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 HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Houston, Texas

MISSILES AND ROCKETS

Magazine of World Astronautics

Volume 1

1956
MISSILES AND ROCKETS
Magazine of World Astronautics

Volume 1

1956

Reprinted by arrangement with American Aviation Publications

JOHNSON REPRINT CORPORATION

NEW YORK, NEW YORK
 NOTICE
Wholly or partially blank pages in this volume
originally contained advertisementswhich have
not been reproduced in accordance with an
agreement reached with the original publishers.
Consecutive pages containing advertisements
only have been omitted entirely.

First reprinting, 1959, Johnson Reprint Corporation

 missiles and
rockets
MAGAZINE OF WORLD ASTRONAUTICS

IN THIS ISSUE: DR. WERNHER VON BRAUN • HUGH L DRYDEN

DR. • KURT R.

STEHLING • LOVELL LAWRENCE JR. • VANGUARD SATELLITE IN PICTURES •

 missiles
A New Age Unfolds
and THIS IS THE AGE OF ASTRONAUTICS. This is the be-
ginning of the unfolding of the era of space flight. This is
to be the most revealing and the most fascinating age since man
rockets first inhabited the earth.
Shortly the first satellite vehicles will be hurtled aloft
by powerful rockets to bring back the known from the unknown.
Magazine of W orld Astronautics
Out of the coming conquest of space will come scientific data
that will benefit the whole world. There will be advances in the
fields of meteorology, flight safety, medicine, physics and many
Wayne W. Parrish, others.The possibilities are without limit.
President and Publisher The visionaries who long ago dreamed of the conquest of
space have been succeeded by scientists and industrialists who
Robert H. Wood,
have transformed a fantasy into a vast and important industry
Editorial Director
combining the needs of defense with a search for peaceful uses
of space vehicles.
Erik Bergaust, Rocketry has come a long way since the time less than
Managing Editor twenty years ago when Adolf Hitler and his close associate
Heinrich Himmler were skeptical of the efforts being exerted
by German scientists to build huge and costly rockets for
Staff Editors upper air research. But the impact of the first V-ls and V-2s
which fell on London was not lost on the scientists of the
Engineering: Joseph S. Murphy
Electronics: Henry P. Steier
—
world. Today the rocket or a rocket weapon is being openly —
discussed as perhaps the ultimate weapon for the prevention
Military: Henry T. Simmons of war. Perhaps it will be the last weapon of war.
International: Anthony Vandyk The age of astronautics, as has been true with so many
Manufacturing: Fred S. Hunter scientific advances, leans heavilyupon the military in these early
London: James H. Stevens stages. But a great amount of research and development must
Paris: Jean-Marie Riche come from scientific institutions and industry. A prime example
of the frontal approach now being made is the Vanguard
Satellite Program utilizing an amazing combination of talent
Art Director: William H. Martin from both military and scientific organizations.
Research Director: A. J. Newfield
A
measure of the rapid expansion in the entire missiles
field is increase in expenditures by the Department of
the
Manuscripts that are not negotiated Defense alone from $21 million in fiscal 1951 to $1.3 billion in
should be submitted to the Managing the current fiscal year. But this is only a part of the over-all
Editor for consideration. In the event
total.
the subject matter of the manuscript is
considered to be in a classified area, It is our purpose to serve this new and growing field of
the manuscript must be cleared by the missiles, rockets, satellites and astronautics to the best of our
proper security review office of the
Department of Defense. Responsibility ability and within the limitations of national security. Rigid
for security clearance rests with the though certain security restrictions may be, there is a vast
author.
amount of unclassified material available.
The journal of the American Rocket Society, Jet
official

Leonard Eiserer, Propulsion, performing an excellent technical service. It is

is

General Manager our purpose to supplement its valuable work with a news and
feature periodical geared to the growing industrial, govern-
William A. Pearson, ment and scientific requirements of what is today a complete
Director of Advertising new industry.

Larry Brettner, To ensure political quality, we have support without

Manager, Publication Sales peer. Mr. Robert H. Wood, for eighteen years a top aviation
editor, will supervise this magazine as editorial director for the
company. Mr. Erik Bergaust, a recognized authority in the
Publishing Information: Published every field of astronautics, is managing editor. In the background
month by American Aviation Publica- is an editorial board of world renowned scientists. We shall spare
tions, Washington, D. C. Printed
Inc.,
at The Telegraph Press, Harrisburg, Pa. no effort to make Missiles & Rockets a magazine that fulfills
Application for second class mail privi- the interests and needs of all who believe that they are, indeed,
leges is pending at Washington, D. C.
embarking on another great adventure in the history of mankind.

WAYNE W. PARRISH
Copyright 1956 by
American Aviation Publications, Inc.
President and Publisher

October, 1956
 missiles and rockets
Table of CONTENTS VOL 1 NO. 1 OCTOBER 1956

the Cover Picture FEATURES

Dr. JVernher von Braun has written a think-piece on the human

relations prohlems that our missile developers are facing .... 38

Lovell Lawrence Jr. introduces a new concept for utilizing a

series of three earth satellite vehicles for air and sea
navigation 48

Report on Martin's Titan Project and the new plant facilities

near Denver is given by Henry T. Simmons 55

Proposal for a small solid-propellant moon rocket is introduced

hy Kurt R. Stehling and Richard Foster 58

Construction of the IGY satellites in pictures 68

Tracking of the IGY satellites is discussed hy Henry P. Steier . . 76

Japanese research rocketry is presented hy Frederick C.

Durant III 92

Extensive missile research in New communications concept for missile engineers is introduced
NACA's 4 x 4-foot supersonic by Arthur W. Steinfeldt 110
pressure tunnel at Langley
Report on new steel for the missile industry 136
Aeronautical Laboratory has
yielded a substantial amount
of data for the industry. The
fact that NACA has been ac-
tively engaged in missile and NEWS SECTION
rocket research has not been
widely publicized; Missiles & Will the Army launch an orbiter before the IGY satellites? ... 11
Rockets asked Dr. Hugh L.
Dryden to outline NACA's New problem at our missile ranges 16
role in this respect. His article Pentagon planning IRBM/ICBM launching sites 19
appears on page 44.
To 5,000 miles per hour in two seconds 19

From The American Rocket Society Fall Meeting 20

Curtiss- Wright new factor in missiles field 28

COLUMNS Special report from the International Astronautical Congress

Rocket Trends .... 27 in Rome —Russian atomic rockets underway 30

Washington Spotlight .... 29 Missiles and rockets at the Farnborough Air Show 37
Propulsion Notes 34 NACA's Deacon-Nike experiments 47
World Astronautics 75 17-year-old boy builds liquid-propellant rocket 43
Astrionics 88
International News 90
Industry Highlights 132
INDUSTRY SECTION
Industry Spotlight, By Joseph S. Murphy 100
DEPARTMENTS Boom in boron propellant business 100
Editorial 5
Industry Barometer 140
Calendar 108
People 116
New missile products .... 118 PHOTO CREDITS:
Missile literature 131 NACA, Front Cover; U.S. Navy, pp. 11, IS; McDonnell, p. 16; Northrop, p. 24;
Curtiss-Wright, p. 28; Bristol, p. 37; US. Army, pp. 39, 40, 41, 42, 43; NACA,
Book reviews 142
pp. 45, 46, 47; US. Navy, pp. 64, 68, 69, 70; Univ. of Tokyo; pp. 92, 94; Fairey,
Advertiser's Index 150 p. 100; Harris & Ewing, p. 116; Bell, p. 116.

6 Missiles and Rockets

Army to Launch 'Satellite' Before Vanguard?

Defense Research Officials Disturbed

Army Ordnance rocket experts schedule. Because it is basically a

are quietly planning to launch crash program, many NRL scien-
what may become an Earth-circling tists and technicians work overtime
"satellite" of their —
own long be- to meet the deadline. The magni-
fore the Navy Vanguard is ready tude of Project Vanguard is very
to go, Missiles & Rockets has great indeed; obviously the Van-
learned. guard engineers do not have much
But the Army's plans for an time to worry about possible "com-
"accidental" satellite aren't secret petition" from the Army.
from high officials of the Office of Incidentally, the Army's inter-
Research and Development in the est in actual satellites as such is
Defense Department. What's more, not a new thing. It will be recalled
these officials make it clear they that astronomer Clyde Tombaugh
don't like the Army plan and that was granted an Army Ordnance
the soldiers have no authorization contract some time ago to find out
to launch a satellite. whether the earth already has a
Be that as it may, no one dis- tiny, natural satellite. Tombaugh
putes that the Army possesses the has not yet found any satellite, but
raw capability of boosting a small if he does, Army thinking is that
rocket up to orbital velocity. This such a small celestial body (or
VANGUARD'S JOHN P. HAGEN
could be achieved with a Redstone bodies, possibly) might be useful
Army coming from behind.
rocket as the first stage, a Sergeant for tracking purposes.
or some other ballistic rocket as a
Although the Army "satellite" As a matter of fact, Tombaugh
second stage and a small solid-pro-
will be sort of appropos, if success- is currently planning to set up an
pellant rocket as the third stage
fully launched, such experiments observation post in Peru close to
which would become an orbiter.
certainly will yield pres-
terrific the equator, whereupon possibilities
Thus, the potential does exist,
tige; after the Army was called
all, for finding the natural satellite, if
and the current series of Redstone
upon originally to handle the hard- any, will be substantially increased.
tests at Patrick AFB, Fla. may see
ware stage of the first Office of
the feat performed. Whether it
works or not, however, it should
Naval Research satellite project, 180-Mile Altitude Seen
Project Orbiter, which was blended
be observed that a satellite would For Rocket Aircraft
into the later Project Vanguard.
be merely incidental to the Army's North American is developing
basic desire to learn more about
When asked whether Army
Ordnance is planning to put up a a manned rocket aircraft which
the staging techniques of tomor-
"satellite," an Army spokesman told will be capable of reaching an alti-
row's ballistic missiles.
Missiles & Rockets: "No com- tude of 180 miles, according to
• The three-step principle is
familiar to Redstone rocket scien-
—
ment" but he said it with a smile. NAA test pilot George Smith.
tists, but previously it has only Anindependent rocket propul- He did not identify the air-
been applied to small missiles. In sion expert was more definite: craft, but it was believed he was
order to learn more about the sep- "Certainly, the Army has got hard- referring to North American's X-15
aration of stages for larger ballis- ware powerful enough to send a experimental rocket aircraft. This
tic missiles the Army can well substantial payload to the moon!"
machine has been said to have a
justify the "satellite experiment." Meanwhile, the Naval Research preliminary capability of 50 miles
In other words, the fact that a Laboratory is struggling with the and eventually 150 miles.
small uninstrumented body might world's first instrumented satellite
be placed in an orbit around the Smith is the first man known
earth is quite incidental and not so
(first —
provided the Russians don't
to have survived a supersonic bail-
beat us to it).
much of importance to the Army out. He spent six months in the
as is the valuable information it • Vanguard project director hospital after ejecting from an
could obtain on separation of one Dr. John P. Hagen claims his ven- F-100 just off the coast of Cali-
missile from another. ture is moving along according to fornia.

October, 1956
 families will arrive at Patrick AFB
Army Policy Statement Reveals Aim during the next 16 months. Cur-
rently Air Force has a $4.5-million
To Acquire Control of IRBM per month payroll there.
Cocoa Mayor S. Gary Bennett,
In a forthright bid to gain con- and compensate for the expand-
to Jr. told Missiles & Rockets
the
trol of the intermediate-range bal- ing dimensions of the battle area." Patrick missile and satellite ac-
listic missile, the Army has issued • In the crucial area of long- tivity boosted real estate evaluation
a formal policy statement declar- range surface-to-surface weapons, more than $1 million last year. Real
ing flatly that its tactical require- the Army said it needs "missiles estate people see no reason why
ments include long-range surface- capable of supporting deep pene- this trend will not continue. Cocoa
to-surface weapons "capable of trations or airheads, from pro- building permits increased more
supporting deep penetrations or tected and widely dispersed rear than 100% from 1954 to 1955.
airheads from protected and widely areas; and of delivering accurate • But housing still is the big
dispersed rear areas; and of de- fire on distant targets which are problem. Furthermore, the water
livering accurate fire on distant capable of affecting the execution supply to Patrick and the nearby
targets." of the Army's combat mission." towns is at a critical point. The
Stated purpose of the new The missile policy regulation city of Cocoa is building a ^-mil-
Army Regulation, No. 525-30, is to said the Army's requirements for lion water supply system to meet
lay down the ground rules for the surface-to-air missiles "include current and future requirements. A
integration of guided and free mis- land-based antiair missiles for de- 42-mile long pipeline will transfer
siles into the Army weapons sys- fense against high, medium or low water from a well-field west of
tem. But most observers regarded Cocoa. The system is expected to be
altitude aircraft, drones or artil-
it as another move in the soldiers' completed within the next 16
added that such
livery missiles." It
campaign to win jurisdiction over months
weapons "should also have a sur-
the IRBM from the Air Force.
face-to-surface role when feasible" • In Washington, a spokesman
• Both the Army and the Air for the Air Force Family Housing
and suggested no limitations on
Force are developing 1,500-mile Office said the Patrick housing
their range.
IRBM weapons. Douglas Aircraft problem is being studied inten-
Co., Inc., is working on the Thor sively at the present time. The Air
for the USAF, while the Army's Missiles Bring Boom Force plans to start a major hous-
Redstone Arsenal is tackling the To Central Florida ing development on the base for the
Jupiter IRBM. Defense Secretary R&D personnel connected with the
Charles Wilson has approved the
Guided missiles and the forth-
Patrick missile and satellite activi-
two separate development pro- coming earth satellite vehicles have ties.
grams, but he has withheld a deci- brought a boom to Florida's Bre-
sion as to whether both services vard County and its three towns Big Construction Planned
will be allowed to use the weapon Cocoa, Cocoa Beach and Rockledge. Major construction programs
once it is completed. The area's population has increased for missile facilities also are be-
In discussing the role of artil- from 10,000 to 38,000 in three years ing planned for both the Patrick
lery and antiaircraft missiles with- and continues to grow. and Cape Canaveral areas and the
in the Army, the regulation stated Grand Bahamas Missile range to
Air Force estimates 2,000
"Such missiles are not merely meet the increased requirements of
specialized items of equipment; the three services. The Corps of

they have broad and general appli-

Army Engineers is building the
launching site for the Vanguard
cation to land warfare. All surface-
earth satellite vehicle. This site
launched missiles which meet Army
will include the launching pad with
operational requirements will be exhaust tunnels, a block-house con-
developed and integrated into Army trol station and other facilities.
forces, as a natural transition from On the GBI range itself, Pan
present types of conventional artil- American World Airways Guided
lery." Missile Division continues to ex-
The Army described its short- pand. On Grand Bahamas, the
range requirements as including tracking station employs more than
"assault or demolition guided mis- 200 people today, but it is antici-
pated that more than 1,000 tech-
siles to be used against armor and
nicians and engineers will be busy
fortifications," and its medium-
there before the first satellite ve-
range needs as including "missiles hicles are ready for launching. In
to supplement and extend the range all, the GBI range, which is being
or firepower of artillery cannon, expanded to include Ascension Is-
to provide close or interdictory fire S. GARY BENNETT, Jr. land, requires literally thousands
support for ground combat forces, Real estate up $1 million of personnel.

12 Missiles and Rockets

U.S. Sees Possibilities Super-Propellants Ne< ded, Says Murphree
In French Missiles
The most critical job confront- oxygen, or liquid fluorine and am-
Agencies of the Department of monia, would produce "consider-
ing chemists in the rocket-powered
Defense have been studying French guided missile field is the develop- ably greater energy release" per
coleopter missiles and have con- unit weight than the standard com-
ment of super-propellants capable
cluded that such missiles may have binations of liquid oxygen or fum-
of higher energy release per pound
merit. There is still a question than present f uel-oxidizer combina- ing nitric acid and jet fuel, alcohol
whether they will prove practical in tions, according to Eger V. Mur- or other hydrocarbons. At the same
actual operation, which will be diffi- time, he pointed out, the more
phree, Special Assistant for Guided
cult to establish without full-size
powerful propellant combinations
Missiles to Defense Secretary
test vehicles. involve considerably more complex
Charles Wilson.
The French firm Institut Tech- In a recent talk before the handling problems.
nique Zborowski now has a French
American Chemical Society in Onthe solid-propellant side of
government contract to build some Atlantic City, N. J., he declared: the he said, "There are
picture,
full-size test vehicles, and U.S.
"Higher energy production per very real possibilities of getting
agencies are watching closely. pound of reactance is of utmost combinations of oxidizers and or-
Of particular interest is Zbo- importance from the standpoint of ganic materials which give higher
rowski's 412-01 Ogre photo-recon- range that can be obtained with energy than present propellants,"
naissance vehicle, a long-range mis- missiles." plus the possibility of "new types
sile fitted with an annular wing "Cost propellants within
of of energy producing reactions us-
around the fuselage and a jet power- limits is not nearly so important ing quite different types of ma-
plant. A 10,000-pound turbine will as the energy that can be obtained terials."
give the Ogre a velocity of close to per unit weight," he added. He said Solid propellants fall into two
600 miles per hour. substantial advances in energy —
broad classes double-base propel-
yields will permit corresponding lants and composite propellants.
Sweden Building weight reductions and increased The double base variety consists of
mobility in rocket missiles since mixtures of nitrocellulose and
Ramjet Missiles the bulk of their weight consists nitroglycerin with suitable plasti-
STOCKHOLM—A spokesman
of propellant. cizers and stabilizers, he said,
for the Swedish Robotvapenbyran,
• In the field of liquid pro- while the composite type presently
Sweden's guided missile establish-
pellants,Murphree noted that the consist of some organic material
ment, has confirmed that great em-
combination of liquid hydrogen and mixed with an oxidizer.
phasis is placed on ramjet missiles
in this country.
While Sweden has built Nike-
type missiles, future surface-to-air Navy's Truax Guides AF Satellite Work
missiles will also be ramjet-powered
and have greater range. All work on One of the Navy's most out- Western Development Division, is
Swedish ramjets is classified. standing missile and rocket author- likely to be in the spotlight next
Among leading Swedish missile ities, Commander Robert C. Truax, month. He's a nominee for the
firms are Svenska Aeroplan Aktie- currently assigned to the Air Force American Rocket Society's presi-
bolaget (SAAJBj, Svensk Flygmotor dency. The annual meeting and
A/B, Svenska, Turbinaktiebolaget ARS will be
election of the held in
Ljungstrom (STAL^i and Bofors. New York November 25-30.
Commander Truax was an en-
SWEDEN'S AIR MATERIEL sign when he first started to work
COMMAND has asked $28 million on liquid rockets in 1941. Since
to procure guided missiles for air- July 1953 he has been assigned to
craft and $1,600,000 for continued the Bureau of Aeronautics as head
development of an interceptor mis- of the Ship-Launched Branch,
sile during 1957-58. Latter item has
Guided Missiles Division.
been in Air Force budgets for
Among his contributions to the
several years and is expected to cost
advancement of rocketry has been
about $6 million.
his work on liquid rocket-assist for
* * #
naval flying boats. His missile and
rocket experience has been a great
ACF INDUSTRIES, INC. has
Group to integrate
asset to the whole missile business
set up a Missiles
the skills of its Erco, Avion and
and especially to the Navy, al-
American Car & Foundry Divisions though many naval officials may not
and apply them to overall weapons have been aware of it.

systems. Chairman of the new Informed sources believe Com-

group is Richard F. Wehrling,
COMMANDER ROBERT C. TRUAX mander Truax is guiding WDD's
president of Avion Division. . . . USAF picks the best satellite work.

October, 1956 15
New Problem at Missile Ranges: quency-saving by production of
new narrow-band receiver. The
its
re-

Overcrowded Telemetering Frequencies ceiver permits spacing of standard

FM/FM channels only one mega-
Crowding of the telemetering Better equipment with crystal con- cycle apart.

frequency bands used in missile re- trol was needed, he said, for long- Recently the Department of De-
search and development is posing range tracking. This would also fense provided a new telemetering
increasingly severe problems be- aid frequency assignment coordina- channel in the 2,200-2,300 mc range
tween users at launching sites and tion. which was expected to lessen inter-
between test ranges. ference problems. However, con-
Miller said steps toward im-
Meeting during the National sensus of the NTC Panel was that
proving planning and utilization
the new assignment offered little
Telemetering Conference held re- had been taken at White Sands. A
aid at this time. R. T. Merriam,
cently in Los Angeles, a panel of
document known as Frequency Naval Ordnance Test Center, China
experts from key installations re-
Utilization Parameters and Cri- Lake, Calif., said the new frequency
viewed the needs for better-use co-
teria, No. 102-56, had been produced was impractical for small missiles.
ordination and for improved equip-
ment. They also weighed the pos-
by a group at White Sands known To produce and handle such short
as the Interange Instrumentation wavelengths, microwave "plumbing"
sibilities of using the newly as-
Group. It is expected the document such as waveguides are necessary.
signed 2,000-megacycle channel to
ease the crowding problem. will aiddevelopment of equipment • Such hardware takes up
W. E. Miller, from Army's and coordination methods in tele- much more space in a missile than
White Sands Proving Ground, metering work. the 200-megacycle equipment now
called attention to the need for im- Interference problems should being used. According to panel
be attacked on three fronts, Miller chairman George S. Shaw, Radia-
proved liaison between contractors
tion, Inc., this amounts to a few
using the sites. Day-to-day plans thinks. These should be: (1) con-
hundred cubic inches for the 2,000-
must be made, he said, so that best trol of frequency usage through
megacycle equipment in a missile.
use could be made of time and fre- careful screening of all requests,
He predicts it will be five years
quencies available. (2) better control of equipment fre- before the new band can be utilized
quency stabilization to prevent for telemetering, except in very
• An example of interference
waste of band space and (3) better large missiles at short ranges not
was given by E. S. Reynolds,
control of radiation from closed- over 100 miles.
Sandia Corp. Stressing a need for
loop test facilities where checkouts
improved automatic tracking an- Nike B Has Longer
take place inside of buildings.
tennas, Reynolds cited a case where
Range, Greater Speed
an antenna picked up a signal from O In the serious need for
Army's Nike B missile, now
another missile center 500 miles better equipment, Nems-Clarke, Inc.
under test and due to be available
away and then lost track of the was singled out as having made a
within two years, will have a longer
missile it was supposed to track. significant contribution to fre-
range than present Nike's 25 miles
and speed in excess of its 1,500 mph,
Newest 'Demon' Bolsters Navy Missile Power according to Don Belding, civilian
aide to Army Secretary Wilber N.
Brucker.
Belding told a recent Los An-
geles Town Hall meeting of reports
that a Nike B with an atomic war-
head could destroy a whole fleet of
aircraft in one hit if the planes were
bunched for attack. He stressed
that the new Nike can be launched
from existing installations with
minimum modifications —
a factor
being questioned by the Air Force
in the current Talos/Nike dispute.
In disclosing first details of Los
Angeles' Nike defenses, he noted
that each of its 12 batteries has
eight officers and 100 enlisted men
McDonnell Aircraft's F3H-2M, missile-carrying version of its Demon all-weather
fighter, has passed all Navy trial and evaluation programs required for fleet
— two-thirds of them specialists. It
cost. S20,000 to train each man, §2,-
release and joined operating squadrons. New Demon carries four Sperry Sparrow
air-to-air missiles plus rapid-firing, high-velocity 20mm cannon. Powerplant is
300,000 for a battery, and the pay-
roll for each installation runs $25,-
Allison J7I jet. Both F3H-2M and F3H-2N all-weather fighters are slated for
production through March 1958. 000 monthly.

16 Missiles and Rockets

Research Rocket Zooms Pentagon Planning IRBM and ICBM
To 5,000 MPH in 2 Seconds
Launching Sites
Development of a needle-nosed
research rocket that can accelerate Eger V. Murphree's billion dol- sites for both IRBMs and ICBMs,

to speeds approaching 5,000 mph

lar responsibility embraces many — —
but as can be expected no official
within two seconds has been dis- new and sophisticated missile devel- statement has been issued in that
closed by the Air Force Air Re- opment concepts. The enormous task respect.

search and Development Command. that he faced at the time he took It is not known whether Quarles
The rocket, called the Hypersonic on the missile czar job has become discussed the missile launching site
Test Vehicle (HTV), was evolved even more enormous —not money- problem with Spanish authorities
by the ARDC and Aerophysics De- wise, but in scope. during his recent trip to that coun-
velopment Corp. of Santa Barbara, First, ICBMdevelopment has try, but it is quite probable that

Calif., a new subsidiary of Cur-

progressed more rapidly than first he did.
tiss-Wright Corp. anticipated. As a matter of fact, Quarles told a press conference
the ICBM program already has that "there is no question that we
Basing figures on the variation
reached the stage where one is dis- will complete those Spanish bases
of the speed of sound at different
cussing selection of launching sites. we have started and on which we
altitudes,engineers calculate that
Obviously, hydrogen-warhead IC- place great value."
the 12-foot long HTV can reach
BMs cannot be launched from air Other U.S. overseas bases fea-
nearly Mach 7 just about two sec-
bases or localities near built-up sible for intermediate-range missile
onds after launching. ARDC re-
areas and cities. This is one of the operation include those in Morocco.
vealed that a score of the test
new missile system concepts Mur- In all probability, the American
rockets have been fired and tested
phree and the Defense Department bases in Saudi Arabia and Iceland
at Holloman Air Development Cen-
must tackle successfully. Planning will not be considered for long-
ter, Alamagordo, N.M.
for IRBM and ICBM launching range or intermediate-range missile
• The HTV is a two-stage sites is done now. launching. Saudi Arabian King Ibn
solid-propellant rocket vehicle fired Recently, Secretary of the Air Saud has granted the United States
from a portable launcher. Seven Force, Donald A. Quarles, confirmed only temporary permission to con-
rockets igniting simultaneously that work will be pushed to comple- tinue the USAF operations in that
kick off the first stage five feet — tion on four main air bases in country.
long with a diameter of nine inches. Spain. One Although the United States
of these bases was called
When this battery of rockets burns, a "double base" that might be Government intends to negotiate
the first stage drops off and four
counted as two. Originally the Air with the Saudi Arabian Government
second-stage rockets boost the re- Force counted on nine bases in for the purpose of obtaining per-
maining section to its top velocity. Spain, but Quarles said it was not mission to stay on, it is not likely
The second stage is the same quite clear whether all of these that IRBM launching site negotia-
length with a six-inch diameter. would be completed. There has been tions will be attempted. The same
The unprecedented accelera- some talk about the possibility of applies to Iceland, where the United
tion the rocket's major feature.
is using overseas bases for launching States position is rather weak.
It develops a velocity rate equal
to 100 gravities, at least ten times
that of most rockets and missiles.
• Six seconds after the sec-
ond-stage burnout, a small explo-
sive charge blows off the fins, de-
stroying the rocket's stability and
it spins to earth at about 100 mph.

Hypersonic data on aerodynamic

shapes, aerodynamic heating,
rocket stability and air pressure
distribution may then be retrieved
from the 10-pound nose cone
assembly.
The HTV is the first of a
group of such high-acceleration
rockets, ARDC said. Wright Air
Development Center expects to
move on to newer research rockets
of improved velocity and perform-
ance. The first test flight was
made in November, 1954, a year or
so after work was started in 1953
under a $1,000,000 contract.

October, 1956 .9
ARS FALL MEETING:

Nose Cone Re-entry

Problem Solved?
Dr. F. Vandrey of the Martin
Co.'s aeronautics department stated
in a paper on "Upper Bounds and
Conservative Estimates for Aero-
dynamic Heating at Great Alti-
tudes," read before the American
Rocket Society's Annual Fall Meet-
ing in Buffalo recently that ma-
terials are already available which
can stand the intense aerodynamic
heating at the nose and leading
edges of an artificial satellite.
Using calculations for a mis-
sile similar to the Vanguard as his
example, Dr. Vandrey presented
simplified methods for calculating
aerodynamic heating at extreme alti-
tudes, pointing out that the 1490°F.
skin temperature is still within the
short-term stability limits of stain-
less steeland that the 2740°F. peak
nose cone temperature compares
with a platinum melting point of
3223°F. Vandrey emphasized that
there are a number of other metals,
oxides and ceramic materials with
still higher melting points.

On the problem of re-entry

Vandrey claims "a certain vehicle
with low re-entry velocity would
not burn up." Which may mean that
modification of the true free-fall
ballistic nature of the ICBM by
equipping it with forward firing
rockets to slow its re-entry ve-
locity (now estimated at over 20,-

Furnas Predicts Rocket

That Will Circle Moon
A rocket capable of
vehicle
circumnavigating the moon will
probably be the next step after
Project Vanguard in the conquest
of space, according to Dr. Clifford
C. Furnas, Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Research and Devel-
opment.
The Pentagon research chief
also predicted that a nuclear pow-
erplant for a rocket "may eventu-
ally come into its own," but he
said such an engine would be
large, heavy and expensive. Such
an engine would require only a
small amount of fuel, but it would
still require a "very substantial"

amount of material to eject from

the exhaust to develop the neces-
sary drive impulse.

Missiles and Rockets

Atomic Oxygen
In Atmosphere
As Fuel Source?
At the International Astro-
nautical Federation Congress last
month Jerome Pressman of U.S.
Air Force's Research and
Air
Development Command, Geophysics
Research Directorate at Cambridge
Research Center, told of recent
experiments which point to possible
use of atmospheric atomic oxygen
as an energy source to power
satelloid vehicles for reasonably
long times at altitudes of about
65 miles.
Pressman said that tests at
Holloman AFB last March using
an Aerobee X-1A rocket produced
direct evidence of the presence of
atomic oxygen at these altitudes
as well as its concentrations. Ex-
periment involved release of 18%
pounds of nitric oxide gas to free
atmosphere with the Aerobee X-1A
at an altitude of 66 miles.

• Most significant result of

the experiment, he pointed out, is
the fact that a large amount of
energy of the upper atmosphere
was released. The energy coming
into the earth in the ultraviolet
region of the solar spectrum dis-
associates molecular oxygen into
atomic oxygen, and because of the
relatively slow rate of three-body
recombination, a reservoir of
atomic oxygen exists in the upper
atmosphere. These atoms, when
they recombine, give off 5.08
electron-volts.
The AF physicist referred to
previous research which indicated
the number of photons emitted by
a sodium cloud of -2 magnitude a
value of 6.7 x 10 21 photons/second.
Assuming the energy contained in
the sodium D-line as average for
the photons released by the nitric
oxide cloud, the total flux of I

photons emitted per second amount K

to about 3 hp with an additional I

3 hp dissipated in other modes of I

energy.
The problem, Pressman said, |
lies in making use of this energy. E

Speculating on just how to do I

this, he indicated the design of a I

propulsion system suggests itself I

as a continuous flow type. Use of I

Missiles and Rockets i

a gaseous-type catalyst appears
difficult to achieve, he noted, since
Satellites Offer Unique Platform
it would be swept out with the
to Study Earth's Atmosphere
exiting gas.
• Pressman discussed two The lower hemisphere of an is a measure of the departure of

main types of possible systems earth satellite, bathed in the far- the atmosphere from an isothermal
one involving a heterogenous type infrared thermal radiation emitted state, would produce data on the
of recombination, the other a homo- both by the earth and its atmos- vertical thermal structure of the
geneous reaction. phere, will provide a unique plat- atmosphere.
In the former, a direct re- form for an astronomical study of King expressed the opinion
combination could occur on the the earth in the light of its own that power and weight considera-
entrance throat of a cylinder, or emission spectrum, Jean I. F. King tions of the satellite seem to rule
on a catalytic surface contained of USAF's Cambridge Research out a scanning, gear-driven, in-
within the cylinder. The heated gas Center Geophysics Research Direc- frared spectrometer of conventional
would subsequently expand and torate told the IAF Congress in design. He noted, however, that a
accelerate outward. Rome. rugged, semi-passive, lightweight
In the homogeneous case, the No other physical parameter filter photometer has recently been
system would be so designed so as accessible to the satellite contains developed under Air Force contract
to give a large increase of pressure the wealth of data concerning the by John Strong of Johns Hopkins
locally within the cylinder, a fea- thermal state of the atmosphere University for balloon probing of
ture that might be achieved by a than that inherent in the far-in- the atmosphere. Its only power re-
pulse-jet, ramjet, or by shaping frared emission of the earth, King quirements are for a chopper blade
the inner walls in the fashion of said. and an a-c signal amplification.
effusors or diffusors. The Air Force physicist
Such an instrument, King said,
The pressure increase, he pointed out that a far-infrared, could be built with interference fil-
added, would have to be very large thermal-sensing device situated on ters tuned strategically at 11
6, 9.6,
since the partial pressure of atomic the satellite would have an obvious and 15 microns. The 6-micron filter
oxygen is of the order of a micron use in determining the constitu- would receive water vapor radia-
and the pressure at which the per- ents of the upper atmosphere by tion, the 9.6 micron the ozone and
tinent reactions of a series of re- a frequency scan of the spectrum. the 15-micron carbon diozide emis-
combinations outlined by Pressman • A less obvious, but poten- sion window would see direct to the
was placed at one millimeter. tially f ruitf ul possibility, said King,
earth's surface.
• As an example
of the energy arises from the variation of the ter-
King concluded that this would
involved, purely for purposes of restrial emission as the satellite
provide a spectral scan of sorts,
he field of view sweeps across the
calculation, used a hollow while a limb-darkening scan would
cylinder model with an entering earth's apparent disk. He then pro-
ceeded to present the mathematics be obtained by a proper distribu-
throat cross section of 10 square
whereby this variation of emission, tion of sensing elements on the
meters and a length of 10 meters.
By moving it horizontally at Mach (or limb-darkening effect) which satellite surface.

1 (approximately 300 meters per

second) at an altitude of 100 km,
with a concentration of 10 13 atoms
of oxygen per cubic centimeter,
there is swept out 3 x 10 22 atoms
per second. Assuming 100% ef-
ficiency in extracting the energy
of recombination from these atoms,
this amounts to 15 hp. At Mach 10,
it would amount to 150 hp and at

Mach 20, 300 hp.

Without calculating drag and
lift,he noted that the thrust avail-
able at relatively low speeds would
be adequate to overcome reasonable
estimates the drag, but not
of
enough give sufficient lift to
to
maintain a true satellite type of
vehicle. He concluded, however,
that it would appear adequate as
an auxiliary, or possibly prime,
power source for maintaining a
satelloid vehicle for reasonably
long periods in the 65-mile high
region.

25
October, 1956
Molybdenum May Solve
Hi-Temp Problems
Molybdenum, in relatively
good supply in the U.S., may prove
to be the "answer" metal to ultra-
high-temperature flight. Alloys of
molybdenum (with less than 1%
amounts of calumbium, cobalt and
vanadium) are now being re-
searched by both airframe (Con-
vair) and jet engine makers (Gen-
eral Electric).
On
100 and 1,000-hour tem-
perature rupture strengths molyb-
denum comes out on top of the
nickel-cobalt alloys, falling well in
the range of the cermets. Unlike
the cermets, molybdenum is ductile.
In order to overcome the oxidation
problem, research is being carried
out with a number of coating ma-
terials, including those of the
platinum group of metals.
The best idea of molybdenum's
strength-temperature potential is
gained by knowing its melting
point (4760°F) and modulus of
elasticity (E=50,000,000).
Other efforts now under way
to solve the high temperature ma-
terials problem includes basic re-
search into ways of making ceram-
ics ductile.

Air Products to Build

LOX Generating Plant
A convenient source of liquid
oxygen for rocket engine tests will
be available for The Martin Co.'s
Denver Division when it begins to
roll out Titan intercontinental bal-
listic missiles.
Air Products, Inc., Allentown,
Pa., announced it will start con-
struction of a $2,810,000 liquid
oxygen generating plant as soon as
possible on a three-acre, govern-
ment-owned site adjacent to Mar-
tin's new Titan plant southwest of
Denver. It will go into operation
in the first half of next year with
a capacity
daily of 150 tons of
liquid oxygen.
Leonard Pool, Air Products
president, said the facility will be
sold to the Air Force when it is
completed, then leased back to Air
Products for operation. Only 20 to
25 skilled engineers will be needed
to keep the plant in operation be-
cause it features "practically com-
plete" automation, he added.

Missiles and Rockets

 Rocket Trends
By Erik Bergaust

The American Rocket Society probably is the fastest

growing professional society in the United States. Five thou-
sand membership mark may be reached by the end of the year.
Nineteen fifty-six has been the society's most "prosperous"
year with an average gain of 100 new members per month.
Newest section is Philadelphia, mostly made up of General
Electric SDPD personnel.
First of its kind ? Reaction Motors, Inc., Denville, N. J., is
launching a rocket museum. With several hundred items, such
as combustion chambers, propellant pump systems, valves,
fittings and control system components, the new museum
houses many historic gadgets, including early German and
American rocket engines.
Hellmuth Walter, famous German rocket engineer, now
Research Director for Worthington Pump Corporation in New
Jersey, has indicated he is interested in forming a new Ger-
man rocket company in Kiel. Informed sources seem to think
the new Walter rocket company will be registered in his wife's
name. A glass factory is currently operated in Mrs. Walter's
name, and the rocket company might become its subsidiary.
German missile and rocket comeback is indicated by the
fact that BMW(Bayerische Motoren Werke) in Munich has
established a rocket propulsion study group. BMWbuilt sev-
eral liquid rockets during the last war, but none of the war-
time rocket engineers are currently employed by BMW.
Future design and construction of atomic-powered
rockets and space satellites may be determined by a study of
radiation damage to electronic components, according to
Admiral Corporation. Company is doing study for Air Force.
Slow-burning solid-propellant research rockets built in
Great Britain are designed to fly to 120 miles altitude. Built
by R.A.E., the rockets are 25 feet long and 17 inches in
diameter. A test program for the new rockets is currently in
the works at the Woomera range.
Water-rocket devices for catapulting carrier-based
fighters is being studied intensively by the Office of Naval
Research. If successfully developed, the water rockets prob-
ably will replace the more complex steam catapults now used
by the Navy.
A
large rocket and space satellite exhibit, to be held in
conjunction with the American Rocket Society's semi-annual
meeting next spring, is being planned by ARS' National
Capital Section.

The German underground factory in the Kohnstein Hills,

near Nordhausen (Thuringia), where V-ls and V-2s were
made during the war, is reported to be a busy key facility in
Russian rocket motor development.
Chrysler Corporation, in its Redstone rocket development,
has been praised for outstanding component and system pro-
duction reliability.

October, 1956
Canada Spent $24 Million
On Velvet Glove Missile
C-W New Factor in Missiles Field
Total spending in Canada on the Outright purchase of Aero- obviate the need for complex elec-
recently concluded Velvet Glove air- physics Development Corp., form- tronics devices and power supplies
to-air missile project came to just erly a wholly-owned Studebaker- in its stabilization.
under $24 million, according to Packard subsidiary, has installed As the Studebaker-
part of
Canadian Defense Minister R. O. Curtiss-Wright Corp. as a first-line Packard Curtiss-Wright has
deal,
Campney. missile-builder. taken a 12-year lease on S-P plants
The Velvet Glove project was Only days after the ADC pur- at Utica, Mich, and South Bend,
conducted in conjunction with U.S. chase, C-W wona $16,565,000 con- Ind. and will pay for all work in
and British research teams and tract from the Army for the Dart process at a cost of $25 million. It
brought practical experience to some anti-tank missile. It will be built by has also arranged to supply S-P
400 Canadian scientists and special- Utica-Bend Corp., another C-W sub- with $15 million more, by under-
ists in the air-to-air missile field.
sidiary formed as an outgrowth of writing an extension of its credit.
As a result, Canadian industry the S-P deal, in a plant at Utica, Other elements of the trans-
has been geared to produce such Mich. action give C-W a three-year con-
weapons and contracts could be The Dart was developed at tract to provide the auto firm with
awarded to build a Sperry Sparrow Aerophysics before the Santa Bar- management advice, as well as an
type air-to-air missile. bara, Calif, firm joined Studebaker- option to buy 5,000,000 shares of
Packard. Powered by a solid-pro- S-P stock. Latter is subject to
pellant rocket, the new Army mis- approval Studebaker-Packard
of
THE AIR MATERIEL COM- sile is based on an earlier develop-
stockholders and their agreement
MAND Dayton has announced
at ment by France's SNCA du Nord. to reduce par value of the stock
the followingcontracts: Avco It is wire-guided and has a range
from $10 to $1 a share.
Manufacturing Co., Cincinnati, 0., of 1,000 to 2,000 yards.
Last phase of the deal involves
$25,150,558, fire control systems, • According to some industry
spare parts, components and data; reports, the Dart is the "last word" an agreement with West German
Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator in missile design for simplicity, firm of Daimler-Benz A.G. which
Co., Minneapolis, Minn., $600,000, low unit cost and producibility. will give S-P rights to important
for facilities in support of guided For example, it is said to employ German developments in the diesel
missile programs. a non-electrical gyro system to and gasoline engine field.

Curtiss-Wright's XLR-25-CW- liquid-propellant rocket en-

1 ,

gine is rated at 15,000 lbs. thrust, uses two thrust chambers

(top). Bottom photo shows engine operating on test stand.

28 Missiles and Rockets

 Washington Spotlight
By Henry T. Simmons

Pentagon insiders regard the Talos surface-to-air mis-

sileas a "minimum" area defense weapon and take a skeptical
view of the Air Force's argument that it will be valuable
preparation for the Bomarc. Real reason the airmen want
it is to head off Army missile ambitions —
specifically, the
50-mile Nike B.

A committee headed by Pentagon Missile Czar Eger

V. Murphree is looking into the technical merits of the com-
peting Talos and Nike B systems, but no decision has yet been
reached. Comments one official "The country would be darned
:

well off to have both." Nevertheless, only one system is likely

to be adopted, and Nike B looks like the better bet, provided
it can be introduced without tremendous modifications to
existing Nike batteries.

Navy's air-to-air Sidewinder missile is now operational

on carriers in the Mediterranean and Far East. Formal an-
nouncement is expected shortly. It is believed to be the first
heat-seeker bird to reach operational status.

Sidewinder's homing system is sensitive enough to

lock on a smoldering cigarette at 100 yards. Navy wags claim
it unerringly picks the hottest cylinder of a piston engine
as its target. As an economy measure, drones dangle incan-
descent torches during firing tests. These are regularly lopped
off by the Philco-produced Sidewinders so the drones may be
used another day.
North American twin-ramjet Navaho probably will be
the first intercontinental missile to be produced in quantity
for the military arsenal. Northrop Snark, although ready for
volume production now, looks like it will be by-passed in
favor of the higher-performance NAAweapon. Latter still
has many months of development work ahead of it.

Diamondback is a study project for an air-to-air mis-

sile. As the name would indicate, it is a potential successor to
another member of the rattlesnake family Sidewinder.
Navy Vanguard satellite scientists figure the first two
seconds of the launching operation will be at least as critical
as any other phase; the gimballed motor of the first stage
cannot be swivelled more than four degrees in the early part
of the flight because of the sloshing liquid propellants. Thus
a vagrant wind could bring disaster in the initial instant of
launching.
Air Force construction plans for intercontinental mis-
silelaunching facilities provide for such tremendous disper-
sion that no more than one-third of any given battery's fire-
power would be lost in the event of a direct hit by an enemy
missile with an H-Bomb warhead.
The extent of the missile's impact on USAF weaponry
is revealed by these planning estimates: Eventually 90% of
the missions of the Air Defense Command, 50% of the
Strategic Air Command's missions and 40% of Tactical Air
Command's targets will be handled by the canny birds.

