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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1468.PDF
572 FLIGHT, 12 1961 Missiles and Space flight Washington From KENNETH OWEN President of the IAF is Leonid I.Sedov, whose address to the Congress is referred to in column I below. Conspicu- ously absent were his compa- triots Gagarin and Titov, who were refused US visas the shrines and monuments of your Nation's Capitalvirtually surround the Marriott Twin Bridge," ran the _ Marriott Motor Hotel's welcoming brochure. "It is only two minutes from the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial andArlington Cemetery. Only four minutes from the White House. Located on Highway US 1 and Virginia 350 (Shirley Freeway),between Washington National Airport and the Pentagon. Only three minutes from the central business district of Washington, theMarriott is your most convenient headquarters for business and pleasure." Last week the Marriott was also our most convenient headquar-ters for the twelfth Congress of the International Astronautical Federation. Delegates were being exposed to 21 in Television andHi-fi Radio in Every Room, Automatic Guest Laundromat, two fine Hot Shoppe restaurants. Conveniently Located Soft DrinkMachines and Free Ice. Free Parking Spaces. Fast and Convenient Drive-in Registration and Checkout—and much more besides.It certainly made a change from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm last year—and from Church House. Westminster, theyear before. But, on Monday, October 2, it was in the auditorium of theNatural History Building of the Smithsonian Institution that dele- gates gathered for the official opening ceremony. They werewelcomed by Dr Samuel Herrick, chairman of the congress com- mittee, and then heard the opening remarks of 1AF PresidentLeonid 1. Sedov of the Soviet Union, followed by an address by the Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration, Dr Hugh L. Dryden. Dr Herrick's welcome was extended on behalf of the three hostsocieties—The American Rocket Society. American Astronautical Society and Aerospace Medical Association. Academician Sedovtraced the achievements which had marked the first four years of the "cosmic era" and mentioned, in addition to the achievements,the birth of projects the results of which "will astound the world in the near future." The developments of spaceflight had had a greatinfluence not only on science and technology but on many other aspects of life also. International co-operation on a world scale in cosmic explorationwas greatly needed and would be of great use. Academician Sedov stated, but at present was unfortunately limited. One major taskof the IAF was to facilitate and promote such co-operation, and the contacts made and information exchanged at the Federation'scongresses formed a good basis for developing the wider co-opera- tion and improvement in international relations which was neededso badly at the present time. Astronautics and Peace Dr Dryden recalled that the IAF had been founded in 1950, andArticle 1 of its first constitution had stated that the Federation "shall exist to promote and stimulate the achievement of spaceflight as apeaceful project." In recognition of the manner in which astro- nautics had developed during its first four years, a proposed newdraft of the 1AF constitution to be considered at the Washington meeting listed as the first objective "To advance the developmentof astronautics for peaceful purposes." The IAF constitution included four additional aims, Dr Drydencontinued, which might be summarized as the widespread dissemina- tion of technical and other information; stimulation of publicinterest and support; encouragement of participation in research by international and national agencies and individuals; and co-operation with international and national agencies in all aspects of the natural and social sciences related to astronautics and the peace-ful uses of outer space. Dr Dryden continued: "Space exploration has advanced from therealm of phantasy and dream, through the stage of discussion of conceptual schemes to a demonstration of technical feasibility.The greatest needs of the immediate future are the stimulation of widespread public support nationally and internationally and theachievement of co-operative efforts on a global scale. "Widespread public support requires a major effort from all of us to interpret to people of many backgrounds not only the 'how'but also the "why" of space exploration. To describe our object i\e merely in terms of a technical task, i.e. to send a three-man expeditionto explore the Moon, fails to secure the support of many, particu- larly of my generation. We must explain again and again the rolein a scientific and technological age of an activity which catalyzes and integrates the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge. Thereal values lie in the major development in science and technology, applicable to what man will do in space rather than in the mereaccomplishment of setting foot on the Moon. "The large sums of money required in this effort are not spentin outer space or on the Moon; they are spent in the factories, workshops, and laboratories for salaries, materials and supplies.The new knowledge and experience are transferable to other areas of industry, as in the past in the development of the automobile,aeroplane, and nuclear reactor. Education will profit. Society will gain through the discipline of co-operation in a major task. Wemust convince the public that the exploration of space is an activity of critical importance for the future of science, industry, education,and public welfare in every nation, and that funds so spent will return benefits many-fold. Perhaps the lessons of the history ofaeronautics may help . . ." Technical Sessions Begin The technical sessions of the congress got under way on themorning of Tuesday, October 3, when the Persian Ballroom 1. Potomac Ballroom and Persian Ballroom 2 of the Marriott re-sounded respectively to talk of space propusion, astrodynamics, and space law. Included in the propulsion papers were Status of theUS Nuclear Rocker Program by Harold B. Finger of NASA; Propulsion of the Final Stage of a Satellite Launcher Using LiquidHydrogen as Fuel by A. W. T. Mottram of Bristol Siddeley Engines: and Examination of the Characteristics of Propulsion Sytems forInter-orbital Transfer, written by P. A. E. Stewart of Hawker Sid- deley Aviation and read at the congress by Dr W. F. Hilton. Mr Mottram's paper was concerned with the possible design ofa third stage of the proposed Blue-Streak-based three-stage European vehicle. The benefits derived from the high specific impulse whichcould be achieved using hydrogen outweighed the disadvantages of low density, he indicated, and the need for accurate injection intoorbit made the use of a low-thrust vernier phase attractive for the liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen third stage envisaged. How longshould this vernier phase last? Beyond a certain duration it became necessary to extend thevernier phase, because of the siting of control centres, to include one complete circuit of the Earth. This offered two additionaladvantages: the vehicle was under power all the time, avoiding the need for re-orientation and re-light after a coasting phase; and thefinal phases of the trajectory, where maximum guidance accuracy was needed, would be within range of the launching site. Most ofthe guidance equipment could be concentrated, so reducing cost and communication difficulties, and the author had therefore chosen thistype of trajectory. A useful payioad of 1.0151b could be launched into a 5.000-milecircular polar orbit using liquid hydrogen, compared with 6001b using hydrogen peroxide/kerosine (in which case four stages wouldbe required). Both types of vehicle would use the same expensive booster stages. A further example of the potential of liquid hydrogen was offeredby Mr Mottram in the form of a suggested two-stage vehicle based on Black Knight. The addition of a liquid-hydrogen second stagewould make possible the launching into orbit of a 3001b payioad into a 300-mile circular orbit at "a remarkably low cost." Mr Finger, who is Assistant Director for Nuclear Applicationsof NASA and manager of the joint NASA/Atomic Energy Com- mission Space Nuclear Propulsion Office, gave a lucid review o! heUS nuclear-rocket scene. When one viewed the requirement o\ extensive exploration of space, he pointed out, it became evi entthe propulsion systems having high specific impulse were esser ial if manned interplanetary flights were ever to occur. Current ro *et
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