European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 15, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse A decade in space Nasa desolate forbidding the surface of the Moon in composite of photos taken by lunar ii in 1966 is Man s first target in the Conquest of space. The Moon the immediate goal by Howard Benedict a staff writer \ he immediate goal is the Moon Earth s lonely Crater pocked Satel achieve this the world s two most powerful nations have marshalled their scientific and technical Talent to Send Man on history s most challenging adventure. Despite obstacles he will reach the Moon. He will explore it. And he May inhabit Man Ever seeking to expand his horizons dreams of using the Moon Asa stepping Stone a springboard to the future. For beyond lie the planets an the far reaches of the solar system. Just 10 years ago these idea were unthinkable the reveries of science fic Tion they Are possible because of a galloping technology spawned by the bal Listic missile and space programs of the United states and the soviet Union. The spark that ignited this technological revolution was sputnik 1, a 184-Pound satellite that shot into orbit from a russian rocket base oct. 4, 1957. It startled the world. And the world has not been the same since. Russia proved the launching was no Fluke when a month later it Flung the 1,120-Pound sputnik 2 into space carry ing the dog Laika. America meanwhile had been taking its time developing the Vanguard Satel Lite rocket certain that no matter howling it took this nation would be the first to orbit a manmade array team headed by former Ger Man rocket expert Wernher von Braun had asked permission to orbit a Satel Lite in 1956 by adding an upper stage tits Redstone missile. But president Eisenhower insisted that the use of military Booster would detract from the peaceful scientific intent of the . Pro Gram. He ordered the Vanguard devel oped from Eisenhower initially called sputnik 1 a stunt there was grave con Cern in Washington and the Vanguard Effort was spurred. Sunday october 15, 1967 the first Vanguard was rushed to Cape canaveral launching pad. While thousands watched on dec. 6, 1957, the slender rocket Laboured two feet off its stand lost thrust and tumbled Back Ina blazing Ball of fire. American prestige tumbled with it. Von Braun was Given the Green Light to try his Redstone. On Jan. 31,1958nearly Feur months after sputnik 1the rocket blasted away from Cape canaveral and successfully hurled explorer 1 into orbit. The Cylinder shaped satellite weighed modest 30.8 pounds but it made the first important discovery of the space age the Van Allen radiation belts which surround the space race was on fuelled by the Broad conflict for superiority betwee the . And soviet Union. . Hopes soared arid the Public ral lied strongly behind the space program when Marine it. Col. John h. Glen became America s first orbiting Astro naut on feb. 20, 1962.but, with its Superior Booster Power the soviet Union maintained its Lead inthe Man in space and Man to the Moon sweepstakes. To and one half years ago the rus Sian Edge was overwhelming. Eleven soviet cosmonauts including a woman had vaulted into space compared to Only six americans in the Mercury pro Gram. The russians had logged a total of 507 Man hours in space compared to Only 55 for americans. And a rus Sian it. Col. Alexei Leonov had taken a walk in s 10-minute stroll occurred March 18, 1965. Five Days later along came the . Gemini program with air Force maj. Virgil i. Gus gris som and Navy it. Cmdr. John w. Young taking the first Craft in the series up for a Short trial. On daring often hair raising mis Sions uie gemini astronauts wrested every Man in space record away from the soviets. Nasa launching Are commonplace at Cape. The stars and stripes they logged nearly 2,000 hours i space and demonstrated All the Basic techniques for reaching the Moon. These Are the ability to rendezvous and Hook up with another satellite to Man Euver skilfully through the skies the ability to sustain life in space for the length of time planned for Early Moon trips and the ability to work outside an or biting russians have demonstrated none of the conclusion of gemini last no vember the National aeronautics and space administration was ready to move quickly into the Apollo Moon pro Gram. Officials confidently predicted that americans would reach the Moonin this decade. Many forecast a 1968 Landing. Hen late last year things started to go second stage of a Saturn 5 Moon rocket exploded during a ground test. The fuel tanks of an Apollo spacecraft ruptured during another test. Then a Saturn 5 third stage exploded. The Apollo 1 launching originally had been scheduled last november. But Seri Ous troubles plagued the spacecraft life support system and the launching Date was delayed several weeks until february. But the astronauts never had a Chance to Fly Apollo 1. Air Force it. Cols. Grissom and Edward a White 11 an Navy cmdr. Roger b. Chaffee died Tan. 27 when a Flash fire swept through their spacecraft Cabin during a launch pad test at Cape Kennedy. On april 9, after an exhaustive 10-week investigation a Board of review released a final report on the fire. I said it could not pinpoint definitely the cause of the fire but listed the mos Likely source As an electric arc in defective wiring under command Pilot Grissom s Board scored Nasa and North american aviation inc., the prime con tractor for the Apollo spacecraft for tcohtiiluci.1 of Pujic i Page 11