October, 1956 29
SPECIAL REPORT:

RUSSIAN ATOMIC ROCKETS UNDERWAY

Soviets Join International Astronautical Federation,
Will Assist in Satellite Program
By Erik Bergaust
ROME — At least two atomic 1) In addition to the possible to the Secretary Gen-
rocket research projects are be- U.S.S.R. program already pre- eral of the CSAGI.
lieved to be in the works in the sented to the Barcelona Inter- Russian delegate to the IAF
United States, but even so the national Geophysical Year Congress, Dr. Leonid Sedov, Mos-
Russians may be ahead of us. This Meeting, Russia's rocket-satel- cow University professor, declined
was revealed here during the 7th lite program will be presented to comment when Missiles &
Congress of the International As- at a later time. Rockets asked him whether the
tronautical Federation. 2) The U.S.S.R. is inter- Soviets would launch more than
Russia's interest in satellite ested in launching a satellite one satellite.
science and astronautics has, fur- by means of which measure-
Sedov did confirm, how-
Dr.
thermore, been accentuated by the ments of atmospheric pressure
ever, that Russian atomic rocket
fact that the AstronauticsCommis- and temperature, as well as research is progressing at various
sion of the Academy of
U.S.S.R. observations of cosmic rays,
nuclear research centers through-
Science applied for and was admit- micrometeorites, the geomag-
out the Soviet Union.
ted to full membership in the fed- netic field and solar radiation
eration at this Congress. will be conducted. The prepa-
• A short time ago Russian
research engineer G. Nesterenko
Just how interested the Rus- rations for launching the sat-
said that "engines performing on
sians are in rocket and satellite ellite are presently being made.
nuclear fuel are of great impor-
activitiesduring the International 3) Meteorological observa-
tance in our contemporary avia-
Geophysical Year was expressed in tions at high altitudes will be
tion and rocket engineering. Pow-
a statement by Professor I. P. Bar- conducted by means of rockets.
erful and highly efficient atomic
din, Russian International Geo- 4) Since the participation
engines will enable us to build
physical Year Committee Chair- of the U.S.S.R. in the IGY
rockets that will overcome the
man. rocket-satellite observations
gravitational pull of the earth."
In his statement, given to Dr. was decided quite recently,
M. Nicolet, Secretary General of the detailed program for these Rocket engines with atomic
the Comite Special de L'Annee In- investigations has not yet reactors mounted directly in the
ternationale Geophysique, Prof. been elaborated. This program combustion chambers have been
Bardin made these points: will be presented as soon as
discussed openly in Russia. Active
U235 and U238 reactor mass and a
graphite neutron inhibitor have
been suggested. Liquid hydrogen
Pope Blesses Man's Efforts to Conquer Space
will flow through the porous mass,
Pope Pius XII has given his blessing and benediction to cool the reactor and at the same
mankind's efforts to conquer space. time acquire tremendous energy.
"God has no intention of setting a limit to the efforts of Nesterenko has calculated the ex-
man to conquer space," he told members of the 7th International
haust velocity to be in the neigh-
Astronautical Federation Congress in Rome.
The 400 delegates were received by the spiritual leader of borhood of 22,000 feet per second.
the Roman Catholic Church at his Castel Gandolfo summer
residence. Heat, Weight Problems
"The more we explore into outer space, the nearer we Heat in this type rocket reac-
come to the great idea of one family under the mother-father tor is controlled by movable con-
God," the 80-year-old Pontiff said. trolling shafts prepared from por-
"This astronautics congress has become one of great im-
portance at this time of man's exploration of outer space. It ous cadmium, acting like "fire ex-
should concern all humanity. Man has to make the effort to tinguishers" in regard to the chain
put himself in new orientation with God and His Universe," reaction. Liquid hydrogen cools
the Pope concluded. the shafts.
Newly elected vice president of the IAF, Moscow pro-
"The problem of heat transfer
fessor Leonid Sedov, leaned forward attentively and nodded his
head in agreement when other delegates translated the Pope's is considerably lessened by the use
address from French into German for his benefit. of porous materials in the reac-
tor," Nesterenko said. "Such ma-

30 Missiles and Rockets

terials offer a large surface area counter components of the types IAF Congress Personalities
for the liquid hydrogen." suitable for small satellites,was
• What the Russians term a asked by Dr. Sedov if he would
"fluido-reactive rocket," using be willing to sell them. Said the
liquid hydrogen, must be very American scientist: "I will send
heavy, they admit. But ways to de- them to you when you send me
crease the weight of the reactor some samples of the components
are being sought. Nesterenko you're putting into your satellite."
thinks the "critical dimension" can Dr. Sedov, who has a fine sense
be decreased by the use of en- of humor and is very popular
riched uranium that contains a among American and German
large percentage U235, by install- scientists, expressed his gratitude
ing special reflectors of neutrons when the delegates unanimously
and by substituting the graphite approved the Russian application
with an improved inhibitor for the for membership in the IAF.
rapidly moving electrons, etc. "We look forward to working SEDOV and FREDERICK DURANT
"Such measures should decrease with the societies from other coun- New East-West Vice Presidents.

the weight of an atomic rocket at tries," he said.

a ratio of 10:1. Thus the construc- Biggest IAF Congress
tion of an atomic rocket vehicle of Retiring IAF president Fred-
from 100 to 200 tons total weight erick C. Durant, III of Arthur D.
is today," he asserted.
possible Little, Inc. told Missiles & Rockets
Russian interest in atomic rocket that this congress had been the
engines is confirmed by another "biggest and most important" since
official who says that the biological
the world organization was founded
problems, i. e., radiation hazards in 1950. More than 60 Americans
for passengers in atomic aircraft attended, including representatives
— whether they are propelled by of the Air Research & Development
jets or rockets —are under study. Command, the Naval Research
When the subject of Russian Laboratory, the Office of Naval Re-
atomic rocket research was dis- search, the Cambridge Research
cussed with Dr. Leonid Sedov dur- KRAFFT A. EHRICKE
Center and other official bodies. Solar power for travel beyond the moon.
ing the IAF Congress, he could Some of the eminent American
not confirm whether the trend sug- scientists included Dr. Theodore
gested by Nesterenko was indica- von Karman, Dr. Joseph Kaplan,
tive of what type reactors and ma- Krafft A. Ehricke, Dr. Homer
terials are being considered in Newell, Dr. Fred L. Whipple, Dr.
Russia. Fred Singer, and others.
"I am not a propulsion man,"
• Numerous scientific papers
he said. "I am an astrophysicist. were presented. More than a dozen
However, I can confirm that we are pertained to small, artificial satel-
very much interested in 'these lites, four dealt with lunar rockets
things'and that they are being and a variety of papers discussed
worked on." rocket technology and astronau-
• Dr. Sedov, who preferred tical problems in general.
to converse in German, made a The Congress was held at the
considerable impression on IAF beautiful Palazzo dei Congressi. A DR. JOSEPH KAPLAN
members at last year's interna- record attendance of 450 delegates Wanted: observers all over the world.
tional congress in Copenhagen, from 22 countries convened for a
where he held a press conference fullweek from Sept. 17-22. The
at the Soviet consulate. At that members were welcomed by Rome's
time he announced that Russia was Mayor and later in the week were
building "a satellite that might be received by Pope Pius XII at his
launched sooner than the one an- summer residence, Castel Gandolfo.
nounced by President Eisenhower." Although the U.S. earth
Because of the questionable satellite program for the IGY
publicity Dr. Sedov was given after and the Air Force camera-
last year's meeting with the press, equipped reconnaissance satel-
he refused to hold another press lite have been the only two
conference this year. space flight projects discussed
One of the American scien- officially in the United States
who carried in his briefcase
tists, so far, Missiles & Rockets
a number of small transistorized learned reliably that there are
SAENGER & SAENGER-BREDT
telemeter units and cosmic-ray actually several space flight Predicted: bright future for photons.

October, 1956 31
Special Report
projects under way. Since 6ax c MugKUM i
9 oraog gjisi oxsiaiK-
e o g opo goM * genua Kopnycct.
most of these are conducted
by military organizations, and
since much of the vehicle tech-
nology involves missile tech-
niques, none of them have
been revealed.
• Several of the most im- ynpaeJistMujue cruepitcHU pea/crop
portant American universities
and several scientific organiza- Schematic view of Russian "fluid reactive" engine.
tions are said to be involved I. Tank for hydrogen. 2. Regenerative cooling pipeline

in different types of space for hydrogen. 3. Pump. 4. Reactor. 5. Controlling rods.

flight studies embracing larger
satellites, lunar rockets and
vehicles designed to circum-
navigate the moon.
Within three or four years we
are likely to go beyond this thing
of sending a small, un-controlled 3
shell to the moon, one scientist
said. "If you want to go for a trip
in the country and you can't afford
a Cadillac, you'll use a scooter. But
if you have a Cadillac you'll use
4
—
that one and that's pretty much
the situation today. Our rocket in-
dustry has the Cadillac so why —
bother with the small stuff?"
"I feel convinced that we will
launch numerous larger satellites
into all kinds of orbits within the
next decade," Durant said in his
opening speech.
• The peaceful aims and ob-
jects of the IAF and
of astro-
nautics as a science were em-
phasized throughout the congress.
A Cambridge Research Center
Schematic view of Russian atomic
Aerobee sounding rocket at dis-
rocket. IControl shaft (rod). 2. Pipe-
.

play attracted much attention.

lines for liquid hydrogen. 3. Graph-
"The slogan of this congress ite. 4. Rods of U235.
could well have been 'Rockets for
Peace" and research rockets such
as the Aerobee and Vanguard
prove that this is possible," Durant
said. The announcement that the
United States and Canada will con-
duct jointly a multi-million dollar
program for rocket exploration of
the atmosphere in the Arctic region
and Russia's forthcoming meteor-
ological program, using rockets,
were among the favorite discussion
topics of the delegates.

Great Interest in Vanguard

President Eisenhower's an-
nouncement July 29, 1955, that the KOMttpec6op mertJiooOMeHHUK mypfiUHa
United States would participate in
the IGY with an artificial satellite Schematic view of nuclear-fuel turbo-reactive engine
program, coincided with the open- with ramjet. I. Reactor. 2. Controlling rod. 3. Exhaust
ing of last year's IAF congress in nozzle. 4. Pump. 5. Turbine. 6. Heat exchanger.
Copenhagen. This year technical 7. Compressor. 8. Air intake and diffuser.

32 Missiles and Rockets

papers pertaining to the Vanguard
were presented. Interest of the
European press in the Vanguard
NUCLEAR ROCKET RACE ON
program was high. Italian news-
• Atomic Energy Commis-
papers carried as much as a full
page of reports and pictures on sion Conducts Basic Research
the subject.
N. E. Felt, Jr. of Martin, Balti- — NACA Believed to Be
more, presented a paper on the
Vanguard launching vehicle and Working On Second Project
revealed the basic construction of
the three-stage carrier rocket. The
true significance of the project is In an effort to attract more Another interesting problem
that we have accepted a challenge trained personnel to the project, will be posed in flight-testing such
to create something never before the Atomic Energy Commission has a vehicle. Wherever it might crash,
seen by man, he said. "This device announced that two of its labora- it would be troublesome.
tories are engaged in nuclear
is something to be used for the • Also in the field of nuclear
rocket development projects. Work
advancement of mankind by ex- propulsion, the AEC in its latest
tending our knowledge of our en- has been going on for the last
semi-annual report discusses the
vironment; we have taken the first year at the Livermore Branch of
progress of work towards con-
step in the exploration of the uni- the University of California's Ra- fusion and presents some
trolled
verse," he said. diation Laboratory in the San possibilities for the far future.
Francisco Bay area, and the Los
• Dr. Whipple, in charge of the It says " it is conceiv-
Alamos Scientific Laboratory in : . . .

visual observation of the American able that a controlled thermonu-

IGY satellite, Missiles &
told
New Mexico, operated by UCLA.
clear reactor (burning a fuel of
Rockets that Smithsonian
the The Los Alamos phase of the Helium-3, for example) might
Astrophysical Observatory will work is being conducted by the eventually be developed which
activate some of the observer "N Division" under the direction would produce no neutrons at all,
groups throughout the U.S. in of Dr. Ramer Schreiber. AEC of-
and for which no neutron-shield-
November and December. These ficials declined to discuss either
ing would be required."
groups will start "training" and be possible advantages or methods of
checked out for timing and co- achieving nuclear rocket propul- Such an engine would not rely
ordination. The experiences gath- sion.However, an obvious advan- on mass airflow for its propulsive
ered will be offered other groups tage is low fuel weight and vir- medium (as will present atomic
all over the world. The so-called tually unlimited thrusts. aircraft engines now being devel-
oped), but would utilize the direct
"Moonwatch" program now has
• Other disadvantages that energy of reaction as do today's
reached the stage at which such
must be overcome include develop- rocket engines. Thus, it would not
a nationwide practice session is
ment of materials or possible elec- be limited to atmospheric opera-
both desirable and necessary, Dr.
trical-field methods of withstand- tion.
Whipple stated.
ing the tremendous heats of reac- the point of view of
"When we activate our ob- And from
server groups late this fall, this
tion — even greater than the sun-
safety, the AEC
report says it
surface temperatures encountered would be "extremely safe . .
will be a full-scale rehearsal, in- .

in the ICBM long range missile;

cluding a communications tryout, fuel supply itself would be stored
the heavy weight of shielding outside the machine
for the forthcoming IGY satellite completely
necessary to protect personnel (if chamber and would be completely
tracking," he said.
the vehicle's to be manned) and incapable of participating in the
The Federation passed a reso- instrumentation from high-inten-
lution encourage member reaction without first being intro-
to its
sity radiation; and development of
societies to offer assistance to the
duced to the reactor and heated
a means of controlling the reaction.
IGY chairmen in their respective
... no fission products to escape
countries for visual observation Fuel-metering can probably in case of an accident."
and tracking of the IGY satellites. best be achieved by the use of fis- Basic obstacle to development
sionable materials in solution,
is the high tem-
British atom-physicist Leslie of such an engine
Shepherd of Harvell
University such as that used in homogeneous perature (hundreds of millions of
was elected new president
of the reactors. This could be sprayed degrees) of reaction, but AEC feels
IAF. Russian delegate Dr. Sedov into the reaction chamber from may be
an insulating effect
was elected vice president. Four the perimeter to gather in sufficient achieved through the use of elec-
other vice presidents elected were concentration at the center to pro- trical and/or magnetic fields. The
Durant, Gen. Paul Bergeron, Julio duce a "boil-up" reaction. fusion engine would be started by
Marial and Prof. Teofillo M. Another possibility is a solid means of local particle excitement
Tabanera. Next year's congress hot reactor feeding into the firing rather than relying on an A-bomb
will be held in Barcelona October chamber in the same way a self- trigger. Power rate could be con-
7-12. The Netherlands will be host consuming electrode feeds into an trolled by metering gas admitted
to the 1958 congress. electric furnace. to the reaction chamber.

October, 1956 33
 Propulsion Notes
By Alfred J. Zaehringer

The NRL AEROBEE-HI rocket that got up to 163

miles June 29 was the result of considerable re-design after
two successive failures. Blame was placed on motor probably
the injection system. Meanwhile NRL
denies that the new
—
rocket is a prototype of Stage 2 of VANGUARD satellite
vehicle.

Two plants at Niagara Falls, N. Y. are producing

new propellants (for rocket and/or for "chemical fuel" air
breathing jet engines). Stauffer Chemical is upping the pro-
duction of boron trichloride by a factor of ten. Nearby Olin-
Mathieson is producing alkyl boranes ("Zip") at a $36 mil-
lion USAF plant. The OM
plant was recently battered by an
explosion of major proportions. (See "Industry Spotlight")
•
LOX-fueled REDSTONE makes extensive use of
aluminum Hints are that REDSTONE'S kissing cousin
allovs.
JUPITER will also be LOX-fueled but may use lighter-
weight alloys such as magnesium. First firings of an entire
JUPITER IRBM (FBM) and ATLAS ICBM are near. Never-
theless, there has been considerable talk that the Chrysler
IRBM may also go through a parallel solid-propellant version.
•
MARS the Missile and Rocket Section research
is
group of the University of Detroit's Research Institute
of Science and Engineering. Both solid and liquid propel-
lants will receive attention. Headed by Dr. Donald J. Kenney
of the U. of D. Chemistry Dept., MARS will utilize produc-
tion and test facilities of American Rocket Co. Under the
joint industry-university program engineering talent will
be shared.
•
Capabilities heretofore classified solid-propellant
of
units have been revealed by Coleman Engineering, operators
of the USAF SMART track at Hurricane Mesa, Utah. HVAR
has been used for low-speed runs (acceleration and sustain-
ing) and for retro-firing (braking). Burning time is 0.86
sec. New solid-propellant booster unveiled is the 224B-1 with
a burning time of 4.6 sec. T-50 booster also used for the
zero-length launching of MATADOR
has a burning time of
2.5 sec. and is used in combination with the 224B-1. LOKI
with a burning time of 0.8 sec. has also been used as a
sustainer.
•
Three solid propellant SMART sleds have been built.
The MM-1 mounts three HVARs for acceleration, three
5KS-4500s for acceleration, and six HVARs for retro-firing
braking. The 5KS sled carries twelve 5KS rockets and uses
water braking. The 224B-1 sled is designed for Mach 1.7 runs
but Mach 2 runs are being planned with a T-50 pre-boost
sled, a 224B-1 booster sled and a forward test sled. Solid-
fuel rockets give flexibility in thrust and burning time by
using the various combinations. However, Coleman claims
liquid-fuel rockets permit greater operational economy and
variability. No details have been released about the liquid
units.

34 Missiles and Rockets

BRITISH LEAD IN LIQUID RATO AIRCRAFT
FARNBOROUGH— B r i t i s h with cruciform low aspect ratio maneuvering loads. A compact ex-
rocket engine progress was demon- wings and cruciform tail blades at haust-operated power pack consists
strated here during the Society of 45°, used for aerodynamic data of two cylindrical accumulators re-
British Aircraft Constructors' show gathering during a 10-sec. decelera- circulating fluid, one to the other,
last month. Missiles & Rockets tion from an initial rocket-boosted through a sealed turbine under
correspondent was particulai'ly im- mph. Launching takes 2 sees., pressure from internal gas bags.
1,360
pressed by the colorful and dramatic Both low and high pressure filters
with a peak of 35g's. Bristol's ex-
rocket-assisted takeoff of the Vickers of sintered bronze ensure continu-
tensive work on welded high-alloy
Valiant giant bomber. The British ous functioning.
steel rocket cases and pressure ves-
are undoubtedly ahead of the United 9 Fairey had its Fireflash,
sels was extensively displayed.
States in the field of liquid-rocket- the RAF's first production (train-
assist aircraft. • English Electric was se-
ing) missile on the Vickers Super-
curity-bound to a model of last
marine Swift F7, the Hunter F4
The mighty Valiant, forced to
demonstrate its performance under year's missile, plus a very similar and on an assembly/loading trolley
poor weather conditions, with rain and on a "yes/no" pre-launching
and low-hanging storm clouds, lum- test table. The Fireflash is a beam-
bered across the field to the end of riding coaster launched from an
the runway. The four jets reached underwing position by twin cordite
their penultimate scream, the pilot boosters which jettison automatic-
released the brakes, and in a matter ally at burnout.
of seconds the big bird began its
• Ferranti's connection with
climb into the dark clouds.
the Bristol missile program was
Then came the rockets with emphasized by the presence of
their spine-chilling roar. Tilting up- printed wiring and transistorized
ward at an incredible angle, the circuits on the latter's stand.
huge bomber zoomed aloft, the two
auxiliary rockets mounted under-
• Napier showed its produc-
tion 2,000-lbs.-plus production mis-
neath each wing sputtering charac-
sile rocket motors, the NRE 11 and
teristic shock diamonds.
NRE 17, the ramjet combustion
While the Valiant Super Sprite
test vehicle NRJ 1 and the fuel
rocket engine only yields 4,200
supply pack operated by ram pres-
pounds of thrust, Armstrong Sid-
sure. This latter inducts air from
deley has produced the Screamer,
two one-inch-diameter pitot heads,
with a thrust rating of 9,500
then diffuses it into a turbo-pump.
pounds; this and similar engines
Altitude and air speed regulation
are scheduled to be produced for
of the fuel supply are provided
several British aircraft, both
from dynamic/static pressure
fighters and bombers.
measurement.
The following is an alphabetic
run-down of the main missile ex- • Royal Aircraft Establish-
hibits at the SBAC Farnborough ment (Wescott )had the last word
show. with its 50,000-lbs. thrust rocket-
• Avro introduced its Weapons chamber/nozzle. This is a spherical
Research Division with a simulator, chamber with divergent nozzle
Declassified photo of one of early
a computor and a display of shock- builtfrom 32 identical individual
types of control test vehicle built by
resistant, resin-potted, transistor- Bristol Aircraft Ltd. Maximum velocity "leaves" of argon-arc welded 18/8
ized circuits —a DC to DC converter exceeds 2,000 ft./sec. Peak accelera- stainless steel. Each "leaf" is of
stepping up 12 volts to 150 volts tion is 35 g's. Triplex tandem boost two skins, hydraulically inflated to
with a capacity of 15/20 watts at burning time is two seconds.
provide cooling passages and
75% efficiency: a half-cycle mag- molded to form. Kerosene at 800
netic amplifier with a gain of 2,000 parachute-recoverable coaster used Ibs./sq. is fed through the passages
a magnetic amplifier
snap-action for training on a normal artillery to give regenerative cooling before
shown operating a lamp on 0.1 volt, range. A triple-rocket tail-booster spraying into the chamber to mix
claimed as a gain of ten million. gives an initial speed of 1,360 mph. with the LOX for combustion. In-
• Bristol showed its produc- The company's Mark VI tempera- stead of entering through nozzles,
tion missile ramjet, the Thor, and ture-controlled gyro achieves the re- both propellants are injected
its compact hydraulic turbo-power markably low drift rate of lVhour through perforations in the inner
pack and a turbine fuel pump. Bris- by virtue of being immersed in a skin of the chamber. Combustion
tol revealed two coaster vehicles viscous fluid to resist shock and pressure is 500 lbs./sq. in.

October, 1956 37
TEAMWORK:

Key To Success in

Guided Missiles

By Dr. Wernher von Braun

Guided missile development is vise these inquirers that there are high frequency radio, stress analy-
a young art. Certainly this makes it no such animals, for a successful sis and supersonic aerodynamics,
a rather fascinating art. Here is a guided missile system is the result materials research and gyroscopes,
fertile operating ground for crea- of human teamwork rather than a pure mathematics and shop man-
tive minds and the younger genera- specific idea or achievement on be- agement, cannot possibly be en-
tion is well aware of this. I receive half of an individual expert. compassed by a single brain. As in
many letters from young people The missile field, extending as baseball, good players are needed
asking advice on how to become a it does into technical areas as far but it is the quality of the team-
guided missile expert. I usually ad- apart as fuel chemistry and ultra- work among these players that de-

"You put a lot of work into it and at the end someone pushes a button and the thing is irretrievably gona

38 Missiles and Rockets

cides whether they are big league The Author . . . advance what will turn out to be a
or bush league. "critical location."
is recognized as the icorld's
As long as a new guided mis- 9 Management of a successful
greatest authority on ballistic
sile project is still earthbound missiles. Missiles & Rockets is
missile program depends to a large

that is, in the stages of planning, honored to publish this arti- degree on its capability of correctly
design, manufacture, laboratory cle, ivhich is the first he has and rapidly analyzing causes of
work and ground testing we are — written on human relations and malfunctions observed in test
relatively safe from serious set- missile developments. Dr. von flights. It is easy to see that this

backs. The acid test comes when

Braun is a member of Missiles task is the more difficult the more
we begin the flight testing. There & Rockets' Editorial Board. geographically and organization-
He is presently Director of De- ally decentralized the project is
are a number of reasons for this.
velopment Operations Division, handled. For more decentralization
V. S. Army Ballistics Missiles
means more room for misunder-
Intricate Relationships Agency, Huntsville, Ala.
standings, less opportunity for
•
In the first place, there is an people to grow together as a team,
intricate functional cross-relation- successfully remedy such a situa-
and less opportunity to familiarize
ship between construction elements tion.
a sufficient number of people inti-
emerging from those vastly differ- But before one can even sit mately with the entire missile sys-
ent scientific and engineering fields down and analyze, one first must tem, every part of which is a po-
which make up the art of building have the facts of what actually tential source of trouble.
guided missiles. A "bug" in a happened. The missile may have It is an undisputed fact that a
guided missile does not care how broken up above the clouds and the substantial number
of test missiles
the development agency has been debris may have fallen irretriev- must be before a new type
fired
organized, and who was responsible ably into the ocean. Nor is there a missile emerges from the research
for what. pilot to return to the base to report and development phase. Thus, as
Take for example There is a
:
about discrepancies he may have we And it necessary today to
vibration in a missile caused by the observed prior to the break-up. modify the design as a result of
rocket engine. The vibration is To observe the behavior of yesterday's firing, we have to in-
picked up by a sensing element be- missiles in flight, we depend en- corporate this modification into a
longing to the guidance system, is tirely on telemetry and tracking, number of missiles which, in vari-
amplified by the control circuits, both of which involve complicated ous stages of completion, are being
and causes a hunting of the control readied in our shops for future
electronic techniques. Telemetry
organs which, in turn, breaks up firings.
radios to the ground pieces of in-
the structure of the missile in mid- The period of time required
formation collected by a variety of
flight. Whose fault was it? Who is for this process of analyzing flight
eyes and ears, called "endorgans,"
to be blamed? What is to be done tests, designing, building and test-
about the bug? Only men working which we have previously endeav- ing the modified parts, and finally
together as a team and familiar ored to place in strategic or critical incorporating the modifications in-
with the scientific and the hard- locations throughout the missile. to missiles in the assembly shop
ware angles of the missile, can Alas, it is quite difficult to know in is the best yardstick for any sue-
cessful, speedy missile system assume a similar figure for the a major new guided missile system
development. ancillary ground support equip- on any other but a crash basis nor —
ment. may we assume that a potential
Facts and Theory enemy could not afford it. It is clear
there were plenty of time,
If
All this, of course, means that that the need for "crash" further
all this still wouldn't be too bad.
production of guided missiles must greatly enhances the difficulties for
We could move along cautiously
begin before we know our own end the developing agency. Any develop-
and speed up this intricate process
product. Most production men will ment organization artificially pieced
of analyzing, modifying and pro-
tell you that this is just plain non- together by management decree does
ducing as our organization learns
sense and that every branch of in- not have a Chinaman's chance to
to function as a team.
dustry will confirm that orderly succeed in the race for superior
documentation, meaning a complete The trouble is that we never
guided missile systems. The job can
set of drawings and specifications, have this time. Unless we can get a
only be done by a smoothly working
is an absolute must for any suc- new missile system into the hands team. What then makes a good team
cessful production. of the troops inside of five years
tick?
we can say is
All that such after the development was started,
Any good team, no matter
production men had better learn a the system is likely to be obsolete
whether baseball or guided missile,
few things or stay out of the before it is ready for operational
is distinguished by certain qualities
guided missile business. Unlike a use. There is a saying in the Stra-
that are hard to appraise in sober
tank, a gun or an airplane, a tegic Air Command to the effect
scientific terms. In a good team
guided missile is a one-shot af- that SAC has no up-to-date air-
there is a sense of belonging, of
fair. You put a lot of work into it planes, that all of SAC's airplanes
pride, of group achievement. There
and at the end someone pushes a are either experimental or obsolete.
button and the thing is irretriev- is an element of spontaneity in it.
The same can be said about guided
ably gone. You need anywhere be- missiles.
A good team must grow slowly and
tween 50 and 100 missiles for the organically like a tree or a flower.
And yet, even if we are ready
development and another 50 to 100 All that management can provide
to accept the fact that only obsolete
for the field testing phase of a new to make a good team grow and
guided missile systems will ever
guided missile system. So you have attain operational readiness, we blossom is a healthy working
to provide not just a pilot line but climate. Like a gardener, manage-
must still bear in mind that de-
a good-sized production before the velopment costs for major guided ment can it that the flower
see to
design may be reasonably frozen. missile projects amount to several has good sunshine, water and
soil,
Experience shows that a typical hundreds of millions of dollars per fertilizer. Nature must do the rest.
large guided missile system in- system. To justify such expenses Building a team is a slow pro-
volves approximately 60 to 80 the weapons systems must have at cess and there is trouble when one
thousand engineering change least five to ten useful years. tries to speed it up too much. Just
orders on the missile alone between as one can burn a flower with too
the first successful flight and the Crash Program Needed much fertilizer, one can badly hurt
release as an operational weapon • The conclusion is obvious. the growth of a healthy team by not
system. It may be a good guess to We simply cannot afford to develop providing sufficient time for new
team members to get acquainted gram have been entrusted should be source of trouble. However, the
with each other. Whether they are modest enough to realize that they suspected area had been very care-
scientists, engineers or mechanics, themselves depend on the successful fully checked in numerous labora-
they must be given an opportunity and smooth functioning of the team tory tests so that all explanations
to learn to appreciate the capabili- as a whole just as much as any sounded highly artificial.
ties and accomplishments of their teammate in a lower echelon. It is Several theories were advanced.
fellow team members. In guided impossible to run a successful Finally one theory was accepted as
missile development this is particu- guided missile program in a high- most likely and remedial action
larly important because there simply handed fashion. based on it was initiated. At this
cannot be an argument as to what point an engineer who was a mem-
• An efficient and continuous
professional group is more impor- ber of the firing group called and
system of communications from top
tant. said he wanted to see me. He came
to bottom and from bottom to top.
Once a group of scientists and
Here again the responsible team up to my office and told me that
engineers has learned to work to- during pre-launching preparation
leaders must be modest and humble
gether as a team they will laugh at he had tightened a certain connec-
enough to admit to themselves that
such debates because they realize tion just to make sure that there
more good ideas usually originate in
that they are dependent upon each would be good contact.
the working level of a technical
other. While so doing, he had touched
team rather than in the management
The picture of gardener
the level, which is almost continuously a contact with a screwdriver and
may appear a bit lyrical at a time tied up with planning, budgeting, drawn a spark. Since the system
when for sheer national survival we personnel, contractual and similar checked out well after this inci-
are faced with an urgent need for problems. Therefore, if good ideas dent, he hadn't paid any attention
long-range ballistic missiles. And originated in the working level of a But now that every-
to the matter.
yet at this point I am tempted to large development organization do body was talking about a possible
quote a distinguished New England not find their way to the top, the failure in that particular appa-
scientist who, when I asked him how team will go to seed. ratus, he just wanted to tell me
long he thought he would need to the story for whatever it was
• Loyalty, honesty and justice.
complete a certain development pro- worth. A quick study indicated that
gram, replied, "Two years. But if
I am not using these well-worn
here was the answer. Needless to
terms just because you can't lose by
you rush me it may take three." say, the "remedial action" was
stating that you are opposed to sin.
The following factors are in my called off and no changes were made.
There is a very practical aspect to
mind most essential and, in fact, I sent the engineer a bottle of
these words in connection with a
indispensable to a successful guid- champagne because I wanted every-
successful guided missile team.
ed missile team: body to know that honesty pays off,
One our early Redstone
of
• Maximum delegation of au- even if someone may run the risk
missiles developed trouble in mid-
thority. In a field as many-faceted of incriminating himself. Absolute
as guided missiles, many, far too
flight. The telemeter records indi- honesty is something you simply
many, experts from various fields cated that the flight had been flaw- cannot dispense with in a team effort
are needed. Men to whom leading less up to that instant, and permit- as difficult as that of missile devel-
position in a guided missile pro- ted us to localize the probable opment.
Indispensable Requirements and prevent them from disintegra-
tion and decay. This is a difficult
Loyalty and justice are just as
indispensable.We must realize that task at a time when both the de-

every new development involves risk

mands for better guided missiles
and the willingness of industry to
and the bigger the project, the
get into this new buisness is in-
greater are these risks. It would be
creasing at a much faster rate than
conceited for the top management
organical growth of teams permit.
of a large development organization
to believe (You sometimes hear
Temptations Are Great
statements to this effect that the
! I

man in the laboratory or behind the Today the situation is such that
drawing board need not worry about anyone with a few years of expe-
the risk because the management rience in the missile business is con-
alone is strong and brave enough to tinuously tempted to desert his team
shoulder the responsibility. and accept a position of allegedly
Nobody can relieve a member much greater responsibility (and,
of a team from his responsibility in of course, much higher pay!) with
his particular area. Moreover, the
one of the many companies that are
team member is usually quite proud desperately trying to establish them-
selves in the guided missile busi-
of this responsibility and only too
is

ready to take it. But in a risky oper- ness.

ation like a multi-million dollar I do not know of a greater
guided missile project he wants to single threat to this country's
know that the management will guided missile superiority than the
back him up if he sticks his neck danger of disintegration of the few
out and something does go wrong. experienced development teams un-
• Finally a good team needs der the onslaught of the gold-plated
a healthy rate of metabolism. In temptations offered by the fast-
a dynamic team there must be growing guided missile industry
itself.
chances for fair advancement for
everybody. Without this chance the This is a free country. Unlike
team will become stagnant and some of our competitors overseas
sterile. we cannot, peacetime, assign
in
The only way to maintain ad- scientists and engineers to high
vancement chances is by provid- priority projects and keep them
ing a continuous influx of young there even if they don't like their

people. This continuous influx of jobs. It is the task of our guided

new blood makes the team less missile project managements to
vulnerable to losses of key person- make them like it.

nel, which may not only occur as a But there is also an ethical
result of old age or death, but are obligation on the scientist and en-
unavoidable in a free economy. A gineer himself. He should realize
healthy rate of metabolism should that every penny spent on guided
not be confused with personnel turn- missile development comes out of
over, however. While the former is the taxpayer's wallet. In the re-
an indication of a healthy team, a search and development phase most
high personnel turnover is a very guided missiles are not completely
definite indication that something is successful —
but the missile itself
wrong. will never learn what was wrong
There are only a very few ex- with it!

perienced guided missile teams in It development team

is the
existence in this country exper- — that and widens its expe-
learns
ienced in the sense that they had an rience through failures in early mis-
opportunity to see a complete guided sile testing. Consequently, any
missile system through from its guided missile scientist and engi-
early conception to operational read- neer playing with the thought of
iness. These few coherent teams leaving his team should remember
represent the greatest single asset that he represents a public invest-
this country possesses in the con- —
ment not only as an individual
tinuous struggle for international and guided missile man but as a —
leadership in the guided missile member of his team. His value to
field. Government agencies and cor- the taxpayer may drop substanti-
porations should spare no effort to ally if he changes his team allegi-
protect the integrity of these teams ance. END.
 A BOY AND HIS ROCKET
Charlotte, N. C. America's — —
other youngsters don't know what be rocket engineers on how to plan
youngest rocket designer, ingenious kind of prep-education is required for the future.
17-year-old Jimmy Blackmon, whose for full-fledged missiles engineer- • "I am sure a lot of us teen-
6-foot gasoline rocket was "rejected" ing studies later. agers waste a lot of time because
by Redstone scientists, is going to we don't get any guidance with
build another one.
There Are Problems respect to what courses we should
"I won't build a
whole missile Where do they start? What choose and what schools we should
as such," he told Missiles & schools should they attend? What attend," Jimmy says.
Rockets, "just the motor with — books should they read? "Furthermore, if the missile
valve systems and injector head. "I don't understand it," says industry needs engineers so badly,
Then I'll test the thing statically Jimmy, "nobody can tell me exactly why don't they let us start while
under 1,200 psi pressure with water how I should go about becoming a we're young? I'm sure a lot of
and carbon dioxide to find out how missile engineer. Certainly, later teachers would go ahead and sug-
I can mix propellants and control on Ishould probably go to M. I. T. gest to us that we have to study
the flow into the injector head. or Cal Tech or some similar uni- the fundamentals of different sci-
I'lltake some movies of the pro- versity, but apparently I'm too ences, and that's fine. But beyond
pellant flow and study the pattern." young to even think about rocket that, I think many young boys
Jimmy Blackmon's first rocket hardware, or something. There are already have so much missile and
was rejected by the Army because no books available; there is really rocket know-how these days, if

high back pressure in the combus- no literature on actual design or they're interested, that they could
tion chamber probably would have construction of missiles and actually begin their applied studies
caused it to blow up. rockets." much sooner."
• The significance of Jimmy's He
says there is no missile Of
course, most of our young
rocket experiments does not lie in science or rocketry included in any would-be rocket engineers are not
the fact that this sort of thing can high-school or college course. as realistic in their enthusiasm as
be experimented with on an ama- • "That's the reason why I Jimmy Blackmon. But they are
—
teur basis and that our rocket- decided to start from scratch," he still in the same position; they
minded youngsters should be en- says. "It has taken me two and a do not know where to go for guid-
couraged to convert a corner in the half years to build this first rocket. ance. Dr. Wernher von Braun, in his
basement into a rocket lab rather, — The only available background in- article in this issue of Missiles &
the Blackmon case serves to focus formation has been some basic dope Rockets, points out that he re-
attention on a problem that agi- on some early, unclassified rockets. ceives many from young
letters
tates the minds of many young I have read a lot of books on boys asking him "how to become a
American would-be rocket engi- rockets, but either they don't tell rocket expert." But it is too much of
neers. you anything, or they are so tech- a job for one man to handle all

Jimmy —and thousands of nical you don't understand them. these inquiries.
So it is quite obvious that there
is no "in between" literature, some-
thing of an ABC or an introduc-
tion to "how to design a rocket."
Jimmy's enthusiasm is admir-
able. One probably could not con-
vince him that the art of rocket
construction was never meant to
be conducted in basements, even if
the early pioneers did start out
that way.
The fact remains that our
high-schools and colleges might
want to look into the vocational
aspects for this new and continu-
ally growing technological area. In
view of the tremendous recruitment
programs of the industry, youth is
becoming aware of the possibilities
in the missile field, Jimmy thinks.
They should some guidance, he
get
suggests. There should be some offi-
ROCKETEER VON BRAUN & JIMMY cial or semi-official institution that GENERAL H. N. TOFTOY
. . . Too much back pressure could inform this country's would- . . . Free advice to an amateur

October, 1956 43
WACA what it's doing
and where it's going

By Dr. Hugh L. Dryden

The National Advisory Com- tors, establishing policies and pro- ing how to make better aircraft.
mittee for Aeronautics has ex- grams for paid staff of nearly
its With the advancing goals of flight
tended its interests beyond the 8,000 Civil Service scientists, engi- performance, NACA has proceeded
atmosphere to new types of vehicles neers, technicians and other em- from subsonic to supersonic piloted
in the search for ever-increasing ployees. Ever since its establish- aircraft, to pilotless aircraft,
speed and altitude. Performance ment by Congress in 1915, with the guided missiles, and ballistic mis-
goals have been boosted by an assigned responsibility "to super- siles. Congress has placed no re-
order of magnitude through the vise and direct the scientific study strictions of distance, or speed or
development of rocket propulsion. of the problems of flight with a view altitude.
Increasing altitude made possible to their practical solution," the Some of the research effort is
by rocket propulsion permits agency has been keenly conscious basic and long-range. Here the
greatly increased speed, of course; that it is financed by Congressional scientist is seeking discovery and
and the attainment of the velocity appropriation, and that it is operat- understanding. Often the worker
required to escape from the earth's ing for the benefit of the taxpaying himself cannot foresee the possible
gravitational field is not too far public. applications of his studies, or evalu-
away. Using both theoretical and ex- ate their true worth. The path be-
Rockets first appeared in the perimental techniques, NACA works tween basic or long-range research
NACA in 1945 as a tool for re- always towards the goal of discover- and the finally-developed product is
search on transonic and supersonic
aerodynamic problems. Available
solid-propellant rockets developed
during the war as ordnance weap-
ons were used to propel models at
high speed. Aerodynamic charac-
teristics were measured by radio
telemetry and radar techniques.
Research on rocket engine prob-
lems began shortly thereafter at
NACA's Lewis Flight Propulsion
Laboratory.
• The National Advisory Com-
mittee for Aeronautics is appointed
by the President. A 17-man Com-
mittee serves as a board of direc- NACA Research Centers

44 Missiles and Rockets

 — .

seldom This kind of research

direct. The Author . . plied research, the business of find-
activity may
continue to result in is the ivell-known Director of ing "quick fixes" to improve the
improvements in many products. It the National Advisory Com- performance of existing airplanes
is, of course, possible to guide even
mittee for Aeronautics. He has and to make production engines
this long-range kind of research more powerful. Fortunately, years
been the responsible head of
into areas which bring productive of research had produced a sizeable
this agency since 1947. Dr.
results to a given technological backlog of readily usable design
Dryden majored in physics at
field. data on low-drag wings, high-speed
Johns Hopkins University,
At the other end of the spec- where he ivas graduated ivith propellers, stability and control, im-
trum is what might be called applied honors in 1918. The following proved systems for cowling and
research of shorter time scale. Very year he earned his Ph.D. from cooling engines, and the like. Dur-
specific goals are set for groups of the same university. He holds ing the war years, the NACA
scientists and engineers conducting seven honorary degrees from worked on more than a hundred
research directed towards early ap- as many institutions of higher airplane types.
plication. In performing this kind learning.
of work, it is necessary to draw By the close of World War II,

upon all the existing knowledge the end had come for development
We were living in a peaceful,
which has been obtained by basic of the airplane as conceived by the
subsonic world. Supersonic speeds
research. Wright brothers. Now, it was pos-
were of interest only to ballistic ex-
sible to build useful rocket engines,
• During its first 25 years perts and to the few enthusiasts
and with this development came the
until World War II —most of the who wanted to travel faster than
possibility of flight at velocities ex-
NACA's research was concentrated would be possible in propeller-
ceeding the speed of sound and to
on aerodynamic problems. By taking driven aircraft.
altitudes higher than the earth's
bold action to provide its scientists
Dreams Come True atmosphere.
and engineers with the novel, often
complicated, and usually expensive
But almost imperceptibly, tech- • The problems implicit in the
nological advances were made that speeds now within man's grasp
research equipment necessary to cov-
press forward the frontiers of aero-
in their sum transformed such un-
ered the usual, accepted aspects of
nautical science, the NACA pro-
attainable dreams as rocket engines
aeronautics —aerodynamics, struc-
These tech-
duced a wealth of information that
into practicable
nological gains were
ideas.
in many areas
tures and loads, powerplants —plus
was used to good advantage by new ones, thermo-dynamics, aero-
America's aircraft industry. This
—metallurgy, fuels, chemistry, thermo-chemistry.
combustion, electronics, aerody-
was a course of action that paid Instead of thinking of speed in
handsome dividends, in directly use- namics.
terms of hundreds of miles an hour,
ful information, on the taxpayers' The NACA's effort in World it became necessary to stretch one's
investment. War II was devoted largely to ap- imagination to encompass the prob-

•
-
 speed and altitude made possible by gun to see how to design and build
rocket propulsion can be realized small, pilot models with which to
prove the practicability of con-
only by the simultaneous solution of
and structing the radical new research
many difficult aerodynamic
tools so necessary for rapid ex-
structural problems of the vehicle,
pansion of the limits of our funda-
whether aircraft or missile. High
mental knowledge. Much work re-
speed through the air generates
mains to be done in this stage, the
heat which raises the temperature
providing of tools with which to
of the aircraft or missile, producing
study the basic problems.
thermal stresses and loss of strength
or even melting of the materials of Research and development have
which the structure is made. Aero- proceeded simultaneously from the
dynamic heating can be avoided by days by the design and construction
going above the atmosphere except — of practical devices, enabling us to

that always we have to re-enter the focus research on the important

atmosphere to reach our destination problems of applied research which
or target. lead to advances in the technology.
Along with this applied research we
The re-entry of the nose cone
Forward section of a research missile do basic research in hypersonic aero-
of a ballistic missile is confronted
viewed through the 26" diameter dynamics, new fuels, combustion,
with the most severe conditions.
Schlieren window in NACA 8 x 6-foot and heat transfer under the extreme
Dissociation of air molecules into_
supersonic wind tunnel test section. A environmental conditions which lie
technician calibrating remotely con-
atoms and the recombination of
is in the future.
trolled surface of missile. atoms, ionization of the atoms and
This even now, while so much
recombination of electrons and ions,
remains to be done toward providing
lems growing from flight measured and the formation of new chemical
the tools required for research at
in thousands of miles an hour. For compounds from constituents of the
such speeds the rocket engine is air—these are areas where our un-
the limits of technology, very large
effort is being devoted to the de-
peculiarly fitted and indeed neces- derstanding is sadly incomplete.
velopment of prototypes of actual
sary.
• What makes research on long-range rocket missiles. Next
The earliest NACA research such "out-of-this-world" problems so year, according to present commit-
on rockets deal with liquid-propel- difficult is that we have had to learn ments, we are scheduled to fire a
Iants, exploring the possibilities of how to duplicate in the laboratory satellite vehicle hundreds of miles
known compounds and of new chem- the extremely high temperatures into the sky.With this event, we
icals synthesized for the purpose to and the other conditions of future shall open the gates to the vistas
give much higher performance than flight. Only recently have we be- of space. END.
the alcohol-liquid oxygen of the V-2
rocket. The first work was that of
Conical inlet being tested in 18 x 18-inch NACA supersonic tunnel.
theoretical computations of per-
formance, soon followed in 1947 by
experimental work in small rockets
of 100-lb. thrust.

Expanding Research
Within a year experiments were
in progress on rocket starting at
low temperatures and pressures cor-
responding to high altitudes, on film
cooling of the combustion chamber
walls, and on photographic studies
of combustion in a transparent
rocket chamber. Today, research
continues in propellants, materials,
combustion, and cooling in facil-
itiespermitting the use of engines
of larger thrust and in other fields
which promise to contribute to the
improved performance and utility of
rocket propulsion.

