operations and planning i n order t o
prepare them fo:r f u t u r e high command and s t a f f assignments.
, .
I
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Naturally s c i e n t i f i c .developments and' new weapons and t h e i r e f f e c t s

upon j o i n t operations is an important p a r t of t h e i r course of study.

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Nbts-1: ' t h i n k

WB

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should begin today's of fice'rsf conference.

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SCENE -3, TAKE 1

AINIRAL'BRIGGS: He i s now Direstor of t h e D&vision of t h e Guided

Missiles Divisi.on of Redstone Arsenal, Hmtsville, Alabama.
Members of our conference audience today are from t h e Armed Forces
Staff College a t Norfolk, Virginia. - . They and o t h e r s who a t t e n d t h e .Armed
Forces Staff College have been d a r e f u l l y selected from all the finned Services
t o receive trajLning i n j o i n t ana combined operations and planning i n order
ta prepare them f o r f'uture high command and s t a f f assignments.
1

I-

Naturally s c i e n t i f i c developments and new weapons and t h e i r , e f f e c t s

*And
now I think we should begin t o d a y f s o f f i c e r s ' conference.

upon joint operations is an important part of t h e i r course of study.

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SCENE 4, TAKE 1

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.ADMIRAL BRIGGS: And with t h a t we have concluded another e f f i c e r s '

conference, 'a discussion of a current and important problem.
4

Our guest.today m s Dr. Wernber'voA Braun, the noted guided

missile and space t r a v e l au+,hority.
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I n cloSSng.1 willd ' l i k e t o pemind you that w h a t we have s a i d here

today is noe.1iecc3!:sar&~~rnearlt t o 'be eon'clusive since it i s <concEtioned by
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,I take a

we&' spyaker -Dr.

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g k a t dpal o f g l e a
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Wernher von
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Dr. Brhun.

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presenting t~ YOU today as our

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DR. EiRAUN: Gentlemen, t h e ,conquest o f , , b u t e r space .is t h e g r e a t c s t

t e c h n o l o b e d c h d e n g e b f t h e age i n which we l j v e . The f i r s t decisive. s t e p 7 i
i n t h e conque'st, of space w i l l be t h e p l j c i n g of an object i n t o an o r b i t whereirt
it w i l l i n d e f i n i t e l y c i r c l e the earth. It t a k e s a. speed of a p p r o x i m t e l y
18,000 miles pc?'r'h&urt o accomplish thi's. This i s 'approximately three times
t h e g r e a t e s t speed ever a t t a i n e d by rockets today.
How can we e a c h such a speed?' F i r s t of all, of course, one could
think oif inproying propellants u s e d , i n present-day rockets.. Secondly, we
could"sh&e sbme1kd$t8"'.off of Our designs. But with. both those methods i . s:L
it does not appear pos6i%le t o - g i i i n more thcn approximately 40 o r 5 0 ' p e r
cent . of t h e speeds
, ,.. ,.
, -t h'1,
e rpckets
.
reach today.
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'A fundamGrI$al .st6p''ahcdd i n increasing the"speed':will b13 , t h e .
i , , , ::.: ;:I
applicat!on of t h e . friuI.6i-st'dgQ &nciple.
Let
us
take
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look
a
t
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(Slide) You see a mode

f t?n_e3 - s W ~ rockeC.oq this picture.
Up td '.tkk?sLower w E t $ , 1in.e 'her6
the
,+:?.r;e; f.t 5 s E$yred::bY a ; 7.'.
number df'-.moket'enane's. which-$ll
,Eft ?he hissiX.e off 'the .'gound *t,il'-;
$.t has reached, a f t e r approgm;itely one milnute operating time, a m
d
bpeed i n t h e order of 3600 t o l+OOO miles p e r hour. A t this point; t h e
first stage i : 3 j e t t i s o n e d , i t s taqks-, g p nowJ h. . !u. I . F
* e d ' o u t .and the m'cket
motors of t h e second stage t a k e over," ' :''
.

Now w h a t e x a c t l y makes an o r b i t t i c k ? Imagine you put a gun on

top of t3. mountain and fire it i n a horizontal direction, The g r a v i t a t i o n a l
pull of the e a r t h w i l l p u l l t h e b u l l e t down toward the p u n d and a f t e r

'Y'Y
'

having t r a v e l l e d a c e r t a i n dista-nce t h e b u l l e t will gradually l o s e v e l o c i t y

and h i t the earth. As we "nc&iz'se'",e
muzzle velocity, t h e b d l c t w i l l travel:'
f u r t h e r before it i s pulled doim by 'the ' g r a v i t a t i o n a l p u l l of t h e e a r t h jmtil
g r a v i t y b d l s t h e - b u l l e t d o h s o hS t o exactly ma%ch t h e curvature of the'
earth. The bullet w i l l then keep on f l y i n g around t h e e a r t h
w i l l f & and
fill., never being a b l e t o reach t h e .surface of t h e e a r t h u r i t i l i't f i n a l l y hits
t h e breech of the guri'fmrn
thc'rear.'. 'r
, -, ! , - '
'. .
You can e s t a b l i s h ' s & c h o r b i t s
tudes. Theoretically
. ., '
you could e s t a b l i s h one imcdictely ab
of courso i n t o r *,, .
%he o r b i t wouldn' t
ference with t h e atmosphere m d d sl
be s t a b l e so we have t o go o
ide of the atmosphere, but once we #ireouts i d e of t h e atrosphere we
f r e e choice of any a l t i t u d e ' w e want and t h e
higher we go t h e slower w i l l b e t h e velocity'we require t o balance t h e
'
g r a v i t a t i o n a l p u l l of t h e e a r t h ' f o r t h e c e n t r i f d g a l f p r c e i n t h e curved o r b i t
that cancels t h e g r a v i t a t i o n a l pull of t h e earl%.

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. The..niobn has been doing this a nunber'of nlimon years and thd earth
i s o r b i t i h g archid t : : e 1 sun, so t h e p r i n c i p l e i's w e l l @6Wn and proven'
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nature's pcttern of things.
*

With such a rocket of course w e couldn't r e t u r n back from t&d'&rbit

and i f we a r e thinking of shooting people i n t o an o r b i t we have t o p.r
and means of ruturning t h e m s a f e l y t o t h e surface of t h e earth.
(Slide) Here we have replaced the Cop stage of t h e rocket by a . .
winged airplnnc: t p stage which would c a r r y personnel t o t h e o r b i t . T h i s
winged t o p stage would attain t h e same o r b i t a l conditions as t h e non-winged .version you SAW i n t h e previous s l i d e , but with t h e help of t h e s e wings t h e ' .
t o p stage wdulci bo able t o r e t u r n t d t h e earth,

:..

(Slide) This p i c t u r e here shows t h e p a t t e r n of t h e t r x k of ascent

of such a 3-stage rocket ship. The s h i p w u l d take o f f v e r t i c a l l y and'soon
a f t e r take-off it i s t i l t e d i n t o a s l a n t i n g f l i g h t path so t h a t a f t e r t h e one
minute o r 80 seconds of burning time of the f i r s t stage i s over, t h e rocket
At
would f l y on an angle of approximately 20 degree6 against t h e horizon,
this point t h e f i r s t s t a t e i s dropped and t h e second stage t a k e s over. A t
.burn-out of t h e second stage, approximately two minutes l s t e r , t h e rocket
'.
Frill be a h s t horizontcal. The travel of t h e rocket w i l l be almost horizontalo
We drop the second stage a t an a l t i t u d e of npproximtely 60 t o 80 miles, t h e
p c k e t hasL+owTattaineda speed of 12,000 miles per hour and t h e t h i r d stage .
.
~ Q tnkx.3
N
cvor u t i k i l t<h? f LIVX ::pc>t\Ll(\f l$$CYW T:~I\>S
pc'r hcur tms bcon . , . I ' .
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During this powered f l i g h t path of t h e t h i r d stage t h e rocket wouid

