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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0516.PDF
524 FLIGHT, 20 April 1961 Missiles and Spaceflight. .. APRIL 12 IN FLORENCE <4t the Palazzo Pitti, Mayor Giorgio La Pira of Florence (left) congratulates Prof Anatoly Blagonravov of the Soviet Academy of Sciences on the historic Russian achievement. News of the COSPAR conference itself—which produced a wealth of new information—will be given in next week's issue From Kenneth Owen of "Flight," Florence, April 12 IN the magnificent surroundings of the Palazzo Pitti in Florence,the big news spread quickly among scientists attending thesecond Space Science Symposium organized by the International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). One of the first to beinformed of the launching—by journalists seeking expert comment —was Prof Anatoly Blagonravov of the Soviet Academy ofSciences, leader of the Russian delegation to the meeting. After checking on details by means of a telephone call to theSoviet Embassy in Rome, and accepting the excited personal congratulations of the Mayor of Florence, Prof Blagonravovattended a crowded press conference in the aptly named Red Room of the Palace. He began by saying:— "A great amount of work was done by Soviet scientists and engineersin preparation for the first manned spaceflight, which was carried out today. It is well known that we have launched five spaceships toverify the air-conditioning, temperatures, and so on—in a word, to prove the normal living conditions for a man in the space cabin. "We have also verified the communication system which permits usto judge about the condition, first of the dogs and now of the man in this cabin. Certainly our first concern was to provide the astronautwith a safe return to Earth, so that his spaceflight would not tell on his health. Our feeling was that the results obtained with the last space-ship, the fifth, made us sure that now we had all the conditions to carry out a successful manned spaceflight. "Certainly it goes without saying, the astronaut had to be fullyprepared for this flight. That is why, out of a great number of those who wanted to go on the first spaceflight, we have chosen several whowith regard to health and training were prepared for flight. All these people underwent special training, technical as well as physical. Theyunderwent training with regard to all the systems which were installed aboard the spaceship, and were prepared for small repairs to thisequipment if necessary. In a word, we have organized special training courses for these people. Besides that, every day they made specialphysical training. They got acquainted with the conditions of weight- lessness with the help of short flights. "In a special cabin they underwent training with regard to high-gravity loads, temperatures, and so on. Besides that, all of them are good instructors of parachuting. They all of them have the ability ofgood co-ordination of their behaviour and their body in space. Thus we have provided for any possible or probable mistake, in case some-thing went wrong. "The results of the first manned flight have proved that this systemof training was successful, because the first astronaut not only felt well during the launch into orbit (high loads, temperatures, weightlessness),but also he landed successfully. "Now I can add some biographical details. His name is Yuri Gagarin.He is a pilot in the Air Force of the Soviet Union. He is 26 years old [he was 27 last month—Ed.], and was born in the Region of Smolensk.He is married." Prof Blagonravov went on to answer specific questions. Thoseof us who had experienced the Professor's "answers" on similar occasions previously were not surprised to hear such statements as"the recovery was done in the same manner as it was done before in our first spaceships ... the dimensions of the spacecraft aresuch that the astronaut could feel comfortable ..." and other superb displays of diplomatic side-stepping. But even the journalists were in a forgiving mood today, andthe Professor rewarded us by letting slip some real items of infor- mation, such as the weight of the satellite (broadcast to the worldfrom Moscow some hours previously), the fact that the astronaut could participate in the recovery operation to "'a certain degree,"and the fact that, on this trip at least, he had no scientific task to perform—the science was left to the equipment on board. Why send a man up anyway, when instruments could do prettywell and were rather less fragile? "Yes, modern techniques can solve all problems which we put before ourselves. But I do notpreclude, in the further development, that the participation of man may be of great importance independently of the perfection of theautomatic equipment. We regard this achievement as the first step, and certainly this will lead to further results." While we were still working this one out, someone asked theinevitable question—had the launching been timed to coincide with the COSPAR meeting? "Probably COSPAR has timed itsmeeting to coincide with the launching," Prof Blagonravov suggested. One final question. Had there in fact been any previous attempt,successful or unsuccessful, to launch a man into orbit? The Professor looked Flight directly in the eye, and said firmly, "No.With the man it is the first attempt." After the conference the leader of the United States delegationto the meeting, Dr. Richard Porter, obliged with a careful comment: "Scientists of the United States will welcome this technologicalachievement by Soviet engineers and medical experts and by the Soviet astronaut, because it represents a further step in the explora-tion of space and will inevitably add to man's knowledge about himself and about the universe in which he lives. I am sure thatthis first step of man into space will inspire the minds of other men everywhere, and will lead to further accomplishments inengineering and science." Prof Sir Harrie Massey, chairman of the British National Com-mittee on Space Research, remarked that he was not surprised at the news. He had expected it "at any time" and it was an extraor-dinary technical achievement, particularly the successful recovery. Many of us, indeed, had expected this achievement, but thismorning we had been so busy noting the statements of the experts that we had not had time to sit back and consider the full implica-tion of the actual news. Now we recalled a white-haired professor, speaking quietly butproudly in the Red Room of the Palazzo Pitti, saying "His name is Yuri Gagarin. He is a pilot in the Air Force of the Soviet Union.He is 26 years old, and was born in the Region of Smolensk. He is married." And we realized that the new age was here. NORD REVEAL AS.12 AND AS.30 In a feature article on July 15, 1960, this journal published in somedetail the family of air-to-air and air-to-surface guided weapons developed by Nord-Aviation. Two of the most important membersof this family, and those most subject to security considerations, are the AS30, and the AS.I2 air-to-surface variant of the SS.12.Further details of both have now been divulged, prior to their exhibition next month at the Paris Salon. AS.12 Originally this weapon was a direct outgrowth fromthe familiar SS.10/SS.11 anti-tank family, but it now appears to have at least as great a future in the air-to-surface role. Either wireor radio guidance is available, the radio equipment being identical with that developed for AS.20 and AS.30. First application is onthe Breguet Alize of the Aerqnavale, which carries one missile under each wing. The AS.12 is 63in long, has a motor diameter of 7.1 in(the 55.21b warhead is of greater girth) and the cruciform of wings has a span of 25.6in. Launch weight is 1651b, and although ultimaterange from a surface launcher is less than 20,000ft, this figure rises to 33,000ft total slant range when the missile is launched from anaircraft flying at 373 m.p.h. The AS.12 spins as it flies, and the two- stage solid motor confers a terminal velocity of about 435 m.p.h. AS.30 In contrast, the rakish AS.30 has a burnout Machnumber of approximately two, and a radius of action of approxi- mately six miles. Essentially a scaled-up AS.20 (fully described irthe Flight issue already mentioned), the AS.30 has a body with a length of 153.5in and diameter of 13.39in, and a cruciform oshighly swept wings with a span of 39.4in; launch weight is in excess of 1,1001b. The AS.30 is guided by radio command, and wil!carry a tactical nuclear warhead when the French have developed one. Trials at Cazaux and Colomb-Bechar have mainly employedVautours, which normally carry four wing pylons (for AS.30s inboard and AS.20s outboard). Other important applicationsinclude the Etendard IVM and the Mirage III. ";
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