The tremendous increases in

 NACA's DAN EXPERIMENT
National Advisory Committee each flight this combination oper- Loaded Deacon 151.5
for Aeronautics has disclosed first ated entirely satisfactorily with Deacon fins, shroud
details of successful flight tests respect to both propulsion and & fairing 25.5
using a combination of a Nike mis- aerodynamics. Nozzle extension 5
sile booster and an Allegheny Bal- Ultimate purpose of the ve- Nose cone and
listics Laboratory Deacon sustainer hicle is to carry free-fall aecel- instrumentation 34
as atwo-stage, solid-propellant erometer sphere apparatus devel- Complete Deacon 216
rocket for meteorological sounding oped by the University of Michigan Nose cone of the Deacon housed
at extreme altitudes. for measuring densities at heights AN/DPN-19 radar beacon instru-
Two test firings of Deacon-Nike between 250,000 and 375,000 ft. mentation protected from aerody-
(called Dan) rockets indicate that namic heating by a 3/16-in. thick
altitudes between 385,000 and 487,- magnesium shell. The beacon sig-
000 ft. 92 miles) may be
(73 to nal was tracked by an NACA modi-
reached with
payloads ranging fied SCR-584 CW Doppler radar to
from 60 to 10 pounds, NACA says. obtain data on variation of speed
Project was conducted for the with time for computing Mach
U.S. Air Force's Cambridge Re- number.
search Center by NACA's Langley Procedure used in both tests
Aeronautical Laboratory. Actual was to allow the second-stage rock-
firings took place at its Wallops ets to decelerate after Nike booster
Island, Va. Pilotless Aircraft Re- separation in order to reduce nose
search Center late last year. cone and rocket case wall tempera-
In the NACA tests, the first tures by traversing the lower,
Deacon-Nike was launched at a 75° denser atmosphere at relatively low
angle of elevation and reached a speeds.
peak altitude of 356,000 ft. some First Dan rocket was carried
161 seconds after launching Second by Nike booster to 4,900 ft. before
Dan rocket, launched at the same first-stage separation. It coasted
angle, attained a slightly lower 13.7 seconds before the Deacon
altitude of 350,000 ft. in 156 sustainer rocket was fired and ac-
seconds. But NACA scientists esti- celerated to a maximum velocity of
mate the higher altitudes can be 5,150 feetper second (approx.
reached by launching the Dan ver- Mach 5) at an altitude of 47,060 ft.
Dan rocket ready for launching.
tically. After burnout, the Deacon
• Design the
of sounding Test details, reported in Tech- coasted in free flight until the nose
rocket was worked out by NACA in nical Note 3739 by NACA's R. H. cone and sphere were released
conjunction with University of Heitkotter of Langley Aeronautical about 52 seconds after launching.
Michigan's Engineering Research Laboratory, show these weight Peak altitude of 356,000 ft. was
Institute. In final form, it consisted specifications for the Dan rockets: determined from the radar beacon
of a first-stage Nike booster with equipment in the nose cone 161
Weight
a second-stage ABL Deacon sus- Component (lbs.) seconds after launching.
tainer, the latter having been used Loaded Nike booster 1,170 Second vehicle was boosted to
previously by NACA as an aerody- Booster adapter 45 5,200 ft., coasted 9.45 seconds and
namic research vehicle. Booster fins 109 was accelerated to a top speed of
Test results showed that on Complete booster 1,324 5,289 fps at an altitude of 39,339 ft.

DEACON-NIKE rocket. Accelerome+er sphere is located at bulge in Deacon immediately aft of nose cone (left).

October, 1956 47
Navigation
by Satellites
By Lovell Lawrence Jr.

An Artificial Satellite Time and

Radio Orbit celestial navigation
system that is simple, yet reliable,
may be feasible in the near future.
To accomplish this, however, a very
high degree of accuracy must be
maintained in the electronic com-
ponents. Methods for observing this
high-velocity body by other than
optical means will be necessary, and
accurate time signals must be gen-
erated.

To utilize a stable celestial body

for navigation purposes, it is neces-
sary to know the co-ordinates of its
sub-astral position at any given
time, and to be able to accurately
associate it to geographical loca-
tions on the earth. The orbits se-
lected for artificial satellite around
the earth, to be used as a navigation
reference, should be permanent and
circular (or near-circular) with an
altitude that will allow visibility
over the greatest area at all times.
Some perturbation of the satellites number of these artificial bodies launching of such a satellite in the
and precession of the orbits due to placed in such orbits would permit near future.
the earth's oblateness can be toler- continuous navigation over the • The fact that very delicate
ated, provided that these changes earth's surface and would greatly and complicated instruments will
are slow and predictable. reduce complexity in the prepara- be necessary to maintain accurate
Considering a 24-hour equa- tion of almanac records. However, contact with the satellite makes the
torial orbit, the satellite would ro- the 24-hour orbit can be disre- venture difficult. Also, the require-
tate at the same rate as the earth garded at the present time since the ment for increased power to main-
and appear to remain motionless advancement in the art will not tain high visibility, and the diffi-
over one spot at all times. A proper develop rapidly enough to permit the culty that would be encountered in
order to correct for large refraction
errors caused by atmospheric and
Figure 2 — Estimated satellite specifications. ionospheric disturbances would make
N on- Directional Spin its use untenable. Therefore, a
diameter
Satellite maximum 3.5 ft. 3.5 ft.
lower-altitude orbit seems more
Sphere weight 25 lbs. 25 lbs. feasible right now.
Transmitter 100 watt-10 lbs. 15 watt-5 lbs. The placement of a 105-minute
Power generator 12.5 watt-15 lbs. 2 watt-5 lbs. orbit seems possible in the predict-
Antenna 8—8 lbs. 1- -1 lb.
able future, and this 600-mile alti-
Gyro None 5 lbs. tude vehicle will establish a horizon
Jet system None 10 lbs. that will allow the satellite to be
Total weight 58 lbs. 51 lbs. visible to an observer for periods of
from 6 to 16 minutes at any point
48 Missiles and Rockets
on the earth's surface. Three of
these orbits, symmetrically placed
over the poles, will permit a naviga-
tion fix at intervals of not more
than 105 minutes decreasing gen-
erally toward the poles. Also, at
this altitude, a satellite velocity in
the order of 4.V2 miles per second
would be expected, thus permitting
the use of the Doppler frequency
shift of a carrier on the satellite as
a means for determining its relative
velocity and by correlation, the posi-
tion of the navigating vehicle.
• Figure 1 shows a Mercator
projection of the world, with the
three Astro units in their period
positions eight hours apart. The
time lines of Astro-3 are plotted,
showing the co-ordinates of its sub-
astral hours after
position, 21
launching. The other two Astros are
shown in their positions at the same
hour. However, their time lines have
The general dimensions of the gyro would signal the jet to force
been omitted to maintain clarity in
shown in Figure 2 are more
satellite the sphere around until its spin axis
the chart. Astro-3 will be used later
or less determined by the minimum was perpendicular to the plane of
when the aircraft flight plot is dis-
surface area required to dissipate the orbit and it coincided with the
cussed.
the 200 watts of heat from the gyro spin axis.
To be assured of a good polar thermoelectric generator. It is be- Such momentum as may be
orbit, the satellite should be down
lieved that the volume of the two- created by the gyro running
launched from the North Pole on foot sphere will be of sufficient would then be absorbed into the
the proper trajectory so that it is magnitude for housing the neces- satellite spin axis as an increase in
injected into its predetermined sary equipment. its spin rate. To establish a proper
orbit.
• It is conceived that the re- wave pattern for broad coverage
It should be noted that the orientated satellite would be over the earth, two folded dipole
Astro system could readily be com- launched with its spin axis directed antennas would be placed at a
bined with satellites used for col- into the flight path of its trajectory, proper angle to the axis of spin,
lecting geophysical data. However, in the same manner that an artil- and the resulting pattern would
for the purposes of this article, only lery shell Figure 3. After a
is fired, laterally sweep the earth, back and
the navigational application will be predetermined time in the orbit, the forth, as the satellite moved along.
considered.

Satellite Designs
Two
satellite designs are con-
sidered, both spherical in shape. FOLDED
One to be oriented, by gyroscopic DIPOLE
means, into the plane of its orbit ANTENNA
after being launched, spinning at (EIGHT-EQUALLY SPACED)
the time of cutoff. The other design
would be placed in its orbit without
any attempt to control its altitude. NUCLEAR THERMOPILE
POWER GENERATOR
The Author . . .

is a recognized authority on HEAT DISTRIBUTING

rocket poiverplants and mis- PAD (THREE)
sile design. He founded Re-
action Motors, Inc. and served
as its president and chairman
of the board until 1951. A
former president of the Amer-
ican Rocket Society, he joined TRANSMITTER
Chrysler Corp. Missile Opera-
tions in 1954, where he is
now Assistant Chief Engineer. Figure A — Non-directional satellite with eight antennas.

October, 1956 49
 variations when the plane of the
COPPER CASE FOR satellite's orbitwas perpendicular
to the sun's rays.

The nondirectional radiating

satellite will require approximately
12V2 watts of electrical energy to
produce 15 watts of power in each
of the eight antennas at 100 mc.
This ratio of low-power input for
high-power output is accomplished
by utilizing a radar-type pulse, with
a fixed width of around ten micro-
seconds. The pulse-spacing will then
be varied by an accurate and peri-
odically-corrected timing oscillator,
and used to indicate the lapsed time
of each orbit period. To produce
this 12 V2 watts of power for the
transmitter, a nuclear thermopile
THERMOCOUPLE YTTRIUM ISOTOPES could be used.
• The isotope to be used for
Figure 5 —Thermopile satellite power package.
the thermopile heat source calls for
four pounds of strontium 90 that
The folded half-wave dipole tive of orientation or spin. The same produces 200 watts of heat. Its half
allows the use of metal sphere con- arrangement existsfor a
except life is 20 years. This power source

struction in order to contain the slightly larger powerpack and trans- would also be suitable for heating
transmitter, gyro, power pack and mitter, excluding the gyro-jet re- the oven containing the transmitter,
high-pressure gas supply for the re- orientation system. The bracket which maintains the high degree of
orientation jet. This sphere then used to attach these items to the accuracy required of the master os-
becomes the common ground for inside of the satellite's sphere would cillator crystal and timing circuits.
both antennas. Although each an- be made of material with high con- In view of the complexity of
tenna will establish its own wave ductivity so that heat may be rapid- any other type of power package,
pattern, for all intents and purposes ly removed from the powerpack such as a sun generator requiring
all patterns will appear to the earth through radiation into the void from controls to maintain its proper
as if they emanate from a single the blackened outer shell of the orientation with respect to the sun,
dipole. sphere. the use of a thermopile seems feas-
• Figure 4 shows the satellite ible. Figure 5. Present thermocoupls
In addition to the heat-conduct-
with an antenna system for pro- ing frame and pads, the sphere will of antimony-bismuth alloys and con-
ducing an all-directional wave pat- be charged with a liberal supply of stantan will produce about one-
tern, using eight symmetrically- mixed nitrogen and hydrogen gas. tenth volt, with a 400-degree centi-
place folded dinoles arranged to This mixture will materially assist grade temperature differential be-
permit good earth contact, irrespec- in damping extreme temperature tween the hot and cold junctions,
and reach an efficiency of about five
percent.

Navigating with Astro

To give some idea of the Astro
system of navigation, Figure 6
depicts, graphically, a sphereo-
graphic technique for determining
the position of a location on the
earth with reference to the oi'bit at
some given time. Since this form of
celestial navigation is in common
use today, with standard almanac
tables of the stars prepared in ad-
vance, it will not be necessary to
discuss its technique in detail.
For the sake of clarity, it is
assumed that Astro-2 was recently
launched from the North Pole and
120" 105" 90° 75° 60° 45° 30° 15° aimed along the Greenwich Meri-
W.LONS. W.LONG. W.LONG W. LONG W.LONG. W. L0N6 W.LONG. W.LONG.
dian. If 5% hours have elapsed, the
Figue 6 —Sphereographic technique for positioning a location. satellite has then made 3.14 revolu-

50 Missiles and Rockets

tions. Since the 105-minute orbit distance with respect to the ob- horizon to an observer who is at the
makes approximately .57 revolutions server. A direct correlation can then tangent position on the zero longi-
per hour, this means that at ap- be made between the frequency tude line. The orbit directly over-
proximately 5:15h it would be di- measured from the line of closest head will remain in view 16 min-
rectly over the North Pole. approach (or null) for each incre- utes, the most distant orbit for 6
ment of lapsed time, and the re- minutes.
• For example: If a ship, quired position distance in degrees
moored in the Philadelphia Harbor, The line drawn perpendicular
of longitude or in nautical miles. to the tangents of the horizon on
were equipped with an electronic
sextant (consisting of an accurate
• Figure 7 shows a plot of the these three orbits passes through
observed frequency deviation, versus the position of closest approach
and highly-directional antenna
coupled with a pendulum for defin- position distance, for a number of where both the satellite's apparent
minutes of lapsed time after the velocity and the Doppler shift will
ing the horizon), it would be able
satellite has passed the sub-astral reach zero. Then, to obtain the accu-
to determine the satellite's altitude
angle as it came into range. By re- latitude position. Above this graph rate time of the zero beat (or null)

ferring to the almanac (to deter- are shown three of the family of and the correct position distance of
mine the satellite's sub-as tral orbits, graphically portrayed in in- the observer from the satellite, it
point), a line of position could then
crements of longitude by placing will be necessary to have a computer
them over lines that are tangent to capable of rapidly making a series
be worked out for the ship. The
the earth's surface. The intersec- of approximations. As each approxi-
circle of equal altitude, established
from this position, would show that tions of the the tangent
arcs at mation is made, the computer cor-
lines determine the Astro's visible rects for the known velocity com-
the ship must be somewhere on this
circle.

If observation were
another
made some minutes later, a second
circle of equal altitude could be
similarly determined. After observ-
ing the azimuth roughly, the inter-
section of these two circles would
determine the ship's actual position,
or fix.

The difficulty with the sphereo-

graphical navigation technique ap-
plied to the Astro system is that an
accuracy of five places is required of
the tracking mechanism in the elec-
tronic sextant. To develop reliability
in such a mechanism would be diffi-

cult indeed —especially since serious

errors will be introduced when the
ship is pitching and rolling —
result-
ing in poor correlation between the
horizon reference and the observed
angle of elevation. It is clear that a
different method of navigation will
be necessary to eliminate this com-
plicated and expensive approach.

Doppler Shift
Since the velocity of a 105-min-
ute Astro is in the order of 16,500

mph, it may be measured by observ-

ing the doppler frequency deviation
of the 100 mc carrier. It is this
Doppler shift phenomenon that
makes the sound of a train whistle
appear to change its pitch as it
passes by. This same phenomenon is
also applicable to radio waves. If
the difference in frequency devia-
tion can be detected between a satel-
lite on an orbit passing directly OISTANCE FROM SATELLITE PLANE
overhead and an orbit observed at a
distance, the relative velocity thus
derived is a measure of the position Figure 7 — Plot of observed Doppler frequency.

October, 1956 51
 ;

column on the right gives the cor-

ALMANAC
(wed)
rection to be applied.
1956 APRIL 18 • The A s t r o s transmitter
'

STANDARD TIME sends a time reference signal by

LATITUDE TABLE
ELAPSE TIME F80M LONG.
varying the pulse spacinb, indicat-
SOUTHBOUND COR-
EQUATORIAL CROSSING
LATITUDE
RECTION
ing the lapse of time for each rota-
f » KC tional period.
0°
50.OO-- i
An oscillator, modulated by an
1 i
accurate timer and corrected every
|5445~ 89 46°44~ 24"3l' 105 minutes as the satellite passes
S4.S0" 90 | 43° 19 - 24"46 over the North Pole, will vary be-
54.55« 91 l 39*54 " 2S"OI
tween 50 to 55 kc as each minute
54 60" 9Z ,
36'29 ~ 2516
54.65- '93 33'04- 2V3I has elapsed. This variation, when
1
properly interpreted once the Astro
has been calibrated, will produce di-
rectly the latitude coordinate as well
as the correction for the longitude
coordinate. It would then be possible
to introduce signal into the
this
computer a function, without
as
further reference to a table.
The Mercator position plotting
sheet shows aircraft has been in
flight in dense fog for a number of
hours, and a dead reckoning plot
was made 14:45 hours. The
at
course has been continued until
74*30' 74' 72*30'
05:05 hours, when the Astro-3 sig-
LONGITUDE
nal was detected. After listening to
Figure 8 — Depicting a flight from the Azores to Philadelphia on a Mercator the drop in pitch of the beat fre-
position-plotting sheet. quency between the satellite's trans-
mitter and the receiver's oscillator,
(while properly determining the
ponent of the earth's rotation, as Figure 8 depicts an aircraft azimuth), the apparent null occurs
well as air speed, course heading flight from the Azores to Philadel- at 05:31 hours.
and altitude; thus shrinking the phia on a Mercator position plotting After the computer is allowed
error. sheet. Since it is probable that no to operate for one minute, the re-
If the computer is allowed to Astro will fall exactly into its pre- ceiver tells us that 91 minutes have
function for a reasonable time after determined orbital altitude and, be- elapsed since the satellite's last
the apparent null is detected, then cause each one is launched at differ- equatorial crossing, and the cor-
the corrected null and position dis- ent intervals, all these orbits must rected position distance is 10°37'.
tance are obtained, and the observer be recorded for day of the each Now, upon referring to the stand-
can establish a fix with a fairly high year. The almanac page shows the ard table, the satellite's sub-astral
degree of accui'acy. If the phase Greenwich Mean Time and longi- latitude coordinate is 39°54'N. If
shift of the beat frequency (as it tude of their sub-astral position as the longitude correction of 25°01' is
reverses at null) is detected by a the satellites pass over the equator. added to the longitude figure of
phase discriminator, it is estimated There will be approximately four- 60°W (derived from the almanac
that the geographical position of an teen 105-minute periods of revolu- table after determining the Green-
observer can be determined within tion to be listed for each day of the wich time of the satellite's passage
an accuracy of one mile by holding year. over the equator), then the sub-
the satellite carrier frequency to ten The column at the right of the astral coordinates of the satellite
cycles in 100 million. double line Standard Time
is the are established.
• As an example: If an ob- latitude table for each minute which By drawing an Earth Parallel
server were to neglect all motion is always predictable for any per- from the satellite's sub-astral point
and attitude other than that of the manent orbit period of revolution. on Mercator position plotting sheet,
satellite, and a frequency shift of This table could be placed on the the observer can define his line of
.53kc was indicated one minute inside cover of the almanac; but, to position. By subtracting the cor-
after null, then (according to the make for simpler reference during rected position distance of 10°37'
graph) he would be at longitude this discussion, both tables are from the satellite's sub-astral longi-
15°, or 900 nautical miles from the placed side-by-side. Since it is also tude coordinate, an accurate fix is
satellite. If another observation was necessary to establish Astro-3's made at longitude 74°24'W on the
made at the end of the second min- longitude coordinate for each incre- latitude 34°54'N line of position.
ute, the same reading would be ment of time from its last south- The navigator can now correct his
obtained. bound equatorial crossing, this last course. END.
52 Missiles and Rockets
 :

Martin's
TITAN
project
By Henry T. Simmons

With construction of its new

plant near Denver racing to com- Denver residents will be hearing a new sound not so many
pletion, the Martin
Baltimore,
Co., months from now. It will resemble the low rumble of a freight train
Md., may begin preliminary manu- in the far distance.
facturing operations before the end But it won't be a freight train. It will be the shattering ex-
of this year on the airframe of the haust of a rocket engine doing its stuff on a test stand tucked away
Titan intercontinental ballistic mis- in a Rocky Mountain canyon many miles to the southwest of the
sile. city.

TitanMartin's entry in Uncle

is Though distance and the natural acoustical effects of the
Sam's forced-draft program to mountains will soften the engine's blast to a gentle murmur, the
achieve a ballistic vehicle capable sound ivill nonetheless signify a neiv era for the military potential
of transporting a of the United States as well as the economy of the Colorado capital.
thermonuclear
warhead at least 5,000 miles. Its
chief competitor is the Atlas ICBM
vehiclewhich Convair Division of this rough description of the ICBM project, which will occupy a 4,400-
General Dynamics Corp., is build- It will be more than 100 feet long, acre site in the "front range" of
ing. the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity
some feet in diameter and will weigh
The Baltimore aircraft com- several hundred thousand pounds of Waterton, Colo., about 20 miles
pany and Convair are two of 16 when fueled. southwest of Denver. A total of
major contractors engaged in the 408,300 square feet of plant space is
Air Force drive to develop and in-
Though only an approximation,
this description does suggest some-
now under construction, including
troduce the "ultimate
so-called a complete and modern factory of
thing of the magnitude of the job
weapon" ahead of Soviet Russia. 306,700 square feet, an administra-
facing Martin's new Denver Divi-
I The other companies are working tion and engineering building of
sion, set up early this year to de-
;
on complex guidance techniques, 88,400 square feet and a cafeteria of
immensely powerful rocket engines velop and produce the Titan air-
i

13,200 square feet.

and nose cones which must with- frame. Work on its new facilities
Supporting facilities include a
stand terrific temperatures in bring- is running well ahead of schedule,
steam plant with a capacity of
I ing the thermonuclear payloads according to local reports. All build-
back through the atmosphere after 84,000 pounds of steam an hour,
ings are scheduled to be ready by
their brief journey in space. a 300,000-gallon water tank, an in-
January 1, less than one year after
cinerator and plants for garbage
• As
expected, details of the the start of construction, and some
disposal and sewage treatment. A
I
Titan are shrouded in military portions of the plant may be avail-
secrecy. But Dr. Walter Dornberger,
parking lot with space for 750 cars
able as early as November 1.
formerly commander of the Ger- is also planned, but this will un-
|

man V-2 rocket center at Peene- Martin Investing $10 Million doubtedly have to be expanded as
munde and now a missile consultant Martin is putting $10 million the plant builds up to its anticipated
ji for Bell Aircraft Corp., has given of its own funds into the Titan maximum of 5,000 employees by

October, 1956 5S
 : —

Martin's New Denver Facility for Titan ICBM Development.

1960. a nucleus of 249 Martin personnel choice
• Martin isbuilding a
also who moved to Denver early this year 1. Denver is a metropolis in a
number of test stands for checking to make ready for the day when the remote area.
out engines and other systems of division's new facilities would be 2. The Rocky Mountain terrain
the completed ICBM weapons prior ready for use. Until that time, the is conducive to the testing of pow-
to their shipment for test firing or Martin people are occupying four erful engines.
to storage in regular launching interim facilities in Denver: the 3. Labor situation is good.
sites. The Titan test facilities will Shell Building, the Keith Building, 4. The such that
climate is
be located in canyons surrounded a manufacturing facility and a lab- —
many people including engineers
by high mountains so that the ear- oratory located in the suburb of are willing to work in Denver on a
splitting noise of the engine tests, Englewood. permanent basis.
according to the Denver University • Other key personnel of 5. Colleges and universities in
Research Institute, will be largely Martin's Denver Division include the area are exceptionally good.
dissipated in the immediate area. Roy G. Andrews, Manager of Indus- 6. Adequate rail, motor and air-
trial Relations Robern N. Blakey, line transportation.
Construction Work Under Way
;

Manager of Manufacturing; Dan L. 7. Sufficient fuel, gas, electric-

Meantime, construction work
Burford, Division Counsel; Hugh P. ityand w-ater supplies.
on access roads and bridges by
Campbell, Manager of Quality Con- 8. Highly cooperative attitude
State and County authorities is
trol; Don P. Herron, Supervisor for
keeping pace with work on the of the State and County highway
Information Services: Ross B. departments.
Martin project itself. Ultimately,
Hooker, Director for Procurement
this work will have a most impor- 9. Cooperation of the Chamber
and Facilities; Thomas P. Hudock.
tant bearing on the Titan operation of Commerce and other civic or-
Division Controller; William C.
since transportation of the huge, un- ganizations.
Ruckert, Manager for Customer Re-
wieldy missiles will be an acute 10. The area affords the high
lations; Robert G. Swope, Manager
problem. Barring accidents, it is un- degree of security essential to the
for Master Planning; Charles H.
likely that a Titan will ever leave job of developing and producing
Williams, Jr., Director for Service
the factory under its own power. ICBM weapons.
and Test; James L. Burridge, As-
General Manager of the Titan Martin not the only aircraft-
is
sistant Chief Engineer, and George
project is Albert L. Varrieur. 39, a
Derr, Engineering Administrator.
missile company
in recent years to
veteran Martin engineer and opera- fall under the spell of Denver and
Principal engineers include Wil-
tions manager for a number of im- the surrounding area as a desirable
liam E. Brown, Guidance and Con-
portant company projects, including site for industrial operations.
trol: John D. Goodlette, Airframe:
the B-26 bomber of World War II. Four other companies are al-
Walter O. Lowrie, Flight Mechan-
the 404 commercial airliner and the ready at work or building facilities
ics; Marvin Pitkin, Operational En-
P6M-1 jet flying boat. there. They are Stanley Aviation
gineering; Beal M. Teague, Ground
Chief Engineer of the Denver Corp., Sundstrand Aviation Divi-
Support; Harrison C. Wroton, Test
Division is William G. "Mister sion of Sundstrand Machine Tool
and Reliability, and John R. Young-
Viking" Purdy, 38. He joined Mar- Co., Beech Aircraft Corp. and Ramo-
quist. Propulsion.
tin in 1941 and became project en- Wooldridge Corp. The last company,
gineer for the company's Viking Why Denver Was Picked incidentally, is technical monitor for
research rocket program in 1947. Martin selected Denver as the the ICBM program for the Air
He held that post until his promo- location for its new division after a Force, but it is prohibited under the
tion to the Denver position. study of 94 cities in 33 states. It terms of its contract from supplying
Varrieur and Purdy were amonK gives no less than 10 reasons for its any of the hardware for the weapon.

56 Missiles and Rockets

we can build
a moon rocket
NOW
By Kurt R. Stehling and Richard Foster

As a result of recent openly discussed progress in rocket

research, it is now feasible from an engineering standpoint to
send a solid-propellant rocket vehicle with a small payload to the
moon.
Lunar rockets have been diseussed openly for many years.
But the usual schemes have involved large multistage vehicles mm
beyond contemporary engineering feasibility.
It is quite probable that an attempt will be made to launch
— —
a moon rocket or a circumlunar orbiter when ICBM hardware
is operational and available. Some scientists are inclined to think
that such ventures may be realized in 1959-60. However, a smaller
experimental vehicle can be built now.
In this article, which is based on a paper presented at the
International Astronautical Federation Congress in Rome last
month, Kurt R. Stehling and Richard Foster explain how a loiv-
cost small lunar rocket program could be launched. The authors'
plan is certain to arouse world-wide interest.

When carried aloft to 70,000 total impulse.This rocket carries a

feet by a huge four-million-cubic- four-pound payload.
foot Skyhook balloon, a solid-propel- • Such a combination of
lant step-rocket will be capable of rockets should reach a final burn-
bringing a four-pound payload to out velocity of 37,500 feet per sec-
the moon. ond, which is sufficient to propel
The booster vehicle needed for the final stage and the payload to
this task consists of a cluster of the earth-lunar gravitational neu-
three large solid-propellant units tral point. From this point the
with a total impulse of 472 x 10 4 moon's own gravity will attract the
lbs. /sec. On top of this first-stage last stage to the lunar surface at a
unit is mounted a second-stage terminal velocity of 7,920 feet per
solid-propellant rocket with a total second.
impulse of 28 x 10* lbs./sec. A third Skyhook balloons of 3 x 10° Cross —
section vehicle is approxi-
stage consists of a solid-propellant cubic feet volume have been built mately 35 feet in length, Roclcets
rocket with a 1.1 x 10* lbs./sec. and launched already. As a matter shown with high drag nose section

58 Missiles and Rockets

of fact, small solid-propellant rock- The Authors . . . zoom straight through the Skyhook
ets have been carried aloft and are introducing their private balloon. The takeoff velocity is so
launched from Skyhook balloons proposal for an extension of the great that the direction of firing
many times. plan presented in 1955 by Kurt will not be affected by the balloon.
In the case of the lunar rocket, R. Stehling and Raymond Mis- This method has been successfully
as proposed here, it might be neces- serf for a balloon-launched or- demonstrated by the University of
sary to employ a cluster of smaller bital vehicle. Stehling, form- Iowa Rockoon experiments.
balloons, rather than one big one. erly with Bell Aircraft Corpora- • The three boosters in the
tion, is now Propulsion Head, next stage will be manifolded to-
Of course, numerous launching dif-
Naval Research Laboratory. gether to minimize the initial over-
ficulties must be encountered,
Richard Foster, ARS student- turning movement which normally
whether one uses one big or several
award winner, is a member of
smaller balloons. Among the launch- results from unstable or non-simul-
the NRL propulsion staff. The
ing difficulties are such problems as taneous ignition, with subsequent
opinions are those of the
keeping the vehicle stabilized under authors and are not to be con- uneven thrust development.
conditions of high winds. Ship- strued as official or as reflecting To stabilize the second and
board-launching at a relative zero the views of the Navy Depart- third stages of the launching ve-
wind velocity may reduce such dif- ment. hicle, these rockets could be made
ficulties. to spin at some predetermined rate.
Wind loads on the balloon and this is no great task, since such sta- This spinning creates so-called pro-
suspended payload during ascent bilization platforms already are jectile stability. This principle is
must also be considered. familiar to guided-missile engi- employed in the Vanyuard satellite
At launching, the rocket boost- neers. vehicle.
ers must point vertically, i.e. on the The coupling and release of
radius from the earth's center. To Rocket Zooms Through Balloon large solid rockets is a formidable
achieve this a suspension platform An interesting aspect of this task. Since a high-altitude launch
stabilized by gyro flywheels or small rocket configuration is that the is presumedin this case, elaborate
pitch and yaw rocket jets probably whole vehicle, when launched by re- streamlining skirts and shields may
will be required. Engineering-wise mote control from the surface, will not be necessary. As a matter of

Possible payload. Suspension view.

60 Missiles and Rockets

 —
burnout of each respective carrier stability factors will all determine
stage. A back-up system of long- dispersion and trajectory.
burning fuses could also be used.
Landing on the Moon
No provision is made for flight-
It is difficult, within the limi-
path control of the last two stages.
tations of this brief article, to
Other than the gyro stability of the
specify the proper time and place
spinning rockets, no electronic or
for launching of this type of lunar
other guidance is involved.
rocket. It may be said, however,
It isestimated that with a per- that time and place would have to
fect launching and vertical flight be determined by the juxtaposition
path and a burnout velocity of of the moon and the sun and the
37,500 feet per second, the third possible requirement of observation
—
stage with its small payload will — of the landing by stations on the
hurtle toward the moon with suf- earth.
ficient accuracy to reach the neutral If one assumes that the payload
gravitational point. consists of nothing but a charge of

Optimum impact trajectory. • The flight path is influenced metallic dust —such as magnesium
by the translational and rotational or a fluorescent powder, the impact
velocities of the earth. These are or "landing" on the moon's surface
fact, the second stage could nestle
imparted to the radial velocity of may be observed as a large bright
within or on top of the first-stage
the launching vehicle. The path is
flash. It is assumed that the land-
cluster, held only by the slip-joint
further influenced by rather the ing takes place on the darkened
of two concentric skirts. The ex-
weak attraction of the sun and the
haust jet of the second stage couid
issue through the triangular hollow
stronger attraction of the moon. Takeoff — vehicle shoots straight
through balloon.
column between the three first-stage If the the moon
velocity of
boosters. rocket's last stage at the gravita-
tional neutral point between the
Similarly, the third stage could
earth and the moon is slightly
be ejected by gas pressure gener-
greater than zero, the vehicle will
ated in the support structure which
actually reach a point of no return.
will provide rotational "hold," but
no longitudinal "hold." This method A deficit or excess velocity at that
point should result in either an
would allow the third stage to spin
earth or lunar orbit, a parabolic
with the second and yet permit sep-
path around the moon and back to
aration at second-stage burnout.
earth, or an impact upon the moon.
The gas pressure could be generated
If the returns to
last stage
by a pyrotechnic squib in series earth, it that it will
is possible
with the third-stage igniter. break up in the denser layers of the
Ground command or a balloon- earth's atmosphere because of the
based timer could send the ignition great aerodynamic heating.
signal for the first stage. Accelera- Mis-orientation of the vehicle
tion-sensitive switches could ignite at launching, thrust misalignment,
the second and third stages on unequal thrust levels and other in-

Solid-Propellant Moon Rocket Specifications

Stage I Stage II Stage m
Gross Weight 26574 lbs. 1574 lbs. 64 lbs.
Structure Weight 200 lbs. 10 lbs. lbs.
Payload Weight .1574 lbs. 64 lbs. 4 lbs.
Specific Impulse _ _ 245 sec. 245 sec. 245 sec.
Stage Mass Ratio _. _ 0.81 0.82 0.81
Firing Time _ ...20 sec. 20 sec. 10 sec.
Peak Acceleration 42 g 40 g 91 g
Burnout Velocity 12,964 fps 13,474 fps 13,066 fps
Burnout Altitude* „ 180,000 ft. 280,000 ft. 352,000 ft.
Drag Velocity Loss 400 fps fps fps
Gravity Velocity Loss 644 fps 644 fps 322 fps
Thrust 236,000 lbs. 14,000 lbs. 1,100 lbs.

* Assumes 70,000-ft. launching altitude

Velocity Available 39,504 fps
Escape Requirement -36,700 fps
Gravity Velocity Loss - 1,610 fps

Drag Velocity Loss - 400 fps

Excess _ 794 fps

s VLWBm
62 Missiles and Rockets
surface of a segment of the "new"
moon.
• In all probability, once a
moon rocket with a four-pound pay-
load capacity is available, the in-
genuity of interested physicists and
others will result in different kinds
of "useful" payloads. Although
metallic or a fluorescent powder
would permit observation of the
time and point of impact, which is
important enough in itself, it is also

feasible to design a more complex

unit with a small one-function tele-
metering transmitter powered by
solar "generators" or "batteries."
In the beginning such a trans-
mitter could be active as a tracking
and telemetering unit during the
flight. It is, of course, questionable
whether the reduced radiation effi-
ciency of an antenna buried in or
on the moon's surface would permit
the reception of a readable signal
on earth. Larger rockets employing
a retro-thrust braking system dur-
ing the descent to the moon prob-
ably could reduce the impact suffi-
ciently to land a transmitter un-
First Interplanetary body to be contacted from earth?
damaged on the lunar surface.
Although the proposed lunar
vehicle described here is rather
simple in design and concept and — G»OU*0 r*AM%Mirrco S<6**L SuSPCKStOH COMfONtK TS v£MICL£ COMPONENTS

although the vehicle employs hard-

ware, material and propellants
which, considering unclassified in-
formation, may be readily available
at a low cost —
one should expect
some "misfirings," or several
launchings, to achieve one success-
ful mission. First of all, the be-
havior of the rocket boosters is in-
determinate because of intrinsic
mechanical misalignment of the
booster cases and their nozzles and
the boosters with respect to them-
selves.
Furthermore, intricate design
and split-second operational preci-
sion are requirements for the small
retro-rockets that would be needed
to retard the first stage and permit
the spinning second stage to con-
tinue under its own momentum
O 0PER*f'OH CAUSING
until this rocket unit is free and
• OPCdATlOH EFrCCTCO
clear of the parent stage. However,
the difficulties involvedmay not be
greater than anticipated for many
of today's missiles.
The success of a lunar rocket
experiment, as outlined here, is a
challenge to our engineers. It might
well open up new vistas for science
and help clear the path for further
advancement in astronautics. END Flow chart of full firing sequence. Simplicity is apparent.

64 Missiles and Rockets

 First Pictures

BUILDING
FIRST
What might well become the
most significant scientific venture of
our century, Project Vanguard, is
reported to be progressing accord-
ing to schedule.
The significance of the Van-
guard satellite program is, of
Hours of tedious work go into manufacture of hemispheres which
that our military agencies
course,
are joined to form 20-inch Vanguard satellite. Sidney H. Braddy,
under the Department of Defense
NRL machinist, presses piece of sheet aluminum against large dome
revolving in a fast-moving lathe. Metal is gradually worked closer
are working hand-in-hand with
to domed form to produce hemisphere. scientific organizations —and that

Robert H. Baumann, mechanical engineer, examines supporting structure and inner framework that will go into the
The 29-year-old engineer has had many years' experience with rockets, having worked on^ Vikings, V-2s,
satellite.
Aerobees and others. He is currently Satellite Group Head under the Engineering Consultant for Project Vanguard.
68 Missiles and Rockets
THE
SATELLITE
the scientific data obtained from
the satellites will be made available
to all countries.
Missiles & Rockets will keep
abreast of the Vanguard program
as it progresses and keep its readers
posted in every forthcoming issue.
Joseph Y. Yuen, left, showing Vanguard Minitrack Transmitter to
Much of the work pertaining to the Erik Bergaust, Managing Editor of MISSILES & ROCKETS. Yuen,
launching vehicle is considered one of the developers of the tiny transmitter, points to circuitry.
classified information, since many
of the techniques employed are in

Robert H. Peterson, 34, instrument maker, is shown putting in final screws to fasten together two hemispheres of
testmodel satellite. Peterson started to work at the laboratory in 1945 and has had many years experience in field
of guided missiles and rockets.

October, 1956 69
the area of missile technology. But
the satellite itself and the experi-
ments that be attempted with
will
it are Missiles &
unclassified.
Rockets will publish as much in-
formation about these as possible.
It is too early to say when the
first instrumented satellite will be
launched.
N. Elliot Felt, operations man-
ager of Project Vanguard for The
Martin Co,, disclosed that first fir-
ings in connection with the satellite
program will take place at the Air
Force Missile Test Center at Patrick
AFB, Cocoa, Fla., this fall. His
announcement was made at the re-
cent International Astronautical
Federation Congress in Rome. The
first propulsion unit to be tested
will be the third-stage solid rocket,
which will be carried in a modified
Martin Viking rocket.

E. T. Byram, NRL scientist, holds model of Lyman-Alpha equipment which is

likely to form one of the experiments with the satellite. Byram compares com-
ponents of Lyman-Alpha gear with assembly on the lucite wafer.

Project Vanguard scientists discuss design and performance of tiny trans-

mitter which send signal to ground from earth satellite. Joseph Y. Yuen and
will

Martin J. Votaw discuss the relative merits of the various circuits and different
components being tested for use in the Minitrack oscillator. At least 12 dif-
ferent experiments will be attempted with Vanguard satellites.

70 Missiles and Rockets

 World Astronautics
By Heyward E. Canney, Jr.

The U.S. Air Force has officially stated it could use $39
million for earth satellite research. However, no money has
been allocated for the next fiscal year.

Research at the Armour Foundation with heat and dust

erosion suggests that much thicker meteor shields may be
required for space vehicles. Copper and aluminum plates
have been penetrated or badly pitted by particles travelling
at 4,000 fps.

Last March 14 an Air Force Aerobee rocket discharged

20 pounds of compressed nitric oxide 60 miles above Holloman
AFB. Catalytic action caused monatomic oxygen to recombine
into conventional molecules. This action, which produced a
disk four times the diameter of the moon, and at least half
its brilliance, was confirmation of earlier laboratory experi-
ments which lead to the suspicion that enough energy may
be picked up in the ionosphere to power a rocket. If possible,
this could lead to satelloids of indefinite duration.

This brings to mind the analagous proposition of a cosmic

ramjet of the distant future whose main powerplant was re-
plenished from cosmic dust taken in at enormous speeds.
These, together with solar batteries, breeder reactors, and
other devices, seem to be generating for the layman the optical
illusion that science is on the verge of finding how to get
something from nothing.

Pondering the globe-girdling aspect of the artificial satel-

lite,the International Civil Aviation Organization, meeting in
Caracas last June, decided that the matter of sovereignty of
outer space above the several nations was within its com-
petence. The term "outer space" may disturb the fastidious
astronaut, who recalls the immensity of the universe. In the
cosmic view, true "outer space" may be that between the
galaxies, "middle space" that between stars of a galaxy, and
"inner space" the realm within a system of planets, such as
the Solar System.

A similar discrimination may be called for in the matter

of man-made "moons." In this connection, accurate termin-
ology may require some such distinction as the following:
"artificial satellite" —any artifact in Keplerian orbit, "satel-
lite vehicle" —any artificial satellite which carries a useful
load instruments), and "space station"
(i.e. —
any artificial
satellite a service on which other space vehicles
offering
(such as space ships) operationally depend.

Transistorized helmet radios designed for combat GIs

by the Signal Corps have a one-mile range and are presum-
ably hard for the enemy to intercept. Space suit designers
may find this a convenience, and one less external compo-
nent to upset balance, impede movement in cramped quar-
ters, or to invite damage by bumping. RCA's new 19-lb. TV
transmitter, which also has a one-mile range, may eventually
find a place in the space man's practical equipment after a size
reduction of one further order of magnitude.

October, 1956 75
 Tracking
the IGY Satellites
By Henry P. Steier

A very small and very simple Key to knowing whether the The sub-miniature transmitter
assembly of electronics compo- tremendous efforts of Vanguard is Minitrack. Designed
called the
nents will probably be history's rocket engineers have paid off will by the Naval Research Laboratory,
reference point to mark the begin- be wrapped up inside a little cylin- Minitrack will be the first elec-
ning of astrionics technology as a drical, gold-plated aluminum can tronics system to penetrate outer
vital aid to man in his conquest of containing the circuit of a transis- space and stay there for any ap-
outer space. torized radio transmitter. preciable time.
From inside its approximately
five-inch-long by three-inch diame-
ter cylinder housing, carried in-
side the magnesium shell satellite,
Minitrack will emit a continuous
108-megacycle signal.
• After nearly one orbit is
completed the world will begin to
know if the satellite is in truth
orbiting or whether something
went wrong at the first Vanguard
launching. After a few orbits, of
course, the world will better know
how well the satellite is orbiting.
Before the orbiting is finished
and the magnesium shell is con-
sumed by heat during its plunge
have added
to earth, scientists will
a fund of important information
to the limited store ofinformation
about the physics of outer space,
as well as of the earth itself.
Use of radio in the satellite
has two purposes. Once on its own,
the shiny 21-inch sphere could get
lost. Finding it has been compared
to the problem of finding a golf
ball traveling at Mach 1 at an
altitude of 60,000 feet.
• The first problem is to ac-
quire information on the satellite's
location. After this is done, the
Minitrack transmitter. Circuit assembly in foreground. Batteries at right. next problem is to determine its

76 Missiles and Rockets

 Details of prototype Minitrack ground station antenna
arrays. Left: folded dipole array. Right: driven lot array.

ephemerides. By definition empheme- when the sun position, satellite po- • Despite all conjectures on
rides are the assigned places of a sition and ground optical tracking what the satellite will carry and
celestialbody for regular intervals. system are in favorable relation- how many different scientific read-
These are needed since two ship. ings it will take of conditions in
tracking methods will be employed Under other conditions Mini- its orbital path, there are still

to get the most accurate physical track ground stations will keep many uncertainties. What the first

data from the satellite's perform- track of the satellite's whereabouts. satellitewill carry, will probably
ance. These are radio and optical During night, cloudy weather and be a letdown to many. However,
tracking. The optical system, oddly under clear weather conditions, for subsequent satellites undoubtedly
enough, will be the most accurate. a period of about three weeks, the will carry more and more instru-
However, its use is feasible only signal will be available. ments.

77
 quiring, transmitting and data pro-
cessing facilities it will set into
operation.
To acquire the Minitrack sig-
nal a complex of ten prime Mini-
track ground stations is under con-
struction in the U.S. and South
America. They are located over
an area that stretches from Blos-
som Point, Md. to Santiago, Chile
in a north-south direction and from
San Diego, Calif, to Antigua Is-
land, B.W.I, in a west-east direc-
tion.