'1
hardly gain any a l t i t u d e s o t h a t t h e rocket i s s t i l l o n l y about 60 miles up
a t t h e t i m c of cut-off of t h c l a s t stage i s reached. I f t h e t h i r d stage would
..
reach exactly c i r c u l a r o r b i t a l conditions defined by the simple condition t h a t
t h e c e n t r i f u g a l force which matched t h e g r a v i t a t i o n n l p u l l and t k x e f c r e
curvature of t h e o r b i t would exactly mitch curvature of t h c cnrth, t h c t?lLr.i - .
stago would then s t a y i n a c i r c u l a r o r b i t 60 m i l k s up, but i f we provided a
l i t t l e more speed f o r t h e t h i r d ' s t a g e we have some oxc$?ss v e l o c i t y and excess
c e n t r i f u g a l force which would carry the upper stage, t h e stop stage, even
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f u r t h e r from t h e e a r t h , The rocket t;rould $hen 'go i n t o an e l i p t i c o r b i t which

;
hal.f--wELy around t h e e a r t h would reach a n apogee whose e l t i t u d e
a f t e r go%
depends o n l y on t h e excess Velocity o r excess o r b i t a l speed we hhd a t moment
of cut-offi
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tfe'hilow t h e rocket' t o go through this and go back t o t h e perigee,' .

which i s t h e lowest point, I d m t i c h l with t h e c u b o f f point of t h z l a s t stage,
and s t a y i n such e l i p t i c o r b i t foreveru When I say forever, I h v c t o qualify
this, Every t2tne t h e mcket would go through the perigee only sixty miles up
it w i l l be retarded s l i g h t l y byathe aerodynamic drag czuscd by t h e t r a c e s of
the ctmosphere s t i l l found at t h c t a l t i t u d o , Every t i m it gees through the,
perigee it would l o s e a l i t t l e b i t of t h e excess speed and 2s a r e s u l t t h e
next apogee would be somewhat lower 2nd t h i s graclud. l o s s i n excess speed
wnuld gradually l e a d t o diminishing of Z l t i t u d e down t o t h e atnosphere. After
this has been o.ccorn?l.ished, the ship m u l d be subjected t o atmosphwic drag
throughout t h e e n t i r e f l i g h t around t h e e a r t h and from then on would l o s e
speed rapidly, but with t h e help of t h e wings it would be able t o land again.
I f it had no t.<.ngs it would descend i n t o t h e deeper atmosphere, u l t i m t e l y
burn up' and crcsh,
(Slic!e) Thy I have t h e next s l i d e , please, During t h e ascent of'
such a 3-sk$ge rocket s h i p t h e crew w i l l be subjected t o high accelerztions,
O f course i n i t j . U j ks t h e s h i p t a k e s o f f t h e s h i p i s s t i l l heavy and t h e
acceleration w i l l not *be t o o high, but as it l o s e s wbigkrt due t o f u e l consumption and w i t h t h e t h r u s t remaining constant, this a c c e l e r a t i o n w i l l
gradually inckxise t..dt h e first peak i n t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n curve w i l l be reachec
a t t h e moment of cut-off of t h e first' stage since d-l t h e powerful motors of
the first stage keep pushing the s h i p and t h e f i r s t stage tanks; which
c o n s t i t u t e npproximately 75 per cent; of t h e t o t a l s h i p ' s weight, a r e almost
empty,
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SOUND #2

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The Zcceleration peak a t this point w i l l be c p p r o x i m t e l y nine ( 9 )

G. It can be Kept lower if desired, but only a t t h e expense of a s l i g h t l y higher
f u e l consumption,S
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>AfkGr the f i r s t peak t h e c c c e l e r a t i o n w i l l go down t o about 1-1/2 G

again wh&pthc s m l l e r motcrs of t h e second stage take over and of course t h e
second s t a g e tanks a r e s t i l l f u l l . The second peak will then be reached a t
cut-off of thc: second stage, again a p p r o x i i i t e l y 9 G, Finally, ancther t h i r d
peak of t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n curve w i l l be reached a t cut-off of t h e t h i r d stage,
but it won't be q u i t e t h a t high because t h e t h i r d stage c a r r i e s t h e payload
and i n addition, if it i s m e a r t h ' r e t u n a b l e winged type, t h e propellant
required f o r the return f l i g h t .
1.

'One of the most important'knsks ih' preparing t h e crew f o r such rocket

ships will be to' make this crew work a s h 'team under t h e s e harsh a c c e l e r a t i o n
conditions,' The-tool t o t-rain teams f o r this condition i s the centrifuge,
Centriftlge l i k e t h e one you h c - i n this p i c t u r e here a r e i n use i n t h e armed
.!
f o r c e s t o check people f o r their'blackout limits. By adopting t h e same
'
p r i n c i p l e and j u s t making t h e n a c e l l e a t t h e time of t h a t centrifuge larger,

an e n t i r e crew i n t o t h e nacelle and t r a i n them as a team. T h i s i s

shown i n t h e next picture. We b v e a n . e n t i r e r e p l i c a of t h e passenger nacelle
attached to t h e boom of the centrifuge, and we cannot only w h i r l it around
and expose the nien to acceleration, we can even m t a t e t h e nacelle as it swings
amund t o simulate e r r a t i c f l i g h t conditions under which t h e crew must l i k e wise take the necessary emergency Theasures.
we can place

Let

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take a look at t h inside of this r e p l i c a of

t h e crew compartment during a centrifuge t e s t . Here you pee t h e men

s i t t i n g one behind t h e o t h e r exposed t o t h e e i g h t o r nine "Gtf accelerat i o n and supposed t o take the necessary emergency measures a f t e r a n
outside operator has portrayed a c e r t a i n emergency s i t u a t i o n on t h e i r
dash board panels.
(Slide) High a c c e l e r a t i o n s a r e only one p a r t o f t h e problems t o
which t h e ere* i s subjected. Weightlessness, t h e opposite of high
acceleration, i s another. What causes weightlanowoe and when does i t
occur i n rocket ships? You often hear t h a t weightlessness i s encountered
only a f t e r a s h i p has l e f t the g r a w t i o n a l f i e l d of t h e e a r t h . This
is not t r u e . Wer!.ght;Lossu03s i n a rocket s h i p a c t u a l l y occurs t h e moment
t h e engines a r e cut o f f and t h e s h i p is coasting f r e e l y and outside o f
the atmosphere through any t r a j e c t o r y , on o r b i t f o r t h a t matter. What
causes weightlessness? Weight, a s we know it, i s a c t u a l l y t h e cause
not only of' g r a v i t y but a l s o of the f l o o r on which we stand and which
prevents uf; from f r e e l y following the p u l l of gravity. I n other arords,
it always t a k e s g r a v i t y and a r i g i d support t o c r e a t e t h e sensation of
weight. A53 you withdraw t h a t support and permit a body t o f r e e l y follow
the p u l l o f gravity, that body becomes weightless. If you drop from
a diving board i n t o t h e water you are weightless a second o r so u n t i l
you h i t t h e water and i f you a r e f l y i n g i n a rocket s h i p t h a t i s not
powered, your body i s subjected t o the same l a m s of motion that t h e
s h i p i s subjected t o i n which you t r a v e l . As a r e s u l t , t h e r e can be:m
d i f f e r e n t i a l f o r c e s between you and t h e s h i p and you w i l l Moat f r e e l y
within the cabin of t h e ship. Can we simulate weightless conditions
on t h e ground? It i s very d i f f i c u l t because usually any weightless
condition i s always terminated by an impact because t h e build-up speed
i f we do it i n the g r a v i t a t i o n a l f i e l d of t h e e a r t h but t h e r e i s ono
p o s s i b i l i t y of simulating it. If you l o o k a t t h i s c h a r t you will see
i n t h e l e f t lower corner the t r a j e c t o r y of an a i r p l a n e t h a t comes down
i n a n i n c l i n e d dive and pulls out of a dive and goes through a b a l l i s t i c
t r a j e c t o r y . l h i s b a l l i s t i c t r a j e c t o r j i s e s s e n t i a l l y a parabola wherein
the aerodynamic drag i s compensated by t h e t h r u s t of t h e jet engine
o f t h e plane. If you can s t e e r the plane through t h i s t r a j e c t o r y a t
zero l i f t and a t the same time keap it on a proper course and j u s t
componsate t h e drag withyour engine, you go through such a parabola,
On t h e descending leg of t h e parabola t h e plane picks up speed
and you have t o p u l l t h e plane out of t h e parabola again but during
t h a t p r i o d which, i n a modern j e t f i g h t e r , can be efiadded approximately 4.0 seconds, you can simulate a weightless condition. If you
would do t h e same t h i n g with an advanced rocket plane such a s thesd
modern rocket research planos, it appears possible t o extend t h i s
condition f o r approximately t h r e e minutes.