Vanguard will be launched at

an angle of 35 to 45 degrees to
the equator in a southeasterly di-
rection. During each orbit of the
satellite the earth will have moved
about 1600 equatorial miles to the
east if the orbit requires an hour
and a half.
• The of the earth
effect
movement means that the satellite's
Dr. Paul Herget, Vanguard computation expert, says a cathode ray tube is
path will scan the areas where the
planned for satellite data display. IBM's 704 Output Recorder was designed
stations are located. Stations are
for use with a computer. Theoretical path of a bouncing ball is shown.
located at: Blossom Point, Md.;
Fort Stewart, Ga.; Batista Field,
Although the possibility is still cycle is expected to be at or near Havana; Rio Hata, Panama; Mt.
open for a zero-payload satellite, maximum. This means ionosphere Cotopaxi, Quito, Ecuador; Ancon,
the probability that the first one activity will be at maximum and Lima, Peru; Antofagasta, Chile;
will carry a Minitrack transmitter high electron densities are ex- Peldehue Military Reservation,
is good. At the present state of the pected during daytime observa- Santiago, Chile; Coolidge Field,
electronics art, the transmitter tions. This would cause an appar- Antigua; Naval Electronics Lab-
weighs only 13 ounces. Carriage ent shift in the angular position of oratory, San Diego, Calif.
of this small payload seems feas- the satellite when the signal is
ible to rocket engineers. picked up by the ground stations. Eight Antennas
Located at each station will be
Measurements on ionosphere
Minitrack System an array of eight antennas de-
errors be expected have been
to
At this time Minitrack is a signed to measure the north-south
made this year in Rockoon and
one-stage crystal-controlled oscilla- and east-west angular position of
Rockaire studies and will continue.
the satellite asits signal illumi-
tor designed to use one transistor More and more data will be col-
and to be powered by seven 1.2- nates them. They are arranged in
lected pertaining to predictable
volt mercury batteries built by the shape of a cross.
and variable factors that would in-
Mallory and Co., Inc. Power output The antennas are multi-ele-
fluence tracking errors. These
ment arrays. Two types are being
would be 15 milliwatts. Transis- could be used to correct readings
tested at the Blossom Point loca-
tors built by Western Electric Co. from ground stations.
tion. Prototypes have been devel-
and the Philco Corp. are being A lower frequency than 108 oped by the Technical Appliance
considered. mc would mean more refraction Corp. and the D. S. Kennedy Co.
A frequency of 108 mc was and higher
frequencies would One uses a 12-element dipole ar-
chosen as a compromise between mean power from the trans-
less ray and the other an eight-element
transmitter weight and efficiency, mitter for a given weight. The driven lot array.
and effects of the ionosphere on antenna system on the satellite is Measurement of the satellite's

tracking accuracy. Although the planned as a four-element array angular position will be made by
comparing the electrical phase of
ionized layer of gases at the pro- arranged in 90-degree steps around
the signal arriving at one antenna
posed 300-mile altitude is essen- the sphere. The four 1/4-wave an-
of a pair compared to the phase
tially a "window" for radio energy tennas would be folded and, upon
at the second antenna of the pair.
at 108 mc, a certain amount of release of the satellite, would
•
Located at each station site
refraction is expected, just as with spring into place. will be a complete Minitrack Elec-
light through a glass window pane. The diminutive size of the tronic Unit mounted in an air con-
• During the International Minitrack transmitter belies the ditioned trailer. Contractor for
Geophysical Year the sun-spot vast and complex information ac- these units and other station units

78 Missiles and Rockets

 —

is the Bendix Radio Division, Ben- operation. Located at the Air do what men could not do) keep —
dix Aviation Corp. It includes com- Force Missile Test Range on the ahead of the satellite so that in-
munication and telemetering equip- islands of Mayaguana and Grand formation on where the satellite
ment together with the Minitrack Turk in the Caribbean, these sta- was can be transformed into infor-
Electronic Unit phase comparison tions will receive signals from tele- mation on where it will be. This
equipment. metering equipment in the vehicle is needed to alert both the optical

The communication set in- and, after burnout, will receive tracking stations and the Minitrack
cludes 15-kw transmitters, receiv- signals from the satellite. stations as to where the satellite
ing and transmitting rhombic an- From these down-range sta- is going to be at a specific time.

tennas plus a telemetering antenna tions will come the first informa- Optical stations, using 20-inch
system and ground stations. Com- tion that tells of success or failure. Schmidt photo-optical telescopes
munication and telemetering units The information will be radioed to and equipped with automatic track-
will be housed in a building which a central Vanguard computing fa- ing gear, must know exactly where
also contains office, parts, storage cility. Probably this will be located to look since the satellite will pass
and sleeping facilities. Living ar- in Washington, D. C. From then from west to east in two or three
rangements for personnel will be on until the satellite falls to earth minutes. The stations will be
obtained locally. the computer and the Minitrack operated under the direction of the
ground stations will operate on an Smithsonian Institute and will be
Telemetering equipment is be-
around-the-clock basis. located throughout the world
ing provided since although the
Three bits of information from where the satellite can be seen.
first satellite may not include tele-
Dr. Paul Herget, consultant to
metering gear, subsequent satel-
the Minitrack stations will be re-
the Naval Research Laboratory,
peatedly sent to the computation
lites will. will head the Vanguard computa-
center by radio and teletype. Two
angular measurements and the pre- tion Back and forth, be-
facility.
Data Handling
cise time of passage over the zen-
tween and between optical track-
it
At the "Fire!" signal for
be sent. ing stations and Minitrack sta-
launching the Vanguard vehicle ith of the stations will
tions, information will flow.
two auxiliary stations will go into • The computer "brains" will
It will go from the center to
the stations for alerting them as
to satellite arrival time; from
NRL Planning Plug-in Satellite Instruments stations to the center to keep the
During an interview with Missiles & Rockets, Dr. Herbert Friedman, computer up-to-date on changes in
who heads the Naval Research Laboratory's scientific instrumentation group speed, altitude or direction.
for the IGY satellites, said the plan is to modularize astrionics according
to a definite pattern. • Two classes of computa-
In this way, by using the Minitrack transmitter as the radio frequency tions are planned: in-flight calcu-
generator, various plug-in devices could be placed in different satellites lations to aid and insure obser-
to read different information scientists need. With appropriate coding and
modulating techniques, the information could be relayed to earth through vations by optical means, and
the Minitrack transmitter. those from which scientific conclu-
Many groups in the IGY endeavor want to "get on board" the satellite. sions will be drawn.
Who will get on board and when is not definitely known. Advances must be
made in micro-miniaturization, power sources, data storage and telemetering. Equations will be juggled to
Weight is extremely critical. fitnew conditions constantly occur-
Who gets in first depends on the state of the instrument and electronics ring. More and more refined data
art, and many programs are under way in industry and at NRL to speed
up this development. will beaccumulated, calculated and
Typical devices suggested are: stored in the memory of the com-
1. Meteoric Collision Amplifier 5. Lyman-alpha Current Ampli- puter. When the end of the Mini-
Signal from microphone detects fier —For measuring ionization track transmitter battery life
collision with micrometeorites produced by ultra-violet solar comes, the calculated data will still
and provides input to meteoritic flare radiation.
storage. be available for alerting the opti-
2. Meteoritic Storage — Magnetic 6. Ion Chamber-Narrowband —For cal stations for the next satellite
cores form collision memory, ultra-violet detection by hav-
ing peak sensitivity at the hydro- passage and for the public to try
store number of counts from
gen Lyman-alpha line. to view the satellite.
collisions and transmit signals
representing four decimal digits
on four telemetering channels.
7. Thermistors —A
mixture of me- Persons favorably located geo-
tallic oxides used for tempera- graphically during twilight and
3. Telemetry Coding System Suc- — ture measurements. Resistance
sunrise periods in good weather
cessively samples various signal changes with temperature.
input channels and modulates will be able to see the shiny ball
the Minitrack for transmission 8. —
Erosion Gauge Nichrome ribbon
with the aid of binoculars as it
of scientific data to earth. evaporated on glass. Measures
goes overhead.
4. Lyman-alpha Storage —
Peak
surface erosion caused by im-
pact from micrometeorites. Re-
memory unit using cores to store Evenif the satellite stays up
sistance of ribbon increases as
and code the telemetering sys- film much longer than the few weeks
is pitted.
tem with a signal representing
predicted, the available data, more
maximum input value reached 9. Solar Cell— Peak memory reset
during one satellite orbit for for storage unit Causes reset refined after each satellite orbit,
subsequent read-out when pass- once each orbit on transition may be of a high enough order of
ing over recording stations. from light to darkness
accuracy to insure optical tracking
for the entire satellite life. END.
80
Missiles and Rockets
 Government Holds 10%
Of Electronics Patents
The Federal Government held
more than 10% of the total of 3,130
electronics patents issued in 1955,
according to an analysis by Infor-
mation for Industry, Inc. The anal-
ysis shows that in the first six
months of 1956, 3,084 U.S. elec-
tronic patents were issued, with a
slight increase shown in the per-
centage assigned to the government.
Of the 321 government-held
patents issued in 1955, 150 were
issued to the Secretary of the
Navy, 80 to the Atomic Energy
Commission, 46 to the Secretary of
the Army, 22 to the Secretary of
War, 10 to the Secretary of the
Air Force, 8 to the Secretary of
Commerce, 2 to the Secretary of
Interior, and one each to the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, Reconstruc-
tion Finance Corp. and United
States of America.
The largest number of patents
have been issued to companies
whose major endeavor is in the
entertainment and appliance fields.
These total 674, compared to 264
in wire communication, 220 in
atomic energy, 151 in aircraft and
guided missiles, 92 in petroleum,
and 72 in business and office
machines. The remainder were
general patents.

Navy Seeks to Block

Long Island Building
The Navy has asked the Senate
and House Armed Services Com-
mittee for authorization to spend
funds in buying land to discourage
real estate development around the
Navy-owned Grumman Aircraft En-
gineering Corp. plant and its ad-
joining airfield near Riverhead,
L. I., N. Y.
To block residential construc-
tion, the Navy proposes to buy a
small amount of land outright, and
in other cases to pay landowners
for two types of restrictions on the
deeds to their property: restrictive
convenants under which owners
would agree to keep their land in
its present agricultural use, and
flight clearance easements that
would limit the height of any build-
ings erected in landing and takeoff
paths. Several thousand acres
would be affected.
October, 1956
S3
New 11,000 MPH
ARDC Windtunnel
The Air Research and Develop-
ment Command of the Air Force i

has disclosed that a blowdown

windtunnel at Arnold Engineering
and Development Center, Tulla-
homa, Tenn., has achieved simu-
lated velocities up to 11,000 mph
and temperatures up to 15,000°F j
'

on more than 100 successful test

runs. i

Known "Hotshot," the hy-

as
personic tunnel is capable of simu-
lating the fantastic temperatures
and velocities in store for the war-
head of an intercontinental ballis-
tic missile upon its re-entry into
the atmosphere.

•
So great is the heat pro-
duced by the tunnel, a part of
ARDC's Gas Dynamics Facility,
that portions of the tunnel ducting
|

melt away during test runs, strik-

ing the models and interfering
with test results. "However," the
|

Air Force said, "this contamination I

develops later than normally does

it

in shock-tube tunnels, and is pre-

ceded by a longer, more uniform
flow in which valid test data may
be recorded."

Here is how Hotshot works :

Air is pumped into a storage

chamber and sealed off from the
downstream portion of the tunnel j

by a light plastic diaphragm. The

downstream section is then pumped
j

down to one-millionth of an atmos- j

phere to accelerate the airflow |

when the seal is ruptured. At this |

point, a powerful electric charge j

of more than one million amperes ]

is triggered into the air storage

chamber, boosting the air tempera-
ture to 15,000°F and the air pres-
sure to 20,000 psi.
The heated air immediately
breaks through the plastic seal and
flashes down the tunnel, accelerat-
ing as it moves through a conical
nozzle in front of the model
mounted in the test section. Instru-
ments measure temperature, air
flow and other details during the
test, and photographs may be taken
of the model in the luminous glow
created by the super-heated, pres-
surized air blast.

October, 1956
 Astrionks
By Henry P. Steier

ICBM tests will force astrionics engineers to brand-

new concepts of telemetering accuracy. Dr. H. L. Rauch,
University of Michigan missile telemetering scientist, points
out that a 1 ft./sec. velocity error in a missile sent to a
point one-quarter way around the earth would cause a target
miss of about one mile. To measure such a slight velocity
error, telemetering would need better than l/100th of one
percent accuracy, Rauch says. Accuracies of one to five per-
cent are normal now.
•
Lest anyone doubt what can happen in three years
when scientists take over promotion and management and
invade the field of big R&D business, a movie made by Ramo-
Wooldridge Corp. and narrated by Dean E. Wooldridge, presi-
dent and treasurer of R-W, shows the company offices in
1953. It is now a barbershop. In June 1956, R-W had 2,000
employees. By the end of 1956, it will have 600,000 square
feet of R&D building space in Los Angeles on a 40-acre site.
Under construction also is a manufacturing building facility
in Denver, Colo, that will initially have 150,000 square feet
on a 640-acre site.
•
The same phenomenon may occur soon again. Aero-
nutronics Systems, Inc. was organized in 1956 as Systems
Research Corp. Headed by scientists Dr. Ernest H. Krause,
vice president, Dr. Montgomery H. Johnson, director of re-
search, and Gerald J. Lynch, director of Ford Motor Co.'s
office of defense products, Aeronutronics is now a subsidiary
of the Ford Motor Co. From its present store-front head-
quarters in Van Nuys, Calif., the company is expanding to
take over the former Glendale Airport terminal, which will
house laboratories and offices for its work in aeronautics-
nucleonics-electronics.
•
Heat generated by astrionics equipment in satellites will
be a major problem. With no means of transferring heat to
the atmosphere under near vacuum conditions at satellite
altitudes, heat would build up inside the satellites. Bendix
Pacific Division, Bendix Aviation Corp. has taken a first
step toward a solution with development of a water-evapora-
tive heat dissipator. Heat from astrionics gear in a missile
test vehicle raises temperature and pressure of water vapor
in a sealed telemetering system. Water vapor is dumped
overboard at 5 lbs./sq. in. absolute pressure.
•
Latest approach to the problem of reducing friction in
gyros to obtain more accuracy in inertial platforms is work to-
ward a means of suspending the gyro in a vacuum by means
of a magnetic field. Except for electrical contacts that might
be required, such a gyro would have nearly infinite accuracy.
At the same time, non-electrical gyros are being designed
which are spun by pneumatic, spring-wound, or pyrotechnic
means in a missile prior to firing. Ideal for small missiles
since power supplies are not needed, and since they come up
to speed in milliseconds, "self-energized" gyros are coming
into the forefront. Electrical gyros sometimes take a full
minute to come up to speed in the order of 10,000-20,000 rpm.

88 Missiles and Rockets

 I

! International News
By Anthony Vandyk
J

Four SNCA du Nord missiles are in operational serv-

ice —
with the French forces the 5201 (surface-to-surface),
5210 (air-to-surface), 5103 (air-to-air) and CT-10 (formerly
designated 5501). The CT-10 is used as an anti-aircraft target.
The Royal Air Force will soon be equipped with its
firstmissile —
the Fairey Fireflash. It will be fitted to fighter
aircraft within the next few months. Fairey is also working
on a longer-range version of the Fireflash.
Bristol's Thor ramjet makes use of the cheapest and
simplest methods of manufacture. It is strictly a missile
unit with Mach 2 to 2.5 capabilities but it could easily be
refined to give it a long life and thus make it suitable for
powering aircraft. One Bristol official claims it would be more
economical than a turbojet at Mach 3.
Napier's ramjet test vehicle, the NRJ.l, is not a
missile but a plain "flying engine" for fuel control research,
designed and built for Britain's National Gas Turbine Estab-
lishment. It is unique in having a diametric airfoil in the in-
take to generate its compression shock pattern. The NRJ.l
is about 20 ft. long and 18 in. in diameter.

British government's decision to declassify the Arm-

strong-Siddeley Screamer rocket engine indicates that the
United Kingdom has abandoned LOX as an oxidant in favor
of HTP — as used in De Haviland rocket motors. The current
model of the Screamer delivers 9,500 lbs. thrust at 40,000 ft.
It is a compactly-grouped motor 78 in. long, 28 in. in diameter
and weighing 470 lbs.

For those who can read German the papers of the

Deutsche Versuchsanstalt fur Luftfahrt are available once
again. The technical reports by the 44-year-old research
establishment are now appearing regularly. They are pub-
lished by Westdeutscher Verlag, Ophovenerstrasse 1, Opladen,
West Germany.
How much does a missile cost? Colonel Franco Fiorio,
formerly assistant Italian air attache in Washington, reckons
about $150 per lb. for surface-to-air vehicles or $200 for
air-to-air missiles. Fiorio is one of the foremost Italian Air
Force experts on guided weapons.
Svenska Aeroplan (SAAB) is working hard in the
missile field. The Swedish government's 1957-58 air budget
includes $1,600,000 "for continued development of an inter-
ceptor missile." It is expected that the total cost of this proj-
ect will be some $6 million. The major missile item in the
budget is $28 million for the procurement of guided missiles
for aircraft.
Russia has tested a 900-mile range ballistic weapon
which was developed from Germany's V-2. Reliable sources
indicate that between 1945 and 1950 the Russians built at
least 2,000 V-2s.
France's SNECMA is the only manufacturer specializ-
ing in pulsejets. Its Ecrevisse series includes units ranging
in thrust from 22 to 330 lbs. It is possible that the Ecrevisse
will be built under license in Holland to power the Aviolanda
target missile if the latter is ordered into production.

90 Missiles and Rockets

 ii::n-7,t-c«i«tfc^
"~'4V / / ^m F 7m.! ^

rocket
research
By Frederick C. Durant, III

Two years ago there was no the times, the Japanese did not propelled flying bomb. Air-launched
rocket research in Japan. Today, want their observations limited to from Betty-type bombers at 25,000-
sounding rockets are being devel- research balloon altitudes. They de- 27,000 feet, these suicidal attacks
oped in an intensive, well coordi- cided to use sounding rockets. It on U.S. Naval vessels were quite
nated program. Remarkable prog- was an ambitious decision since effective until adequate counter-
ress has been achieved in all phases there had been no Japanese rocket measures were achieved. Liquid-
on budgets which are miniscule by development since World War II. propellant rocket development was
U.S. standards. 6 Even during the war the apparently limited to development
The program stemmed from the Japanese had not made significant of a rocket powerplant for the
decision last year of the National progress in rocketry. Developments Shusui airplane in the design stage
Science Council of Japan to par- were limited mainly to rocket artil- in 1944-1945.
ticipate upper atmosphere ob-
in lery, solid-propellant JATO units At the of the war, of
close
servations during the International and the Kamikaze BAKA bomb. The course, allrocket development
Geophysical Year. In keeping with BAKA was a human-guided rocket- stopped. None was permitted dur-

Baby rocket in launching rack. Kappa rocket series. Telemetering unit -for Baby rocket.

92 Missiles and Rockets

 :

Launching of Baby rocket. Tracking and reception antennas. Photo-theodolite tracking rockets.

ing the period of U.S. occupation. namics, guided missile systems and grams, PENCIL and BABY, have
Therefore nearly ten years elapsed target aircraft. His interests were been completed. During these tests,
before the opportunity arose for far-ranging, carrying him into such basic rocket design criteria evolved
renewed effort on rockets, this time ancillary fields as acoustics and and telemetering range systems
for purposes of scientific research. medical engineering. Then the Nat- were developed. KAPPA, SIGMA
Throughout the post war period, ional Science Council tapped him and OMEGA projects will be the
however, Japanese physical scien- to direct its sounding rocket pro- programs to obtain scientific data
tists and engineers kept abreast of gram. at high altitudes.
rocket developments in the rest of Supporting the development of
the world. Scientific journals and rocket vehicles for the program
PENCIL Rocket Program
professional society reports re- was the Institute of Industrial The PENCIL program was de-
ported significant data and test vised to obtain basic test data on
Science, University of Tokyo. Aid-
results as rocketry advanced to its rocket design elements. A minia-
ing in related phases were:
present state of relative complex- ture model was developed measur-
1) Institute of Astronomy, Uni-
ity. How well these advancements ing 9 inches long, 0.7 inches diame-
versity of Tokyo: Solar Radiation.
were absorbed, however, can be ap- ter, weighing only half a pound,
2) Kagaku-Kenkyusho Corp.
preciated in the remarkable rate of including the solid-propellant mo-
Cosmic Rays.
development of the Japanese rocket tor. Aerodynamic configuration, in-
3) Department of Geophysics,
program since last year. ternal and external ballistic char-
University of Tokyo: Pressure.
A Special Committee for the acteristics, motor and nozzle design
4) Institute of Radio Wave,
Sounding Rocket Program was or- Department of Communication: were studied in a horizontal track
ganized in January 1955. Research test range 30-160 feet long. Com-
Ionosphere.
began in February. Budgeted funds pletely but simply instrumented, in-
5) Department of Electronics,
were $140,000 for 1955 and $250,000 flightphotos were made by Fastax
University of Kyoto: Temperature
for 1956. Chief Scientist of this cameras. Velocity and dispersion
and Winds.
Special Committee was Dr. Hideo data was obtained as the rocket
A four-to-five-year plan was
Itokawa, Professor of the Institute mapped Two preliminary pro- passed through a series of six
out.
of Industrial Science, University of wired paper targets. Booster rocket
Tokyo. length, tail-fin configuration, ma-
• Dr. Itokawa was an ideal The Author . . . terial ofconstruction and other
choice for this post. Forty-four factors were studied to determine
is a staff member of Arthur D.
years old, he received his aeronau- Little, Inc. Cambridge, Mass. their effects upon center of gravity
tical engineering degree from the He holds a degree in chemical location and in-flight shift.
University of Tokyo, and during the engineering from Lehigh Uni- Of particular interest were bal-
period 1935-1945 designed fighters versity. He is a past president listic characteristics of booster
at the Nakajima Aircraft Co. After of the American Rocket So- stages after separation. Because of
ciety and of the International the lack of deserted land for future
the war Itokawa joined the staff of
Astronautical Federation. He large rocket tests, these data were
the University of Tokyo, received
will be contributing a series
his Ph.D. at its Institute of Aero- necessary for range safety.
of articles on international
nautical Science and conducted More than 150 PENCIL rockets
developments in forthcoming
theoretical research on aerody- issue of M/R. (Continued on Page 98)

94 Missiles and Rockets

 —
(Continued From Page 94) During the next two months
were made and fired. The average the BABY-Rs were launched. Since
cost of manufacture and test of a no land-firing ranges exist in Japan,
PENCIL rocket was it was recognized that recovery of
$15.
non-telemetered flight data would
BABY Rocket Program have to be made from the sea. An
With the basic design data ob- ingenious but simple parachute and
tained and experience gained in self-inflating buoy system was
measuring techniques and test fir- packed into the nose to be explo-
ings a larger rocket series was de- sive-separated after maximum alti-
signed. Four to five feet long, not tude was reached. A dye type sea
including a short booster rocket, marker completed the recovery
this series weighed about 20 unit. A 16mm camera and film was
pounds. There were three major used as payloadthese early
in
types: BABY-S (Simple), BABY-T shoots. Range firing trajectory data
(Telemetering) and the BABY-R was radioed to the aircraft, heli-
(Recovery). copter and coast guard ship recov-
ery unit. Two out of the three pay-
Initial test
loads were successfully located.
firing of
Japan's first military rocket, • The Kappa
Project phase of
the "TMAO-AC" took place the sounding rocket program is
a few iceeks ago at Ojoji currently under development. De-
proving grounds in northeast signed for the IGY program upper
Japan. The rocket is a mili- atmosphere measurements, this
tary version of one con- series of rockets will be three-
structed for the Institute of staged, ground-launched and pow-
Industrial Science by the Fuji ered by solid-propellant motors.
Precision Machinery Co. Length, less two booster stages, is
Japanese
Officials of the 6.5 feet; diameter, 5 inches;
Defense Agency who watched weight, 80 pounds. It is designed to
the rocket zoom
to an altitude carry 11 pounds of payload to an
of 13,000 termed the ex-
ft. altitude of 70-95 miles. Only one
periments successful. Other measurement will be made with
details were not immediately each firing.
available, our correspondent
• The SIGMA Project, a
in Japan said, but data rockoon system, utilizes a balloon
gleaned from the trials is ex-
for altitude launch. Basic studies
pected to pave the way for
and test data of Dr. James A. Van
Japanese-built guided mis-
Allen of the University of Iowa
siles.
are used in this project. Either the
KAPPA main stage or a two-staged
Now the program moved out BABY rocket will be used. Design
of the research laboratory into de- altitude: 50-65 miles.
velopment phase. A
launching site
was selected in the north facing • the study stage, the
Still in

the Sea of Japan.

OMEGA Project is aimed at alti-
tudes over 150 miles. It probably
Six BABY-S rockets were fired
will not be completed in time for
in August 1955, only seven months
basic the IGY.
after the initiation of the
studies.These firings checked the To anyone familiar with the
launching stability and dispersion cost of overall sounding rocket pro-
of this larger test design. In addi- grams in the U.S. the success of this
tion, equipment was developed for program will be impressive. True,
optical and DOVAP tracking, a the Japanese had the benefit of
launching tower constructed and much published data on the test
range crews trained. programs of other countries. How-
September, six BABY-Ts
In work was not imitative.
ever, their
were study the fundamen-
fired to They have shown that they under-
tals of rocket telemetering systems. stand the basic factors involved as
Rocket-borne instrumentation was well as laboratory and field tech-
designed and tested. Four channels niques. Further, they have recog-
—
were commutated velocity, accele- nized the present and future capa-
ration, pressure and temperature bilities of solid-propellant rocket

on 415 MC frequency. systems. END.

Missiles and Rockets

 —

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT By Joseph S. Murphy

IIIIIIIII1I11!I!II!IIIII!!«IIIIIIII1I11IIIIIIIII!!III!IIUII1II uillllllilll

BORON BUSINESS BOOM

and export sales in excess of $30 As these products (glass fibers,
In screen-testing today's array
Broken down
annually. for instance) find new applications,
of miracle chemicals and wonder million
metals for roles in the billion-dol- among end uses, boron consump- they in turn will provide a still
as follows: greater base for boron demand.
lar guided missiles program, one tion is
Estimated
old, but current big-time, performer
Industry Type of Use % of Total New Uses
should command much attention on Glass Borosilicate Glass Remarkable hardness and re-
the part of the investor. This can- & Glass Fibers 30 sistance to heat and corrosion
—
didate is boron an element which, Ceramics Ceramic Glazes & places boron steel and other boron
Porcelain Enamel 25
along with sodium and oxygen, Agricultural alloys in demand for jet engines
gives us borax, the long-time clean- Chemicals Fertilizers and and rockets. The fact that $100
housekeepers Herbicides 15
ing companion of million has been allotted for pro-
Soap Soaps & Clean-
everywhere. ing Compounds 10 curement, research and develop-
All Other Flameproofing ment of non-ferrous metals and al-
Last year boron production hit
Agents, Adhe-
a peak of nearly one million tons sives, Gasoline loys during 1957 gives an impres-

three times the 1945 output and — Additives, etc. 20

100
sive indication of what is in store
for metals that meet the desired
recent estimates placed domestic
specifications.
In 1957 defense
addition, the
budget guided missiles ear-
for
Swift Carries Fireflash marks another $70 million to the
development of high energy pro-
pellants. Research indicates that
since 1952 experiments involving
boron compounds have progressed
from the laboratory, through pilot-
plant stage and are now in the
tonnage-plant stage.
Although information on these
projects is classified, there have
been some significant and fore-
telling developments. For instance,
the Navy recently announced the
awarding of a $38-million contract
for a plant at Muskogee, Okla.;
Viekers-SupermarineSftu7fMK7 Guidance for the missile is a Olin-Mathieson Chemical revealed
supersonic fighter, fitted here with a contract to build a $36-million
beam-rider type system. Electronic
two Fairey Fireflash air-to-air plant near Niagara Falls; Stauffer
equipment was developed by E. K.
guided missiles, was unveiled at re- Chemical recently embarked on a
Cole, Ltd.
cent SBAC Farnborough exhibition. proposed ten-fold expansion of its
First production order for the Niagara Falls boron trichloride
It is the second British fighter to
Fireflash was awarded to Fairey plant; and it is rumored that
mount Fireflash, the other being
early this year and deliveries to American Potash is starting up a
the Hawker Hunter.
Fireflash is a supersonic air-to- Royal Air Force Fighter Command semi-commercial plant in Los An-
air missile measuring 90 inches in are due within the next five months. geles to make boron trichloride.
length with cruciform wings of 28- Fairey is one of the forerunners of Informed opinion is satisfied
inch span. It is powered by solid-pro- some 150 British firms engaged in all these operations embrace boron
pellant rockets and warhead is prox- missile work, with most activity in compounds make high-energy
to
imity-fused to explode when missile the air-to-air and surface-to-air fuels. And already known that
it is

is within lethal range of target. categories. Cont. on Page 102

100 Missiles and Rockets

Army Rocket Sled Attains 1,300-MPH (BORON cont. from p. 100)
boron polymers, such as penta-
borane and decaborane, have a high
energy content and desirable phy-
sical properties.
Another amazing discovery is
the fact that boron hydrides and
boron hydride derivatives react
violently with water, and offer pos-
sibilities as fuels for underwater
rockets.

Investment Possibilities
It seems almost certain that
the boron industry offers inter-
mediate and long-term possibilities
for extraordinary capital apprecia-
tion. Buttressed by currently ex-
panding uses, boron's potential
seems virtually unbounded in the
added area of jet-rocket require-
ments.
This new rocket sled, built Army for testing operation of air-
under Army direction by Aircraft craft and missile components, at
About 90% of the world's
Armaments, Inc. reached speed of boron production is in the United
high speed. Aircraft Armaments, a
1,300 mph during recent tests at
States. Not too many companies
Baltimore firm, is understood to be
participate in this output; how-
Naval Ordnance Test Station, In- planning to better the 1,300-mph
yokern, Calif. The 7,000-pound sled,
ever, the following companies are
mark, presumably with an advanced available for consideration by the
powered by three solid-propellant
sled design, as part of an overall investor:
rockets, reached this velocity in less
than 2.5 seconds. This particular rocket test vehicle development pro- *
CO •a
01
test vehicle was designed for the gram. .S2 •a
rt
Soil In
M
H
o
Z ti
V
So a u 9 s
K s:

Operating- Co.
U.S. Borax
& Chemical 66 48 O/C
American
Potash &
Chemical 26 49 NYSE
Stauffer 8 75 NYSE
Holding Co.
Borax Hold-
ings, Ltd. t 39 LSE
* O/C—Over the Counter.
NYSE—New York Stock Ex-
change.
LSE—London Stock Exchange,
t Owns 74% of U.S. Borax plus
more than 15% of the remaining
world supply of boron.
U.S. Borax & Chemical the —
amalgamation of Pacific Coast
Borax and U.S. Potash produces
two-thirds our domestic output
of
and owns approximately 60% of
the world's boron supply. It is said
to have more than a 200-year sup-
ply of reserves.

$4.2 Million Contract

To Douglas
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO.
Santa Monica, Div. has received a
$4,279,692 Air Force contract for
air-to-air rockets, presumably in
Sparrow series.

102 Missiles and Rockets

Minneapolis-Honeywell
To Build Fla. Plant
A new $4-milIion aeronautical
plant for development and produc-
tion of highly advanced aerial navi-
gation equipment will be built by
Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator
Co. near St. Petersburg, Fla. The
new plant will provide 207,500 sq.
ft. of floor space on a 95-acre site.
About 1,500 engineers and
skilled workers will be employed
when full-scale production of the
inertial guidance systems begins,
probably by the middle of 1957.
Construction of the firm's first
Florida facility will be started im-
mediately.
Paul B. Wishart, president, said
the company's decision to build a
major new plant was prompted by
extra government contracts and
Honeywell's plans for expanded
activity in the inertial guidance
field.

Convair Awards Contract

For $40-Million Plant
Convair Division of General
Dynamics has awarded a general
contract to McNeil Construction Co.
of Los Angeles to build its new
$40-million Astronautics facility for
Atlas intercontinental ballistic mis-
sile development.
Plant site is a 252-acre plot
northeast of San Diego. Partial oc-
cupancy is expected by next spring.
The Astronautics facility will
provide nearly 1,000,000 sq. ft. of
floor space. It will consist of a one-
story, high-bay manufacturing plant
of about 500,000 sq. ft., two six-
story office buildings for adminis-
trative and engineering staffs, a
147,000-sq. ft. engineering labora-
tory, a cafeteria-auditorium, an in-
strument and computing center,
plus other special-purpose buildings.

Raymond Rosen Firm

Now Tele-Dynamics, Inc.
Raymond Rosen
Engineering
Products, producer of tele-
Inc.,
metering equipment for such mis-
siles as the Nike, Terrier, Matador
and Firebee, has changed its cor-
porate name to Tele-Dynamics, Inc.
with headquarters in Philadelphia.
The new firm remains a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Raymond Rosen
and Co., Inc. and will retain a west
coast office in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

October, 1956
Industry Well Represented
At Venice AGARD Meeting
U.S. companies were
heavily
represented at the four-day Guided
Missiles Conference which ended
last Thursday
in Venice, Italy. Of
the 23 papers presented at the
meeting, about half came from
American engineers and scientists.
The unclassified meeting was
sponsored by the Advisory Group
for Aeronautical Research and De-
velopment (AGARD) of NATO. Its
principal theme was missile guid-
ance, and the papers covered virtu-
ally the entire field of guidance
problems.
Weapons system philosophy
and guidance techniques were the
principal subjects covered on the
first day of the meeting, Monday,
Sept. 24. Papers presented on Tues-
day discussed use of digital com-
puters, problems of gyro-stabilized
servo platforms, inertial guidance
and linear homing navigation. Mis-
sile instrumentation, field testing
and reliability were covered on
Wednesday, while Thursday was
devoted to papers on the pitfalls of
missile control, effects of airframe
characteristics on guidance, flight
evaluation of guidance components
and new principles of missile guid-
ance.

Reeves Instrument Has

Five Major Projects
Recent disclosure of the $10-
million development and production
by Reeves Instrument Corp. of the
world's largest chain radar tracking
system at USAF's Patrick AFB
missile range brings to five the
number of major projects tackled by
the Dynamics Corp. of America sub-
sidiary.
Earlier it contracted to build a
million-dollar electronic test and
flight simulation laboratory at the
AF's Wright Air Development Cen-
ter for research on aircraft and
missile design problems.
In its own project "Cyclone"
computer, built for Navy Bureau of
Aeronautics in 1946, it reportedly
has solved for as little as $50,000
a design problem that would have
cost $100 million in a comparable
flight test program.

October, 1956
 —
New NACA Employment Program
For Military Scientific Personnel
National Advisory Committee jobs. Although NACA had asked
for Aeronautics, h a r d-p r e s s e d for 50 such positions, the 20 voted
earlier this year by the threat of a by Congress gives it 30 jobs in the
mass loss of scientists to private $12,500 to $19,000 a year category.
industry, has found a new answer Added to this, most wide-
employment problem.
to its spread improvement throughout
Under a cooperative NACA- NACA's organization stemmed from
Pentagon venture, Defense Depart- action by the Civil Service Com-
ment is making available to NACA mission in late August. This au-
qualified military personnel for as- thorized NACA to pay top-of-grade
signment to scientific research salaries to some 1,625 NACA re-
projects.About fifty officers from search scientists effective Septem-
the Army, Navy and Air Force are ber 25.
expected to enter the program by As a result of this last meas-
early next year. ure, here's how the new grades
The move has two-fold bene- now pay within NACA: GS-9
fits, NACA says. It not only sup- $6,250; GS-11— $7,465; GS-12— $8,-
plies it with hard-to-get technical 645; GS-13— $10,065; GS-14— $11,-
and scientific talent, but also pro- 395; GS-15— $12,690; GS-16— $13,-
vides active-duty scientific train- 760; and, GS-17— $14,835.
ing for a select group of military
personnel. CALENDAR
As a result, various military OCTOBER
departments are supplying NACA
1-3 — National Electronics Conference and Ex-
hibition, sponsored by AIEE, IRE, Illinois
with volunteer lists of volunteer Institute of Technology, Northwestern
eligible officers from which it may University and University of Illinois, Hotel
Sherman, Chicago.
select candidates. They are ex- 1- 3 —Canadian IRE Convention and Exposition,
pected to be assigned to NACA re- Automotive Building, Exhibition Park,
Toronto.
search activities dealing with mili-
tary's long-range plans for air-
2- 6 — National Aeronautical Meeting, Aircraft
Production Forum and Engineering Display,
craft, missiles and rockets. sponsored by SAE, Hotel Statler, Los
Angeles.
Here's how
individual services
8-10 — Second Annual Symposium on Aeronautical
are handling the program: Communications, sponsored by IRE, Hotel
Army —ProvidesNACA with names 10-12
Utica,
—
Utica,
National
N. Y.
Transportation Meeting, spon-
of ROTC graduates who will be sored by SAE, Hotel New Yorker, New York
offered 18 months active duty with City.

NACA after completing six-month 10-12-16 — NACA triennial inspection of Langley

Aeronautical Laboratory, Langley, Va.
duty in Army training. 15-19 — Second annual world-wide conference of
—
Navy Will submit list of qualified USAF Flying Safety Officers, Keesler AFB,
Biloxi, Miss.
officers with aeronautical engineer-
ing degrees who have two years ad-
15- 17 — Fall radio meeting of Radio-Electronics-
Television Manufacturers Assn., Hotel
ditional obligated service, or who Syracuse, Syracuse, N. Y.

indicate desire to extend their tour

16- 19 — Conference on Magnetism and Magnetic
Materials, sponsored by IRE, AIEE, APS and
of duty to accept NACA
assign- AIMMEE, Hotel Statler, Boston.
ment. 22-23 — Radio Technical Commission for Aero

Air Force — Provides NACA with nautics

CAA
fall

Technical
meeting, Hotel Marrott and
Development Center, Indian
list of officers who volunteer for apolis.

two-year NACA duty. 25-26 — Aircraft Electrical Society annual dis

play of electrical equipment, Pan-Pacific
In each instance, officers as- Auditorium, Los Angeles.
signed to the program will, for all 29-30 — Annual East Coast Conference on
Third

purposes, be NACA employes. Pay, Aeronautical and Navigational Electronics,

sponsored by IRE, 5th Regiment Armory,
allowances and other costs will be Baltimore, Md.
reimbursed to the particular serv- NOVEMBER
ice. 8-9— National and Fuels Lubricants Meeting,
The Defense step is the most sponsored SAE, Mayo
by Hotel, Tulsa, Okla.
25-30 — American Rocket annual Society meeting,
recent of a number of moves aimed Henry Hudson New York Hotel, City.
at relieving NACA's scientific per- 28-30 — First Congress
International on Ozone,
sonnel problem. sponsored by Armour Research Foundation,
Sheraton Hotel, Chicago.
Earlier, in a session-ending
measure, Congress authorized NA- JANUARY
CA 20 additional "Public Law 313"
28-31 — Eighth Annual Plant Maintenance Show,
Public Auditorium, Cleveland.

Missiles and Rockets

New
Communications
Concept
for exchange of
information amoung
missile engineers

By Arthur W. Steinfeldt

In the midst of an explosive growth, communications within the were planned as a series, each one
missile industry have not been able to keep pace with the rapid in a different city with new speak-
technical advances and specialization. Due to the interdependence ers and a new program. The forums
of missile technologies, progress in one area must be quickly com- were announced in newspapers and
municated and integrated into the programs of other technologies. tickets sent to qualified engineers
However, the missile industry is finding it increasingly difficult to
and scientists. Over 1,000 attended
digest and assimilate the specialized knowledge pouring forth from
the series.
scientists and engineers drawn from diverse and esoteric fields.
Sources of basic, unclassified information are widely scattered • There were a number of
geographically and the dissemination of material is often in a practical considerations which led
random, haphazard fashion. This is further complicated by the fact us to organize the forums as out-
that most of the established periodicals, scientific journals and lined above. GE wished to make
societies are directed either toward one small segment of missile
attendance at the forum as con-
technology, or are so general as to include the entire aviation
venient as possible and appeal to a
industry.
wide range of engineers and scien-
The establishment of the Missiles & Rockets magazine by tists. To do this, it was necessary
American Aviation Publications is further recognition and response
to bring the forum to them in the
to the need for better means of communication in this rapidly ma-
localities where they worked and
turing industry, and I am pleased to write for this first issue of
the magazine concerning the initiation of an experiment in technical
lived. GE felt this approach would
communications undertaken by the Special Defense Projects De- enable many persons to attend who
—
partment of the General Electric Company. A. W. S. would not have the opportunity
otherwise. This required that the
forums be unclassified and, of
It is apparent that engineers tion among engineers and scientists course, this brought the question
and scientists in the missile indus- in the missile industry, (2) to pro- of security to the forefront.
try must know not only their own vide knowledge as to where related How often when discussing
field but should be aware of the technical work is being conducted, the national security aspects of
knowledge, contributions and prob- (3) to show how diverse technical missile work has one heard phrases
lems of other related technologies fields are related and integrated in such as, "Everything interesting in
in order to make a maximum con- the missile industry, and (4) to the missile field is classified," or
tribution themselves. This is es- stimulate engineers and scientists "I wish the security people would
pecially true in an industry where into thinking more about the rela- declassify some of my work so I
technology is expanding rapidly. tionship of their effort to other could prepare it for publication."
Long-standing demarcation bound- technical fields and common mis- I believe this sentiment is quite
aries between sciences are being sile problems. common and deserves more thought.
rapidly changed and modified and General Electric's Special De- Scores of worthwhile articles re-
entire new sciences are being born. fense Projects Department decided lated to missile work are being
It has been obvious that there to attack these problems on a mod- published each month in unclassi-
is a need for a program (1) to facil- est basis by undertaking a series fied journals. Many more would be
itate the flow of current informa- of technical forums. Four forums available but are not because of

110 Missiles and Rockets

 individual inertia rather than se-
curity limitations.

Security Problem
Security people are fully aware
of the necessity for exchanging
scientific and technical information
where no classified material is in-
volved. GE found them most help-
ful and cooperative in clearing
talks for presentation and publica-
tion. It takes time and effort to
accomplish this, but our experi-
ence has shown that it can be done
and that most of the effort need
not consume the time of our pro-
fessional technical people.
• To meet our objectives, it
was necessary that the presenta-
tions be of high caliber and of in-
terest to an audience differing
widely in background. It was de-
cided that rather than have our
speakers deliver a highly special-
ized talk, each would attempt a
technical presentation of interest
to the entire audience. This was
not entirely possible but most of
each presentation was understood
by the audience generally. Suffici-
ent time was scheduled to permit
detailed discussion of the subjects
for those who wanted to explore
them in depth.
overcome some of
In order to
the barriers between various sci-
ences, the technical forums were
organized to present a number of
papers from diverse fields. This
diversification can best be illus-
trated by the subjects that were
treated at the various technical
forums by the speakers who were
selected from the Special Defense
Projects Department.
At the first forum held in New
York City, Systems Engineering,
Hypersonic Experimentation and
Mass Accelerators and Aerophysics
were discussed. At the second
forum in Buffalo, our speakers
treated the subjects of Missile Sys-
tem Testing, Aerophysics and
Stress Analysis. The third forum in
Washington. D. C, covered Struc-
tures, Aerophysics, and Recording
and Recovery of Missile Data. The
fourth and last forum of the series
in Boston discussed Missile Reli-
ability, Instrumentation and Hyper-
sonic Experimentation.
Numerous visual aids, includ-
ing colored slides, models and
mock-ups, were used to further in-

112 Missiles and Rockets

terest the audience and stimulate
discussion. Each presentation was
limited to 30 minutes in length and
a discussion period was allowed
after each talk. A general discus-
sion period followed the last
speaker.
• Each person attending the
forum was asked to fill out a brief
questionnaire. This was done to
measure the effectiveness of the
forum and to obtain suggestions
for improving future forums. A
very high return, approximately
65% of the questionnaires per
forum, was obtained.
Here are the conclusions based
upon the reaction of the engineers
and scientists who attended our
first series of forums:

1) There was almost unanim-

ity of agreement (97%) that
the forums were worthwhile
and that those attending would
attend future forums if they
were offered the opportunity.
2) Those in attendance felt
that the information offered
was current and of interest to
them.
3) A
substantial portion of the
audience was quite amazed
how closely seemingly diverse
fields were related and inte-
grated. They felt they obtained
valuable information from
presentations made by special-
ists in fields they normally
considered outside of their
particular sphere of activity.
4) They obtained considerable
information from both the
speakers and others in attend-
ance about where technical
work was being conducted of
which they had no prior
knowledge.
5) In indicating what fields
should be discussed at future
forums, the audience indi-
cated that they would like to
continue to have covered more
than just their own technical
field if they continued to be
handled properly.

Tremendous Potential
As part of the forum program,
our marketing organization sched-
uled press conferences where our
participants matched wits with
both the technical and non-techni-
cal press. This they found especi-

Oc+ober, 1956
 problem or experiment. Exposing
ideas to the fierce glare of the tele-
vision camera and to hundreds of
would be the
scientists in the field
quickest way I know of to separate
out good ideas from the bad.
The forum idea could also be
expanded help the missile in-
to
dustry in the tremendous training
job that has to be done. Each year
thousands of engineers and scien-
tists are brought into the industry
and must be quickly integrated.
Much of the orientation and train-
ing they receive is of an unclassi-
fied nature. Why not use closed
circuit television to bring the best
speakers from industry, govern-
ment and universities to conduct
appropriate sessions with a nation-
wide audience?
I have mentioned only a few

applications of the use of industry

forums and closed circuit television
to improve communications. Actu-
ally the possibilities seem almost
limicless. . . . END.

NAA Employs 500

In Summer Program
More than 500 students and
faculty members from colleges and
universities throughout the country
have been on North American
Aviation's summer payroll this year
Nationwide closed circuit television would permit scientists to be as part of the manufacturer's new
"present" at important events and thus get firsthand information. long-range recruiting program.
Breakdown of this temporary em-
ally stimulating. In two cities they on an industry-wide basis. Each ployment is as follows: Los
were asked to appear ontelevision. industrial organization involved Angeles division, 249; Rocketdyne,
Several of the presentations have would schedule technical forums of 115; Autonetics, 69; Missile De-
already been published in technical its own in the local area. Engineers velopment, 66; Atomics Interna-
journals and others are slated for and scientists in the surrounding tional, 17.
future publication. Our marketing area who are interested in missiles, Mac Wright, coordinator for
people were also pleased with the or already engaged in the field the program at Los Angeles, said
favorable publicity that was ob- would be invited to attend. Then, the wide-scale summer work pro-
tained in the daily newspapers and to tie the entire effort together, a gram was helpful to in vari- NAA
in non-technical and technical closed-circuit program
television ous fields and at the same time
magazines. could be developed. Each company gave potential employes a chance
• GE has come to realize that would select one or two subjects to get to know the company. Hir-
industry-sponsored efforts in tech- for presentation on the industry ing of faculty personnel, he said,
nical communications have tre- hook-up. The TV broadcast would is good for both teachers and the
mendous potential and it is a func- originate from laboratories or mis- company in giving teachers prac-
tion which can no longer be left to sile proving grounds throughout tical experience in the application
chance. The missile industry has a the country. In a matter of min- of their academic courses.
direct interest and responsibility utes,each person attending would
for doing its part in filling the be tuned in on the latest scientific Technical Employee
communications' void resulting developments. Increase
from ever increasing specialization Imaginethe inspiration and LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT
and rapid technological advances. clash of ideas that could result CORP. estimates that one person
A number of techniques could from researchers all over the coun- in every eight it now employs is a
be employed. I would like to offer —
try actually watching in a sense technical employee. In 1943 only
one for consideration. A series of —
participating while the nation's about one in every 100 was a tech-
technical forums could be planned leading scientists demonstrate a nician or engineer.

114 Missiles and Rockets

PEOPLE
Lawrence D. Bell, president of
Bell Aircraft Corp. since he formed
the company in 1935, has resigned for
reasons of health. He has been elected

Lawrence D. Bell

chairman of the board. One of the

few surviving pioneers of the in-
dustry era prior to World War I, 45
of his 62 years have been spent in
aviation. Leston P. Faneuf will suc-
ceed him as president and will con-
tinue as general manager of the
company.
Alexander Satin, well-known
research engineer, has been ap-
pointed Senior Scientific Advisor to
Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Burbank,
Calif.
Formerly Chief Engineer of the
Air Branch, Office of Naval Re-
search in Washington, D. C, Satin

Alexander Safin
was recently presented with the
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
for his "outstanding leadership in
initiating and coordinating a compre-
hensive research program in aero-
dynamics, structures, powerplants,
instruments, experimental airplane,
helicopters and other techniques and
equipment used in naval air war-
fare."
Satin has been credited with the
initiation of several scientific Navy
and Army research projects, includ-
ing rocket devices, short-takeoff-and-
landing aircraft experiments, jet-lift
and ducted fan propulsion and satel-
lite research.

Missiles and Rockets

 Marvin B. Ruffin, vice president-
customer relations since April 1955,
has been promoted to vice presi-
dent and gen. mgr. of Summers Gyro-
scope Co.
Republic Aviation Corp. has
named Robert W. Boesel chief pro-
ject engineer for its guided missiles
division.

Boesel Kuttin

Daniel A. McBride and Eugene

L. Olcott have joined the Chemistry
Division of Atlantic Research Corp.,
Alexandria, Va., McBride as project
coordinator and Olcott as metallurgi-
cal engineer. Dr. Joseph B. Levy will
conduct research on the kinetics of
solid-propellant combustion and of
high-temperature gaseous reactions.
Clare W. Harris has been ap-
pointed a project engineer for Lock-
heed Missile Systems Division, while
continuing to serve as asst. to the di-
rector of engineering; Harry W.
Kohl was named division engineer
for the newly created Bay area proj-
ect at San Jose. Dr. Samuel B. Bat-
dorf, formerly with Westinghouse
Electric Co., has joined the division
as consulting staff scientist.
Dr. Daniel T. Sitrley, formerly
chairman of the Guided Missile
Steering Committee and associate
director of the General Engineering
Laboratories for the American Ma-
chine &
Foundry Co., has been ap-
pointed chief engineer for the Guided
Missiles Division of Firestone Tire
& Rubbtr Co. of California.

Sigley Steinhardt
Lawrence R. Steinhardt has been
appointed president of Narmco Metl-
bond Co., which makes "Multiwave,"
a sandwich core material used in air-
craft and missile structures.
William C. Foster is the first for-
mally-elected Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Reaction Motors, Inc.
William M. Duke, former vice
president of the Cornell Aeronauti-
cal Research Laboratory, has been
named program director for the
"Titan" Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile program of the Ramo-Wool-
dridge Corp.'s guided missile research
division.

October, 1956
 : —

NEW MISSILE PRODUCTS

Other Scintilla series is the
"Pygmy" connector intended for
miniaturized missile electronic
equipment. These are available in
"A" and "E" styles, in a series for
potting, with jam nut receptacles,
and with hermetically sealed re-
ceptacles. Write: Scintilla Division,
Bendix Aviation Corp., Dept. M/R,
Sidney, N.Y.

PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS
New series of Swiss-made
miniature SLM pressure trans-
ducers available from Kistler In-
strument Co. covers a range of
pressures from .01 to 100,000 psi.
Models are classed as blast gauge,
shock-tube gauge, ballistics gauge
A substantial number of these mobile pneumatic and electrical test stands and hyper-ballistics gauge.
(right)have been produced by Lear Aircraft Engineering Div., Santa Monica
The SLM series is said to be
for North American Aviation's Rocketdyne Division to check out rocket engines
without firing. Complexity and high-performance requirements of their opera-
rugged enough to withstand ex-
tion led to design of another auxiliary test stand (left) to check them out.
plosions, yet sensitive enough to
measure pressure variations in
POWER PACKAGES The larger missile installation in sound waves generated in rocket
use weighs 40 pounds. Write motors. Units are designed to op-
Vickers, has unveiled a
Inc.
Vickers, Inc., Dept. M/R, Box erate at temperatures up to 600 °F
series of hydraulic-powered elec- 302,
Detroit 32, Mich. and to measure variations as low
trical power packages for use in
aircraft and missile systems. Al-
though originally designed in the MISSILE CABLE
0.5 to 3.0 kv output range, a larger A new cable especially de-
unit of 10-kva capacity has been signed for guided missile motors
adopted for a specific missile in- and electronic controls is avail-
stallation. able. Designated as Type SP-132,
Basic system consists of a the cable is a four-conductor type
permanent magnet, 400-cycle gen- with tinned copper conductors,
erator directly driven by a flange- tinned copper braid, polyethylene
mounted Vickers constant-speed insulation and a polyvinylchloride
jacket. The cable has a minimum
outside diameter of 0.275". Write: as 0.1 psi in fuel systems and com-
Federal Telephone and Radio Co. bustion chambers at any pressure
Dept. M/R 100, Kingsland Road, level to 3,000 psi.
Clifton, N. J. Write: Kistler Instrument Co.,
Dept. M/R, 15 Webster St., No.
MISSILE CONNECTORS Tonawanda, N.Y.
Scintilla Division of Bendix HITEMP DECALS
Aviation Corp. has introduced two Newseries of heat and solvent
new series of electrical connectors resistant decals designed to with-
for application in missile ground stand higher temperatures of jet
hydraulic motor. Speed control re- and airborne systems. aircraft, rockets and missiles have
portedly is within -j- or —2 1/2% QWL type (illus-
Scintilla's been announced by The Meyercord
regardless of and special
load Co. Applications include engine
trated) designed for heavy-duty
is
adaptations will maintain 400-cycle housings and hot parts, electronic
use with multi-conductor cables in
frequency within -j- or 0.1 per- — missile ground launching equip-
equipment and a variety of situa-
tions involving extreme heat.
cent. ment and ground radar. Tests have Three available types of
Weight of a kva power
0.5 indicated absence of thread wear Meyercord decals include: HR
package is seven pounds whereas after being subjected to 2,500 Suitable for most surfaces which
\ a 3.0 kva unit weighs 19 pounds. coupling and uncoupling cycles. will withstand temperatures in

118 Missiles and Rockets

400°F range. SHR — Designates sus-
tained heat resistance. For smooth
l-igid surfaces under constant
operation in 500° to 600°F range.
HHR — For high heat resistance.
Withstands temperatures up to
1,000°F intermittently. Suitable for
rigid surfaces.
Write: The Meyercord Co.,
Dept., MR, 5323 W. Lake St.,

Chicago 44.

MISSILE FLOWMETER

An ultrasonic flowmeter
marketed by Maxson Instruments
Div., The W. L. Maxson Corp., pro-
vides simultaneous readout of mass
flow rate, mass totalization, volu-
metric flow rate, volumetric total-
ization and fluid density in a direct
reading instrument for missile fuel
gauging systems.
The unit uses ultrasonic en-
ergy to determine volume or mass
of fluid passing through a smooth-
bore sensor. It is said to handle
up to 720,000 lbs. or 90,000 gals, of
jet fuel per hour at an accuracy of
1%. Weight is 10 lbs.
Write Maxson Instruments
:

Div., The W. L. Maxson Corp.,

Dept. MR, 47-37 Austell Place,
Long Island City 1, N. Y.

LOX STRAINER
A new type stainless
in-line
steel strainer designed primarily
to filter liquid oxygen at extremely
low temperatures is marketed by
Harman Equipment Co. The
Harmeco Model 33008 strainer, said
to have application in the ICBM
program, is also usable for han-
dling petroleum-type fuels.
Newstrainer features flanged
ends constructed of extremely
dense, close-grained stainless steel
castings welded to a body of stain-

October, 1956
less steel pipe. Unit is said to be stantan, ehromel-alumel, copper
leak-free at temperatures of constantan and others. The unit
— 350 3
F and below. replaces ice bottles and tempera-
ture compensators. Write: Arnoux
Corp., Dept. M/R Box 34628, Los
Angeles, Calif.

INSULATED CABLE
New series of single and multi-
conductor Teflon-insulated
cables
for missiles and radar applications,
high temperature instrumentation
and telemetering devices is market-
ed by Tensolite Insulated Wire Co.,
Inc. Standard and custom-de-
signed constructions varying from
one through 37 conductor assem-
blies are available.
New cable features parallel-
wrapped Teflon, but spiral-wrapped
or extruded Teflon primary insu-
lation may be specified. Write:
Tensolite Insulated Wire Co., Inc.,
Dept. MR, 198 Main St., Tarrytown,
N. Y.
MISSILE TUBES
Four available types having A newline of seven subminia-
optional flange and strainer as- ture tubes for guided missile appli-
semblies all measure four inches in cations has been announced by Syl-
diameter. Weights range from 112 vania Electric Products Co. The
to 135pounds. Literature available. line includes rf pentodes, beam
Write: Harman Equipment Co., (More New Products, Page 125)
Dept. MR, 3605 E. Olympic Blvd.,
Los Angeles 23.

GEAR TRAIN
SiniteD-10-S bearings are a
feature of a new minute gear train
announced by Booker-Cooper, Inc.
The Sinite material, used by major
missile producers in liquid oxygen
applications, is a compaction of
50% bronze and 50% lubricative
pigments.
Sinite used in bearing applica-
tions is said to operate over a wide
temperature range at speeds in ex-
cess of 3,000 rpm without addi-
tional Temperatures
lubrication.
range from — 300°F to
+500°F. The
material is available in bar stock or
is machined to specifications.
Write: Booker-Cooper, Inc., Dept.
MR, 6940 Farmdale Ave., No. Holly-
wood, Calif.

THERMOCOUPLE JUNCTION
A miniature, multi-channel
"hot" thermocouple reference junc-
tion which the manufacturer says
is rugged enough for missile use
operates from ac or dc and is stable
to 1.5°F.
The unit can be provided for
any type junction such as iron-con-

Missiles and Rockets

 power pentode, audio amplifier,
medium and high a single and
double triodes.
Design features include a
shorter mount for rigidity, wide
element spacings and vibrational
noise control over a wide frequency
spectrum, Although developed for
guided missile application, the
tubes are expected also to find ap-
plication in telemetering and ve-
hicular use. Write: Sylvania Elec-
tricProducts Co., Dept. M/R, 1740
Broadway, N. Y. 19, N. Y.

EXPLOSIVE VALVE
A new normally-closed ex-
plosive valve announced by Conax
Corp. designed to provide a dead-
is
tight, valve for long or
shut-off
short-term storage of gas or liquid
under high pressure. When fired
by a small integral squib, it opens
the equivalent of a 9/32-inch diam-
eter orifice in .002 seconds. Only
1/2 ampere is needed to fire the
squib.

Smallest Conax valve weighs

five ounces and is a 1-inch hexagon
measuring 3 1/2 inches long. Max-
imum operating pressure is 5,000
psi and proof pressure is 10,000
psi. Literature available. Write:
Conax Corp., Explosive Products
Div., Dept. M/R, 7811 Sheridan
Drive, Buffalo 21, N.Y.

FUEL PUMP
Lear, Inc., Lear-Romec Divi-
sion has developed a nine-pound
rotary vane-type pump designed to
supply smoke fuel for guided mis-
sile tracking systems. An electric-
motor-driven type, it cycles on and
off at two-second intervals to create
a vapor trail from the tail end of a
missile.
Unit is designated Model RG-
15800. It has a rated capacity of 4.1
gpm at 27 volts d-c and 13.5 amps
pumping Corvus Oil and JP-4 fuel
at a two-to-one volume mixture.
Displacement is 0.386 cu. in. per

October, 1956
 tions and for temperatures ranging
from — 300°F to +700°F. Write:
Barco Manufacturing Co., Dept.
MR. Barrington, 111.

VACUUM PUMP
A new
rotary-vane type vacuum
pump developed by Beach-Russ Co.
for aircraft and missile applica-
tions weighs 7 lbs., complete with
revolution, and a relief valve by- 28-volt d-c motor. Overall dimen-
passes full flow at 120 ± 5 psi. sions are 7" x 4" x 6". Write Beach-
:

400 cycles is provided with 1 digit

Explosion-proof motor for the Russ Co., Dept. M/R, 50 Church
accuracy. One hundred channels
RG-15800 is rated at 0.34 hp at St., New York 7, N.Y.
may be checked. Testing is done
3,000 rpm and 27 volts d-c. Litera- automatically and prints identifica-
ture available. Write: Lear, Inc., MISSILE CHECKOUT SYSTEM
tion of tests showing either values
Lear-Romec Div., Dept. MR, Ely- An automatic system for
or go/no-go indication. Write:
ria, O. checking dc and ac voltages and
Electro Instruments, Inc., Dept.
frequency values, together with
M/R, 3794 Rosecrans St., San Diego
SWIVEL JOINTS go/no-go checks has been de-
10, Calif.
Barco Manufacturing Co. has veloped by Electro Instruments, Inc.
introduced a new series of aircraft- Both printed and indicator readings MISSILE FIRE CONTROL
type swivel assemblies said to pro- are provided. Three groups of de- An intervalometer developed by
vide unlimited flexibility in piping vices are used for checkout. These Abrams Instrument Corp. provides
or tubing lines of airborne equip- are program, control, and measure- automatic programming for missile
ment and track vehicles. ment. Programming is done by a launching. Opening of rocket pods,
Two basic types provide AN punched tape memory. rocket-launcher extensions and
flared or Ermetto fittings in alumi- According to the manufac- other functions in sequence are
num, steel and stainless steel for turer, the system provides dc volt- controlled to millisecond accura-
pressures up to 4,000 psi. Units are age checks to an accuracy of cies, according to the manufac-
available for handling hydraulic, 0.01% and ac checks to 0.1%. Fre- turer.
air oxygen, fuel -and acid applica- quency deviation in percent from No special shock mounts are

126 Missiles and Rockets

required for the unit design to meet
MIL-E-5272, Procedure L. Timing
is done by a "Chronopulse" time
generator. This is a high accuracy
dc time base developed by Abrams.
Write: Abrams Instrument Corp.,
Dept. M/R 606 E. Shiawassee St.,
Lansing 1, Mich.

VIBRATION PICKUP
A vibration pickup preamplifier
manufactured by Bruel & Kjaer is
being marketed by Brush Electron-
ics Co. for use as a link between
accelerometers or any type of vi-
bration pickup. The Model BL-1606
is a two-stage unit with high input

impedance and allows vibration

pickup to be carried out to very
low frequencies at extended dis-
tances from the measuring instru-
ment.
A built-in calibration unit, con-
sisting of a vibrating disc sus-
pended on a metal strip brought

into resonance at the line fre-

quency gives direct calibration of
the combined accelerometer, accele-
rometer, preamplifier and measur-
ing instrument before the measure-
ments are carried out. Write:
Brush Electronics Co., Dept. M/R,
3405 Perkins Ave., Cleveland 14,
Ohio.

BREAKOUT CABLES
Pacific Automation Products,
Inc. is producing a neoprene-
sheathed, water-tight "breakout"

October, 1956 127

cable for missile wiring that con-
tains 141 conductors. It is designed
to withstand short-term exposure
to oils, acids, alcohol, ozone and
water as well as long-term exposure
to sunlight.
The multi-branch, multi-con-
ductor cable is layed by a specially
constructed planetary strander. It
is said to retain flexibility from
—65°F to +175°F. Write: Pacific
Automation Products, Inc. Dept.
M/R, 1000 Air Way, Glendale,
Calif.

• KADIO RECEPTOR CO.,

INC. has developed a 2.5-pound air-
borne miniature radar beacon AN/
DPN-43 for ground-crew tracking
of missiles in flight. Fully tran-
sistorized, it contains more than
120 components in a 6-in. high,
2.5-in. diameter package. Write:
Radio Receptor Co., Inc. Dept. M/R,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
• High "g" event recorder in-
troduced by PHOTRON INSTRU-
MENT CO. weighs less than 6 lbs.
and is said to have recorded thru-
shocks in excess of 3,000 g's in
actual tests. Unit records up to 21
channels on electro-sensitive paper.
Write: Photron Instrument Co.,
Dept. M/R, 6516 Detroit Ave.,
Cleveland 2, O.
•
Specialized line of explosive
igniters for initiating solid pro-
pellants and liquid fuels are avail-
able from McCORMICK SELPH
ASSOCIATES. Where igniter re-
quires less than five grams of ex-
plosive, squib is integral. For
larger sizes, provision is made for
thread-in squib. Write: McCormick
Selph Associates, Dept. M/R, 15
Hollister Airport, Hollister, Calif.

October, 1956
 Missile
Literature
TEST CHAMBERS. Four-page bul-
letin describes test chambers built
by Inland Testing Laboratories to
satisfy virtually any combination
of environmental conditions. Refer
to Newsletter 3-556. Write: Inland
Testing Laboratories, Dept. MR,
1457 Diversey Blvd., Chicago 14.

SERVO MOTORS. A 16-page book-

let outlines specifications and de-
sign details of a line of servo
motors and generators. Write: G-M
Laboratories, Inc., Dept. MR, 4300
No. Knox Ave., Chicago 41.

COMPUTERS. Bulletin illustrates

computers, recorders, servos and
integrated systems. Write : Mid-
Century Instrumatic Corp., Dept.
MR, 611 Broadway, New York 12,
N. Y.

HI-TEMP ALLOY. Alloy R-235, a

wrought, nickel-base aluminum and
titanium bearing precipitation-
hardening alloy for temperatures
through 1,750°F is described in
new 12-page booklet. Write Haynes :

Stellite Co., Dept. MR, 30-20 Thom-

son Ave., Long Island City 1, N. Y.

MISSILE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

and airborne electronic equipment
manufactured by Hallamore Elec-
tronics Co. is illustrated in new 20-
page brochure. Write: Hallamore
Electronics Co., Dept. MR, 2001 E.
Artesia St., Long Beach 5, Calif.

RECORDING SYSTEM, Project Di-

gest PD-21 published by Cook Re-
search Laboratories, Inc. describes
newly developed three-channel and
six channel magnetic tape record-
ing units for missile instrumenta-
tion where space limits are severe.
Write Cook Research Laboratories,
:

Inc., Dept. MR, 2700 N. Southport

Ave., Chicago 14.

PRECISION SEALING RINGS.

Eight-page brochure available from
Precision Piston Rings, Inc. gives
specifications on eight types of
wrought-alloy rings including
Haynes Stellite, rated for tempera-
tures of 2,000°F. Write: Precision
Piston Rings, Inc., Dept. M/R,
1417-1423 Commerce Ave., Indian-
apolis 1, Ind.

October, 1956
 4jP Industry Highlights
^ By Fred S. Hunter

The Santa Susanna hills on the fringe of Los Angeles

used to be a favorite location of the movie makers. You've
seen them on the screen of your neighborhood theater or —
—
on your television screen many times; you just thought
that was Montana or Wyoming you were viewing. But now
the pop of the cowboy's trusty six-gun has been silenced by
the shattering blasts of rocket engines echoing over the hills.
For this one-time scene of the old west is today a symbol
of the new west. Here is the biggest rocket engine test center
in the Western Hemisphere — Rocketdyne's field test labora-
tory. Here, power for the so-called ultimate weapon, the
ballistic missile, is being developed
•
Out to catch up with North American's Rocketdyne
in the development of big liquid rocket engines for the bal-
listic missile program is Aerojet-General, whose test facility
is in the old gold-mining country east of Sacramento. When
complete, these huge rocket engine test installations will
provide Aerojet's Sacramento plant with 24 test positions,
the largest of which can handle engines up to 1,000,000
pounds thrust. Like North American, Aerojet has production
contracts for rocket engines for the Air Force's long-range
ballistic missiles, including the ICBM Atlas and Titan and
the IRBM Thor.
•
A new $13,000,000 manufacturing plant to be com-
pleted in the spring of 1957 will boost the total investment
in facilities at Aerojet's Sacramento location to $50,000,000.
Originally Aerojet was to have operated a similar $13,000,000
plant at Neosho, Mo., but after construction was started the
Air Force decided to divert this one to North American, which
is already turning out production type engines, and let Aero-
jet build another plant in conjunction with the facility it
already had at Sacramento.
•
Turbo division of American Machine & Foundry is
planning a superenvironmental test chamber capable of simu-
lating the rapid temperature, atmospheric pressure and rela-
tive humidity changes encountered by a ground-to-air missile
flashing from sea level to 110,000 feet altitude in 100 seconds
for its new plant at Pacoima, Calif. AMF's Turbo division is
moving up fast. Three years ago at this time, it was a depart-
ment of the company comprised of 17 people. Now it is head-
ing toward a payroll of 500. It attained division status in the
AMF organization last spring and dedicated its new plant in
August. Turbo makes accessory power drives for the Nike and
has a development contract for units for the ballistic missile
program.
•
Horning-Cooper's ASP (Atmospheric Sounding Pro-
jectile) developed for the Navy to gather meteorological in-
formation and study upper atmosphere cosmic ray and _

geomagnetic phenomena, also is expected to find additional

uses in the hypersonic testing field because of its high
velocity. Powered by a high-performance solid propellant
developed by Grand Central Rocket Co., the ASP will reach
speeds of Mach 5 and better within a few seconds after
launching.

Missiles and Rockets

 NEW STEEL
FOR
TEST STAND, LAUNCHER AND
GANTRY TOWER CONSTRUCTION

Increased activity throughout

the United States in construction of
Plate
missile- and rocket-launching sites,
Thickness, Hardness, Ductility-Transition
exceptionally large test stands, gan-
Heat No. inches RC Temperature, °F
try equipment, heavy ship launchers
35P489 23.5 -195 and related components will grad-
29S144 20.3 -170
35S463 V2 22.0 -152
35S463 % 24.4 -162
-210 Need for new materials
36S462 '/4 25.0
-175 for the missile and rocket in-
37S532 K 28.5
dustry is consistent. High tem-
29S515 % 27.9 -235
perature and great stresses,
37S525 '/2 27.1 -208
fine tolerances and extreme
34S477 3
/4 27.0 -195
precision are typical require-
41S463 3
/4 25.5 -220
ments. These parameters are
47S464 3
/4 25.0 -175
indicative of the challenge that
41S451 % 22.5 -205
materials manufacturers are
35S476 3 24.1 -245
/4
faced with, and they involve
36S462 % 20.2 -255
problems of design, material
29S515 3
/4 22.9 -225 selection, application and fab-
29S144 21.0 -195 rication techniques.
34S267 24.0 -248
34S477 22.9 -190 MISSILES & ROCKETS'
editors, as a special service to
35S476 27.0 -L95
its readers, will introduce the
27S564 26.5 -252
-242 many new materials applic-
23.6
37S532
24.0 -230
able to the M& R industry on
32U029 these pages in forthcoming
73U115 25.9 -175
issues. Metals /alloys, synthet-
31U033 24.8 -210
ics and chemicals all will re-
29S144 l
3
/4 24.4 -212
ceive attention.

Ductility-Transition Temperatures and Hardness of T-l Steel Plates

36 Missiles and Rockets

ually yield more business to the Time to Elongation Reduction Minimum Rate
steel industry. Temperature Stress, Rupture, in 1 inch, of Area, of Extension,
°f psi hours per cent
In this connection Missiles & per cent per cent per hour

Rockets' survey of available new 900 80,000 2.95 18.0 63.4 0.9333
constructional steels focused on T-l, 900 77,500 49.8 15.8 47.2 0.0351
a low-carbon, quenched and tem- 900 75,000 108 8.0 28.2 0.0231
900 70,000 252 5.2 1.1 0.0100
pered alloy that is finding wide use 1

900 60,000 818 1.2 1.2 0.0022

in special construction. The prop- 1000 75,000 0i27 18.2 63.0 7.6
erties of T-l seem to suit it espe- 1000 60,000 13.4 6.2 1 1.8 *

cially to application in pressure ves- 1000 50,000 35.6 3.8 3.3 0.572
1000 35,000 90 2 2 8 0089
sels, test stands, cranes, gantry tow-
1

1000 24,500 797 2.8 0.41 0.0023

ers, liquid gas tanks and general
1 100 60,000 0.1 18.4 59.6 32.0
industrial equipment. 1 100 40,000 3.2 5.8 6.9 1.04
1 100 30,000 12.9 4.9 4.9 0.1530
This new, all purpose steel was
1 100 20.000 66.6 4.2 3.7 0.039
developed to meet the need for a 100 10,250 963
1 11.8 8.3 0.0062
steel, primarily in plate form, pos-
sessing a very high yield strength Results of Creep-Rupture Tests
(90,000 psi or more) and yet tough
enough to withstand unusual impact
or abrasion abuse or pressures at
Stress, 1 ,000 psi for
either low or high temperatures.
_ Rupture
H in
Test 1% Creep in
• In equipment fabrication, the Steel Temperature, °F 10,000 Hr. 1,000 Hr. 10,000 Hr.
use T-l steel makes possible
of
"T-i" 700
; 96.0 98 .0 94.0*
lighter weight equipment because of
"T-r 900
1
44.0 59 .5 44.0
the unusual yield strength of the "T-r i,(000 10.5 23 .0 1 3.8
steel, which permits reduced plate "T-l" 1, 100 2.3 10 .0 5.8

thicknesses in comparison to the

Creep and Creep-Rupture Data
thicker and therefore heavier plates
of carbon steel ordinarily used. This
can result in substantial over-all
ports that might be needed. Static many unusual properties, T-l steel

savings in material, fabrication,

test stands, for example, are a good is suitable material for test stands

construction and maintenance.

example of how T-l steel can be and equipment used outdoors year-
used to advantage. Parts of large round.
T-l has a yield strength three
towers and test stands, particularly The results of recent short time
times that of ordinary carbon steel
tension members, subject to high exposure tests by Lukens Steel Corp.
according to the manufacturers.
working stresses, as well as parts are shown here. In these tests, this
Fabrication is no problem to the
where resistance to atmospheric cor- new steel was compared with struc-
equipment builder, because T-l steel
rosion is important or where weld- tural copper steel, as well as with
is readily welded without preheat-
ing is involved, are suitable for the Cor-Ten steel. Structural copper
ing or stress-relieving. Its tough-
substitution of T-l steel. steel is assumed to have twice the
ness and resistance to the combina-
tion of wear and impact abuse cut
• In windtunnels, too, T-l atmospheric corrosion resistance of
maintenance and replacement costs,
steelapparently can pay off in long- carbon steel. Cor-Ten has four to
lengthen equipment life.
term economy through lengthened six times the atmospheric corrosion
service life. resistance of ordinary carbon steel.
In the construction industry,
One major advantage that T-l Based on the following test
where field work is an extremely im-
steel has over ordinary carbon steel data, it is conservatively estimated
portant facet on nearly every opera-
is in its resistance to atmospheric that T-l steel has at least four times
tion, T-l steel seems to offer many
corrosion. Designed to include this the atmospheric corrosion resist-
advantages. With no pre- or post-
heating required in most cases,
cost-saving characteristic among its ance of ordinary carbon steel.

equipment can be easily fabricated

right on the job site or in the weld
—
shop whichever is more convenient
and less costly. Kearny, N. J. Kure Beach, N. C.
Location of South Bend, Pa.
When the high strength of T-l Test Rack .5 yrs. 1.5 yrs. .5 yrs. 1.5 yrs. 1.5 yrs
steel is used to reduce the thickness
"T-l" Steel 5.0 8.2 2.8 5.9 7.1
of welded sections, welding time
Str. Copper Steel 7.9 17.0 3.9 10.2 9.8
and the amount of welding rod
Cor-Ten Steel 5.1 7.5 2.7 5.6 6.3
needed are reduced.
Lighter weight construction Loss of Weight, Grams per 4-x-6-inch Specimen
with T-l steel reduces shipping,
handling and material costs, and, in
addition, reduces the cost and
weight of any foundations and sup-

October, 1956
 " r

INDUSTRY BAROMETER
How is the Government spend-
GUIDED MISSILE EXPENDITURES ing our money for guided missiles?
1956 This is a question that has been

AIRFOR agitating the minds of engineers

1 1

and management personnel as well

NAVY
— ever since the overall missile
ARrV Y budget exceeded the billion-dollar
mark.
- »-' Missiles & Rockets has taken
a close look at the total picture and
has compiled the facts and figures
graphically. Since electronics and
•t, • •
communications equipment are
closely allied to missile develop-

1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 JFMAMJJASOND ment and production, Department
of Defense expenditures and obli-
GUIDED MISSILE OBLIGATIONS INCURRED
—
1956
n
gations for this industry have also
been summarized.
A comparison of programmed
R&D obligations by fiscal year for
missiles and aircraft is shown.
These figures are presented as a
guidepost to total activity in mis-
sile R&D. Recent testimony before
Congress indicates that additional
obligation funds can be and have
been transferred from other budget
categories to meet extraordinary
missile R&D demands. The De-
partment of Defense does not re-
lease expenditure data on missile
R&D.
The minus $456,000 expendi-
ture by the Army for 1954 repre-
sents a gain in funds rather than
an expenditure figure. In January,
February, May and June of 1954
the Army received substantial re-
imbursements for work performed
for the Navy and the Air Force.
More than one missile program was
involved in these reimbursements.
The electronics and communica-
tions expenditures account includes
1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 j FMAM J JASOND money spent for radar, electronic
ELECTRONICS OBLIGATIONS INCURRED and electromechanical computers,
1.400 — radiation aids to aircraft and navi-
gation, radiation aids to fire con-
trol and bombing, radiation coun-
termeasures, meteorological equip-
ment, etc. It is apparent that large
electronics purchases by the Army
are likely to take place during the
next few months.

* Estimated
** Includes —
$456,000 Army expenditures
Army deobligated $15 million in May '56

1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 J FMAM J JASOND (See

tions
graph titled
Incurred.")
"Guided Missile Obliga-

Missiles and Rockets

 Although this edition of Gart-
Book Reviews mann's original Traumer, Forscher,
Konstrukteure is somewhat con-
ROCKETS AND MISSILES.
densed, the translators have done a
By John Humphries, 229 pp. $6.00,
good job.
Ernest Benn Ltd., London. Dis-
The book is excellent. It gives a
tributed by The MacMillan Com-
concise, interesting biography of
pany, New York.
some of the most eminent rocket re-
This book is a rather simple
searchers of our time. Gartmann
introduction to the subject matter.
describes the work and lives of the
The publisher says it is written
scientists with whom he has worked
mainly for engineers and techni-
cians, but the material actually is
and who have devoted themselves to
the great ideal of the conquest of
handled in a semi-technical manner.
space.
Of particular value are the numer-
ous cutaway drawings of rockets; The biographies include those
an extensive bibliography is of con- of Hermann Ganswindt, Konstantin
siderable interest. The photographs
Eduardovich Tsiolkovski, Robert H.
are not too significant, but many Goddard, Hermann Oberth, Max Landing on Mars
of the graphs are good. Valier, Eugen Saenger, Helmut
trip to Mars. Sticking strictly to en-
The first half of the book Philip von Zborowski and Wernher
gineering knowledge available today,
covers propellants, motors and com- von Braun and give an interesting
the authors have outlined a master
ponents, the second the applications rundown on early German rocketry.
blueprint for man's first voyage to
of these to missiles and aircraft. The chapters on Dr. Saenger and
Mars.
The chapter on testing of Helmut von Zborowski are of partic-
The text is supplemented by a
motors and liquid propellants is
ular interest in view of their cur-
Mars bibliography of great value,
quite In general, the
interesting. rent work on advanced missile and
tables, diagrams, historical and
book may merit consideration for rocket projects.
modern maps, and five black and
vocational purposes, since it covers
white and 16 full-color reproduc-
many outstanding basic phases of The exploration of tions of paintings by Chesley Bon-
the missile and rocket industry of MARS. By Willy Ley and Wernher estell of usual superb quality.
importance to the engineer who is von Braun. Paintings by Chesley
about to enter the field or to the Bonestell. 176 pp. $i.95, The Viking
student who plans to do so. Press, NewYork.
CONTROL OF NUCLEAR RE-
This book belongs in every
ACTORS AND POWER PLANTS.
THE MEN BEHIND THE rocket and astronautics enthusiast's
By M. A. Shultz, 313 pp, $640, Mc-

SPACE ROCKETS. By Heinz Gart- Graw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York.
library. Ley and von Braun have
mann, 185 pp. $3.95, David McKay succeeded in introducing a down-to- Number tivo of a series in Nuclear
Company, Inc., Neiv York. earth approach to the long-awaited Engineering.
Based upon recognition that the
nuclear-power business is in the
transition stage from physicists to
the engineers, the book gives an ele-
mentary picture of control systems.
The approach is: Given the reactor,
how to control it?
Control problems described are
handled through conventional and
elementary servo forms and lan-
guage. This is done despite the fact
that synthesis and design of reac-
tors is steeped in mathematics and
clothed in security.
Because of this, certain assump-
tions and simplifications about the
reactors are made in regard to de-
sign of the control systems for them.
The book is an excellent exercise in
the philosophy of designing for the
new field. A chapter is devoted to an
exercise in design of electronic sim-
ulation techniques for study of con-
trol problems.For use in teaching, a
section given to question prob-
is

lems related to each chapter.

142 Missiles and Rockets

 missiles and
rockets
MAGAZINE OF WORLD ASTRONAUTICS

IN THIS ISSUE: Army Missile Power • General H. N. Toftoy • Krafft Ehricke •

Comdr. George Hoover • Fred Durant • Vanguard Ist-Stage Engine in Pictures

 missiles and rockets

Magazine of World Astronautics

November, 1956 Volume I, No. 2

MISSILES AND ROCKETS is published

monthly by American Aviation Publica-
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missiles and rockets

 missiles
and Army Help For ICBMs?
rockets
COULD IT BE THAT THE NATION'S two Intercontinental
Magazine of World Astronautics
Ballistic Missile programs the — Titan and the Atlas —
would be much farther along today if the Army had been
• •
brought in to assist the Air Force?
Wayne W. Parrish, So successful has the Army become in the missile field
that one wonders if the ICBMs wouldn't be nearing completion,
President and Publisher
rather than being in their initial stages as they are now, if the
Robert H. Wood, programs had been under joint sponsorship.
Editorial Director There's no denying the impressive record being built by
• • Army Ordnance in the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile
Erik Bergaust, programs. In view of the performance to date, one can well begin
to ask where the intermediate range leaves off and the inter-
Managing Editor
continental range begins.
• •
Admittedly the original division of responsibility seemed
Department Editors quite natural and logical. The Army is the artillery agency and,
Engineering: Joseph S. Murphy as such, should be concentrating on anti-tank missiles, short-
Aerophysics: Seabrook Hull range ballistic missiles, anti-aircraft and battlefield attack
Electronics: Henry P. Steier
rockets. The Air Force, with its responsibility for long-range
Military: Henry T. Simmons
strategic bombers, seemed the logical agency to assume respon-
Propulsion: Alfred J. Zaehringer
Astronautics: Heyward E. Can- sibility for ICBMs.
ney and Frederick I. Ordway III The recent IRBM test flights at Patrick AFB, however, in-
Manufacturing: Fred S. Hunter dicate that the Army's Jupiter, which has been scheduled as a
International: Anthony Vandyk 1,500-mile weapon, might well be capable of 3,000 miles. Thusly
London: James H. Stevens it will have practically intercontinental range and is, possibly,
Paris: Jean-Marie Riche the most advanced ballistic missile in the free world today.
Since the Army already has three fully-proven opera-
Art Director: William H. Martin tional missiles, namely the Honest John, the Corporal, and the
Production Manager: John Walen Nike, with three more systems to be put in operation shortly
Research Director: A. J. Newfield (the Little John, the Dart and the Redstone), it is perhaps a
• • little puzzling why an agency with such experience and ver-

Manuscripts that are not negotiated satility has not been called upon by the Defense Department to
should be submitted to the Managing help the Air Force in developing its two ICBM programs.
Editor for consideration. In the event Certainly we don't propose that the Air Force should be
the subject matter of the manuscript is
considered to be in a classified area, excluded from ICBM projects. Far from it. But a joint Army-
the manuscript must be cleared by the Air Foi-ce program might get faster results.
proper security review office of the Three major articles pertaining to various phases of the
Department of Defense. Responsibility
for security clearance rests with the Army's record in missiles appear in this issue. They testify to
author. the extent and depth of the Army's activity.
• •

Leonard Eiserer, Wayne W. Parrish

General Manager
William H. Pearson,
Director of Advertising
Larry Brettner, Correction and Clarification
Manager, Publication Sales
A most unfortunate error, attributable solely
Ellen Coakley to the printer in revising this page, crept into the
Advertising Service Manager
last in the October issue.
paragraph of the editorial
As appeared in type, a sentence read "To ensure
it
Publishing Information: Published
every political quality, we have support without peer." The
month by American Aviation Publica-
tions, Inc., Washington, D. C. Printed
sentence should have read "To ensure editorial quality
at The Telegraph Press, Harrisburg, Pa. . .
" (Italics are ours.) No problems of space flight
.

Application for second class mail privi- are more baffling than those pertaining to printers
leges is pending at Washington, D. C.
• •
who can magically change "editorial" to "political"
with all the devilish implications that such an altera-
Copyright 1956 by
American Aviation Publications, Inc.
tion implies. W. W. P.

November, 1956
 —

missiles and rockets

VOL. 1 NO. 2 NOVEMBER 1956 CONTENTS
FEATURES
M/R report Army's launching of IRBM-type test ve-
on U.S.
an altitude of 400 miles
hicle that reached 33
Army to introduce the Redstone, Little John and Dart 34
Maj. Gen. H. N. Toftoy outlines the Army's role in missiles . . 36
Captain Patrick W. Powers, Fort Bliss, Texas, explains in detail
the operational aspects of the Army's missile arsenal 40
Report on Lockheed's ICBM re-entry test missile, X-17 43
Krafft A. Ehricke, Convair ICBM engineer, discusses the feasi-
bility of solar energy as a power source for spacecraft 44
Aurelio C. Robotti, technical consultant to Fiat, tells how a
satellite could he launched from an F-102 fighter 54
First pictures of the Vanguard first-stage engine 62 Cover Picture
Commander George TV. Hoover, Office of Naval Research, pre- M/R's cover picture shows an
sents some new ideas on how to improve efficiency in R & D 64
eclipse of the sun by the earth
Henry P. Steier covers Vanguard satellite inertia! guidance . . 70 as seen from the moon. Increas-
Jordan E. Johnson, applications engineer, Vickers Inc., de- ing interest in astronautics in
scribes a practical approach to missile control 76 Japan has been highlighted by
Report on NACA's increased activity in rocket research 82 a series of photographic com-
positions by Yasumasa Miya-
Fred S. Hunter reports on ICBM engine development at Aero-
zaki and Toshihiko Sato, pro-
jet 90
duced by the Yomiuri Press
First complete organizational and functional chart for the for a serial of astronautics en-
United States IGY satellite program 120 titled "Columbus of Space." A
Captain Grayson Merrill, USN, suggests an interesting voca- report on Japanese astronautics
tional program: How about a degree in missile engineering? 142 is given by Frederick C. Durant
III, page 48.
ROCKET ENGINEERING
NACA's new rocket engine fabrication method 59 COLUMNS
British rocket valve developments 60
Liquid propellant/oxidizer performance chart following page 134 Rocket Trends 16
Washington Spotlight .... 21
• World Astronautics 30
International News 52
NEWS AND TRENDS Astrionics 74
Aerophysics 80
Special Report Henry T. Simmons covers AF Gunnery Meet 13 Industry Highlights 106
Details on Russian earth satellites 18 Propulsion Notes 135
Recruiting program at Redstone arsenal 19
Missile training schools needed, says Eger V. Murphree 22 DEPARTMENTS
Underwater missiles and nuclear subs 26
Editorial 5
New Radioplane drones 27
Letters to the editors .... 8
Sidewinder missile for Air Force F-104? 27 New missile products ... 108
Redstone quantity production started 31 Missile literature 117
•
Calendar 126
People 128
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Book reviews 138
Advertising index 150
Noble metals to solve re-entry problem? 92
PHOTO CREDITS:
Industry Barometer 122
Function and scope of RIAS research laboratory 124 U.S. Air Force, pp. 14, 15; Moscow
NEWS, p. 18; Sovphoto, p. 19; De-
partment of Defense, p. 22; U.S. Navy,
pp. 26, 27; General Electric, pp. 26, 62,
IN THE NEXT ISSUE 63; Radioplane, p. 27; Chrysler Corp.,
p. 31; U.S. Army, pp. 31, 34, 35, 36,
M/R December will feature Air Force Missile Power • Complete
for 38, 39, 40, 42; Convair, p. 45; Miyazeki,
round-up on Air Force missiles • Air Force missiles research and de- Sato, pp. 48, 50; A. C. Robotti, pp. 54,
velopment • Tabulated data on Air Force missile arsenal • Feature 56; NACA, pp. 59, 82, 86, 88, 92; from
an R.A.S. report, p. 60; Minneapolis
articleauthors include Dr. S. Fred Singer, University of Maryland;
Honeywell, pp. 70, 72; Brooks & Perkins,
Dr. Peter A. Castruccio, Westinghouse Electric Corporation; Colonel 72; Vickers, Aerojet,
p. p. 78; pp. 90,
William O. Davis, Office of Scientific Research, ARDC; and others. 91; Martin, p. 124.

November, 1956 7
 .