Under t h i s f l i g h t condition through t h e b a l l i s t i c t r a j e c t o r y you

have weightlessness. Such a long 3-minute weightless b a l l i s t i c parabola
is shown i n the upper p a r t of the picture.
The next s l i d e shows what happens i n s i d e a n a i r p l a n e flown through
such a b a l l i s t i c t r a j e c t o r y . You see a l i t t l e matchbox f l o a t i n g i n
the &eft upper corner of tho canopy. This matchbox was r e l e a s e d by
the passenger i n f l i g h t and photographed by him t o show the matchbox f l o a t i n g f r o e l y i n t h e canopy and it f l o a t e d t h e r e approximately

7
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40 seconds. In f a c t , p i l o t s who have repeatedly flown through such

ballistit! t r a j e e t d r i a s u9e duch f r e e float&l?g.objects ,to,make.. sure
they are*'fn t h e r i g h t eondition. If they:-apply a p o s i t i v e o r neg;l- '
t i v e l i f t .the matkhbox w i l l corn0 up o r doam with too. l i i t l e o r
overthds't;' as they - e i t h e r under o r over componsat+ the- aerodyriandc .
drag t h e matchbox w i l l move f o r e o r a f t .

As I .say,- this 2s 40 secohds ~ Q S Vapd maybe, three minutes,with

advanced rockst ships welghtlessnosa w i l l be a permanent experience
i n orbit'ifig rocket ships. Whnt p r i l l happen whon men a r e suhject ha
t h i s condition? We knah t h a t a man caneeat and drink even i n a
horizontal'
p o s i t i o n and if ybu. t r y it you f i n d you can eat upside
* ...
dm.

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IF.,

Iood'circulati-air Be affected? Medical doctors think

,
t h a 6 it w i i r hot'-becaum t h e most important - f a c t o r i n t h e blood c i r t r l
culat!%d is''the drag; t'hcr'resistancs of the blood i n t h e veins and
arte?i&'and g*vity.plays &y.a minor p a r t .in it. 4.tr\" f a c t , you can . . .
lie horizontally i n your bed and you can get up and-your h e a r t c i r culation i s hardly a f f e c t e d . But nobody knows today how extended
weightlessness w i l l aSf0c.b people. some doctors believe tht t h e most
c r i t i c a l question w l l l ' b e t h e sense of equilibrium i n t h e inner ear.
There i s a l f t t l e pebble i n the i n n e r ear, both inner ears, c a l l e d
t h e o t o l i t h s , which r e s t , o n some hairs, on whichever h a i r s they r e s t
.
i s % n r 3mdication t h i s is down. As you move your head forward that
pebblb'moves on another s e t of h a i r s and you have a d i f f e r e n t indica- . ,
t i o n of the plumb bob direction.
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1 -.
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4.
A .

"'hdel- w6i ghtless. conditions t h i s pebble i s disoriented and simply

floats: d t h o u t , touching, any h a i r o r may e r r a t i c a l l y touch a h a i r here
and the're and t h e question i s how would we react. The f e e l i n g Ys Some

people! may g8t, seasick. Ihybe they can g e t used t o it.

-I .
In' these f l i g h t s through b a l l i s t i c t r a j e c t o r i k s people have b,een ;,
t r a i n e d $0 dram l i t t l e sketches and t h e sketches .improved a f t e r going
repeatedly through t h e experience. 1% can say t h e r e i s reasonable hope
people can be t r a i n e d and accustomed t o t h i s unique condition of
weightld$sne'$s.
c
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*

Nowwhat happens when our s h i p g e t s i n t o t h e o r b i t ?

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SOUND #3

DR;~'~WUN: So ydu see t h i s weightless condition a c t u a l l y e x i s t s

in a rocket f l y i n g unpowered outside ef the atmosphere.

:'

On t h i s p2cture.we haw assumed t h a t t h e ship took off from a n

Island i n t h e P a c i f i c and climbs i n t o an o r b i t which i s i n c l i n e d about
,65 degrees t o t h e equator. So t h e ascent l a on a n o r t h e a s t e r l y course.
Shortly a f t e r having l e f t the .island, i n f a c t about a thousand miles
down range, t h e l a s t - s t a g e has reached terminal v e l o c i t y but since it
has an excess v e l o c i t y over and above c i r c u l a r o r b i t a l speed a t t h a t
a l t i t u d e ' i t now rQcedes f u r t h e r atmy from t h e earth'unpowered and
reaches t h e apogee j u s t 1 8 0 degrees on t h e r i g h t upper corner o f t h i s globe. "If be want t o e s t a b l i s h our rocket i n a c i r c u l a r o r b i t +% t h i s
a l t i t u d e l,O',K) miles up, we have t o provide a 1 i t t l e " e x t r a kick i n
.
3 -

9,

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t h i s apogee t o prevent t h e rocket from going down t o t h e perigee a1t.i-, .

tude of 60 miles again. + . This - i s avminor maneuver req'uiring o n l y . about .
1 5 seconds of power a p p l i c a t i o n . After w e have given 6he t h i r d stage'
this e x t r a kick it is now pormaner$ly established i n t h e c i r c u l a r o r b i t
. .
1,075 miles up.
.

. ,.

. . .-

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.
May I have t h e next 'slide, please. This .pfcture here sh'ms $he"'
i n t e r a c t i o n between such a n o r b i t and t h e r o t a t i o n of the earth. . In a . .
thousand seventy-five .mile o r b i t t h o ,ship m i l l go around"the e a r t h onco .,._.:: :. , , . .:.
ri
;every two hours, %t. t h e e a r t h i t s e l f w i l l r o t a t e insfde' t h e o r b i t a t
.: . .. ...
a r a t e of one revolution i n .24 hours. As a r e s u l t , t h e o r b i t i n g s t a t i o n
. ; ':,d;l.;>i
w i l l pass tho oquator each time a t a d i f f e r e n t meridian and an observer
. ,.
i n t h e s h i p w i l l see d i f f e r e n t portions of t h e e a r t h overflown during
a period of 24 hours. ' I n ' f a c t , v i t h i n a period of 24 hours he w i l l have
t h e opportunity t o s e e every point on e a r t h a t l e a s t once. And t h i s i s one
i,
of t h e reasons why .Ib e l i e . v e . t h a t such a manned o r b i t a l s t a t i o n wiU,&ve .. ..,,
._. .....
t i o n and .PC'S S i 1,
::'. ; . .
. a t e r r i f i c rnilitary,:importance both a s a reconnaissance
<,.
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bly even as a bombine:
platform.
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4
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May I have th'e'naxt Slide, pleaie. It has beeri.suggested t o b u i l d
..
.
a manned space station. i n such a n o r h i t , 1,0.75 miles up, a 2-hour orbgt,
. .-.
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... ~ . .
but before one could build such a s t a t i o n it.wi.11 be necessary t o
.
provide . f a c i l i t i e s o r equipment s o t h a t people can 'leave t h e i r o r b i t i n g . . . .. .
ship. 8incetJthe o r b i t l i e s i n , t h e zacuum of outer space it w i l l be necesa- . .
ary f o r any one t o leave t h e s h i p t o don a pressurized suit, The m n is . L r , . . . , . ;
e s s e n t i a l l y garbed i n t o a .fiber,reinforced rubber s u i t w i t h f l e x i b l e
., ..
:,
.,,, .
j o i n t s and i t is possible 'to walk with such .a s u i t . Also t h e r e is almost
one-half of normal atmospheric pressure i n s i d e t h e s u i t . It is question. .
able, however, whether such s u i t fashioned a f t e r the'.biiman shape i s q u i t e . .,.,,,. ,.
i .,s:; . I ~ .'..
i d e a l f o r assembly operations t o be perfoimed i n an o r b i t . In the first
.'
place, i n order t o build-something you usually donlt',riseh your f e e t b u t .
,..
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,
Secondly,
.you
have
t
o
.use
q
u
i
t
e
;
compllcated
t
o
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l
s
t
o
.
only ymr hands.
do a decent assembly job i n a n o r b i t ' a n d f o r t h l b reason I believe that
space s u i t s t o be used f o r such o r b i t a l assembly work may a c t u a l l y look
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quite different.
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The next s l i d e sh@S what they might look l i k e . -This is &ctuaU$",,,. -.