Letters
Guidance For Would-Be To the editor: Russians Ahead?
Missile Engineers .Having just seen your
. .

the time last

To the editor:
fine publication for first
To the editor: night, I you know
just want to let . . . My congratulations on the
. . . Heartiest congratulations that I feel you have done a wonderful new magazine. The first issue was
on the first issue of Missiles & job in bringing forth such an excel- terrific and I sincerely hope you will
Rockets At last the burgeoning
!
lent trade publication in so vital a be able to maintain the caliber of this.
guided missile industry has a voice field. The content of the first issue In speaking with our John
to reach the interested layman as well of Missiles & Rockets reflected a Streeter I suddenly had an idea and
as the professional. vigorous, successful effort on the it is simply this. I think the time

I was particularly sympathetic part of the AAP staff, and all of us has come for a thinkpiece concern-
will be looking forward to the sub- ing the visibility of the satellites
to the problems of 17-year-old Jimmy
Blackmon in the article "A Boy and sequent issues . . .
we are going to put into the sky. We
His Rocket." It seems to me that the Harry
Baer, Jr. S. find that the Project Vanguard satel-

educational institutions of this coun- Aeronautical Training Society lite cannot be seen with the naked
try and, to a lesser extent, the De- 1115 Seventeenth Street, X.W. eye. However, for less payload than
partment of Defense, owe this young Washington 6, D.C. the twenty-two pounds for the in-
would-be guided missile engineer an strumented satellite, the inflatable
answer to his questions, "Where do I To the editor: balloon idea can be consummated to
start? What school should I attend? yield significant geodetic informa-
. . . Congratulations on the
What books should read?" tion and be quite visible to the naked
I first & Rockets,
issue of Missiles
eye. We can all be assured that the
The writerpresently serving is which is bound to become "top money
as Navy Technical Director for the Russians are going to put a satellite
winner" in your fine stable of out-
into the sky before us, or if it is
Jupiter IRBM and thus is closely as- standing aviation publications.
after us you can bet it will be readily
sociated with Dr. Wernher von I think the outstanding article
visible. This is one advantage we
Braun, Jimmy Blackmon's
advisor was the one on "Teamwork" by our
should not let go by default. Again
and inspiration. I share Dr. von mutual friend, Dr. Wernher von
Braun's concern for the proper edu- my very best wishes in this new ven-
Braun, who I believe has done more
ture .
cation of such young men. These are to wake up the American people to
the prospective engineers who will the "Age of Rockets" than anyone I. M. Levitt, Director
assure the defense of our country and else. Certainly, histimely article on Fels Planetarium
one day turn guided missile tech- the importance of working together Franklin Institute
nology to the conquest of space. We and also doing something concrete Philadelphia Pennsylvania
3,
should leave no stone unturned to about interesting young men in the
whet their intellectual appetites. fine future this field holds, will be

Grayson Merrill
. .

seconded not only by industry, but

M R Appearance Praised
Captain, USX also by those of us in aviation edu- Cablegram:
cation . . .
Bureau of Ordnance (Sp) . . . Your new publication,
Department of the Navy Gene Kropf Missiles a wonderful& Rockets, is
Washington 25, D.C. Assistant to the Dean
job and a great contribution to this
Saint Louis University
up and coming industry. The appear-
Parks College of Aeronautical ance, typography and content are a
To the editor:
Technology tribute to you and your organiza-
. Congratulations on your
. . East Saint Louis, Illinois
tion . . .
excellent first issue of Missiles &
Rockets and best wishes for the con- E. Theodore Stern
Satelloid Up There Already? Mannie Berlinrut
tinued success of this new venture.
In regard to the comments on
To the editor: Douglas Aircraft Company
page 43, we are attempting a solution . Congratulations on an ex-
. .
New York City
with an IGY training program which ceedingly fine first issue of Missiles
the RRI has started in Sacramento. & Rockets. How many first-issues
To the editor:
Recently a student section was can boast of 152 slick pages?
formed for fellows like Jimmy Black- . Congratulations on an ex-
. .
I found your article querying
"Army cellent first issue;I'm looking for-
mon. Based on our experiences here, Launch 'Satellite' Before
to
we hope to start similar training Vanguard?" of noteworthy interest. ward to the next ones. I especially
programs in other parts of the coun- enjoyed the short "News Section" for
One cannot help but wonder at times
current information
try within a year or so . . . if an orbital satelloid may not have
. . .

George James, Director

S. already been established . . . Robert W. Garner
Rocket Research Institute Max B. Miller Project Engineer
3262 Castera Avenue 1420 South Ridgeley Drive
John I. Thompson & Company
Glendale 8, California Los Angeles 19, California Washington 6, D.C.

8 missiles and rockets

 NEWS and
TRENDS
U. S. AIRCRAFT ROCKETS-HOW GOOD?
Pilots Prefer 2.75-inchMighty Mouse to Heavier
Weapons; Better Fuses and Computers Sought
By Henry T. Simmons the F-86 cockpit gave them an edge enough of them can be fired into a
Yuma, Ariz. —
Should an air over the converging type of rocket
firing necessitated by the wingtip
given volume of space, it

mathematically impossible that an

is almost
attack be launched against the U.S.
pods of the F-89D. But pilots of the intruding aircraft or target banner
this minute, the nation's first line
latter aircraft did not feel this pro- can escape at least one hit by the
of defense would NOT be a potent
vided the F-86D with superiority contact-fused rockets. Since each
array of airborne guided missiles.
Despite the years and the hun- since the Northrop machine can one packs a wallop equivalent to a
dreds of millions of dollars poured launch up to 104 rockets in a salvo 75 mm cannon shell, it is doubtful
into development of the smart birds,
from the wing pods against only 24 whether even the largest aircraft
a small, unpretentious and unguided
from the F-86D. During the meet, could survive a single hit.

rocket the nation's principal

is still
however, all pilots were restricted FFAR measures 48 inches in
to salvos of 24 rockets, regardless of length and 18.5 pounds in weight, of
air weapon against enemy attack. It
is the MIGHTY MOUSE, a 2.75-inch
the capability of their aircraft. which 3.5 pounds is allocated to the
rocket developed by the U.S. Navy. One thing the pilots did agree warhead. Powered by a double-base
The importance of the small on was the effectiveness of the 2.75- solid propellant, it is capable of a

"FFAR" (Folding Fin Air Rocket) inch FFAR as an air weapon. De- maximum velocity of about 2,600 feet
was amply illustrated at the clared one competitor: "I don't think per second (Mach 2.7 at altitude)
Air Force interceptor competition, you can find a better rocket than the and has a burnout time of about 1.5
staged at Vincent AFB here. The 2.75. Even if a fin hangs up, you get seconds. The thrust during this brief
FFAR was the only weapon used by a barrel-rolling effect so the indi- period is about 800 to 900 pounds and
the nine USAF interceptor teams vidual rocket won't oscillate more the acceleration is on the order of 50
battling for first place; more than than 10 feet from a straight line." gravities. Exact performance speci-
5,000 of the small rockets were fired The principal of the small fications remain classified, however.
at the 9 by 45-foot nylon banners rocket is that of the shot-gun. If Navy developed the FFAR dur-
towed at various altitudes across
the firing range during the course
of the meet.
First place was taken by the "The gun is about finished as a primary fighter weapon,
although it may be useful in an auxiliary role. Its duties for the
94th Fighter Interceptor Squadron,
most part will be taken over by the guided missile, with assistance
representing the Eastern Air De- from the free rocket."
fense Force. Flying the North Amer- Speaking is a veteran pilot instructor stationed at Nellis
ican F-86D, the unit racked up 13,- AFB — the fountainhead of Air Force fighter tactics and doctrine.
800 points out of a total possible While his view may not reflect the official position of the Air Force,
it is nevertheless significant because Nellis for many years has
score of 24,000. Second place went
been the principal support of machine gun and cannon armament
to a team representing the Western for fighters within the USAF.
Air Defense Force. Using the
"Guided missiles would probably take over the whole shoot-
—
Northrop F-89D the only other in- ing match if they were not subject to enemy countermeasures," he
terceptor entered in the meet it — observes. "In the case of radar-guided missiles, large bombers have
accumulated 11,400 points. a distinct advantage over small fighters. They can generate far
more powerful interference than the radar guidance signals from
Pilots Disagree the fighter."
on Effectiveness "Because of this, I believe that infra-red homing weapons
There was considerable dis- like the Sidewinder stand a better chance than the radar-guided
agreement among the pilots over the Falcon. But the Sidewinder can be fooled, too; in fact, I suppose
relative effectiveness of their wea- any air-to-air missile we develop can be jammed.
pons, even after the scores were all "For this reason, I believe the free rocket and, to a lesser ex-
tent, the gun will stay with us as secondary weapons. Although less
in. The F-86 pilots felt that the di-
accurate than missiles, they are immune from jamming and might
rect 90-degree rocket firing system spell the difference between success and failure in the event of
made possible by the location of all superior jamming ability by the enemy."
rockets in a retractable tray beneath

November, 1956 13
 ing the early days of the Korean War, This year's meet at Yuma may
NEWS & TRENDS and it was put into production at the be the last which the FFAR will
height of that conflict. Present pro- dominate exclusively. Next year it is
duction rate is much lower than the hoped that the Falcon GAR-1 missile
initial rate, with only three principal can be introduced, along with the
contractors slated to remain in the Convair F-102A interceptor. Should
program, according to the Navy, this be possible, it is likely that a
They are Aerojet-General Corp., separate event will be established for
Azusa, Calif., which manufactures the Faicow-armed aircraft which
the rocket motor and ingenious fold- would employ jet-powered drones like
ing fin assembly; Hunter Douglas the Ryan Q-2 Firebee.
Aluminum Co., Riverside, Calif.,
which makes the tubes, and Heintz
Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia,
which produces the warheads.
In the past, components for
the 2.75-inch rocket have been
produced by at least eight other
manufacturers. Manufacturing
motors were Tecumseh Prod-
ucts Co., Tecumseh, Mich.;
All rocketry work at the Vincent AFB inter- Muncie Gear Works, Muncie,
ceptor competition was out of sight, so Ind.; Colson Corp., Elyria, Ohio,
plotting boards like this were used to keep
team members abreast of the meet. "Judy"
and Landers, Fary and Clark
occurs when the interceptor's radar "locks Co., New Britain, Conn. Tubes
on" the target. were provided by Reynolds
Metals Co., Phoenix; Aluminum
Company America at New
of
Kensington, and Norris
Pa.,
Thermador Corp., Los Angeles,
while C. D. Cottrell Co., West-
erly, R. I., manufactured war-
heads.

Simple Rocket in
Complex System
Despite its high performance,
the basic simplicity of the weapon
holds its price to a reasonable level.
Careful handling of the 2.75-inch rockets is Its price tag is on the order of $65,
necessary to prevent cracks in the propellant and this has prompted some air crew-
which could cause uneven burning or even
premature burnout. Metal cans ground the
men to call them "Car Payments" in-
firing mechanism to prevent accidental stead of using the too-cute popular
ignition. name or the overly-formal military
designation.
In actual interception opera-
tions, the FFAR is only one part of a
complex weapon system which in-
volves the use of elaborate ground
control radar installations to vector
interceptors to their targets, air-
borne radar permitting the attacking
aircraft to detect and lock on to tar-
gets at close range, computers which
automatically calculate and represent
the course the aircraft must fly to
achieve a 90-degree collision inter-
cept and which fire the rockets at the
proper instant, and, in some aircraft,
equipment which actually takes the
aircraft controlls and maneuvers for
WSSmBSm mm
Next year's gunnery meet will see guided
Ground radar controllers maintain a con-
the intercept. Hughes Aircraft Co., missiles in action. Weapons to be used will
tinuous plot of the area, vectoring the Culver City, Calif., is the exclusive be FALCONS and possibly SIDEWINDERS.
fighters into the targets with course instruc- The latter, which is shown in this picture,
supplier of radar fire control systems
tions. Aircraft crew takes over when the has aroused the Air Force' interest, although
interceptor's own radar picks up the bogie. for AF interceptors at the present. missile is developed for the Navy.

missiles and rockets

 Simultaneously with the Vin-
cent AFB interceptor competition,
the Air Force conducted its annual
day fighter and fighter-bomber com-
petition at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas,
Nev. This included air-to-air gun-
nery as well as air-to-ground events
with guns, bombs and rockets, plus
a Special Weapons Delivery competi-
tion featuring the use of toss-bomb-
ing and over-the-shoulder bombing
techniques for the safe delivery of
nuclear weapons.

2.75-inch Rocket Superior,

New Fuse, Computer Sought
Winner
of the day fighter phase
The 2.75-inch MIGHTY MOUSE rocket with fins in the folded position. A small electric im-
of the meet for the sixth year in a pulse traveling from the contact plate through the wire to the base of the motor ignites
row was Nellis' own Air Training the rocket.

Command team, flying North Amer-

ican F-86H Sabrejets, while a USA-
FE team flying the same aircraft
captured the Special Weapons com-
petition.
Although rocketry was only one
small portion of the day fighter meet,
Nellis pilots favored the small 2.75-
inch rocket over the larger air-to-
ground weapons which would be
available to them in combat. While
conceding that the small warhead of
the FFAR lacks enough beef to pene-
trate heavy armor, even with shaped
charges, they find its accuracy far
North American F-86D all-weather interceptor launches a stream of 24 2.75-inch rockets at
superior to that attainable with the a tow target high over the Arizona desert near Yuma. Note retractable rocket launching
heavier but muchslower 5-inch tray beneath cockpit.

rocket.
"The 5-inch rocket
is too slow

and drops too fast," commented

it

one pilot. "The 2.75 has a much

flatter trajectory that the larger
rocket, and therefore we can score
more hits."
Asked what improvements he
would like to see in the small rocket,
he replied: "A VT (proximity) fuse
to get air bursts over personnel would
be a first rate improvement, although
I haven't heard of the development of

a VT fuse of that size yet. And a

computer which would assure accur-
ate air-to-ground rocket fire at any
speed and approach would also be a
big help."
Like Vincent AFB, Nellis is also
looking forward to big changes in
the make-up of its competitions. It
expects to receive its first Lockheed
F-104 day fighters shortly. Ulti-
mately these would be equipped with
Sidewinder missiles, so that any com-
petitions in which they are involved
will require the use of jet drones if MIGHTY MOUSE with fins in flight position. Pushrod, located on base of rocket between the
four barrels, is forced to the rear by the expanding gases, engaging lobes at the base of
realism is to be obtained. the fins and pushing them into the slipstream.

November, 1956
 ;

Rocket Trends
By Erik Bergaust
m
Apparently, Lockheed's X-17 test vehicle, which is sup-
posed to aid ICBM researchers in their study of heat problem,
has not yet reached the high re-entry velocities required. (See
page 43).
No. 13 Viking rocket is being readied at Patrick for
launching on or about the 20th of this month. Experiment has
dual purpose long-range missile people hope to get some data
:

on re-entry problems, Vanguard personnel are in the market

for launching experience.

You'll be hearing more about Grand Central Rocket

Company. A
group of ambitious rocket engineers are working
on highly advanced solid-propellant applications, some of which
are believed to be "tremendous" high-efficiency boosters.

Little publicized fact is that NACA has launched several

step-rockets —with as many as four stages —
to 200 miles alti-
tude over the Atlantic Ocean. Highest velocity obtained is
7,000 miles per hour. New Navy research missile, the Iris, also
will climb to 200 miles. Atlantic Research Corporation holds
development contract.
U.S. hopes to get permission to use Brazil's Gernando de
Noronha and Trinidad Islands (600 miles out into the South
Atlantic Ocean) for missile tracking stations.

The Rocket Technical Committee of the Aircraft Indus-

tries Association has been subdivided into Liquid Propellant
and Solid Propellant Divisions, reflecting increased importance
of solid-rocket propulsion.

Northrop's Snark isn't quite dead. Mid-Air Equipment

Corporation has been awarded a contract for design of check-
out facility and test cell for the Snark. Built at Hawthorne as
part of Northrop's Snark production contract, the new facility
will be ready for use early next year.

First-stage Vanguard engine is operating satisfactorily

one unit already has been shipped to Martin. Gasoline has
been dropped as fuel. Special kerosene mixture will be used.
Air Force might be blasting off something real big from
Patrick next month: the Thor IRBM prototype. Powerplant
phase of the program is believed to be in good shape.
Army has activated its first Redstone battalion. This in-
dicates the huge missile has been accepted and will be opera-
tional shortly. Chrysler is ready for mass production.

Scaling up a liquid fuel rocket is an art that results

still
in a debugging test program. Cal Tech working at eliminat-
is
ing scaling troubles, particularly oscillations in rocket motor
during combustion.
Fulton-Irgon Corporation is latest entry into rocket
business. New firm, with headquarters at Bernardsville, N. J.,
will act as consultants in the field of rockets, propellants,
escape systems, cartridge devices, launchers and liquid-pro-
pellant guns.

16 missiles and rockets

 NEWS & TRENDS

RUSSIANS HAVE PROBLEMS:

SATELLITE SCIENCE NOT SO SIMPLE

U.S. Satellite
Designs Copied?
By Erik Bergaust
A couple of Russians have tried
to convey to the Soviet people how
advanced Red scientists are in the
art of satellite science. Engineer B.
Lyapunov has impressed millions of
Russians with a brilliant article on
details of what is understood to be
the forthcoming Russian IGY satel-
lites. And artist N. Antonov has
taken credit for a cross-sectional
schematic satellite drawing in the
same popular Russian magazine
NEWS. What the Russian people
don't know is that they have been
fooled —
the satellite that must have
made comrades Lyapunov and An-
tonov heros overnight, is American.
As can be clearly seen from the
illustration on the left, the Russian
satellite is a true and exact copy of
one of Dr. S. Fred Singer's early
MOUSE versions, discussed in
Popular Science and
in July, 1954,
frequently used in Western Gear
advertisements. No reference what-
soever is given to any American
source.
In his caption —
where Lya-
punov explains how the automatic
earth satellite will "be ar-
artificial
ranged," he says:
"Its upper side will always be
turned to the sun, and the sun's
rays (2), passing through the
transparent lens (5), will be con-
centrated on the solar battery
(9), which serves to rechai-ge the
storage cells CIO). The pin (1),
serves as the antenna for the
radio transmitter (11). The fol-
lowing instruments are installed
in the satellite:
artificial for
studying gamma rays (3j, the
sun's ultraviolet radiations (4),
free electrons (6), X-rays (7),
magnetometer (8), measuring de-
vice (recorder) for studying the
aurora and cosmic rays (12). The
readings of all these instruments
are recorded on the magnetic tape
of the drum (14), which is re-
volved by the motor with reducing
,
frequently displayed In this country (bottom). gear (13). The recording hear

18 missiles and rockets

 (15) controls the recording." Dr. would need 96 tons of conventional Program
Recruiting
S. F.Singer certainly will recog- fuel. But since the tanks, the shell,
nize this design. and the control mechanism will ob-
Launched by Redstone
Some details on the forthcom- viously weigh more than 4 tons, this The Army's Redstone Arsenal
at Huntsville, Ala., has set out reso-
ing Russian IGY satellites have been is not feasible. Chemical fuels can-

compiled by Missiles & Rockets not do the job. But nuclear fuels can. lutely upon the jungle trail that it,

during the last few weeks from Rus- They can impart the required speed in common with most organizations
without involving such prohibitive dealing in aircraft, missiles and rock-
sian radio broadcasts and from an
ets, hopes will lead to the recruit-
analysis of several Russian trade loads. Thus a 100-ton rocket will
journals and magazines. need from 70 to 80 tons of inert pro- ment of capable young engineering
pulsion agent, leaving 20 to 30 tons graduates.
Although the Russian satellite
for effective load." Restricted as it is by regulations
will be of the same size as the Amer-
that prevent a government agency
ican (Professor Georgi Pokrovsky,
from competing too directly with
writing in MOSCOW NEWS, says it
private industry, Redstone is slant-
will be 20-24 inches in diameter),
ing its engineering recruiting pitch
the Red scientists won't make their
toward only 20 young men who will
orbiter a light-weight device such
be simultaneously accepting Army
as the VANGUARD. Russia's satel-
Ordnance Reserve commissions and
lite will weigh almost 100 pounds,
receiving engineering degrees in the
five times as much as the American.
next few months from a handful of
The Soviet carrier vehicle will
colleges.
be tremendous in size compared To underscore the advantages of
with the VANGUARD vehicle. Some combining the required term of mili-
of the Russian write-ups indicate tary service with a broad education
their vehicle will weigh 150 tons. in the intricacies of missile and rocket
Pokrovsky said this is approxi- engineering, Redstone has produced
mately 10 times greater than the a 28-minute color film that will be
largest existing rocket. Although premiered this month before engi-
Pokrovsky has indicated some neering students of LaFayette and
sources think the satellite carrier Lehigh universities in Pennsylvania
rocket can be made somewhat and shown later to interested stu-
lighter, he admitted "enormous tech- PROFESSOR I. P. BARDIN
dents at those engineering schools
nical difficulties have to be over- takes some thinking. whose Reserve
it Officer Training
come." courses specialize in Ordnance and
Russian IGY Committee Chair-
101 st Airborne Division to other selected military colleges of-
man Professor I. P. Bardin and as- fering engineering courses.
trophysicist Professor Leonid Sedov Gets Honest John Rocket
The separate tactical unit
first
Prospects are shown how they
also have admitted the satellite job
of the Army to be armed with the 21- can combine military training with
is formidable. "It is going to take
ton Honest John rocket developed at post-graduate instruction in missiles
some thinking," Bardin was quoted
Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala- and rockets to become eligible for
as having told IGY delegates in Bar-
either continued military service in
celona this fall. bama, is the recently reactivated
Airborne Division, based at the field or for attractive Civil Serv-
Furthermore, it looks as if the 101st
Fort Campbell, Ky. ice positions, with individual options
Russians are beginning to realize
for choice of specialties available at
that the only solution to some of Named after the famous World
several points along the program.
these problems lies in international War II outfit that distinguished itself
cooperation. This trend was pro- in Holland and the Battle of the
posed recently in an article in the Bulge, the 101st is termed "the fore-
Top Redstone Officials
Russian magazine NEWS by profes- runner of divisions of the future." Attend Manpower Clinic
sor Kirill Stanyukovich, Moscow Trimmed down to 11,500 men The deputy commander of the
Bauman Institute of Technology; and discarding tanks and heavy Army Ballistic Missile Agency,
who states that space flight can be equipment, the paratroopers of the Huntsville, Ala., and two of the agen-
accomplished in the not too distant 101st will serve as trouble shooters cy's top scientists represented the
future "if the world's major scien- and can be completely airlifted on a Army at a conference held Oct. 24
tific powers cooperate in developing few hours notice to any part of the and 25 at the U.S. Naval Postgrad-
and financing the project." However, world in only half the number of uate School, Monterey, Calif., under
the Soviets have a powerful 265,000 planes required for the 17,500 officers auspicies of the International Scien-
pound thrust engine, according to and men of present divisions. ence Foundation of San Francisco.
well-informed U.S. sources. The revamped division is com- Brig. Gen. J. A. Barclay, Dr.
Incidentally, Stanyukovich said posed of five combat groups of five Wernher von Braun, director of de-
"calculations suggest that inter- companies, each with supporting
rifle velopment operations, and Dr. Ern-
planetary craft will be in the form rocket artillery, instead of the con- est Stuhlinger, director of the re-
of atomic rockets. To overcome the ventional organization of three search project office, represented
pull of gravity, a 100-ton rocket regiments with three battalions. ABMA.
November, 1956 19
 Washington Spotlight
By Henry T. Simmons

Fiscal 1958 looks like the big year for the guided mis-
Key Pentagon officials report that a junior-sized "New
sile.
Look" is now being taken at the nation's defense establish-
ment in connection with the fiscal 1958 budget request. Key
element in this appraisal isa determination by Missile Czar
Eger V. Murphree of the extent missiles can replace aircraft,
particularly in the tactical area. Watch for a reduction in the
USAF goal of 137 wings of manned aircraft and greater
reliance on such weapons as the USAF
Matador and the Army
Corporal and Redstone.

Government taking significant interest in the prin-

is
ciple of the rocket glider.The National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics is studying the idea, and this is usually a
harbinger of military interest to follow. NACA believes a
winged rocket vehicle could attain an appreciable fraction of
orbital velocity at very high altitude, then use the aerody-
namic lift of its wings to coast to its destination. Most likely
military application a globe-girdling bomber.
:

Big shakeout in the number of thermonuclear delivery

vehiclesnow under development by the Air Force appears to
be in the works. The airmen are developing eight separate
—
systems three aircraft and five missiles. They are the Con-
vair B-58 bomber, the Boeing/North American WS-110A
chemical bomber, the Convair/Lockheed WS-125A nuclear
bomber, Northrop Snark, NAA Navaho, Douglas Thor IRBM
and the Convair Atlas and Martin Titan ICBMs.

All of the new systems have technical merit, but the

cost of developing them is staggering. Pentagon estimates a
price tag of $200 million plus for each of the new systems,
and this is' too great an outlay for the USAF
to carry. There-
fore, it is virtually certain that some of the systems will be
abandoned or "stretched out" in connection with the fiscal
1958 budget. Which will get the axe is the big question.

In the area of the ballistic missiles, the USAF devel-

opment effort will certainly be reduced to two programs and
possibly to a single program, depending on the progress of
development. The Atlas-Titan effort will be narrowed to a
single missile, while the Thor may give way to the Army's
Jupiter IRBM. But it seems unlikely that any concentration
will be undertaken in the ballistic field at this stage.

Missile Czar Murphree may move into the satellite field.

Air Force interest in the so-called Big Brother (Air Force
never revealed the true project name) satellite for gathering
reconnaissance data is one force in that direction, but an even
stronger persuasion may be the interest of satellite propo-
nents outside the government in obtaining ICBM vehicles to
launch earth-circlers up to 1000 pounds in weight. A moon-
circling rocket using ICBM vehicles to reach escape velocity
has been proposed.

November, 1956 21
 NEWS & TRENDS

Missile Training Schools Needed

Splendid cooperation between must be closely tracked and if it tioned the large numbers of elec-
the Services has been experienced starts to deviate sufficiently from tronic components involved. Because
jn the operation of our missile its prescribed course to approach of their complexities, missiles pose
ranges, missile Czar Eger V. Mur- real problems in regard to getting a
phree told a recent meeting of the high degree of reliability and also
American Management Association. in training troops to use the missiles
"The management of a testing range and to maintain them. It is not gen-
in itself is quite a job," he said. erally planned to carry out any real
"The range contains very compli- maintenance in the field, he said.
cated and normally quite new types Field personnel will be provided
of instrumentation which must be with checking equipment of the "go-
maintained and kept in good operat- no go" type. If a component is indi-
ing condition. cated to be defective in the missile,
"In a case such as the one start- it will simply be pulled out and a
ing at Cape Canaveral, the range new component put in its place. The
consists of a number of instru- defective part will then be sent back
mented stations at rather remote lo- to the manufacturer for repair.
cations," Murphree said. All ranges Even with this simplification in
have much work to do and the most maintenance procedures, the train-
.efficient schedule of this work is of
ing problems are still of large mag-
utmost importance. Safety is quite a nitude and it is necessary to set up
consideration since the missiles are definite schools involving extensive
experimental in nature and every training periods in order to get op-
precaution must be taken to see that erational capability.
any malfunction of the missile
Type of management used by
which may result in an explosion of
the Department of Defense in mis-
considerable magnitude on or near MISSILE CZAR MURPHREE
sileprograms differs somewhat, de-
the ground will not cause unavoid- Splendid cooperation between services.
pending on the type of missile in-
able damage to personnel or equip-
the range boundaries, must be de-
volved, since a special management
ment. it
procedure has been set up for the
"Before a launching of the mis- stroyed."
long range ballistic missile progi-am,
sile can be made, the range, out from Missiles, along
with their
Murphree explained.
the launching point, must be ground equipment, general repre-
in
cleared of people, vehicles or ships, sent really complicated equipment, For all types of missiles the
as the case may be. The missile Murphree emphasized. He men- basic responsibility for research,
development, procurement, and use
rests with the Services themselves;
IGY Satellite Experiments Named but because of the interrelation-
ships of the various programs in
First IGY satellite experiments Determination of Flux of Primary
the over-all national picture, prog-
lhave been revealed. They include: Cosmic Ray Nuclei with Atomic
ress is reviewed and guidance given
Cosmic Ray Observations (State Number Larger than Eight (Re- by the Office of the Secretary of
University of Iowa) Satellite En-; search Institute for Advanced Study
Defense.
vironmental Measurements (pres- (Glenn L. Martin Co.) and Barton
sure, temperature, meteoric inci- Research Foundation).
dence, skin erosion) (Naval Re- All of the above experiments Record Attendance
search Laboratories) Measurement are judged by the U.S. National
;

of Solar Ultraviolet Intensity in the

For ARS Meeting
Committee-IGY to be significant
Lyman Alpha Region (Naval Re- At press time American Rocket
scientifically. First four experiments
search Laboratories) Measurement ; Society Secretary A. C. Slade could
are in a more advanced state of de-
of Ionospheric Structure (Ballistics confirm to Missiles & Rockets that a
Research Laboratories, Aberdeen velopment and are considered at this
record crowd of between 1,500 and
Proving Ground) Measurement of
;
time to have the best expectancy 1,600 had signed up for the Society's
the Earth's Cloud Cover and Albedo for successful execution. All experi- annual meeting. This is a substan-
(Signal Corps Engineering Labora- ments continue under periodic re- tial increase from last year's annual
tories) ; Measurement of Interplane- view, and it is possible that some meeting, which had an attendance
tary Matter (Air Force Cambridge changes in the foregoing may be of 1,100.The ARS annual meeting
1

Research Center) Measurement of

; made. Several other proposed ex- willbe held from Nov. 25-30 at the
Meteoric Dust Erosion of Satellite periments are under active consider- Henry Hudson Hotel in New York
Skin (University of Maryland) and ; ation. (See chart on page 120). City.

22 missiles and rockets

 NEWS & TRENDS

Missile- Launching Subs Under Way

Navy's first towards
real start
tomorrow is nuclear-powered
this
missile-launching sub. With a length
of 346 feet and a beam of 29 feet, this
vehicle has been requested as part of
the Navy's 1957 construction pro-
gram. By comparison with what is
planned to follow, it is but a primi-
tive beginning. Last summer, under
the auspices of the Office of Naval Re-
search, a three months-long confer-
ence was held at Woods Hole, Mass.
There, day after day, Navy scien-
tists and strategists were host to a
steady stream of the finest brains in
industry. Unknown to the thousands
of tourists vacationing on Cape Cod
and nearby Martha's Vineyard, these Artist's drawing of proposed nuclear submarine is said to be close rendering of the vessel to
men were reshaping the Navy to fit be. Missile will be guided from the submarine against surface or air targets; system already
has been worked out.
the concept of a world of nuclear
power, missiles and rockets. Every-
thing was welcomed and considered be guided by the sub. This surface-
$50 Million For
from blue-prints and top secret data to-air guidance system already has
books to dream and off-chance ideas. been worked out. The missile itself,
BuAer Avionics
From this meeting, the rate and pat- is surface-to-surface. Major change in the recent re-

tern of development of the Navy for After this concept will come the organization Research and
of the
the next decade was charted. underwater-to-surface long range Development Dept. of the Bureau of
The artist's drawing of the pro- —
guided missile launched from a Aeronautics is the formation of a
posed submarine is a close rendering mother sub well under the surface, it new Avionics Division with a com-
of the vessel to be. The missile itself will then break through into the at- mitment budget of $50,000,000, con-
probably comes more from the artist's mosphere and proceed to perform like sisting of three major staff branches

than the missile engineer's mind. But a conventional ballistic or super and four line branches. Avionics will
this much is known. First models will glide missile. be under the direction of Capt. W. E.
Sweeney, USN, and will be respon-
sible for all avionics and astronics
gear for aircraft and missiles used
Building the ICBM nose cone prototype in locating targets, maneuvering for
attack and delivery of the weapon.

$5 Million For
Army Missile School
A
$5,000,000 program to provide
additional buildings and equipment
for the Army Ordnance Guided Mis-
sile School, Redstone Arsenal, Hunts-
ville, Ala., is nearing final approval
and should be started in the near
future, it is learned.
Already the size of a small col-
lege with two-score buildings, 400
students and a faculty of 40, the
Guided Missile School will be ex-
panded to provide study facilities,
housing and equipment for detailed
instruction in several new missile
weapons systems.
Since the first class was gradu-
General Electric's and Ordnance Systems Department has completed
Missile ated in 1952, the school has trained
setting-up of an ultra-modern machine shop in its headquarters building in more than 5,000 Army officers, en-
Philadelphia. Conducting model and prototype work on Atlas ICBM nose cone, men and key Civil Service per-
listed
MOSD's machine shop will be moved to facilities at Valley Forge, Pa., in 1958. sonnel assigned to missiles work.

26 missiles and rockets

Sidewinders for U.S. Air Force' F-104?
Small and light enough to be
carried in quantity by single-seat in-
terceptor planes, the Navy's new
Sidewinder may be fired singly or in
salvos. Sidewinder requires no com-
plex launching equipment but is
fully maneuverable at supersonic
speeds. It has an unusually high
single-shot "kill" reliability. Air
Force is believed to be considering
Sidewinder for the F-104.
Although details on the missile's
guidance system have not been dis-
closed, the Navy says Sidewinder re-
quires no special pilot training. It
may be launched well beyond reach
of an enemy aircraft's defense.
Government and Indus-
Philco's
trial Division which played an im-
portant role in assisting the Naval SIDEWINDER heat-sealcer bird can change its course to account for tactical movement of
an enemy target. Although time of interception is very short, SIDEWINDER has displayed
Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, extreme deadliness during recent tests.
California, in the research and de-
velopment program of Sidewinder,
is now manufacturing the missile
and has begun scheduled deliveries. NEW RADIOPLANE TARGET MISSILE
Sidewinder is basically a de-
Powered By Solid Rocket
fensive weapon and will be used to
augment the protection of our men Radioplane Company has an- lage, all other primary structures are
and ships at sea from attacks by en- nounced the development of a new made of glass fiber and plastic,
emy aircraft, thereby enhancing the rocket powered target drone series The plastic wings, horizontal
position of the fleet in maintaining designated the RP-70 type. Designed and vertical stabilizers are fixed
freedom of the seas for all nations. for weapon system evaluation and surfaces. Control of the drone is
Sideivinder also will be employed in training in the Mach 0.9 class at 50,- accomplished by small canard-type
air defense of the continental United 000 feet, the RP-70 is powered by a vanes located just forward of the
States. solid-propellant rocket with a flight wing and linked directly to the
endurance of eight to ten minutes. flight control system.

Airframe, weighing 300 pounds, Payload capabilities are suffici-

Oh Deer! Redstone Cattle
designed for high vol-
specifically ent to accommodate the special track-
Are Contented and Clear — is

ume production. It is slightly over ing and scoring equipment required

Several thousand cows and nine feet in length with a wing span by the Armed Services in training,
sheep at Redstone Arsenal enjoy of five feet. With the exception of evaluation and the development of
privileges denied to most of the the steel rocket motor case, which tactics for their various defense mis-
50,000 inhabitants of nearby makes up the mid section of the fuse- sile systems.
Huntsville, Ala. They can rove at
will through some of the nation's
most closely guarded rocket and
missile territory under an ar-
rangement whereby grazing and
haying rights are leased on 16,000
of the Arsenal's sprawling 41,-
000 acres. The Alabama quadru-
peds have developed instincts sim-
ilar to those of the many wild
deer at Aberdeen, Md., Proving
Ground which thoughtfully absent
themselves as regular firings be-
gin each afternoon. The Redstone
livestock noticeably make tracks
when missiles and rockets are
brought out to test stands for RP-70 target drone missile built by Radioplane Company can operate at altitudes as high as
firing. 50,000 feet; flight endurance is eight to ten minutes. Solid rocket gives the bird Mach 0.9
velocity.

November, 1956 27
 World Astronautics
By Frederick I. Ordway, III

The Brooks and Perkins Co. of Detroit will perhaps be

making the Vanguard IGY satellite sphere in quantities up
to 35. Smaller satellites of 6 or 12 inch diameters may be con-
structed in addition to the planned 20-inch variety. Skin
thickness of the larger ones will be 0.03 inches, a third
greater than originally contemplated. The shell will weigh
about 4 pounds and will be made as follows: Magnesium,
95%; Aluminum, 3-314%; and Zinc about 1%. Interior brac-
ing will be provided by magnesium tubing and Kel-F low
thermo-conductivity plastic.

There has been some talk about an "expanding satel-

lite" which, upon entering orbit, would increase in size. Fired
along with conventional types, it would hold the same orbit
for a certain period of time. Because of its larger size,
however, its orbit would slowly decay to circularity and
finally the satellite would enter the dense atmosphere and be
destroyed. Comparing the orbital characteristic of conven-
tional and "expanded" satellites, scientists would find data on
conditions at extreme altitudes, particularly on densities.

Broadcasts from Moscow hint at coming Russian moon

rockets. Itis known that a specific moon rocket study has
been completed, and that the Russian scientists plan on
launching satellites during the IGY.

We are to have spaceship plays, or so we are told in

an article in the New York Times. Arch Obeler's "Night
of the Auk" will reach Broadway next month with an all-male
cast. In it we shall learn all about the "troubles that beset
the first spaceship to be launched from earth to the moon."

Some interesting items on the Mars studies include: (1)

polar caps seem to be evaporating more rapidly than usual,
(2) violent sandstorms are in evidence, about 3,000 miles
long, (3) a 50-mile diameter bright spot was discovered, (4)
Mars, at closest approach, has a lemon-color rather than a
characteristic orange-red color, (5) a violet halo or veil ap-
peared to surround the planet, (6) this violet was accom-
panied by a yellowish haze, (7) as planet moved away from
Earth, color seemed redder than usual, (8) due to reduced
reflectivity of atmosphere, the planet seemed fainter than
usual, (9) like Venus and Jupiter Mars emits radio signals,
and (10) Naval Research Laboratory reports indicate tem-
perature readings average just below the freezing point of
water on Earth. Mars, apparently satisfied that Earthlings
still have a long way to go before landing on its surface,
moved outward into space as September closed.

Operation Tan Glove will be of help to satellite geomag-

netic studies. A KC-97, carrying a 1500 pound cosmic ray
monitor is taking an irregular circum-terrestrial trip to deter-
mine the Earth's magnetic field at high altitudes.

30 missiles and rockets

Redstone Quantity Missile-Carrying Satellite
Production Started
Production of Redstone missiles
for Army Ordnance is in full swing
at Chrysler
Corporation, Detroit.
Announcement that the medium-
range missile is to become opera-
tional shortly is expected soon. First
battalion is being readied now.

Officer Training Course

The Ordnance Corps' most ad-
vanced class of officer trainees has
concluded a one-week course of
study at the Ordnance Guided Mis-
sile School, Redstone Arsenal,
Huntsville, Ala. This is the first
time that such a class has received
on-site instruction at the huge mis-
sile and rocket development center
and is thought to foreshadow regu-
lar instruction here for succeeding
classes in the Ordnance Officer Ad-
vance Course of 30 weeks at Aber-
deen Proving Ground, Md.
Seven members of the staff and
Dr. Wernher von Braun, development operations chief of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency,
faculty of the Ordnance School ac- suggested the possibility of launching a satellite station into outer space during a talk to
companied 47 student captains and the Association of the Army at the Sheraton-Park Hotel, Washington, D. C. Photo indicates
majors for instruction at Redstone. the orbit of such a satellite station around the earth. The inner arc is the trajectory of a
guided missile which could be directed by the crew of the satellite directing it. At the
The group received detailed training speed of missile and satellite, the missile would traverse a distance equal to three-fourths
on the Nike I & B, the Redstone, the of the earth's circumference. It would be under control of the satellite station crew
at all times.
Corporal II, Hawk, Dart and La-
crosse missiles, worked at the Army
Agency test ranges
Ballistic Missile
Chrysler Corporation cannot re- and is considered the most proven
and studied work in progress at the veal its production output for Red- U.S. liquid rocket.

highly secret Fabrication Labora- stones; nor will DOD or the Army The Jupiter, in the meantime,

tell anything about how much money "is definitely and certainly on time;
tories.
each milestone fixed a year ago is
is being allocated for the program.
Reliable Weapon being met, and some guide posts
Says one Army spokesman: "For
The Redstone missile is termed are being surpassed," declared Maj.
obvious security reasons, the Ameri-
"rugged" in that it has been de- Gen. John B. Medaris, commander
can public simply must accept the
signed for rough handling and for of the Army Ballistic Missile
typical GI surface transportation fact that we've got a missile that's Agency at the recent Army Asso-
and environment. Army missile au- really hot —and it's being mass pro- ciation's Annual Meeting in Wash-
thorities have praised Chrysler Cor- duced." ington, D. C. Even so, and since the
poration in its effort to make the The Redstone missile has been Jupiter could not possibly become
Redstone a most reliable weapon in termed the most potent current U.S. operational for another two or
spite of the fantastic amount of missile. The Redstone rocket en- three years, the Redstone will con-
complex systems and wiring that go gine, built by North American, tinue to be the Army's big-punch
into this type weapon. yields a thrust of 75,000 pounds weapon for some time to come.

REDSTONE nose cones on assembly line at Wrapping-up of REDSTONE control section Huge missile is transported on special dollies;
Chrysler Corporation's plant in Detroit. at the factory. Most REDSTONE missiles are weapon is designed to take rough handling
Production in full swing. shipped to Huntsville by truck. and transportation.

November, 1956 31
VOL. 1 NO. 2 missiles and
NOVEMBER 1956
rockets

OUTSTANDING ARMY ROCKET RECORD

A spectacular new distance record for rocket flight was racked up by Army
scientists in September when a three-stage Redstone assembly was fired from
Patrick AFB, Fla., 3,000 miles into the South Atlantic.
The new range and altitude marks represent convincing proof of the Army's
progress in its all-out drive to develop the Jupiter before the U.S. Air Force
can get its competing Thor IRBM into shape. Both services are working out
IRBM versions with the understanding that only one will be ordered into pro-
duction. Preliminary tests on the Thor are scheduled at Patrick next month.
Here are the components of the record-setting vehicle:
First stage was a standard Redstone rocket, which employs a mixture of
liquid oxygen and alcohol for combustion. North American Aviation, Inc., sup-
plies the rocket motor, while Chrysler Corp. manufactures the 69-foot airframe.
Second stage of the vehicle consisted of a cluster of solid propellant rockets,
while the third stage was a single solid-propellant rocket of the same type.
They were said to resemble the Recruit, a scaled-down version of the Sergeant.
Both rockets were designed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of California
Institute of Technology and are produced by the Thiokol Chemical Corp.
Here's how the test vehicle worked in flight:
The Redstone, which normally has a range of more than 200 miles, burned
out, separated and fell into the sea approximately 100 miles from Patrick. The
second stage cluster exhausted itself and fell into the sea about 800 miles from
the launching site. The final stage coasted to an altitude of 400 miles after
burnout, then fell into the South Atlantic at a point 3,000 miles from Patrick.
It is interesting to note that the final stage of the vehicle encountered some-
thing of a re-entry problem on its downward trip through the atmosphere. It
evidently surmounted the effects of aerodynamic heating, however, because it
managed to fall into the sea without burning up.
The significance of the range achieved by the Redstone assembly is not
merely the fact that it is a new record. The Army's ability to shoot a rocket
3,000 miles was forecast last spring by Maj. Gen. John B. Medaris, commander
of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal.
But he also said the Army could do much better. In testimony before the
Symington airpower subcommittee, he declared "By no great stretch 5,000
:

miles could be achieved."

November, 1956 33
 —

ARMY missiles
of TOMORROW
UNITED STATES Army has some Army, Redstone development is so For Redstone's 400-man Rocket
hot missile pi'ojects in the advanced that Army units will be Development Laboratories, Little
works. And some of these will be equipped with this missile shortly. John was a manifold triumph. The
operational within months, while "The Army's arsenal must con- 12% inch, 318-millimeter rocket,
the more sophisticated weapons tinue to be stocked with a well bal- about 12 feet long and packing the
—
the anti-missile missiles are in anced variety of weapons, each fully explosive power of heavy artillery,
their early stages. adapted to a particular function, and was successfully produced and demon-
Next four Army missiles to be each the best of its kind that mod- strated in a crash program that
included in the current weapons arse- ern technology can provide," the started only last February. It was
nal are the Redstone, Little John, Army Secretary said. test fired in June, only a matter of
Dart, and Lacrosse. According to Wil- Other advanced Army missiles months after initiation.
ber M. Brucker, Secretary of the include the Little John and the Dart. Redstone's experts term Little
John the second "unconventional
—
weapon" i. e., one not dating from
—
World War II to be considered for
the Army's missile arsenal. The first
was the Honest John rocket, initially
fired in August, 1951, and now in
the hands of U.S. troops in this
country and abroad. Honest John
represented the need for a free flight
rocket artillery weapon with high
accuracy, simplicity of design and
operation, extremely high mobility,
no electronic controls and a range
equivalent to medium to long range
artillery. Itweighs several tons and
is about 37 feet long.
The dimensions of Little John
i are about one-third and its weight
one-sixth that of its predecessor. It
can be carried in a helicopter.
Little John thus represents per-
haps the growth of a new family of
rocket weapons that ease logistical
problems and give Army field com-
manders a wider choice of warheads
for use against combat targets.
Little John recently was demon-
strated to ordnance experts at Aber-
deen in a driving rain storm, show-
ing its all-weather capabilities and
achieving a "remarkable accuracy
on target."
For another, it was determined
that if the Rocket Development Lab-
oratories, a part of Redstone's Ord-
nance Missile Laboratories, directed
by Col. Miles B. Chatfield, conducted
the Little John program, as though
they themselves were the prime con-
tractor, they would thus acquire in-
valuable experience in the painstak-

missiles and rockets

ing coordination essential to develop-
ment and manufacture of today's
complex weapons systems.
Under the direction of OCO
(Office, Chief of Ordnance), the task
force itself provided the necessary
research and development work and
guidance in design control, aerody-
namics, metal parts and powerplant.
The Allegany Ballistics Labora-
tory at Cumberland, Md., supplied
propellants. Powerplant metal parts
were fabricated by Consolidated
Western Steel of Los Angeles. Emer-
son Electric of St. Louis manufac-
tured the air frame. Army Ordnance's
Rock Island Arsenal, 111. provided
the launchers. Proof testing was as-
Army anti-tank DART missile zooms away towards target. At recent pub-
signed to White Sands Proving lic demonstration at Aberdeen Proving Ground DART made impressive
Ground, N. M. and by Redstone's bullseye hit at small target over 2100 yards distance. Quantity production

own staff. Warheads came from the is now under way.