.
no longer a suit. It looks more l i k e a :coke b o t t l e . 'It' is' I:r i g i d
container which is pressurized i n s i d e witha man looking out through a
glass dome a t the top, '%e operator would be strapped t o a kind of a

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.

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couch i n s i d e t h i s b o t t l e and can t u r n himself around.within the b o t t l e .

..
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In flront of him w i l l be a whole panel of instruments. through which.,he,,;. ,,,-.;,;:.:
can operate these arkificia1:amei t h a t ' y o u see, s t i c k i n g O U % from
~
.the,: ,. .; :,,,:,: & , ,.,..7brt
b o t t l e . !be arms can be r e t r a c t e q .and .at --the-ei?d!bf e&Ch!%rtTi
'Can Ud'' '
. , . ; a . :*.,.,.,. .
* .- a d i f f e r e n t kind of t o o l . It may be a hook o r a d r i l l i n g head .with-,,
various gage d r i l l s o r t h e r e may :$be:@ens arid 'mgnches, '.'e%''6eb3ra.
I

'

me t3ntire system iw+j

be..fa:SUoncjct~af~ i&aZI.~~Wi:'Say
method of operatinq-akput,ee'..~?igns.3-The man b3uTd d h d UibS
by b u i l t - i n gyroscop,es ,.whiq&he can, contmol M%h .a''stesrfng
t o acquire any s p e ' c i ~ ' ' ~ . ~ t t u d ewishes:
. , ~ : . by .usYn& t h e ! farce
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r o c k e t .mbt.ore 'onb' o , t ~o
There
will
a
h
o
.
gyros
canopy and t h e o t h e r at,.&he.bottam pf+t h e bot3jl.e'whi~h'~.coa
f o r transfer of motions: - ,Ti-+rus,t.2
required would b&'b
a few pdmds,
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Next d i d o , please. k i t h such equipment we could s e r i o u s l y think

of assembling an o r b i t a l s t a t i o n . Now what w i l l such an o r i b t a l s t a t i o n
look l i k e ? I don't know. lllaybe i t i s smarter t o build a number of
small ones, maybe we want t a cram a l o t o f equipment i n t o a l a r g e station.
This i s immaterial. .
. \

**

..': On tha r i g h t s i d e of t h i s p i c t u r e you see a l a r g e wheel-shape*d space

s t a t i o n which should be construed more or h s s . a s a proposal as t o wh2%
you could possibly dn yi$-h a space s t a t i o n and it is not nec5:;sarily a
proposal t h a t a space s t a t i o n must l o o k p a r t i i $ L a r l y l i k e it and must be
t h a t large. In f a c t , i t can be a l o t smaller i f you want t o reduce t h e
equipment sboard o r +prefert o have s e v e r a l s m a l l o r ones.
The wheel-shcpe has been chosen f o r the purpose of doing away with
t h e pbrmanent weightless condition prevailing i n t h e orbit. B y p u t t i n g
a spin on such a ivheel you could provide an a r t i f i c i a l o r synthetic
g r a v i t y i n t h e r i m . The rrheel v ~ o u l dspin slowly around i t s hub and gob'
can simulate one 'IG1'a c c e l e r a t i o n i n tho r i m or one-third *'GI1 i f t h a t is
,
considered s u f f i c i e n t .
A t ar.y r a t s , you c8n give people t h e i r weight back:
H c p vould ,it be possible

The people o f
build such 8
l a r g e s t a t i o n i n an o r b i t and how could me build t h e equ4pmcnt up t o do
t h i s ? The cargo holds i n each h r g e rocket s h i p ~5.11alt;;ays be l i m i t e d
sn one o f the most important t h i n g s w i l l be you can ship t h e p a r t s up
*small enough t o be s t a i d away i n t h e cargo holds. One m y o f doing it
-is fiJldinr; them together and i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r proposal I had envisioned
t o b u i l d the space s t q t i o n o f ten or f i f t e e n segments 7 f rubber impregnated
: fkber , g l a s s o r sqme m a t e r i a l s i m i l a r t q that used i n rubber f l a t s or
, rubber rafts and put the ring s h e e t spacc s t a t i o n tognther f r o m t h e s e
&ions.
I

6curse i - o u l d l i v e i n - t h e r i m .

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1 . 3

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A f t e i - t h e assembly has! beenl completed and, 2.11 sections joined together, t h e e n t i r e u n i t can be i n f l a t e d liki hn automobile-tirG and t h i s
would provide not o n l y t h e necessary r i g i d i t y t v t h e s t r u c t u r e but a 1 s 0 4 '
t h e atmosphere within the t i r e i n r h i c h people couldl l i v e .
*

.Of a > u r s e f o r an extendbd s t a y i t would be necessary t o replenish

t h e a i r and provide an a i r cnnd4tioning system and oxygen replenishing

..
system and C02 removal system i n t h e s t a t i o n .
May I have t h e next s l i d e , please? Inside such a space s t a t i o n may
contain a l l sorts o f equipment. There wmld be mom f o r s c i e n t i f i c
labokatories wherein t h e e f f e c t s nf vacuum, cosmic r a d i a t i o n . botannicnl
and zoological l i f e i n o u t e r spaco, and so-forth; could b e siudied.
SOTJhl) #4

,DR. &l?$'iUN:
There i w u l d be inboixttories i n t h e r i m where phenomena
can be studied which a r e not a c c e s s i b l e t o experimentati on o n the mound.
Such expcrimcn'ts m q y include questions i n n l v i n g b i G o g i c a l and zoological
l i f e under cnnditions of outer spice, c n ) m i cradiation, q+orobogiral
research whereby t h e e a r t h can be observed from t h e outside, astronomical
laboratories, e t cstcra. Close t o t h e space s t a t i o n t h e r e will be a
poqGrful telescope. If you aim t h i s telescope a t t h e heavens you can see
the planets unblurred by atmospheric e f f e c t s and we can expect t o be a b l e
t o take photographs of planots l i k e Mars o r J u p i t e r with unprecedented
clarity.
. .
u

I/

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If you t u r n the same telescope t o the ground it would be able t o

d i s t i n g u i s h ' a s much d e t a i l as you can see from a plane, say, f o u r o r
f i v e thousand f e e t up. This of course o f f e r s tremendous p o s s i b i l i t i e s
t o reconnaissance and both reconnaissance i n t h e , c i v i l i a n sense a s i n &he
By the c i v i l i a n reconnaissance X mean iceberg warnings
m i l i t a r y sex&,,
could be flashed t o ships, ex$editions could be observed as they proceed
over t h e Arctic p l a i n s and m i l i t a r y reconnaissance of course means you
could keep a watchful-eye on countries not accessible t o a e r i a l reconnaissance a i r c r a f t . As f a r a s t h e m i l i t a r y a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e s t a t i o n i s
concerned, It.seems even f e a s i b l e t o use such a platform i n space a s a
base f o r t h e bombing of obdectives on the ground. And it is my opinion
t h a t such bombing could be c a r r i e d out with a n unpreqedented accuracy
from such a s t a t i o n .

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C

May I have t h e next slide, please. The most important a p p l i c a t i o n

of a space s t a t i o n , however, w i l l be t h a t it can serve a s a jump off place
f o r t r i p s i n t o deeper space. Once we a r e i n t h e o r b i t we can disregard a
l o t of t h e requirements required f o r rockets capable of ascending t o an
o r b i t . I n %he first place we can completely f o r g e t about aerodynamic
drag and streamlining because any f l i g h t s i n t o deeper space w % l l be outs i d e ai' t h e atmosphere.

1
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0

Secondly, once we have a t t a i n e d o r b i t a l f l i g h t we can break away from

such o r b i t and go out i n t o deeper spac3 with very low t h r u s t r a t i n g s . The
reason i s simple. The weight of any s h i p i n t h e o r b i t i s sustained by the
c e n t r i f u g a l f o r c e i n t h e o r b i t . Any pound of t h r u s t you apply t o an o r b i t i n g
a r t i c l e i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n w i l l enhance t h e speed and c a r r y the object
f a r t h e r from earth. It can be varied out with micro G ' s of acceleration.
"his i s a g r e a t d i f f e r e n t from take-off from the ground where it i s obvious
you have t o have a t h r u s t %hat exceeds t h e weight of t h e s h i p simply t o
l i f t it off t h e ground.

For example; a t r i p from a spade s t a t i o n around t h e moon and back t o

the space s t a t i o n vrould look something l i k e t h i s . It would simply be a
Wingless h u l l made up of a n upper stage of a three-stage surface-to-orbit
rocket ship and it would be surrounded with a s t r i n g of seven peripheral '
t a n k s which simply add f u e l t o t h i s vehicle and w i t h one l i t t l e Freak
engine i n t h e r e a r we. can power t h i s ship t o f l y a l l t h e way from t h e
space s t a t i o n around t h e moon and induce it back i n t o t h e space s t a t i o n ' s

.*4

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We w i l l got used. t o forms l i k e t h i s i n the f u t u r e when we a r e t a l k i n g

about deep :space ships. ;
.

May I have t h e n e k s l i d e , please. O f course before we can fly people

t o t h o o r b i t it would be necessary t o provide ways and means of returning
6
people and it i s my opinion t h a t t h o r e t u r n from an o r b i t i s a task: More
formidable t h a n attainment of o r b i t a l m g h t i t s e l f . In 'other words, tho
problem of hurling , a s m a l l object o r even an 3nstrumented object inCo
. j. , , '
a s a t t e l i t o o r b i t t h a t is nbt e a r t h returnable i s e s s e n t i a l l y a question''
:
of brute force, bbt t o r e t u r n poople,safely from an orbit; is a question
. ..
t h a t involves a l l faenl);ieu:*'ofI :'&odern physical science. The reason o r
.t h i s i s simple. 'ire can not .afford t o land a space s h i p .from a n o r b i t by
, :*
slowing it down frm i t s o r b i t a l speed with propellants. , The reason f o r
'
t h i s i s easy t o see. .. yye.havet o destroy t h e sama energy on tho m y d m
This
we impartod on tho pbject ta bring it up,thera i n t h e f i r o t place.

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w u l d Ecjvrn we would r2bugbly naFd ,the ..same,

. . . mountlpf. pro$ellsnC t o land
;a s h i p mitb.;Fca:ket pcr;er' alcnz' t%t ms.ngeess'ary. t o , bring it up th&e
an%-of codf-se %hi$ q e l : ; . ;. . ~ u l d csns,tltutF. paylcad ' f z r . ,t h e ascent, so !
i n i t i a l l y the ' hip :must b + ;much larger : if:it .\?ere t o carry enuigh fuel
: . f & t h e descent,':b$t tfiere'.isa, s h o r t c u t ' $ 0 tQs..problern.
, .
. . . .. ? : , ' i t s
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If we depend on aerodynamic deo3loration during t h e descent we can

put t h e atrncsphere t o use tc-, slow us dgwn, b u t t h i s means t h e s h i p must
re-enter t h e atmosphere a t 18,000 miles an hour and from t h i s speed we
must gradually slow it down again. %is croates a formidablo aerodynamic
heating pr3blcm. If we descend a t these high speeds d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e
deeper layers of the atmosphere our ship wcjuld obviously burn up and we
wouldn't have a chance t o b u i l d it sturdy enclugh a d i n such fashion t h a t
t h e pecrplo could survive t h e t r i p , but i f we equip the s h i p with winds
we can g l i d e it out, r e t a r d t h e ship a t very high a l t i t u d e s where the
density i s n ' t high enough t o c r e a t e much heat f l u c t u a t i o n and r a d i a t e heat
through the wings. We can keep it a t the high a l t i t u d e provided our wings
are l a r g e enough. This is t h e upper s t a g e of a n o r b i t a l ship as wsuld be
required t o come down. The amazing t h i n g about such e a r t h returnable
winged upperstages i s that t h e i r landing speed would be extremely low.
In f a c t , t h i s s h i p would land a t sQmethj,fig 3.lk-e 60 miles an hour. It is
not t h a t we ccmldn't maRe it land f a s t e r k t we have t o provide it with
r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e wings i n order t o be a b l e tr, d e c e l e r a t e it a t s u f f i c i e n t l y
high a l t i h d e s s o 9% is t h e heating problem that governs wtng s i z e and
not landing speed. %en you f i g u r e it out B t hanpens t h a t the wing loading must be s o low t o achieve t h i s t h a t the landing spoed of t h i s mp3y
can with 1x1 f u e l aboard, j u s t passengers aboard, trpould be so l ~ twh a t t h e
landing speed i s a c t u a l l y i n t h e order o f 60 miles an hour. This m u l d
terminate the t r i p t o t h e o r b i t .
On %he approach t 9 tho landing field t h e s h i p would run out tricycle
landing gear and f i n a l l y land on t h e s t r i p l i k e a normal airplaaed.

ADMIRAL BRIGGS: Gentlemen, Dr. Von Braun has kindly consented t o

a n m r any questions you may have, and I presume t h a t you w i l l have l o t s
of them.

Colonel Abblitt, w o u l d you l i k e t o take t h e first question.

XOLONEL ABBLITT: I n t h e book lfAcross t h e Spsce Fromkier" of which
you are co-author, it s t a t e s t h a t a powerful telescope can keep under
observation a l l the oceans, cnuntries, and cities. (Cut)

I n another place it states that t o t h e naked eye t h e day side of

t h e e a r t h appears as glaring white patches of overcast resdtiw fmm
t h e l i g h t of t h e sun.
It appears t h a t an inspection of military value is most questionable
a t 1000 miles and above. Would you comment on t h i s capability, please?

DR. BRAUN: I think t h e emphasis of your question i s on the word

llovercastll. Photographic reconnaissance through overcast is impossible
with o p t i c a l means from an a i r c r a f t a s much as from a space s t a t i o n , and
t h e glaring white patches refer t o ChQ overcast and n o t t h e c l e a r areas,
As f a r a.s photographing through t h e atmosphere from a thousand miles i s

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concerned+rrrcvUhink that you will get a very high quality photograph.

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The reason i s the followings

'

I n astkonomical telescopes have t o photograph through the atmosphere but their atmosphere..ia within and i n a very short distance, frbm
the telescope so that l i t t l e atmospheric turbulence is right i n the
vlcinity or even within the.instnunent itself and therefore really blurs
the picture. When you W e photographs with a sindlar optical system
from-outer apace
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i n s i d e t h e atmosphere,, .thGze Zifimospherie disturbances and turbulences

a r e f a r away and t h e atmofphere i s f a r more transpareht from optside
than underneath. You can compare the s i t u a t i o n , w i t h a piece of o i l
paper. If you hold it close i n f r o n t of your f a c e it is opaque,
whereas i f yc~uhold i t on a pjece of newsprint i s p e r f e c t l y transparent.
You have very much t h e same s i t u a t i d n here, -90 I believe the q u a l i t y *
of t h e photographic p i c t u r e s takBn with powerful optical' systems from
an o & i t w i l l a c t u a l l y b e q u i t e good,

'
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fiDMIkALtBRIGQSt.,,.,F o m
1 n
. d e r Finn,
do you have.,a question?
,"
k

CQMifANDFR FINN: Dr. von Pram; i t bs..been said t&t you could
bomb frgm'a spdce, s a t e T l i t e w i t h devastating *accuracy:using guided
m i s s Ue.s, I presump,,.,.Would you, within t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i u n , i n d i c a t e
why it would b e easier .%'&'bomb, say, S'city U,ke New York from a, space
s a t e l l i t e than f r o T l a plane o r land-launched guided missixe?
-I

_ .

DR. R
E
A
m Let me make a - l i t t l e sketch t o e e l a i n t h e pro(1em.
.
Suppose t h i s here i s the e a r t h qnd t h i s is an orbit. around the e a r t h
through which t h e space station-3,s t r a v e l l i n g i n t h i s direction. If
p u f i r e a guided m i s s i l e backwards from a space s t a t i o n , imparting
upon i t something &ike 400 meters p e r s e c m d o r approximately a
thousand p e r second, i n the opposite direction, t h e n ' t h e t o t a l speed
of t h i s missile w i l l be 18,000 .piles.pcr hour minus t h a t l i t t l E v e l o c i t y
you imparted i n the opposite dLrection and a s a result your gvided
missile w i l l s t i l l go $hrough aq e l i p t i c a l o r b i t snd you can choose a
"?melocity here where t h i s perigee p o i n t 'here j u s t f r i n g e s t h e upper
I t i p $mportant t o note t h a t duripg t h i s
' layer's, ,of t h e atmosphere;
'entire f l i g h t .through this',Blipse of descent o f t h e guided rmss i l e
h space:station and m i s s i l e w i l l ,alwayi b'e very c l ~ ' s ( together
,
because
. ' . they a r e both going along like t h i s .
*

4-

-,.+

.
4,

4%' t h i s p o i n t .he& wheh t h e perigee i s r r e a c h e d the missile

w i l l be'a' l i t t l e b i t ahead o f . t h e space s t a t i o n because i t s p e r i o d

of half revolution, t h e t i m e required 'ti0 travel. ,,from here t o here, '
i s shorter than f o r t h e space s t a t i o f i going frofi'here t o here. $9 a
r e s u l t , i t w i l l b e i n s l i g h t angularity ahcad-of the space station.
?