Army's Picatinny Arsenal at Dover,

New Jersey.
saw the
First firing tests that
LittleJohn prototypes burying them-
selves in the sands of White Sands
Proving Ground thus represented
careful coordination of effort. Since
the production of Little John is con-
ducted at Redstone, the Army is able
to exercise detailed supervision over
all phases of manufacture.
Maj. Gen. H. N. Toftoy, Redstone
commander, said the new rocket
"should prove to be very important
in the Army's new mobile 'fire bri-
gade' concept in the air age."
Details revealed about the anti-
tank Dart missile indicate it is "a
simple but effective weapon" approxi-
mately five feet long with a config-
uration characterized by fins cross- DART is wire-guided, praised for simplicity, accuracy and ease of
handling. Design is based on German and French concepts; Germans
ing its waistline. Started in 1953 Dart used wire-guided missiles in the last war.
was developed by Aerophysics Corp.
of Santa Barbara, Calif., under Red-
stone Arsenal supervision.
Missiles such as the Redstone,
Little John and Dart are forerun-
ners some truly sophisticated
for
weapons now being studied inten-
sively by the Army, yet these mis-
siles are rather indicative of the
Army's missile power potential for
the next few years. Under develop-
ment are anti-missile missiles and
long-range ballistic missiles —the lat-
ter will have pin-point accuracy and
a striking range of several thousand
miles. The anti-missile missiles will
be designed to knock any enemy
guided weapon out of the sky, a
truly formidable engineering task.
But missile experts and Army au-
thorities believe it can be done. Gl train erway. operati

November, 1956
ARMY'S role
in guided missiles
• Progressive New
Guided Weapons Program
By Major General H. N. Toftoy

STATE of the art indicates that pulsion, guidance, and warheads, States did not have a single service
guided missiles will, in the near are available for various tactical, rocket or guided missile.
future, be able to reach any place strategic, and air-defense uses. It is a tribute to the deter-
on the surface of the earth with This is truly amazing progress mination of the Armed Forces, the
reasonable accuracy and reliability. when it is considered that only imagination of the scientists and
Today, guided missiles, incorporat- 15 years ago, when the Japanese the ingenuity of industry that there
ing different combinations of pro- attacked Pearl Harbor, the United now are many successful missile
weapons in operation. And the
Army has played a leading role
in the nation's overall program.
For centuries wars were
fought on land and on the sea.
Then, in a relatively few years,
man's ingenuity extended the ele-
ments of warfare under the sea
and into the air and thereby
created new factors to be reckoned
with in determining the strategy
and tactics necessary for victory.
These new elements, along with
technological advances, have great-
ly altered the scope and nature of
—
conducting war but they have not
changed its basic nature. Sea and
air power are essential components
of our military strength. The na-
tion could not survive without them
any more than it could survive
without adequate land forces. To
debate which armed service is the
most important is nonsensical.
One kind of power may tem-
porarily become more important
than another during certain stages
of a war, but in the overall con-
sideration, they are all equally im-
portant. They are not, however,
equally decisive. It is the lighting
man with his feet on the ground
and armed with superior weapons
who defeats the enemy's ground
force, seizes his land, and holds it.
Army missile leaders pose in front of Nike, Honest John, Corporal and Redstone rocltets. These are the climactic actions
From left to MAJ. SEN. JOHN B. MEDARIS, commanding general, Army Ballistic
right,
Missile Agency; MAJ SEN. H. N. TOFTOY, commanding general, Redstone Arsenal; and
which cause the enemy to decide
COLONEL HENRY S. NEWHALL, commandant, Ordnance Suided that resistance cannot continue.
Missile School.

36 missiles and rockets

Nevertheless, the sea and air forces
contribute indispensable operations
before and during such actions.
Our national security, then,
depends on the proper teamwork
of a combination of combat-ready
forces from all the services. The
United States Army, capable of
winning land battles and control-
ling land areas, is the final and
decisive element of United States
military power.
It is obvious that the develop-
ment new weapons is bound to
of
change the manner an Army car-
ries out its missions of ground
combat. Through the ages there
has been a gradual evolution of
military science, but modern tech-
nology has expedited this evolution.
Our Army is keeping abreast
of changing conditions by continu-
ally evaluating new weapons and
techniques and adopting those
weapons (new, old, or combinations
thereof) which best meet the re-
quirements of its missions.

Atomic Warfare
The Army requirements for
supersonic surface-to-surface mis-
siles also came about by changing
conditions. The range and fire-
power of conventional guns were
being outstripped by greater mo-
bility and the more "fluid" tactics
of modern warfare. The use of
atomic weapons in land warfare That, in brief, is the reasoning Recognizing the technical
has forced greater dispersal of behind the Army's expanding complexity of the development
ground troops and created much guided missile program. problems and the need for utiliz-
wider and deeper combat zones. When the Army guided missile ing the best talent in the country,
No longer are there clearly program was initiated in 1943 it the Army Ordnance Corps early
defined lines between battle and was realized this would involve established a policy of contracting
support zones. A ground com- pioneering in a field new to U.S. an entire weapon system with the
mander must be capable of sup- technology. A long range program most capable civilian scientific and
porting his operations by atomic was carefully planned and included industrial organizations available.
firepower having a wide variety the necessary research to provide In 1943 the Jet Propulsion
of ranges and yields —
short range the basic knowledge required for Laboratories, operated by Cali-
for assault and demolition, medium the successful development of fornia Institute of Technology, and
range for supplementing and ex- supersonic guided missiles. At that the Ballistic Research Laboratories
tending his artillery, and range time little was known about super- each was requested to investigate
capable of supporting deep penetra- sonic aerodynamics, the sound bar- the feasibility of developing bal-
tions and airborne operations. rier, thermal barriers, or the en- listictype guided missiles. Impres-
As was experienced during
the vironment of flight. Man's funda- sed by the favorable reports from
battle of the Bulge, tactical sup- mental scientific knowledge had to these studies, Ordnance placed the
port aircraft were too often ham- be quickly extended. oldest of its contracts with JPL for
pered by adverse weather; they The Ordnance Corps was as- research on guided missiles, with
were not the answer. What the signed the cognizance of develop- emphasis on rocket propulsion and
Army needs is a family of all- ing and producing the Army's supersonic aerodynamics.
weather, supersonic guided missiles guided missiles. It was well quali- In less than a year, two more
which can be used effectively, day fied, having had years of aero- contracts were negotiated. These
or night, and without air supe- dynamic and ballistic work with established the Hermes project of
riority, and against which there projectiles and long experience broad scope for the development
are no known countermeasures. with complex fire control systems. of missile weapons with the Gen-

November, 1956 37
eral Electric Company and the ground having a test range much recognized the achievements of the
Nike project with the Bell Tele- longer than any previously con- German V-2 scientists and engi-
phone Laboratories of the Western ceived would have to be provided. neers.They were the most experi-
Electric Company for allthe neces- In order to obtain technical enced ballistic missile group in the
sary work required to develop data pertaining to flight tests, it world, and the American program
an anti-aircraft missile system. would also be necessary to devise could profit by their specialized
Douglas Aircraft Company, al- and install a complex system of technical knowledge. Accordingly
though a sub-contractor, was a full range instrumentation. Since it was an integrated team of 130 key
partner in this effort. important to recover spent missiles specialists was selected and brought
As the program developed, for study, an overland test range to Fort Bliss, Texas. There they
many other industrial firms, educa- was decided on. Accordingly, White were organized to conduct studies
tional institutions, and research Sands Proving Ground in the New and perform development work on
organizations became members of Mexico desert was authorized in medium range guided missiles,
the Army team of contractors. 1944. Being the only overland translate captured documents, and
Special facilities were required be- guided missile range in the assist with the assembly and firing
fore much progress could be made. country, this Ordnance Corps fa- of V-2's at White Sands.
cility is jointly used. The German scientists were
Long-range Concept Thus having established proj- extremely cooperative and provided
The Army, from the beginning, ects with highly qualified con- technical information of interest to
was thinking in terms of guided tractors, and provided them the all agencies engaged in the Na-
missiles having ranges of 1000 necessary tools-of-the-trade and tional They were later
program.
miles or more. In fact, the original proving ground service, the Army transferred Redstone Arsenal
to
program included preliminary work was, by 1945, seriously engaged in where their work has been out-
on a proposed 500-mile missile. It the guided missile business. standing, and they have become
was apparent that a proving The Ordnance Corps also highly respected citizens of their
community and of the United States.
Rapid technological progress
was made from the beginning.
Information of importance to mis-
sile designers was being developed
at the various projects and distrib-
uted to all interested agencies.
Out of the many early rocket
programs emerged the Army's
present operational missiles. Nike,
the first operational and extremely
effective air defense guided missile,
is being used to protect this
country's most important cities and
industrial areas. Corporal, the
faster than sound surface-to-sur-
face guided missile, and the Honest
John rocket have provided our
ground forces, in the United States
and overseas, unprecedented fire-
power.
Other missiles, including the
longer range Redstone, the IRBM
Jupiter, the anti-tank Dart, and
the more advanced anti-aircraft
missiles are well on the way to
taking their places in this Nation's
arsenal of truly modern weapons.
By 1949 the program had grown
to the extent it became necessary
to decentralizeits management
from the Pentagon to a field in-
stallation. For this purpose Red-
stone Arsenal was designated the
permanent Ordnance Corps com-
modity arsenal for rockets and
guided missiles and assigned the
responsibility of conducting the

missiles and rockets

nationwide Ordnance activities in
this field. The Ordnance Missile
Laboratories, which performs re-
search and development on solid
propellants, rockets and guided
missiles, and the Ordnance Guided
Missile School, which trains per-
sonnel in missile maintenance, were
also established at Redstone.
The arsenal built up highly
competent groups which carry as-
signed rocket or guided missile
projects through from preliminary
—
design to final test then manage
the procurement and the storage,
issue and maintenance of these
weapon systems, as well as conduct
the Ordnance training in this field.
In addition, important research and
development work is being per-
formed in the arsenal laboratories
on solid propellants and their ap-
plication by two contractors The —
Thiokol Chemical Corporation and
the Rohm and Haas Company.
The integration of the former
German scientists into its organi-
zation gave Redstone Arsenal a
uniquely qualified and experienced
guided missile team. The Guided
Missile Development Division,
under Dr. Wernher von Braun,
drew nationwide recognition for its
competence in developing the Red-
stone missile. In February 1956 the
personnel and facilities of this di-
vision were transferred to the new
Army Ballistic Missile Agency,
specifically established for the ex-
Honest John, Nike and Corporal missiles represent Army's family of operational missiles;
pedited prosecution of a program Little John, Dart and Redstone soon will be included.
to place the intermediate range
ballistic missile, Jupiter, and the deck of the U. S. S. Midway, and The Army is proud of the per-
shorter range Redstone in opera- proved that large ballistic missiles formance of its missile weapons,
tional status as rapidly as possible. could be successfully launched and the public would be too, if the
While the three services have from ships at sea. facts could be disclosed without
conducted separate guided missile Among itscontributions to the jeopardy to the security of our
programs suited to their individual national program was the Army's nation. The frontiers of science
needs, there has been a full free pioneering work in connection with are being pushed ahead at an un-
exchange of technical information, an earth satellite program. Ord- precedented rate. The Army is con-
and excellent cooperation between nance personnel at Redstone tinuing a progressive program on
the various projects of the Army, Arsenal made extensive studies a new family of guided missiles
Navy and Air Force. The Army, into the problems involved and was which will better meet the various
for instance, developed and pro- largely responsible for establishing military requirements imposed by
duced rocket motors used on the the feasibility and laying the modern warfare.
Air Force's air-to-air missile, Fal- groundwork for the current U. S. The future presents an excit-
con, and booster rockets for its
Matador, and in turn used an Air
satellite project recently initiated —
ing challenge and we of the Army
under the cognizance of the Navy. look forward to it with great an-
Force power plant for its Red- We can all be proud of the ticipation. The development of
stone missile. A Navy solid pro- achievements of the Ordnance- guided missiles, especially when
pellant was used in the Army's Science-Industry team which pio- combined with the progress in
Honest John rocket. neered in the art of rocketry and atomic weapons, is a tremendous
In an interesting experiment produced this country's first super- step toward a truly modern Army
in 1947 the Army cooperated with sonic guided missile weapons in a ready to contribute a formidable
the Navy in firing a V-2 from the relatively short period of time. defense to the free world. END.

November, 1956 39
 —

ARMY'S
missile arsenal today
Three versatile high-power missile systems are in actual
operation with the U.S. Army. They have helped streamline
our defense on a global basis. While waiting for neicer
tveapons, Honest John, Nike and Corporal form the core of
the Gl missile arsenal.

By Captain Patrick W. Powers

THE U.S. Army now flexes

missile weapons system for the
its The three systems mentioned
are operational now— ready for hos-
pellant rocket motor with large tail
surfaces for flight stability. The
defense of Europe as well as the de- tilities. They have been organized launcher is a movable, 25-foot rail
fense of the continental United into conventional-sized artillery or- mounted on the chassis of a regula-
States. In Germany's Black Forest ganizations and operate with the tion Army truck. The wind deter-
farmers often have witnessed a same traditions of efficiency and mining equipment is pole-mounted
Corporal missile battalion occupying confidence. To maintain a high level to register the velocity of the sur-
a position during a tactical ma- of proficiency they continually train face winds that effect the initial
neuver designed to strengthen the and are integrated with the other flight of the missile.
NATO defenses of Europe. conventional weapons of war. The Honest John's trajectory to
At the same time, on the out- the target is determined by the ele-
skirts of Chicago, radars of the Honest John System vation and azimuth of the launcher
Army's third operational missile This missile system is com- prior to firing. The effect of the di-
system — —
the Nike I track high fly- posed of the missile, a self-pro- rection and speed of the surface
ing jet aircraft on practice runs de- pelled launcher and an anemometer wind at firing is considered in a
signed to sharpen the missile bat- to measure the speed of the surface final setting of the launcher. The
tery's twenty-four hour alert status. winds. The rocket is approxima- missile is fired remotely by an elec-
In a world-wide glance at our tely 27 feet in length and 30 inches trical signal that initiates the burn-
country's defenses we see that mis- in diameter. It consists essentially ing of the solid propellant. As the
siles are taking an active part. of a warhead and the solid-pro- rocket leaves the launcher a slow
spin is imparted to it by small spin
rockets which give a more stabiliz-
ing effect to the trajectory.
After a few seconds of powered
flight, the Honest John assumes a
free-flight or ballistic trajectory to
the target. Finally, the warhead sys-
tem detonates the warhead at the
target. Here, in reality, is the baby
brother to the mighty 1500 mile
ballistic missile —
Jupiter that the
Army is now developing.
Nike System
It is a long technological jump
from unguided rocket Nike
to the
system and its vast complexity. The
system consists essentially of a two-
stage missile and elaborate control
equipment requiring approximately
1,500,000 separate parts. The Nike I
is about 20 feet long and one
foot in diameter with two sets of

missiles and rockefs

fins for guidance and steering. Its
weight is more than one-half ton.
U. S. Army Missile Arsenal
Inside the Nike are an explo-
Type Manufacturer Powerplant Remarks
sive warhead, a guidance unit, and
a propulsion system consisting of Surface-to-Surface
two propellant tanks, an air tank, -,
V»»*iTolor
v_,lll yaict
rf
North American Can carry atomic
and a rocket motor. When the mis- liquid rocket warhead.
sile takes off, the initial seconds Jl rll Lit North American IRBM weapon; de-
liquid rocket- rived from Red-
of flight straight up are powered booster stone.
by the solid propellant booster UOUglHo/ JCjIIlCI H6rcu 1 6s solid In service; un-
rocket which drops off before the son rocket guided artillery
rocket.
Nike turns and heads for the tar- Hercules solid In operation soon.
get at a supersonic speed. After the rocket
booster falls away the missile's C I? I? r* V A T Solid rocket In operation.
Arsenal (?)
own rocket motor begins to gener- CORPORAL E Firestone Liquid rocket (Jet Gilf illan beam
ate power and the second stage SSM-A-17 Propulsion Labor- guidance; also Cor-
of the trajectory begins. atory) poral F; in pro-
duction and in
Control equipment consists service.
mainly of three radars, an elec- DART Aerophysics Solid rocket Wire guidance; an-
tronic computer, and automatic Development ti-tank.
LACROSSE Martin Thiokel solid Anti-pill box; Ma-
plotting boards. This is the combi- rocket rine Corps inter-
nation of intelligence that detects ested.
approaching enemy aircraft and di- Surface-to- Air
rects the Nike to the spot in space
TALOS L Bendix/- McDonnell ram- In production,
where they will meet and the war- —booster
McDonnell jet
head will be detonated. LOKI Bendix Solid rocket In production.
First of the radars, the acqui- NIKE Douglas/W estern Aerojet liquid In service, also
SAM-N-7 Electric rocket — solid overseas; Nike B is
sition radar, detects a target air-
NIKE B rocket booster a slightly larger
craft at long range and alerts the more effective ver-
battery control area. A second sion.

radar, called the target tracking

HAWK- SAM Raytheon Liquid rocket Production begun.

radar, picks up the aircraft at a SHRIKE Liquid rocket Nuclear warhead.

closer range. Then this information
of the target's position and speed
is continually fed to an electronic
the steering commands for inter- set, determines the correct trajec-

computer cept by the missile are accom- tory for the missile to follow. After
whose job is to keep
plished electronically. termination of powered flight by the
track of the target and the mis-
rocket motor, the Corporal follows
sile, when launched, so that it can
Corporal System an essentially ballistic path to the
determine the commands to be sent
target where the atomic warhead is
for optimum interception. The Corporal represents this
detonated for the maximum effect.
In the meantime,
the third country's first ballistic guided mis-
The trajectory problem for the
radar which follows the missile sup- sile. System-wise, there is the long
Corporal is somewhat simpler than
plies information on the Nike's po- pencil-like rocket and several mo-
that for the Nike. Here, the missile
sition to the computer. Commands bile vans and trucks of guidance
system is concerned with a fixed
to direct the flight are deter- and equipment. The
firing control
ground target so that the resulting
mined by the computer and trans- missile itself about 45 feet long
is
computing equipment is not as com-
mitted to the missile's guidance with steering fins located on the
plex. Before the missile is fired,
components which in turn cause very ends of the large stabilizing
basic firing data is computed for
the steering fins to move in the fins. It weighs about 5 tons fully
the guidance equipment and entered
proper direction and the proper fueled and ready for launching.
as "dial settings" in the various
amount. Any evasive action by the The missile body contains the vans. Then, after the rocket is
target is instantly detected by the same elements as the Nike arranged launched, minor corrections are
target-tracking radar and trans- in a slightly different order. There
made to the trajectory to insure an
mitted to the computer. The com- is a warhead, guidance compart- accurate impact.
puter re-evaluates the trajectory of ment, air tank, propellant tanks,
the missile to meet this new change and the liquid rocket motor. The Preparations for Firing
of direction of the target and ap- missile is fired vertically from a The Honest John missile trav-
propriate steering signals are trans- small mobile launcher. els launching site which has
to a
mitted to the Nike. The Corporal is launched into been prepared for the firing. The
All of this happens — automatic- a radar beam in the direction of a launcher-truck is emplaced and
ally —
measured in thousandths of distant target. The radar furnishes the launcher is turned to the fir-
a second.The entire operation from missile position information to an ing direction or azimuth and to
determining the changes in the air- electronic computer which, com- the proper elevation for the re-
craft's flight path to the receipt of bined with data from a special radio quired range. The elevation and

November, 1956 41
 azimuth have been determined by a trol van. Still the target is far its forest position. The missile is
fire direction center which con- away and out of sight of everything erected on its launcher by a large
siders such factors as the weight of but searching beam of the
the transport vehicle called the erec-
the rocket, the temperature and radar. The word is flashed to the tor. Previous to this the pro-
density of the air, rotation of the control officer from the operations pulsion and guidance components
earth, and the burnout velocity of center to "Engage!" and the com- have been thoroughly checked for
the missile. The effect of these mand relayed to the launchers.
is proper functioning, the propulsion
factors on the range and direction Everyone scrambles into the under- tanks have been filled with acid and
to the target is computed and the ground installation and the missiles aniline, and the warhead attached.
settings are sent to the launcher. are erected to firing position. Guidance equipment vans have
Final checks are made, the Now comes that decision of been emplaced somewhat to the
effects of the surface wind com- the battery control officer . . . when rear and they are being warmed up
puted, and the firing crew retires to fire. Hesitation or a mistake and checked for the proper elec-
to a protected firing pit to wait for might let the bomber slip in close tronic indications that will guide
the designated time to fire. At the enough to drop his atomic weapon. the Corporal to its target.
pit a final continuity check is made The battery is placed under its final In this guidance area, the bat-
and the firing switch closed at the "red" alert status and the missile tery commander has established his
correct moment. tracking radar slews and locks on communications for control of the
the first missile to be fired. firing. Here, also, the fire direction
Nike & Corporal on the Alert
center has computed and deter-
As the target approaches the
Bridging the Atlantic back to maximum range of the Nike, the mined the firing data for the tai'get
the outskirts of Chicago, we find a many
firing pushed. The "en-
button is located miles behind the
Nike batteiw rehearsing their gagement" is ended, a few more "enemy" lines. Since the missile
deadly trade as they prepare to go commands are given and the na- has been erected and final prepara-
through a practice alert. Every tion's first operational anti-aircraft tions completed, the commander
operation is performed as it would guided missiles disappear into their orders all stations to stand by for
be in a "hot" engagement except underground lairs waiting for the the countdown to firing time.
for the launching of the missile.
next alert, hot or cold. The firing crew takes cover in
The battery control officer sits As we return to the Gei'man the firing pit. In order to coordinate
in van located in the
his control
Black Forest, the Corporal battalion the sequence of operations before
same area as the three radars and is under way in the occupation of the missile is fired, the remaining
computer. He is responsible for the time to fire or countdown is an-
execution of the entire operation nounced over a common telephone
and he alone makes the final de- line or "hot loop" connected to each
cision to fire. Information is con- critical station. All operators fol-
stantly fed into the control con- low sets of procedures that insure
sole to enable him to make this complete coordination between the
crucial decision. ground equipment and the missile
He has been notified by early as its internal components begin to
warning radar networks of an un- warm up and prepare for the flight
identifiedaircraft approaching his to the target. The commander fol-
—
defended area the great popula- lows the action of the operational
tion complex of Chicago. sequence on the hot loop.
Given the information that an As the last few seconds are
attack is imminent, he immediately called, tension has mounted even
orders "Battle Stations!" and the though this is a "dry run". Finally:
crews move swiftly into action. Pre- FIRE A, B, C, D, Missile Away!
I

viously prepared missiles and And now, as plus times are chanted,
boosters are raised to the ground operators closely monitor their
surface on elevators from the meters and dials because the guid-
underground launcher installation. ance equipment still registers this
These two-stage rockets have al- as an actual flight. After the timed
ready had their propulsion and sequence of the trajectory has ter-
guidance components checked, pro- minated, a report is made to head-
pellant tanks filled with acid and quarters as to the effectiveness of
JP-4, and the warhead installed. this atomic blast.
Nike's are loaded on the four The 1956 silhouettes of the
I
launchers associated with each three Army missile systems set the
underground installation and final pattern for the future. They are
tests and checks completed. established weapons standing guard
The "hostile" aircraft comes into and furnishing us with the initial
the range of the acquisition radar experience and knowledge that will
and this information is presented be applicable to the Army's future
Corporal on launcher.
on the scopes in the battery con- missile systems. END.

42 missiles and rockets

 : a

PRELUDE TO THE ICBM

important and unique el-
An and pierces the ionosphere — "Although the results of the
ement in the Air Force's gigan- layer of very thin air starting project cannot be disclosed, it
tic program to develop the inter- some 50 miles above the earth was revealed that the missile di-
continental ballistic missile and extending to about 250 vision's scientists and engineers
(ICBM) is the X-17 research ve- miles. Lockheed's missile scien- are atmospheric
investigating
hicle, provided by the Missile tists designed the vehicle to heating effects, suitability of
Systems Division of Lockheed plunge at tremendous speeds various metals, and other impor-
Aircraft Corp., Van Nuys, Calif. from the ionosphere into the tant factors contributing to the
earths' heavy blanket of air. design of missile nose cones."
The X-17 is a lash-up of ex-
isting missile and rocket compo- Test results with the X-17
nents, all of them modified to .NOSE CONE to date have apparently been in-
the extent necessary for the ve- EXPERIMENT conclusive. The vehicle reported-
hicle to accomplish its peculiar ly has not achieved anything like
task. believed to
First stage is the enormous Mach numbers (18-
be either a Redstone or Corporal plus) which are in store for
liquid-propellant rocket. The for- ICBM warheads. Highest speed
3RD STAGE
mer is made by Chrysler Corp., for the rocket assembly so far is
while the latter supplied by
is said to be Mach 4 or 5 on the —
Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. Sec- order of 2500 mph. While this
ond stage is a cluster of three may seem disappointing, it is ob-
solid-propellant rockets, reported- vious that a vehicle with as
ly Sergeants, which are supplied CLUSTER much beef as the X-17 should
the Army by Thiokol Chemical eventually be capable of much
Co. Third stage is a single solid- greater speeds.
propellant rocket, also said to be
a Sergeant. NACA Goes to Mach 10
The X-17 is now in use at In this connection, it is in-
Patrick AFB, Fla., to gather data .2ND STAGE teresting to note that the Na-
on nose cone re-entry problems. tional Advisory Committee for
First two stages carry the third Aeronautics has achieved some
into the ionosphere and detach. enormous velocities with rela-
The third stage rises to the peak tively modest four-stage rockets
be- SPIN ROCKETS
of its ti-ajectory and, as it at its Wallops Island, Virginia,
gins the long fall back to earth, research station. (See article,
it ignites and roars downward at
page 82.) One assembly has
hypersonic speeds. Information achieved a Mach Number of 10.4,
gathered from thermocouples and still greater speeds have
and other instruments mounted probably been attained but not
in the nose section is telemetered yet released. Like Lockheed's
back to Patrick during this por- X-17 program for the USAF's
tion of the flight. Western Development Division,
ST STAGE
the NACA program is designed
Tremendous Speed to secure detailed information
The existence of the X-17 on the problems of aerodynamic
was first revealed in August at
CRUCIFORM heating.
'FINS
the Air Force Association con- Lockheed is one of three
vention in New Orleans, although prime contractors selected by
even then the designation was WDD to handle the nose cone
not revealed. Here is what Lock- phase of the ICBM program. The
heed was permitted to say at the others are General Electric Co.
time and A v c o Manufacturing Co.,
"The test missile hurtles out Artist'sdrawing of Lockheed's three-stage both of which are working on
X-17 nose cone research vehicle. Assembly
through the earth's atmosphere supposedly is capable of reaching veloci- competing nose cone design pro-
at speeds far in excess of the ties and aerodynamic heat levels in the posals for the ICBM. Lockheed
neighborhood of those confronting the
velocity of sound. Within sec- ICBM warhead on its return trip to earth. is responsible for securing test
onds after it is fired, the missile Note the small auxiliary rockets mounted data and passing it on to Gen-
high on the first stage to spin-stabilize
blasts through the sonic barrier the finless second and third stages. eral Electric and Avco.

November, 1956 43
 SOLAR POWER
for spacecraft
This outstanding technical article investigates some as-
pects of space operations by hydrogen in high-specific impulse
solar power drives. The interesting concept of pressure-stabilized
spherical reflectors for water-oxyhydrogen conversion in space,
and the solar power drive itself, not only seem feasible, but
such a system can be constructed without too much effort.

By Krafft A. Ehricke

CONSIDERING density, specific base upper stages of a supply ve- large dimensions of a solar-powered
impulse, design parameters and hicle on light propellants. vehicle require very long pipelines
flight performance, light, high- For nuclear pile heating, hydro- from tankto heater and back to the
specific impulse propellants for gen is most attractive since it is exhaust nozzle. Elaborate insula-
space vehicles have advantages. suitable for porous cooling, has a tion of these lines is not practical
Light-weight propellants are high heat content and a very high for weight reasons. Regenerative
combinations of hydrogen-oxygen, specific impulse. It does not be- cooling is not feasible because of
hydrogen-fluorine, methane-oxygen come radioactive when passing insufficient quantity of working
or methane-ozone. By comparison, through the pile and does not con- fluid in view of the length of pipe-
medium propellants are ammonia, taminate the launching site. lines and because of excessive pres-
gasoline or hydrazine with oxygen, Finally, long-duration astro- sure losses in the cooling jacket.
ozone or fluorine. Heavy propel- nautical operations suggest con- For this reason the working
lants are hydrazine with acid or sidering the manufacture of hydro- fluid in a solar-powered system
with chlorine trifluoride. gen in space, using materials which must operate at temperatures which
In the atmosphere, and at re- may be more readily transported are sufficiently low to permit un-
latively lower levels of flight per- from the earth. The manufacturing cooled hot-gas ducts of high-tem-
formance, high density is prefer- process be based on elec-
could perature material, such as Inconel
able even at the expense of high trolysis of water or on the thermal X. This consideration limits work-
specific impulse. In space where decomposition of methane. ing temperatures on the hot side
few, if any, shape requirements By transporting water the to some 1,000°K (1,340°F).
exist, but where high flight per- energy is supplied in 2.5 times as As a result, no spectacular
formance is usually required, light concentrated form as if the com- increase over chemical drives can
propellants of high specific impulse ponents were supplied separately. be expected by any type of work-
are more desirable. These propel- ing fluid. By selecting hydrogen,
Hydrogen-manufacturing satel-
lants are liquid gases which re- however, a maximum of energy can
lites could rely on concentration of
quire protection from intense solar be stored at the above mentioned
solar power in power collectors. The
radiation by double-walled or light temperature limit, because of the
manufacturing process could be
multilayer tank construction. This high specific heat of this medium.
completely automatic, requiring
is not difficult and also does not Therefore, a quite attractive spe-
only occasional human supervision
seriously affect the mass ratio, if cific impulse can be obtained at
and maintenance.
the containers are sufficiently large. high expansion ratio. (Assuming
Chemical space vehicle pro- Solar Power Collector an expansion ratio of 15/0.1 atmos-
posals have usually been based Because of the low concentra- pheres and an initial temperature
on medium or heavy propellants, tion of solar energy in terrestrial of T C =1,000°K, the theoretical spe-
mainly because supply ships were space, large radiation collectors are cific impulse is 478 sec, or about

assumed to operate with such com- required to yield an adequate 450 sec. as practical value, consider-
binations. It is entirely feasible to energy concentration. The resulting ing losses in the nozzle only).

44 missiles and rockets

 Dominant factor in the layout in the artist's illustration of such
of the reflector system will be a The Author . . . a vehicle. High heat-resisting ma-
compromise between reflector size terial has been selected for the
isChief of Preliminary Design
and thrust power, leading to low and Systems Analysis Group wires, because they may get into
thrust and large reflectors. Convair Astronautics Division, the path of the exhaust jet. Spring
Therefore, lowest possible re- builders of the Atlas ICBM. He tension is necessary because of
flector weight is the dominant con- isa member of M/R's Editorial temperature variations.
sideration in solar-powered space Advisory Board. This article is The prototype carries 11,000
ships. Parabolic reflectors, because a condensed version of a paper lbs. of liquid hydrogen. In a chem-
presented at the IAF Congress ical rocket an additional 45,000 to
of their shape, cannot be built
in Rome in September.
sufficiently light under the stresses 50,000 lbs. of oxygen would be re-
involved. Furthermore, they tend to quired to produce a specific impulse
concentrate solar energy in too of about 380 sec. under equal con-
Normal to this axis are the optical
small a focal area for the heating ditions of expansion ratio and
axes of the reflectors. Connected
of the working fluid. losses in the nozzle. Instead of
rigidly to the hydrogen sphere are
A oxygen weight, the solar-powered
solution to the collector the exhaust nozzle and the crew
vehicle uses only 1,000 lbs. in the
problem is the use of a pressure- gondola, forming the thrust axis
stabilized spherical collector, one form of radiation collectors. In this
normal to the axis of rotation.
fact lies the potential logistic ad-
half of which is sprayed with The two collectors are braced vantage of the solar-powered space
silver or aluminum. The sphere can by guy wires so that they rotate ship over the chemical rocket for
be stabilized at a very low pres- together, but independently of the cislunar operation.
sure. The stress is minimized and hydrogen sphere. The whole vehicle,
permits a collector of record low However, the solar-powered
being fully symmetrical, can rotate system also has a number of severe
weight. At the same time, the about the thrust axis (roll). Thus
spherical reflector produces a problems which make the develop-
the thrust axis and the optical axis ment and operation of such vehicle
larger focal area than does the
may be directed independently. anything but straightforward. Its
parabola. More desirable heat
Hydrogen is pumped from the enormous size certainly exposes it
transfer for propulsion conditions
container to the heat exchanger to more damage by meteors and
are thus achieved.
and ducted back to the exhaust cosmic dust. With the present lack
The collector sphere must con- nozzle. Even at low acceleration of accurate knowledge regarding
sist of transparent, low-weight ma- aluminum cross-tubes which form the density and density variations
terial. Polyester (polyethylene tere-
the axis of rotation and which are of small meteors and cosmic dust,
phtalate), a highly transparent
very light would be deflected about it isimpossible to predict how long
plastic, could be used. At 0.001-
51 ft. at the outer ends
the struc- if a collectorsphere of the above-
inch thickness the material has ade-
ture were not properly rigged by described type can be maintained
quate tensile strength. A pressur-
spring-tensioned Inconel X wires. in adequate condition. This time,
ization of 0.01 psi is sufficient under
The rigging is three-dimen- disregarding maintenance, may be
space conditions to lend adequate
sional and may be seen more clearly disappointingly short.
rigidity to the sphere proper. Per-
foration of such a sphere by micro-
meteors is not considered critical.
Due to the size of the sphere, prac-
tically no reduction in reflectivity
is caused by individual perfora-
tions and the resultant holes would
yield only negligible pressure
losses, at the volume involved.
Assuming 90 percent light
transmission through the trans-
parent portion of the collector, 90
percent reflectivity (a conservative
value if silver is considered) and
90 percent efficiency in energy
transmission from the heater to
the expansion nozzle, one obtains
an efficiency of 0.729.

Solar-Powered Space Ship

A prototype solar-powered
space vehicle might consist of two
collector spheres (128 ft. in diam-
eter), with the hydrogen sphere be-
tween them. The three spheres are
connected by the axis of rotation. Artist's conception of solar-powered spaceship.

November, 1956 45
 —
ments could be produced, which ad-
versely affect the autopilot opera-
tion; hence the accuracy of flight.
The flight mechanics of a low-
thrust vehicle, such as a solar-
powered space ship, differs from that
of a high-thrust vehicle, such as the
conventional chemical rocket. A
flightunder low-thrust conditions in-
volves longer burning times and
greater changes in potential energy
than in the chemical rocket. Chemi-
cal vehicles in an orbit generally
must have an initial acceleration of
at least 0.25 g. Burning times are
measured in minutes.
Initial acceleration of the low-
thrust vehicle is four per cent or
less than that of the chemical rocket.
Burning times are measured in
Schematic drawing of hydrogen-powered solar-driven space vehicle and flow hours or days. Thus, propellant is
diagram showing motors and tank position. lifted toconsiderably greater alti-
tudes before it is consumed. This
lifting of propellant mass is com-
On the other hand it is pos- supercritical values of 17 to 20 parable to a non-isentropic thermo-
sible to patch up holes in the spher- atm, to intensify the heat transfer. dynamic process and, like such proc-
ical polyester shell easily and the Thus the pressure at the high esses, carries a penalty in the form
thin material coating of the reflec- pressure pump outlet has been as- of an energy (gravitational) loss.
tor part can be renewed periodic- sumed to be somewhere between In powered ascent from the sur-
ally. 17 and 20 atm, to maintain 15 at face, minimization of the loss plays
Another problem area is the the expansion nozzle inlet. Bubble
an important role and leads to tra-
starting and operation of the pro- formation in the pipelines due to jectories which deflect from ver-
pulsion system. The structure will the low acceleration, especially at
tical direction as rapidly as aero-
tolerate only very low accelerations. the low pressure of the cold lines,
dynamic considerations permit.
Thus the static head in the hydro- may cause an upward revision of
The question of what maximum
gen tank is practically negligible. the pressure. Fortunately, again,
collector size can be manufactured
It will be necessary to provide dis- the reflector must be turned away
is separate from the operational
placement bodies or solid-propellant from the sun to protect the heater.
value of the solar power drive. The
starter rockets to produce some In space this will keep the feeding
conditions under which this drive is
pressure at the tank outlet. For- lines exceedingly cold, thereby
attractive should be established first.
tunately, the fuel consumption is greatly reducing or even eliminat-
very low (about 0.35 lb /sec). ing the danger of vapor lock.
The author however, that if
feels,
the need arises, industrial research
Much hydrogen must be Additional problems result
will make the fabrication of 200- to
pumped into the long pipelines be- from the material selection for the
300-ft. diameter spheres practical.
fore the system begins to work. In collector spheres. The polyester
These spheres would be made on
the prototype vehicle the total plastic has considerable tensile
earth, inflated under protection
volume of the cold tubing is about strength at room temperature and
from wind loads and silver-coated.
1.1 ft. 3corresponding to about 4.5
,
at least 10,000 psi at 150°C (300°F).
lbs. hydrogen. To this must be But it will be necessary to test the The tensile strength of the ma-
added the hot tubing with 15 ft. 3 ,
material against temperature varia- terialpermits pressure stabilization
containing about 0.3 lb. hydrogen; tions and, above all, against the on the surface of the earth. There-
the resulting total is more than 13 more intense and active solar radia- after the collector is deflated and
times the consumption per second. tion before a final decision as to its folded for the transport into space
Friction losses in the long pipe- application can be made. where it is carefully re-inflated and
lines is another important con- Operationally, the crucial prob- the equipment installed.
sideration. Not much practical ex- lem will be the dynamics of the ori- Theoretically, the construction
perience is available in this respect entation and alignment of thrust of solar-powered space vehicles
with hydrogen. In order to keep axis and optical axis, respectively. —
seems within reach indeed, the de-
these losses down, low pressure flow In view of the size and fragility of sign parameters are rather simple
(3 to 4 atm) is assumed in the lines the structure, extremely careful bal- but it remains to be seen and done.
leading from the tank to the center ancing of the collector weights and The basic requirement for realiza-
of the collector sphere. There the their content is necessary. This tion of the job must be experimen-
hydrogen enters a high-pressure again underlines the need for low tation with models, plus a greater
pump to increase the pressure to thrust values. Even so, large mo- knowledge of space. END.
46 missiles and rockets-
 — —

ASTRONAUTICS
in JAPAN

By Frederick C. Durant III

En route to another galaxy, visualized by artists Miyaieki, Sato.

GREAT interest in astronautics columnist, author and lecturer known radio actors in Japan. He
has developed in Japan in the Mitsuo Harada. In a manner bely- advises on public relations.
past few years. One popular exhibi- ing his age (66 years), Harada has Since the organizational meet-
tion on space flight at the Inuyama been fascinated with the possibili- ing of JAS in September 1953 mem-
Amusement Park last year pulled ties of space flight since Robert bership has passed the 1,000 mark.
in an average attendance of 10,000 Goddard's famous Smithsonian pa- About one-half of this number rep-
each weekday and 30,000 per day per of the early twenties. resents students. Much effort has
on weekends and holidays. The ex- JAS is governed by a board of been directed towards Japanese
hibition ran for only 2% months youth, describing and interpreting
nine directors and a commission of
total attendance topped one million. basic rocketry and postwar missile
trustees numbering perhaps fifty.
For a nation of about eighty mil- The directors are closely concerned developments in other countries.
lion this is rather dramatic evi- with society activities such as the As might be expected the directors
dence of popular interest. various exhibitions and lectures. hope that one day Japan may be
Focal point of astronautical in- Among them are impressive titles able to make positive contributions
terest is the Japanese Astronauti- and to the science and technology upon
affiliations, such as:
cal Society (JAS). The Society's which space flight will be based.
chairman is a respected and exper- —
Dr. Hideo Itokawa Professor In the meantime, youth is develop-
ienced radio science-commentator,
Tokyo University; Chairman, ing an interest and a desire to un-
Sounding Rocket Panel, Japanese derstand and study in related
National Committee (IGY) scientific disciplines. JAS attempts
—
Dr. I. Yamamoto President, to further this interest on the basis
Yamamoto Observatory of scientific knowledge.
Dr. T. Hayashi — Professor, In all, six exhibitions have
Keio University (Physiology) been arranged under the technical
Dr. T. Asada — Professor, Os- direction ofHarada or other direc-
aka University (Nuclear Physics) tors during the past three years.
Dr. H. Kimura— Professor, Ni- Contributing to the outstanding
hon University (Aerodynamics) success of the Inuyama exhibit,
—
Dr. Y. Niwa Professor, Tokyo mentioned above, was a rocket and
University (Communications) perisphere, each some 85 feet high,
—
Dr. N. Nishiwaki Professor, through which the audience was
Tokyo University (Engineering conducted. The Chubu Nihon Press
Dept.) and Nagoya Railroad Company
—
Dr. T. Hatanaka Professor, were sponsors. An exhibition was
Osaka University (Astronomy) held in January 1954 near Tokyo
Another director, Mr. M. Toku- under the sponsorship of the Yomi-
gawa, is one of the oldest and best uri Press and the Tokyo Express
Orbital vehicles over Japan.