'

A t t h i s p o i n t t h & statim w i l l be here and t h e missile here.

The m i s s i l e now begins a g l i d e through the atmosphere, it i's winded
.
and w i l l descend deeper i n t o .the atmosphere, During t h i s e n t i r e
f l i g h t t h e space s t a t i o n w i l l stay overhead ~o,~.$.:,can keep t r a c k of
the missile even during t h i s - s t a g e , and s i m e ' t h e missile loses speed
here, where t h e space s t a t i o n does 'not, --th$ space s t a t i o n catches up
- .
angularly d t h t h e missile again,
'.
As t h e target comes i n v i e w t h e space s t a t i o n i s here and
t h e missil-e here. During t h e e n t i r e f l i g h t of t h e missile you
maintain l i n e of s i g h t betwcen space s t a t i o n and mis'sil-e an$..so a s
you approach t h e t a r g e t f i n a l l y even t h e t z r g e t comes w i t h i n l i n e o f
sfght. You can see the t a r g e t and missile simultaneously, The missile
w i l l c a r r y a r a d a r beacon and e i t h e r o p t i c a l telescope o r radar
telescope bracketed a t t h e t a r g e t and with a l i t t l e computer a t t h e
space s t a t i o n comparable to a n t i - a i r c r a f t missile you can make these
two l i n c s of s i g h t match a t t h e moment of impact.
This i s a method

t h a t can not b e used with i n t e r c o n t j n e n t a l b a l l i s t i c missiles,. You never

have t h e 3dvantage of seeing the t a r g e t , Here you have t h a t advantage,
So i t i s even f e a s i b l e t o fiF_a t qov.' g t a r g e t s .such as s h i p s on t h e *
seas by using t h t S ' p r i n c i p l c . Pop ne,e slcxt .know t h e geographic coordinate
e i t h e r i n which some of t h e people ,on $he qkher s8ideo f t h e I r o n Curtain
do not publish, usually,, go. as'long,a s , you see t h e o b j e c t and c a n keep
t r a c k of your missile by means ,of a radar beacon you can shoot a t it
e v e n ' i f yon don't know"its exact l b c a t i o n o r even if it i s a movlng '
'
target
. .
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.. .
I hope t h i s answers your question.

J
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RDMI R4L BRIGGS:

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a . , ,

Colonel Sapden.,

COLONEL SAMIEN: Doctor,' w i l l t h e space platform be.vulnerable t o

rocket attrtck frbm t h e e a r t h ' s surface?

DR, BRhUN: I n p r i n c i p l e , yes, b u t I t h i n k it would be a l o t more

d i f f i c u l t t o accomplish than m y appear a t t h e surface. L e t US w t
f o r g e t t h a t t h e major p o r t i o n of the ascent of a rocket whether manned
or unmanned t o a space' s t a t i o n i s an unpowered f l i g h t . You c a n r t apply
a t a r g e t seeking system t o an unpowsred rocket. You have t o power it.
That i s a n i n e f f i c i e n t wqy t o go up t o t h e space station. To b u i l d a
target-secking r o c k e t t o knock o u t a space s t a t i o n i s n ' t simple when
you have a. manned ship approaching a space s t a t i o n , you can carry
o u t a c t i v e navigation i n which t h e space s t a t i o n itself w i t h its r a d i o
and radar gear can support your rendezvous maneuver. If you don't g e t
t h a t cooperation from t h e space s t a t i o n and have t o depend on t a r g e t seeking mc%hods you have t o apply power and a l l necessary correction$"
i n t h e unnianned missile and this i s q u i t e a formidable problem.
I wouldn't say i t can't b e done, b u t it i s very d i f f i c u l t . It
has been Suggested t o f i r e a rocket i n t o t h e opposite d i r e c t i o n , opposite
o r b i t a l d i r e c t i o n of t h e space s t a t i o n and simply c l u t t e r up the orbit
with l i t t l e s l u g s o f steel o r some mass t h a t would hit t h e space s t a t i o n
l i k e l i t t l e meteors. This seems to b e a somewhat more promising method
because a space s t a t i o n wbuld s t a y i n t h i s o r b i t and so would t h e p a r t i c l e s
s c a t t e r e d i n t h e o r b i t . However, when I t a l k about using such a space
platform as a p o t e n t i a l bombing platform I am not necessarily r e f e r r i n g t o
a l a r g e well-shaped apace s t a t i o n l i k e the research s t a t i o n I discussed
before,

SOUND # 7

ADMIRAL BFUGGS;
COMMANDER ROGERS;
used i n o u t e r space?

DR. BRAUN:
space platform?

Commander Rogers.

D o c t o r , w h a t system of communications w i l l be

Db you mean communication between t h e e a r t h

.

rl

l b

and t h e

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Ye$, - between e a r t h and space' piatform.
.,
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COWiYDEb ROGERS:

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DR. BRAUN': E s s e n t i a l l y rzdio.. There is only one complication * "

i n this radio system, t h a t l i e s i n the f a c t thalt.the space s t a t i o p
t r a v e l s over s u b s t a n t i a l portinn of Lbe e a r t h a l l t h e time and ybu can.
not communicate with any po5ht on e a r t h all t h e time w i t h a space statton.
It require? a network of h d i o s t a t i o n s on the ground and only a. fkw'
s t a t i o n s can.be i d ' c o n t a c t w i t h a s t s t i o n a t oqe time. S h o r t waves c r o s s
the ionosphere quitk easily and i t i s an established f a c t a,nd we kpTe ~.
,
l o t s of experience i n b a l l i s t i c missiles today t o know we 'can penetrat'e
t h e ionospQere 'quite e a s i l y with radio,
-

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4DMIRAL BRIGGS:

Commander Reed.

/ *

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COMMANDER RED: .Doctor, what system of navigation'would b e used

t o l o c a t e a space ship?
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- r

Do you hean navigation' f o r t h e crew'of the"shgp?,

I n o t h c r wc'rds, .hoW*'wotild the crew navigate i t s ship?

DR. BRAUN:

COFlM4NPFR' kPD:
t o p o i n t B i n 'space.

How would you navigate. a space sNp. from p o i n t

*

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;.

.I .'

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If these p o i n t s are c l o s e together .ym could do it

c p t i c a l l y . You' determine the p o s i t i o n of point B. ta. wNch ypu 'are
t r a v e l i n g again'st background of stars, determine i t s p o s i t i o n and motion
and then feed the necessary correction i n t o your speed s o as t o match
t h i s p o i n t a t the pre-determined time. Now i f it i s a navigation pl40blem.
of over g r e a t e r distance such qs, s h a l l we say, t h e rende%vousproblem
of the arr5ving space ship with a space strition, you would apply techniques
l i k e taking radar o r o p t i c a l bearings and if the questiqn, i s ,t o s e t up
t h e ship f o r r e t u r n maneuver a t e a r t h if you w a n t t o l a n d ' a t a predetermined spot on the earth, t h e emphasis would b e t o put,.rigM a t t i t u d e
on tHe s h i p f o r i n i t i a l landing maneuver and a l s o time i t properly. This
can be done w i t h clocks, s i g n a l s from t h e ground and also detcrming y6ur
.'
p o s i t i o n above the ground simply by measuring w h t p o i n t ycu a r e j u s t passing ovler o n the' surface of the earth. For grea$er distances f r o m - .
the 'earth,' star measurements behind t h e r i m of the e a r t h and moon' a r e
an effective way of maneuvering. I t h i n k navigation would be ca&ied o u t
with d$!$erent
means; b u t most of them would be optic'ally and by means
of radar'.

*.
9

Colonel Habeger.
b

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.IL

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ADMfRqL BRIGGS;

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DR. RR4UN:

8 3

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COaNJ3L HABEGER: Doctor, what would b e i h e expe'cted l i f e span

of a space ship, ' c o n s i d e r f n g ' i t might c o l l i d e with meteorites o r d u s t
*
t o increase
p a r t i c l e s i n space and could'arly p r o t e c t i v e means be devised
this l i f e span?
. .

..

DR. SRtUN:' The"question of lifetime 2nd protectibn gcj c l o s e l y

together, I t i s known from shooting star observations t h a t frequency
and <abundance'of small meteors increase a s ' t h e i r s i z e decreases, So t h e
smaller, ones a r e t o f e a r And the b i g ones are.few and f a r between i n
, o u t e r space. Fortunately, the smslier ones can b e wdrded o f f q u i t e e a s i l y
with a r e l a t i v e l y . t H i n armor of dural o r s t e e l . Even the s k i n of a
noma1 a i r l i n c r w m l d ' g i v e you protection a g a i n s t shooting stars up to .
about, 1/16th magnitude. If you want mow you would use s t e e l t o do i t
b u t t h e weight penalty wouldnrt b e severe. "he h u l l i t s e l f provides q u i t e
a b i t o f protection. Dr. Fred Whipple of Harvard 4stronomical Observatory
has proposed so-called meteor bumpers t o p r o t e c t rocket s h i p s and space
stations. A meteor bumper i s simply nothing but, a t h i n steel o r dural
skin spaced about an inch o r t w e d t s i d e c f t h e inner h u l l of t h e m c k e t
o r space s t a t i o n and t h e meteor impinging upcn this surface would simply
evaporate due t o t h e impact and it may p u t a l i t t l e dent i n t h e meteor
bumper b u t noit harm t h e surface underneath. If t h e meteor i s l a r g e enough
t o penetrate this bumper it w i l l r i p q u i t e a hole i n this because t h e
e f f e c t i s 8 a i r f a c e explosion on t h e me+albecause-the k i n e t i c energy
is immediately transforma3 t o heat. To answer your question of lifetime,
we think we can provide p r o t e c t i m up t o absut, without a n undue weight
penalty shooting stars up t o about 1 2 t h o r 1 4 t h magnitude which means
t i q y particle:; not l a r g e r than a g r a i n of salt, b u t those a r e really t o
f e a r . With such p r o t e c t i o n it is possible t o p r o t e c t ship o r space
s t a t i o n f o r a pericd of say f i v e o r t e n years. That i s of course a
s t a t i s t i c a l figure. It means l i k e l i h o o d s of penetration would b e one
p e n e t r a t t c n i n f i v e o r t e n years. you can e a s i l y s t e p t h i b up t o ten
-years o r thcusand years by j u s t p r o v i d i n g ' s l i g h t l y more mterial on tk
meteor bumper.
.

8:-

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SOUND #8'

ADMIRAL BIUCGS:

Cr?lonel Swre.

COLONEL SAYRF:' Dr. v m Braun, i n viekt'pf our r a p i d advances i n

the f i e l d of atqmic power do y ~ u
think we rhight u t i l i z e a series of s m a l l
atomic explosions t o propel this rocket o u t i n t o o u t e r space?

DR, BRAUN: I d o n t t think atomic explosions i s t h e r i g h t word but

i t i s q u i t e conceivable t h a t an atcmic reactof. type r'ocket may.sc?me day
replace the chemical r x k e t . fis t h i n g s stand today, 'hcwcVer, t h e chemical
rocket s t i l l appears to b e superior a t l e a s t f o r launching f r o m t h e s u r f a c e
of t h e earth. The reason i s t h a t temperature limits i n the r e a c t o r i t s e l f
are q u i t e severe and i n f a c t you cannot' everi a t t a i n tenperaturss as high
a s i n a chemj-cal combus$$on i n - a n atomic r e a c t o r due t o t h e l i m i t a t i o n s
impns,&d,by t h e melting p 6 i n t o f &tterials'iA ) t h e Eeaictor, SO thee f q i c i e n c i e s of a h c l e & rocket' is' not y e t as:high as that- oE.:a chemical
rocket. I am not saying t h a t . i b i s hopoles'siIt0 build atomic' r o c k e t s - t h a t
can d e p a r t from the earth, b u t as of tcday they c a n ' t ma.tch -theperformame
o f chemical rockets yet,

GDMIRSI, BFUGGS:

Colonel Fairbanks, I believe you have a question.

',.'f.

^I

'Cbl!,oWM;'FAiRBA.NKS:-;..Do~;tor, i s there any significance i n your

n f t h e 1075 mile radius $h''&&cvrfoP the;.pstablishment of t h i s
selectic-n
.,.
,[
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,,
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.,
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:#
I.,.,.' .
' D R I " ' B R ~ ~ :*ere
;~,
i s g,nl;Jtcone p r a c t i c a l reason f a r ,it and t h a t
* '
Jks t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of continuous c o n k k t w i t h a ground. bqse whlch would
'',,quppc?rt''t h O '%pace @a$$~fi
.J$ i s e n t i r e l y unnecessary f o r a q a c e *ship
i . t&%'
goes 'dp occasiopaljr:, iii:$;ah' orbYt'nr.?foy: an unmanned o?$iter t o
PI-& *601e reason'for t h e choice of the
?!s. * ., g a t h e r . i ~ o n h a t j o n ' f r o mthe:.g?hund'.
!
,ff'
' 7~ ' J . O ~ ~ - , m t6'hi.t
b'
i s tb.t the,,'$;eriod:'bf evolution i n , m c h , an orbit w i l l be
exac%lytwo h o t ~ r sand the3e,:tyot hoursaare a n even f r a c t i n bf the
24 hours a.t which t h e e a r t h . ' r o t a t ~ S ^ , " ~ b ~~wn;ax&s
. ~ t . d ~ s ,so y p csn.,rsach
t h e space s t a t i o n from one given base on the ground once pe.rxI'5f;"l.f you
have t h a t c c n d i t i m t h a t t h .e .-perir,d
,
of revolution i s an'even :Pra&%ionof
24,
hours.
:1.
.
..I f i t were not, an,kvcn fmc!hicn you may have-,to wait a, few days
before you can make physjxal' ccnta'kt with t h e space. s t a t i o n again Kith
c:
another asceticling r F k e . t e

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S'

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[ I ,e:

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,I

e:

ADMI:R!L BRIGGS:
a question,

4.

'

Colonel Hooever, you l o o k kind of Sgstless w i t h

COLONEL HOOVER: Dr4,.tvop,sBrraun,I am not completely'clear on tt-ds

business of orbiting here and"th5s apogeeo It has been s t a t e d t h a t t h i s
f i r s t s a t e l l i t e vanguard w,ip't ..
1 be, p u t i n t o an e l i p t i c a l o r b i t r a t h e r t h a n
a circular o r b i t and I d o n t t ~ui'fd&stnrid why t h i s : i s b . e c a s g i t seems t o
me tht as the sateA3,ite
i s nearest t h e e a r t h a t t h a t p o i n t g r a v i t a t i o n a l
I,
$.! ;!-,-.;
p u l l would b e grea.$est: ,. , Q n s , $kvILaOi-6nal..pul
ving a d d i f f e r e n c e a t
v a r i m s times i n the orbit" wc$Ld.,&t%%I~
'tendenGy, to,ulz&alance o r upset
. t c L ? "..,
. ,. .+ ,$he satelylite orbit.
Could ycu explain t h a t a lkLt$e''m@,r~e,
. please.
.'

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L-0

DR, BRNJN: Gladly,, A &.rcu&W b r b i t c'an y t u a l l y be considered

. a s a , s p e c i a l case o f an e l y p t i c .or6it i n t h a t a. c i r c l e 4s a n e l i p s e where
the two'foct-coincide a@ ?ll'$rbits i n the,glanet.a,ry WGrld a r e a c t u a l l y
I
., 'mcre d r ' less e l i p t i c . Qen the e a r t h t s o r b i t amund he sun and moonfs
j.ffti+Pf *
c r b i t hfionnd the e a r t h a r e s l i g h t l y e l i p t i c , but ec,; t r i c i t y & these
e l i p s e s 5 s mall. The establishment of 'a rocketl i'n an exact c i r c u l a r
o r b i t requfres very scc,Y?te. ,velocity c?m%rol.,a&cut-off of the 'la st
. . stage and i n t h e minimum s a t k l l ' i t e 'such c1abora.b equipment -isi s would
be neces-Sqy t o -control
eds with exactitude would impose burdens on
j, !,I.'
- 1
s a t e l l i t e vehicles. It
shier t s ' g i v e the s a t e l l i t e a s l i g h t excess
veldcity a t cut-off of t h e , l a g t stage which p u t s it automatically i n an
e l l i p t i c ' o r b i t because you, b v e ' excess bf c e n t r i f u g a l forceo
,-'. .
a-, ,'
3P.j tr.

?;,#*I

)'.

,!e

3;

",

Such e l l i p t i c o r b i t is j u s t is stable as c-ircuiar o r b i t , , The

only thing, t h a t my make t h e minQbm*orbiter. s a n e w h a t unstable l i e s
i n the f a c t t h a t the lowest p*oints' of t h e ox'bit, the peeigee; s t i l l
f r i n g e s t h e atmosphere and may l o s e some v e l o c i t y . a s it msses through
t h e upper layers of the atmosphere,

e.

ADMIRAL BRIGGS:

Colonel Homer, do p u have aqy mare questions?

COLONFL HORNER: Doctor, j u s t how far, within t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o q - ,

of this conference, of course, how f a r do you .thi%k that t h e Russians
o r other nations of t h e world have gotten i n this space travel program?,,

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,:,

SOUND #9

I.

DR. B R A h t

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,
,

a-

I c e r t a i n l y thank you f o r a v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g

DR. von BRAUN,

presentation.

...

Thank you very much. ( c u t )

I

SOUND #lo

,,.
. . . ,'V..

1-

C$PTA&N SCdW4R'E: Doctor, would you c a r e t o comment on th

r e l a t i o n s h i p of p r o j e c t Vanguard, t h e s a t e l l i t e program, t o t h e
' :
geophysical year?

..

DR. BRtUN: The geophysical year k5 an i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o j e c t which

is scheduled f o r 1957 and 1958 under which a great number o f nations
have agreed t o make...
public(?)
of anything known
the properties
of t h e earth. The United S t a t e s Government has announced i t s p a r t i c i p a t i o n
i n t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l geophysical yew not only with a satellite, b u t

...

with a 10,tof o t h e r p r o j e c t s and the s a t e l l i t e has been t i e d i n because

it is r e a l i z e d t h a t a s a t e l l i t e , even a very small s a t e l l i t e can contributle

a l o t to men's basic knowledge on t h e p r o p e r t i e s of the earth.

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Them are o t h e r p i e c e s of information, f o r example, the geodetic

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survey of sucli s a t e l l i t e from various p o i n t s on earth simultaneously would' ,_ . ,
improve our knowledge on the l o c a t i o n of t h e c o n t i n e n t s with respect t o
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each o t h e r ' a n d I understand t h a t so f a r the relative l o c a t i o n of the
Eurasian land mass compared : t ,the.
~ llmerican c o n t i n e n t ' i s known with an'
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accuracy of only:500 yards, .with a c l o s e s a t e l l i t e a t - l&
'altitudes a f e w . : : .
hundred miles up it is felt t h i a could be impmfmd to'wi'thin t e o~
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twenty yards.
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DR. I3R4I.INt Well, i t looks l i k e t h e Russians a r e very w e l l aware

of t h e c a p a b i l i t i e s of rackets, both f o r long rabge and a n t i - a i r c r a f t ,
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purposes, ..and c e r t a i n l y r e a l i - z e the f e a s i b i l i t y of an o r b i t e r . I b e l i e v e
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they are working hard a t it and I s t i l l hope we w i l l b e . f i r s t up t b r e ' o f , , .
course, bu't I think w e have no t i m e t o l o s e i f we w a n t t o be f i r s t ,In an
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orbit. ( c u t )
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ADNIXAX., BIUGGS: I am afraid t i m e has caught up with -usand y e .

are going t o have t o terminate this conference,

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ADMIRAL BRIGGS:

Colonel White.

0
0

COLONFL WHTTF: Doctor, my question h a s t o do with maximum v e l o c i t i e s

i n space. From w h t I h v c read and from your discussion today, I understand
t h a t t h e o r e t i c a l l y there i s no l i m i t t o the speed t h a t man can a t t a i n i n
space. bo you c a r e t o comment on t h i s area?

DB. ERAUN: fis f a r a s rockets a r e concerned- and they arc? probably

the only conceivable vehtclks to build .up very great spee.ds i n -out&
space- there i s no p r a c t i c a l , no t h c o r e t i c a l l i m i t i n sight. There i s a
very d e f i n i t e p r a c t i c a l l i m i t a t i o n s e t by t h e amount of f u e l t h a t such a
rocket can carry. Tnd i t i s one o f the reasons that t h e f i r s t endeavor
w i l l b e colicentrated upon p u t t i n g something i n t o qn o r b i t t h q t t h i s
l i m i t a t i o n exists; The speed i n an o r b i t is a p p r o x i m t e l y f o u r miles p e r
second, the low o r b i t , and t h i s i s about the maximum we think we can g e t
with chemical f u e l rockets.

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Of course, i t i s coneeivable to b u i l d rockets t b t b u i l t up

higher speeds, b u t t h e r a t i o between f u e l consumed and payload it w i l l
carry becomes l e s s and less and f i n a l l y . payload becomes i n s i g n i f i c a n t .

Now, a t the o t h e r end of the l e d g e r t h e r e i s d e f i n i t e t h e o r c t i c a l

limits f o r speed you can a t t a i n a t a l l , physical l i m i t imposed by t h e
laws of nature and tht i s the speed of l i g h t . That specd i s 160,000
m i l e s p e r second so w e s t i l l have a long way t o go before thi.s w i 3 , l ever
be of any p r a c t i c a l significance. The theory of r e l a t i v i t y of
Dr. Einstein decrees that no o b j e c t can exceed the speed o f l i g h t , The
i n e r t i a of mass approaches i n f i n i t y 3s you approach t h e speedof l i g h t
and, therefore, it would t s k e an i n f i n i t y t h r u s t t o a c c e l e r a t e anything
beyond t k a t speed. That i s a t h e o r e t i c a l l i m i t , b u t a s I said, w e a r e
s t i l l a long way off.
SCFNEX-6,

TlICE1

COLONEL SAYRE: Dr. Braun, i n view o f our rapid advances in the

f i e l d of atomic power, do you f e e l t h e r e i s a p o s s i b i l i t y o f utilia,ing
a s e r i e s of small atomic Fxplosions t o propel this rocket out i n t o
o u t e r space?
SCFNE X-7,

TIKE 1

COMMAWDFR FINN: Dr. von Emun, it has been s a i d t k a t you could

bomb the e a r t h with extreme accuracy f r o m a space s a t e l l i t e , say, with
guided missiles. Wnuld you, w i t h i n t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , explain w h y
it would be easier t o bomb New York fmm a s a t e l l i t e than from, say,
a plane o r land-launched guided missile? ( c u t )

SCENE X-8,
COLOWL WHITE:
i n space. From what
I k v e formulated an
the maximum v e l o c i t y
point, please?
(Repeat)

T4KF 1

Dr. Braun, my question has t o do w i t h v e l o c i t i e s

I have read and what you k v e had to say today,
opinion tht t h i s theory man c a n t t possibly reach
i n space. Would you care t o comment on t h i s

SCFNE X-7, T4KE 1

'4

COLONFL QBPLITT:
Dmtor, i n t h e %ook f'4cross t h e Space Frontier"
of which you are co-author, i t s t a t e s t t - a t a powerful telescope can keep
under i n s p e c t h n a l l oceans, c o u n t r i e s and citi,es j u s t a s a n observation
plane a t 4000 feet. I n a n o t h e r p l a c e it states, -that (cut).
SCENE x-9,

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TA& 2

COLONEL ABBIJTTr I n - a n o t h e r place it states tht t o the n a b d

eye t h e day s i d e of t h e e a r t h appears as a g l a r i n g white patch of
overcast which i s due t o t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e l i g h t of t h e sun.

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r e s u l t i n g fmm t h e r e f l e c t i o n of t h e sun. I t q p e a r s t h a t t h e inspection

o. f m i l i t a r y value,.is.most questionahle. Would you care t o comment on

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