48 missiles and rockets

 —
Line. Another
tober-November
sponsorship
was

of
at Osaka in Oc-
1954 under the
the Kei-Han-Shin
.-BRITISH MOVE AHEAD-,
Kyuko Railway Company, Ltd. The At a recent meeting of the British Interplanetary Society in
major exhibit this year was at the London, Prof. H. S. W. Massey of University College, London, dis-

Korakuen Amusement Park. cussed the part the British upper-atmosphere rocket Skylark will
play in the forthcoming IGY program.
The Japanese Astronautical
actively spreading an in-
The solid-propellant rocket designed to reach about 100
is
Society is
miles altitude. The British program to be a selective rather than
is
terest in the fundamentals of space
an all-embracing one, and each item chosen for investigation will be
flight to youth and to the public.
treated very thoroughly. Upper atmosphere temperatures and winds,
The popular response has been
for example, are to be studied by means of firing grenades from the
great. As pointed out in the earlier
rocket at "regular intervals, measuring the time which both flash and
story on Japanese Rocket Research
sound require to reach the ground.
(M & R October 1956) Japan has
commenced and is making rapid Difference in mean sound velocities from various heights will
strides in small scale rocketry. JAS give a measure of the variation of temperature, and the angle at
is not itself engaged in rocket ex-
which the sound reaches the ground microphones will allow the speed
perimentation. of the wind at various altitudes to be calculated. This is not a new-
technique, having been previously used by U. S. Naval Research
In 1954 a rocket research so-
Laboratory, but a refined version of it will be applied.
ciety was organized by Professor
Nishiwaki of Tokyo University. A more spectacular experiment is the releasing of metallic

Known as the Rocket Kenkyu-Kai,

sodium at about 40 miles altitude at twilight. This will form a lumin-
ous cloud, the examination of which by spectroscopic means will give
its membership was small. Late
local temperatures. The experiment was first suggested by Prof.
this summer Dr. Hideo Itokawa or-
Bates of Belfast University, and has already been successfully car-
ganized the Japanese Rocket So-
ried out at White Sands. However, a better method of dispersing the
ciety along the lines of the pro-
fessional American Rocket Society.
sodium by means of thermit has been developed at Belfast, and this
technique will be used in the British experiments.
Industrialists, scientists and repre-
sentatives of both houses of the
government were present.
It is understood that this Britain's Largest
society encompasses the Kenk-
Royal Aircraft Establishment's Westcott, England, propulsion
yu-Kai. This professional activity
center has designed and built a 50,000 lb. rocket. Combustion cham-
is essentially non-competitive with
ber and nozzle are of the skin-cooled type made from thin-gage 18/8
the aims of the Japanese Astronau-
stainless steel with longitudinal ducting for kerosene fuel coolant.
tical Society and both organiza-
The spherical combustion chamber and divergent nozzle form
tions may be expected to play an
an integral unit welded together from 32 narrow longitudinal seg-
increasingly important role in fu-
ture Japanese rocket development.
—
ment consists of two thin blades like a cavalry saber in shape
which are superimposed and edge-welded together, with a further
seam weld along the centerline for most of their length. To the front
of the blades (the saber "tip") is a thin stainless-steel tube, which is
used to pump fluid into the assembled blade and swell it into a mold,
so giving the blade a "quilted look" and forming it into two longi-
tudinal ducts.The "tip" of each blade for about nine inches is per-
forated with microscopic holes on one side, the inside after assembly.
There are two types of blade; one is hollow throughout its
length, the other has a barrier between the perforated tip and the
longitudinal ducts. When assembled, the blades are welded alter-
nately. The roots, which form the lip of the divergent nozzle, are
joined by a circumferential passage and the forward part at the maxi-
mum circumference of the combustion chamber by an external duct
welded to it.
Kerosene is from which it passes up
delivered to the duct,
the barred blades, through the duct and down the adjacent blade
lip
to squirt into the chamber. LOX is injected from the base of the
chamber through the holes in the barred blades. The layout segregates
the kerosene and LOX until it unites in the chamber. Combustion
pressure is 500 lbs/sq in. and the kerosene is therefore pumped into
the hollow skin at 800 lbs/sq in. The Wescott unit is stated by the
Ministry of Supply to be the largest bi-propellant rocket to be de-
signed and made in Britain.

Ferry vehicle in gantry tower.

50 missiles and rockets

 International News
By Anthony Vandyk

After working under wraps for several years France's

Ouest-Aviation (formerly SNCASO) has disclosed details of
its activities in the guided missile field. Company has con-
firmed that its Trident research aircraft is actually the proto-
type for a surface-to-air missile. The first "pilotless Trident"
will start its test program shortly. The French nationalized
aircraft company also has developed a missile "to complete
and perfect the efficiency" of the Vautour twin-jet bomber's
armament. Ouest-Aviation also has under development vari-
ous types of strategic missiles with "a completely new" navi-
gation system. Most of Ouest-Aviation's missile work has been
financed by the company on a "private venture" basis.

What's wrong at Britain's missile range at Woomera

in the Australian desert? Chapman Pincher, the highly re-
spected science reporter for the London Daily Express, esti-
mates that the range is costing about $30 million a year to
run but only $3 million worth of useful work is coming out of
it. One reason for the slow progress is that the difficulties of
using a range 12,000 miles from home base were badly under-
estimated. Furthermore Woomera was set up with the under-
standing that British missile firms would transfer much of
their work to Australia which would become the arsenal of
the British Commonwealth. The companies have refused to
uproot themselves and there is no engineering industry in
Australia to support a project of this size.

Japan expects to build its first tactical guided missile

about the end of this decade. Meanwhile the Defense Agency
is stepping up its program for research work on missiles. A
missile experimental unit is to be established within the
agency's Technical Research Institute. For fiscal 1957 this
unit will have 600 million yen at its disposal, according to the
present budget program. Meanwhile, Japan is well advanced
in experimental rocket construction. The first firing test of
the TMB (Test Missile B) rocket is scheduled for this month.
The TMB is manufactured by Shin Mitsubishi. It uses a rocket
motor built by Fuji Precision Machinery and a guidance sys-
tem supplied by Mitsubishi Electric Co.

First official mention that British defense policy has

abandoned liquid oxygen as an oxidant for manned vehicles
has come from S. Allen, Chief Engineer of Armstrong-Sid-
deley Motors' Rocket Division He told the Royal Aeronautical
Society that "liquid oxygen would probably be an unsuitable
oxidant for defensive weapons because such weapons could
not be kept ready for instant use." For offensive weapons,
liquid oxygen is quite suitable, specific impulse being of
—
major importance in reaching extreme altitudes even at the
—
expense of some engine weight and, therefore, great range,
he added. Allen noted that his company's Screamer 3,000-9,
500-lb. thrust rocket motor differs from Reaction Motors,
Walter and SEPR units in being single chambered and truly
controllable (by varying the propellant supply).

52 missiles and rockets

 i

SATELLITE LAUNCHING
from an F-102
By Aurelio C. Robot!

THE concept of bringing a small

by the
satellite into orbit air-
However,
carrying a
the feasibility of
two-stage, modified
propellant rockets.
at an altitude of 42,000
When launched
feet,even
plane-launching method is as in- Bumper type vehicle (A-4 plus the old-fashioned BUMPER will
expensive as it is feasible. Air- WAC Corporal) to 42,000 feet easily reach orbital velocity.
plane-launched satellite proposals launching altitude by a current air- The Bumper was launched from
to date have been hypothetical and plane, such as a Convair F-102A White Sands in 1949. At first-stage
rather difficult to realize because fighter, has merit. And, further- burnout the altitude was 20 miles.
the hardware, as well as the scope more, such an experiment is indic- The WAC Corporal came into ac-
of the proposals, have been too ative of what can be achieved tion and reached a maximum veloc-
gigantic and complex. when considering new high-energy ity of 6,800 feet per second. The
 maximum altitude was 242 miles.
Assuming that a Bumper type
vehicle is carried to 42,000 feet and
launched with an initial velocity
(the velocity of the F-102A at
moment of launching) of 450 feet
per second, a maximum speed of
8,350 per second, instead of
feet
6,800, will be obtained for the sec-
ond stage WAC
Corporal, and a
maximum height of 367 miles in-
stead of 242 miles will be achieved,
i.e. an increase of about 50 per cent.

If the Bumper is lifted to

42,000 feet with a residual velocity
-
—at that height of 450 feet per —
second, by means of a booster, and
if the climb is carried out in the
most economical way, the booster
itself would have to develop a total
impulse of 2,600,000 lb. sec. Spe-
General three-view layout of F-I02A with delta-wing Bumper type rocket vehicle cific impulse of 185 sec, and a

mounted underneath. Takeoff dolly is fitted with JATO units for extra boost. gross weight of about 20,000 pounds
are encountered.
The Bumper would be trans-
formed into a three-step rocket
whose first stage would weigh ten
tons. This first stage is represented
by the delta-wing F-102A.
Considering the total weight of
the Bumper and
the performance of
the F-102A, it is easily understood
that the plane could not take off
with an overload of more than 12
tons. Furthermore, it would be
practically impossible to obtain a
reasonable hook-up device between
the two structures.

Delta-Wing Rocket
To solve these problems, it is

necessary to give the rocket a lift-

—
ing feature possibly a delta-wing
with a base and a height of about
27 feet. The Bumper would then
have a total weight of 27,000 pounds
and a wing load of 60 pounds per
square foot. The Corporal WAC
rocket will be partially lodged in the
nose of the delta-rocket.
The approximate weight dis-
tribution of the A-4 in the original

The Author . . .

is a recognized aeronautical en-

gineer and a key Italian rocket
personality. He is Technical
Consultant to Italy's well-known
Fiat concern. This article is
based on a paper presented by
the author at the 7th Interna-
tional Astronautical Congress.

missiles and rockets

 : :

Bumper configuration was: tween the planes, the danger of

interference is eliminated. This
Structures 827.5 pounds danger is especially serious at take-
Engine 191 off, when the increased angle
Pumps 150 amplifies the mutual disturbance
Propellants 82 of the two planes. However, take-
"
Servo mechanism . 113.5 off is the only critical stage of the
Ethyl alcohol and flight. The climb can be performed
water 1630 at a low angle.
Liquid oxygen .... 2432 b) Flight refuelling is cur-
rently used and does not present
Total 5426 pounds problems, even in a case where
two propellants are involved.
A delta-winged A-4 has the
c) Condensation on the rocket
same distribution weights, of
tank walls creates a problem. In
spaced cylindrically in the middle
the A-4 alcohol and liquid oxygen
of the structure.
were contained in tanks inside the
The delta-winged A-4 can be missile. In the delta-rocket pro-
attached to the "mother" plane by posed here, the use of the body
means of two vertical frames, link- covering plates as tank walls might
ing the wings of the plane to those save weight. However, it is likely
of the rocket. The rocket rests on that the atmospheric humidity will
a takeoff dolly which will remain condense on the outside of the tank
on the ground when the plane takes walls, producing an ice formation
off. The tanks of the A-4 are empty, during the climb to 42,000.
which means that the whole struc- Obvious remedies are two
ture has the modest average wing either to employ an oxidizer differ-
load of 28 pounds per square foot. ent from liquid oxygen or to in-
At a suitable altitude a tanker sulate the tank walls. A reverse
will refuel the A-4 by pumping into problem, that of the fuel conden-
its tanks 1,200 gallons of fuel and sation on the inside face of the
1,400 gallons of oxidizer. tank walls must also be considered.
At 42,000 feet the pilot will d) Takeoff gear. No serious
ignite the first-stage rocket engine difficulties are involved in making a
and, assoon as the thrust has takeoff gear that remains on the
reached proper level, will actu-
its ground when the rocket-carrying
ate the launching of the missile F-102A takes The same gear
off.

and start its teleguiding. The two- can be accelerated by a number of

step rocket, under the action of its JATO rockets.
guidance and graphite fins, will e)Maneuverability. Of course,
bring the vehicle into the trajectory the tailsurfaces of the F-102A
that will take the rocket into an have not been designed to control
orbit around the earth. Once the the biplane constellation discussed
separation has been effected, the here, but the biplane does not have
pilot will jettison the frames join-
to carry out abnormal maneuvers.
ing the rocket to the plane and re-
f) Supporting frames. The tri-
turn to his base.
angular design of the two wing
This proposal an invitation
is
planes offers good possibilities for
to the study of the general problem
a strong joint of two interplane
of carrying large rockets to high
struts. All vertical stresses rest
altitude by means of aircraft.
directly on
the takeoff gear
Most obvious aeronautical through two strong compression
problems that would be met in ribs of the lower plane. Naturally,
applying this proposition might be the struts present one of the most
a) Aerodynamicinterference important structural design prob-
between the planes of the biplane lems, since they have to make pos-
configuration. A biplane with wings sible the launching of the rocket.
of aspect ratio lower than 1 has It seems obvious that aircraft
no precedent in the aeronautical can be used advantageously as car-
proxis and therefore represents a riers of orbital payloads. It should
case to be wind tunnel tested. be emphasized also that the vehicle
It is certain that by suffi- proposed here may take off from
ciently increasing the distance be- conventional air strips. END.

missiles and rockets

 ROCKET ENGINEERING

NEW ROCKET FABRICATION METHOD

Experiments have been con-
ducted with a jacketed rocket com-
bustion chamber that was fabri-
cated by hydraulic forming from
sheet metal, according to NACA.*
Runs with these combustion cham-
bers have been made at over-all
heat-transfer rates of 2.5 BTU per
square inch per second with water
cooling and also with ammonia as
a regenerative coolant.
New fabrication method not
only provides chambers with thin
walls for combustion and cooling
research, but also affords relatively Thrust chamber manufactured by hydraulic forming.
light-weight chamber structure,
NACA reports. taching an injector and to facili- ber, the new technique has resulted
Engine involved has a nominal tate mounting on the thrust stand. in time and cost savings over the
thrust rating of 1,000 pounds at a Thrust chambers fabricated by contour machining methods that it
chamber pressure of 300 pounds the hydraulic-forming method have replaced. The total time for one
per square inch. Thrust chambers been used in a number of experi- chamber is about equal to that re-
of 1,000- and 5,000-pound thrust mental programs. Propellants used quired for an equivalent machined
with operating chamber pressures include liquid oxygen and ammonia, rocket chamber. But, an additional
of 600 pounds per square inch have liquid oxygen with hydrocarbons, chamber can be made with a com-
been made by the same technique. and high-impulse propellant combi- pleted die in 10 per cent of the
Coolant jacket comprises an nations. For liquid oxygen with time required for the first chamber.
inner and outer sheet-metal skin. either ammonia or hydrocarbons as Thus, it is clear that when
Outer skin is shaped to form three fuel,regenerative cooling as well several chambers are made, the
or four helically wound coolant as water cooling has been used. cost per chamber is greatly re-
passages. In the engine illustrated Run duration ranged to 60 seconds. duced. Material costs are also les-
these coolant passages lead direct- The characteristic length was sened. The procedure produces very
ly into the rocket injection head, usually between 30 and 40 inches.
little scrap metal. Exclusive of the
thus providing for regenerative In all designed for
cases, nozzles
material in the mandrel and die, 60
cooling of the chamber. expansion to atmospheric pressures
per cent of the starting metal ends
For engines operated at a were used.
up in the final chamber assembly.
chamber pressure of 600 pounds
Time and Cost Savings
per square inch with regenerative
These engines were proved to
cooling (jacket pressures of the or-
be rugged and durable in the tests,
der of 800 lb/sq. in.), it was neces- according to NACA. Over-all heat-
sary to reinforce the outer shell to transfer rates above 5 BTU per
prevent ballooning. Such reinforce- square inch per second were meas-
ment was accomplished by wrap- ured with high-impulse propellants
ping the chamber with several lay- in a 1000-pound-thrust engine with-
ers of fiberglass cloth, bonded with out failures. Occasional burnouts
a polyester resin glue. External were experienced. Some of these
valleys between adjacent cooling burnouts occurred at the throat of
the engine. Such burnouts could
passages were first filled with a
generally be attributed to the in-
low-strength filler material.
jector design; that is, similar burn-
For research purposes, where
outs were experienced with substi-
engine weight is not a primary con- tute chambers equipped with the
sideration, the chamber assembly troublesome injector. Heat-transfer
is welded to a flange to permit at- rates with such injectors have usu-
ally been very high.
• Technical Note 3827, Experimental In-
vestigation of a Lightweight Rocket Cham- For the fabrication of more
ber, by John E. Dalgleish and Adelbert O.
Tischler.
than one rocket combustion cham- Removal of 1000 lb. thrust chamber frorr lie.

November, 1956 59
ROCKET ENGINEERING

BRITISH LIQUID ROCKET VALVES

Four outstanding main types of valves used on resistance to flow. This gave the head of the valve the
Britain's Screamer rocket, suction valves, stop and by- rather long travel of 0.95 in., and for this reason a long
pass valves, pressure operated air valves, and control stack of bellows had to be used.
valves, represent proof British engineers have accom- The main stop valves incorporated by a by-pass
plished a great feat. valve allowed the pipe lines and valves to be cooled before
Details on these valves have been revealed by S. starting. Allen terms the liquid oxygen stop valve "typ-
Allen, Chief Engineer, Armstrong Siddeley's Rocket ical", the original design is shown
in Fig. 1. Valve head
Division. was operated by gas pressure acting on a bellows. By-
In a R.A.S. report he points out suction valves pass valve was carried on the stem of the stop valve, pas-
originally were kept to a minimum in size to give a small sages being provided by flutes. By "masking" the by-
pass valve a certain amount of cushioning was achieved
during opening of the stop valve. As the stop valve
opened, the by-pass valve closed.

It was necessary to apply a large force to the

valve head to move it against a large pressure difference.
When the valve opened, the pressure difference disap-
peared and the force caused the valve to accelerate so
rapidly that stress waves were set up in the bellows,
causing rupture. For these reasons a different type of
valve was developed, as shown in Fig. 2. In this unit a
small bellows-sealed servo valve used to control the
is

pressure behind the main operating piston. When the

pump primes, fluid is delivered against a comparatively
small back pressure through the by-pass. Both sides of
the operating piston are subjected to this pressure; the
valve is held on its seat by the force of a "fail safe"
spring and by force given by the pressure and area
valve head.
Small valves used to control the flow of propel-
lants to the igniter and gas generator were of similar
design to that of the pilot portion of the valve illustrated
in Fig. 2.
To control the gas pressure necessary to open the
various valves, a design of pressure-operated gas valves
was developed, as shown in Fig. 4. Signal pressure
moves piston against the spring until the cone forming
the back of the piston registers on a seat giving a
positive seal. This moves the necked portion of the
spindle in line with a lip seal, thus providing a pas-
sage from the pressurized gas storage to the operating
cylinder of the valve to be used.
The pressure balance valve, which is illustrated
in Fig. consists of two diaphragms each carrying a
3,
ported piston. Oxygen pressure acts on one side of the
first diaphragm and water pressure on the other. Excess
or deficiency of water pressure over oxygen pressure
causes the ported piston to slide in its barrel adjust-
ing water pressure to the oxygen pressure by altering
the area of the ports.
Thrust variation is obtained by variation of the
turbine speed by means of controlling the flow of pro-
pellants to the gas generator. LOX flow to the gas
generator is controlled by the pilot's throttle valve
illustrated in Fig. 5. This essentially is a variable
datum reducing valve, the datum being altered by com-
pressing the spring by means of a jack operated by
pilot's throttle lever.

60 missiles and rockets

 VANGUARI
READ^

First Vanguard main-stage en-

gine has beenshipped from Gen-
eral Electric Co., Evendale, Ohio, to
Martin, Baltimore. For about one year
GE engineers have conducted exhaus-
tive tests leading to numerous modi-
fications. Early burnout problems have
been licked, and the engine now is
ready for production, with only minor
alterations. This picture clearly shows
control and pump system details. The
two engineers are adjusting the gim-
bal mounting.

Technicians in the firing station

at countdown. Original requirements
called for 141-second burning period.
At recent tests the engine has per-
General Electric Vanguard main-stage engine developers discuss features of formed perfectly, burning time hav-
the re-designed injector head, heart of the powerplant. From left to right, Louis ing exceeded 150 seconds. With a
Michelson, Rocket Engine Section Manager; George L. Macpherson, X405 thrust yield of 27,000 pounds, the
Project Manager; Benson Hamlin, Special Assistant to Rocket Engine Section Vanguard first-stage engine will pro-
Manager; and Fred I. Brown, Rocket Engine Sales Manager. Vanguard engine pel the satellite vehicle to a velocity
combustion chamber on table. of 4,000 miles per hour.
 Control engineer looks at engine
through observation window at remote
firing station. Developed by GE's
Flight Propulsion Laboratory Dept.,
Evendale, Ohio, the powerplant now
is scheduled to go through evaluation

tests both by Martin, Baltimore and

the Navy. Several actual flight tests
will be conducted at Patrick AFB later.

The first-stage engine is designed to

carry the I -ton Vanguard
I
vehicle
to 36 miles altitude.
How to boost
RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT
efficiency
By Commander George W. Hoover, USN

RESEARCH and development and the resultant loss of foresight. Let us first define research and
throughout the country, al- Constant fear of ridicule from development and then try to apply
though certainly productive, is ca- colleagues when there is any devia- this scientific approach to the prob-
pable of far more positive results. tion from the accepted path or lem of aircraft instrumentation.
—
This can be achieved not neces- theory is another factor. Research is the systematic an-
sarily in the form of faster prog- The overwhelming desire of in- alysis of a problem consisting of
ress — but by making larger steps dividuals to become inventors also stating the problem in its funda-
with fewer blind alley encounters. must be considered. In addition to mental terms. Development is the
Research and development has the pleasant thoughts associated application of these physical phe-
been too closely associated with with receiving royalties and pos- nomena into practical and ade-
the "ivory tower" concept, or with sible promotion, there is the incli- quate solutions, not just modifica-
the idea that there is something nation of an inventor to press his tions of an old idea.
strange and mysterious about try- —
own ideas sometimes to the exclu- By establishing a dual effort,
ing to solve a difficult problem. sion of facts. the research is where the uninhib-
There is also the idea that unsuc- Furthermore, there is the ited thinking must prevail with a
cessful attempts to solve a prob- threat of deadlines to be met and carry-over to the more practical
lem are positive results rather than the continuous drive to cut costs. aspects of the development. Such
negative because in the process one This is an emotional effect brought an approach requires two com-
more wrong approach is eliminated. about by management's subtle re- pletely separate groups: one to de-
This attitude is not only expensive —
minder no successful bids, no termine the path, the other to fol-
but indicates poor planning. need for engineers. —
low it both working together.
There is considerable discus- The last and perhaps most im- In applying this approach to
sion about the wonderful progress portant cause of inhibited thinking the instrument problem, for ex-
that has been made in aviation in is the methodology employed in ample, we first state the overall
the last 35 years. In some branches carrying out a major part of our problem. Fundamentally the instru-
this progress is not given enough research and development. ment problem involves much more
credit. In others it is questionable. than just the design and develop-
These statements are not made Fundamental Terms ment of a group of instruments
to criticize the efforts of engineers, Projects are started often with- for installation in a missile con-
but to point out that the growing out making a complete statement of trol station or an airplane cock-
complexity of our aircraft and mis- the problem. This results in a par- pit. The problem in fact is one of
siles indicates that our methods tial solution which we justify by creating a man-machine system, the
themselves need a little research- calling it a compromise. efficiency of which is a product of
ing. There are many factors con- Therefore we must think un- both factors. The machine we can
tributing to limited productiveness, inhibitedly and seek an adequate re-design, the man we cannot.
but a predominant one is the influ- solution by stating the problem in Therefore we must start our analy-
ence of inhibited thinking. its fundamental terms. To think in sis with the man.
Inhibited thinking is a scien- this manner we must treat each Of all the sensory systems vis-
tific sickness which stems from be- problem as a completely new one. ion is the strongest in effecting
ing so saturated in knowledge that Many engineers today consider orientation. This being true, it is
we "cannot see the forest for the such tactics dreaming. Engineers essential in the man-machine prob-
trees." However, inhibited thinking seem to be objective in their think- lem to create a display which will
has many known causes and is ing with their feet solidly on the not only be adequate but compati-
therefore a curable disease. One ground. This is certainly a very ble with the other sensory systems.
cause of this knowledge-bound healthy attitude if their feet don't To bring about a proper dis-
thinking is the lack of imagination get stuck too deeply in the mud. play it is necessary to sense cer-

64 missiles and rockets

tain phenomena. These data must
be computed to produce the display.

Display Requirements
In order for the man to re-
spond to the display a control sys-
tem must be furnished. In addition
there must be a means of communi-
cation both internally through sig-
nal transmission and externally
through radiation.
The overall problem and this —
applies to almost every type of re-
search and development falls into —
five areas: Display, (2) Sens-
(1)
ing, (3) Computation, (4) Control,
and (5) Communication.
In the case of display for air-
craft the primary question to be
answered is simply "What does the
pilot need to have displayed?"
There are actually two major
requirements. These are position in
space and
geographical position.
Each two areas must be
of the
further divided into three types of
display:
Orientation, which tells the
1.

man what he is doing.

2. Director, which tells the
man what he should be doing.
3. Quantitative, which tells
the man how he is doing.
In order to determine the de-
tails of these three types of display
it is necessary to make a complete
analysis of the Information Re-
quirements. The operators must be
interrogated to establish the funda-
mental information necessary to ac-
complish the task without interpo-
lation or mental computation.
For example, during an air in-
terception the pilot needs range in-
formation. The fire control engi-
neers present this information in
the terms in which they always de-
fine range —
in miles and yards.
However, pilots need range
data in order to know when to lock
on,when to fire the gun or rockets
and when to break. Fundamentally
range must be indicated as a direc-
tory type of presentation to elimi-
nate remembering at what ranges
to lock on, fire and break away.
Whenthe questioning reaches
a point where the operator states
that without data he cannot carry
out the task, then data is the X
fundamental requirement. These
information requirements must be
established for each phase of the
task from beginning to end.

November, 1 956
 The next task is to select an to the flight of any aircraft can
adequate yardstick to determine the be solved by using these five
display requirements. In most in- sensors with respect to time. Navi-
stances the yardstick is merely that gation is a function of velocity
which is most natural. In the case which is a function of accelera-
of orientation, the visual world is tion. Fuel management is a func-
the yardstick because pilots do a tion of fuel available with re-
good job of flying when they have spect to time. Position, obstacles,
access to the visual world. weather, and landing path are
By using the visual world as some of the information requiring
our yardstick it is relatively simple the use of some form of electro-
to determine what causes us to re- magnetic radiation. They are all
act as we do throughout the vari- variables in the equations of navi-
ous phases of flight. gation and orientation and there-
The proof here for a display fore fit all modes of flight.
is by axiom rather than by evalu-
ation. If it is true that we orient Simple Computation
ourselves by our perception of the Further analysis of the dis-
visual world it follows that our play requirements establish the
display must be adequate if it re- variations of the basic equations
produces the same cues apparent of motion which must be com-
in that world. puted. Only the basic equations
Sensing certain phenomena is must be solved with varying rates
essential to producing any display. and total time the only difference
In the past we have chosen to between modes of flight.
divide the problem into specific
An example of this is the dif-
types of instruments such as ference between rendezvous and
flight instruments, navigation in-
air interception. In the rendezvous
struments, fire control, landing,
mode the rate of closure gradually
engine, etc. As aircraft became
approaches zero whereas in strike
more advanced, it became fashion-
it is maintained at some constant
able to include more than jjst the optimum rate. The total time in
instrument and refer to the de- rendezvous is longer than intercep-
velopment as a "system." These tion. The equations of flight path
systems each included sensors, are fundamentally identical.
amplifiers, computers, indicators,
With these requirements our
etc. and were developed for a
computer becomes a rather simple
specific type of aircraft. In stating
device for solving a relatively
the overall problem, it appears that
simple equation continuously with
each mode is in reality only a repe-
varying rates and time.
tition of the other. If we solve one,
we solve them all.
In summary it can be stated
For example, the only real dif- that when the fundamental re-
ference between landing and take- quirements of any problem are
off the application of power.
is
established the solution to the
The equations are the same. The problem becomes apparent.
only real difference between engineers will take the time
If

rendezvous and air interception is to state the problem at hand in

that in the latter case we release its fundamental terms, if they will

the armament. The only difference stop inventing and seek a com-
between takeoff and rendezvous is pletely adequate solution, if they
the plane of operation. In the final will look at the problem not as an
analysis all modes of flight are entity in itself, but as part of a
only variations of navigation. complete system, if they will work
with operators and human engin-
Necessary Sensors eers as a team, they will be think-
ing uninhibitedly. Then progress
From the information display
will be made, not in smaller in-
requirements we can determine
crements, but in a continuous
the following necessary sensors.
series of major breakthroughs.
1) Inertia, 2) Air Density,
END.
3) Temperature, 4) Fuel Avail-
ability and 5) Electromagnetic [Opinions expressed in this article
Radiation. are those of the author and are not
to be construed as official or as re-
All of the equations related flecting the views of the Navy Dept.]

missiles and rockets

What Guides the Vanguard?

Minneapolis-Honeywell Builds
Complex Gyro Reference System

By Henry P. Steier in pitch to an accuracy of degree search and Development, the program
with respect to the tangent of the as it now stands calls for six prelimi-
A new milestone in the use of
nary rocket systems for test purposes
earth if the orbit is to be circular. If
the gyroscope will be attempted when
it is to be elliptical with a 300 mile to be followed by six complete rocket
the Vanguard earth satellite vehicle
perigee and a 1500 mile apogee, orien- control and guidance systems for
takes off into space.
tation must be within 2.9 degrees. launching satellites.
Job assigned to the gyroscope in
this case calls for guiding an 80-foot The "brain" that generates the
commads to direct this imposing or- Guidance Program
rocket vehicle weighing 21,978.5
ientation job is being built by the The guidance system will operate
pounds to a very accurate orientation
Minneapolis -Honeywell Regulator during three periods of Vanguard's
with respect to the earth.
Co.'s Aeronautical Division. flight. These are the first-stage pow-
From a vertical position on the
First of the Vanguard guidance ered flight, the second-stage powered
ground at takeoff to a horizontal
flight and the third-stage coasting
position at about 700 miles from the reference systems has come off a
flight. It will be located near the front
launching point, a guidance reference pilot production line at M-H. It will
of the second-stage rocket vehicle.
system containing three gyroscopes probably be used in one of a series
and astrionics gear will tell Van- of preliminary rocket systems for test The program flight path calls

guard what to do and when to do it. purposes. for a vertical takeoff. After that a
Chosen altitude for the satellite Tests are expected to start in a gradual tilting from the vertical to
to be released from Vanguard vehicle few months at the Martin Aircraft the horizontal will take place in the
is 300 miles. At the point where the Co.'s Vanguard test station being direction of the intended orbit. When
satellite is released the third rocket built in Florida. According to C. C.
the stage burns out, the vehicle
first

stage that carries it must be oriented Furnas, Secretary of Defense, Re- will be about 36 miles up and at about
45 degrees to the vertical. During
this part of the flight, the M-H 3-
PITCH GYRO axis gyro platform calibrated to con-
trol pitch, yaw and roll (line of
flight) will command the vehicle.

Its job at the start will be to

sense any movement from the verti-
cal. This movement will be picked
off the pitch and yaw gyros as an
electrical signal. The signal will be
sent to an autopilot amplifier. When
amplified, the signal will be sent to
the servo system that controls tilt of
the gimbal mounted rocket thrust
chamber at the rear of the first-
PtTCH AXIS stage.

YAW AXES This operation has been com-

LOF pared to juggling a broom on the fin-
ger. Roll gyro will sense line-of-
Gyro reference system manufactured by Minneapolis-Honeywell for VANGUARD. Vector flight roll that might be induced from
diagram in lower right corner shows direction of the three axis references. Shock mounts sloshing fuel, wind or other forces
are located at the corners of the platform. Socket lugs for electron tubes can be seen
near the center cut-out of the platform. acting on the vehicle.

70 missiles and rockets

 of the second and third stages.
A gradually programmed tilt

of the second stage thrust chamber

will bring the vehicle to a steadily
increasing angle from the vertical
until at about 140 miles altitude
the second stage burns out.
From then on the vehicle will
coast to orbital altitude of 300
miles. It is during the coasting pe-

riod that the most critical part of

orientation takes place. Here the
to 2.9 degree parallelism to the earth
must be finally achieved.
Control during this period will
be transferred to an array of jet
reactors. Signals from the guid-
ance reference system will be fed
to these to nudge the remaining por-
tion of the vehicle into place.
By the time the coasting pe-
riod ends at a distance of about 700
miles from the launching point the
vehicle is fully committed. No fur-
Correction for roll will be sup- "memory," or desire to resist changes
ther control of orientation can be
plied by auxiliary off -on jets from the ingimbal movement is unrestrained
side of the vehicle. These will take by friction forces acting on it. made.
their commands from the guidance Both transistors and electron
system and be activated as needed. Variable Memory tubes will be used as part of the
While the M-H guidance system Flight plan called for in Van- guidance reference system. Tem-
is mounted on a platform, it is not
guard requires that the memory of perature controllers are used by
its guidance system be changed in
a true inertial guidance system. M-H to keep the gyros at operating
Through its shock mounts, the dia- accordance with the maneuvers the temperature through heaters built
mond-shaped platform will be fas- vehicle is to make. into the gyros. Six Honeywell H-6
tened in a fixed position in the ve- Three factors are important in transistors are to be used in an all
hicle. getting Vanguard in the right posi- transistor controller amplifier. It
Gyros known as hermetic inte- tion for establishment of the satel- will perform both power and
grating gyros (BIG) will be used. A lite in a satisfactory orbit. These are switching functions. No relays will
type made by M-H known as HIG-6 speed, altitude and angle. be used because of vibration and
has been chosen for the job. This To the pitch gyro with its sup- shock problems. Tubes will be used
gyro contains, in a hermetically porting astrionics gear falls the for amplifying pick-off signals.
sealed can, a gyro wheel that ro- very important job of easing Van-
tates at about 12,000 rpm, a gimbal guard into the correct position for
supporting the wheel, a torque gen- the satellite's kick-off into the orbit.
erator for changing position of the Shortly after takeoff a clock-
gimbal, and a signal pick-off poten- like programming timer and accele-
tiometer. rometer device will go into action
The gimbal is floated in a fluid to change the pitch gyro's "memo-
called Fluorlube. By carefully con- rized" axis. This pitch programmer
trolling the weight of the wheel and will cause a signal to be fed to the
gimbal combination, its specific grav- gyro's torque generator which
ity is exactly matched to that of the causes rotation of the gimbal to a
fluid. In this way the bearing fric- new position.
tion problem in gyros is reduced.
The new position will be
In a figuratively
"weightless" picked the gyro's signal potenti-
off
condition, the gimballed gyro in a ometer and fed through the guid-
floated system needs a minimum of ance system to tilt the thrust cham-
bearing surface. Jeweled bearings ber. As thishappens the vehicle
can be used since they act only as will tilt away from the vertical.
guides for the gimbal shafts and are At about
36 miles altitude
small enough to be nearly friction- when the stage burns out it
first
less. will be separated from the vehicle Eleven ton complex 3-stage rocket burning
Result is ultra-high sensitivity and dropped. At this stage the five different kinds propellants and using
of
intricate guidance is needed to push 20-
of the gyro to any movement. Its guidance system takes over control pound satellite into space.

72 missiles and rockets

 Astiionics
By Henry P. Steier

A close-up look at a much publicized and photo-

graphed "popular" model of an IGY satellite shocked view-
ers at the recent Instrument-Automation Conference and
exhibit in New York's Coliseum. Resistors, capacitors,
tubes and "things" aimlessly strung inside the plastic
sphere in Christmas tree fashion did not make sense. For-
tunately the Naval Research Laboratories' plastic model
was nearby to offset any doubts about the project's sanity.
•

The Terrapin ionosphere research rocket developed

by Republic Aviation Corp. and recently flown to an alti-
tude of 80 miles is considered the cheapest and most port-
able rocket of its kind. Named after the University of
Maryland's mascot. Terrapin's nose carried all-transistorized
astrionics gear including printed circuits. A Geiger counter
was carried to measure cosmic radiation. Dr. Fred Singer
of the school's Physics Department, which developed the
astrionics, said the instrumentation in Terrapin is "so
simple" it was built by high school and university students.
•

Singer has set forth a proposal to measure micro-

meteorite erosion of the satellite surface by placing a
radioactive tracer in a portion of the skin. A Geiger coun-
ter mounted beneath the skin surface would detect loss of
material by erosion as a decrease in counting rate. Another
proposal by H. E. LaGow of NRL would use evaporated
nichrome film on glass to determine erosion through in-
crease of resistance. Counter would, if practical as a pay-
load, give accuracy badly needed in such measurements.
•

Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s redevelopment of the

vibrating rate gyro may prove more practical than the
attempted development of the same idea by others a few
years ago. The "vibragyro" is another case of the applied
science of engineering taking a clue from the pure science
of biology. Certain insects use vibrating masses known as
"halteres" (leaping weights) for flight stabilization.
Mounted in a sort of tuning fork configuration on the in-
sect's back and fastened to its nervous system the vibrat-
ing halteres respond to movement about the fork's vertical
axis by producing an oscillating torque proportional to the
rate of turn. Westinghouse's Air Arm Division is evaluat-
ing the latest version in an autopilot it makes.
•

Unsung heroesuntil last month were the USAF

ground-based radar specialists. In a move to provide recog-
nition to the previously unheralded radar controllers on
the ground who advise interceptor pilots on the location of
moving targets, the Radio Corp. of America awarded in-
dividual and division trophies to winning USAFintercept
teams competing in the air-to-air rocketry events at Vin-
cent Air Force Base, Arizona on October 18. The former
Yuma AFB was officiallydedicated as the Vincent AFB
at that time. The RCA trophies will be awarded yearly.

74 missiles and rockets

 —

The Missile Control Problem

can electro-hydraulic
servo systems solve it?
By Jordan E. Johnson

MOST practical
control
sile
approach
generally
is
to mis-
con-
In this regard, high overall me-
chanical efficiency assumes greater
perature characteristics is to be
preferred because of the size reduc-
ceded to be the use of electrically importance because of the result- tion automatically achieved.
controlled hydraulic servo systems. ant minimum power loss. High me- Where an oversize pump must
The limited of a missile
life chanical efficiency improves power/- be used to compensate for reduced
has given impetus to the design of weight and power/size ratios and re- performance at elevated tempera-
very small accessories possessing a duces in-flight power drain. tures, a vicious efficiency loss cycle
high degree of reliability. Because In a system powered by a stor- is started. The larger pump at
of the short life requirements, acces- age battery, for example, a given lower ambient temperatures pro-
sory manufacturers have been able to battery will be capable of powering duces excessive flow, which raises
utilize hitherto unexplored design a longer flight or a smaller size bat-
; fluid temperatures, thereby dilut-
techniques in producing unusually tery of lower power rating may be ing the pump's efficiency and creat-
compact, lightweight units capable substituted to reduce further system ing the need for a larger one.
of consistently high performance sizeand weight. Temperature effect on the re-
and reliability. Anadded requirement has liefvalve setting also must be con-
Reliability is at the top of the been imposed upon missile systems sidered. No appreciable pressure
list of missile control system re- by the logistic trend toward main- setting sag can be tolerated. Simi-
quirements because of the "one tenance of larger supplies of mis- lar considerations apply to all mis-
time" nature of the application of siles. With contemplated storage
sile hydraulic components.
this type of craft. Missile system for periods of five years or more,
Packaged hydraulic systems
operation must be right the first missile control systems must pos-
have many advantages to offer
time; there is no second chance in sess not only reliability and high
small reduced weight,
envelope,
the event of system failure. performance in actual operation,
minimum of plumbing, simplicity
In most missile applications, but unusual shelf life as well.
of installation and ease of mainte-
weight and space is at a premium. Missile operation covers a
nance. They permit assignment of
Research programs are geared to broad temperature range. Hydrau-
responsibility for design, manufac-
strive constantly for more compact, lic pump selection, for instance,
ture and performance testing to a
lighter weight missile components. must be based on the worst possi-
single reliable source.
Increased power/weight and pow- ble condition. For this reason, a
er/size ratios usually are the goals. pump having virtually "flat" tem- This single-source concept in-
sures maximumcompatibility of
Schematic drawing of packaged hydraulic power source. Pump discharge (system) pressure system components, thus simplify-
is directed to small piston causing it to tend to move to the right. Large piston, on common ing trouble shooting procedures
connecting rod, moves in same direction thus pressurizing pump inlet line. In-line relief valve
and avoiding a potential trouble
controls maximum pressure and thermal relief valve protects against excessive temperature
rise in missile during ground preflight operation. source brought on by the inter-ac-
tion ofmismatched components.
Vickers Inc. has developed a
packaged missile system of the
"plug-in" type. When fitted with
self-sealing quick-disconnect fit-
tings, the package can be quickly
and easily installed or replaced.
Detail troubleshooting therefore
can be confined to the bench.

A typical packaged hydraulic

power source suitable for missile
installation is made up of an elec-
tric-motor-driven, miniature, fixed
displacement pump mounted to a
manifolded valving assembly.
These manifolded valves in-
clude standard in-line relief
a
valve, a solenoid shut-off valve and
S OLENOID OPERA TED SHU T- OFF VALVE
a thermal relief valve; also, a spe-

76 missiles and rockets

cial, self-pressurizing reservoir neither is itnecessary to provide a
matched to the pump inlet pressure warm-up period. This basic Vickers
and system's fluid capacity needs. pump design is approved under
The components used in this Spec. MIL-P-7858.
package have been tested at ele- The in-line relief valve design
vated temperatures and under se- combines unusually accurate con-
vere vibration conditions. trol and fast response with excep-
The package is provided with tionally "flat" performance char-
Comparison of pressurized reservoir and bleed-air
self-sealing fittings for quick con- acteristics. This component has type reservoir assuming no controls on bleed
pressure.
nection to the electro-hydraulic, been vibration-tested in all axes at
surface control servo system. Pri- frequencies from zero to 2,000 cps.
mary power in this particular in- Amplitude was such as to produce
stance is derived from a storage 25g's acceleration with no malfunc-
battery. It is quite possible, how- tion. High temperature runs up to

ever, that a ram air turbine, air 560 °F have been most successful.
motor or monopropellant turbine The self-pressurizing reservoir
might be substituted for the elec- used in the package is designed to
tric motor in some installations. provide the optimum supercharge
The pump used in this typical pressure required by the electric-
Ambient temperature characteristics of hydraulic
missile hydraulic power package is motor-driven pump. reservoirs.

a miniaturized version of the Vick- The reservoir design utilizes

ers fixed displacement piston unit. pump discharge oil at system pres-
Overall mechanical efficiency sure to maintain optimum inlet
when operating at rated speed and pressure independently of altitude,
pressure exceeds 92 per cent. Volu- temperature and reservoir level.
metric efficiency is approximately 98 The pressure characteristics are per-
per cent. This higher efficiency per- fectly "flat."
mits use of a smaller storage battery Performance of pressurized reservoir and accumu-
Since this is a "boot strap" oper- lator type reservoir for various oil capacities.
and related equipment for giving ation, using pressure produced to
How Vickers self-pressurizing reservoir com-
missile applications. maintain pressure required, spring pares with other types. Note "flat" pressure
Pump
output does not vary ap- loading of the piston is avoided and characteristics for all altitudes, temperatures

preciably with temperature change, and reservoir levels.

pressurization is initiated only when
and efficiency loss between normal called for by the system. the example power source package
operating temperatures and 258°F This means that during ex- do not constitute the limit of those
is less than 3%. Therefore, it is
tended stowage periods, the system available for missile application.
unnecessary to over-size the pump will remain intact, without leakage Another useful accessory is the hy-
at low temperature to insure suffi-
or other deterioration. The Vickers draulic-powered electrical power
cient flow at elevated temperatures.
pressurized reservoir may be made package.
compatible with all known types of a further applica-
This unit is
fluids over a temperature range of
tion of the package concept. It is a
65°F to plus 350°F. constant-speed hydraulic motor-
The Vickers packaged system driven alternator assembly. It is
concept for missile hydraulics is a designed to supplant a conven-
simple and effective method for tional, bulkier inverter in provid-
achieving design goals. Weight, ing a-c power. Speed control is
size, performance and reliability within ± 2% percent regardless of
are improved by the manifolding of load. Special configurations will
valves and integration of the man- maintain 400 cps frequency within
ifolded assembly with the pump ± 0.1 percent, regardless of load.
and pressurized reservoir. In addi- These new units are available
tion,shelf life characteristics are in six sizes for 0.5 to 3.0 kva out-
improved by the self-pressurizing put. Weight of the individual units
"boot strap" type reservoir. is from 7 lb. for the smallest pack-

Research programs are contin- age to 19 lb. for the 3.0 kva output
uing the search for lighter and size. Special larger sizes up to 9
Missile pump weighs only 0.9 lbs. delivers smaller components without the kva are being tested.
4.3 hp.
sacrifice of performance and relia- A subsystem such as this, com-
bility. Higher temperature applica- plete within itself, makes the job
tions at higher speeds are being of the missile project engineer
tested and promise to permit early easier and fixes firmly the respon-
revision of specifications that im- sibility for both performance and
pose more stringent requirements. reliability with a single subcon-
In-line relief valve . . .
And the components utilized in tractor.

78 missiles and rockets

 Aerophysics

By Seabrook Hull

Operational intercontinental ballistics and glide mis-

silesalready may be in prototype stage. Effort is toward
optimum, not desperation designs. Intensive physics research
of high temperature gas dynamics and critical thermal
properties is beginning to yield definitive knowhow.

Take a 2,500-mile ICBM initiating re-entry at Mach

18 with 10,000 lbs/ft 2 nose pressure; 12,000°F boundary
layer temperature; and a 1,000 BTU/ft 2 /sec average heating
rate for 20 seconds. A warhead skin of thick copper for fast
heat conductivity and primary heat sink capacity, plus a
thin platinum alloy coating for chemical stability and over
95% reflectivity might make addition of deadweight coolant,
such as water, unnecessary. Holding maximum skin tempera-
ture to 1,500°F design target indicates need for high drag-
to-weight ratio nose cone (hemisphere) to slow re-entry speed
early and average out heating rate. Future high-temperature
materials to cope with 10,000 BTU/ft 2 /sec heating rate just
before impact will facilitate cutting heat-sink weight and
enable switch to faster-falling, low drag-to-weight ratio
tapered nose cone.

Glide bomber technology centers on thermal equilib-

—
rium of mission flight conditions 2,500-mile range, Mach 12,
150,000 ft and ram air pressure of 300 lbs/ft Resulting 2
.

9,000°F boundary layer temperature over sharply swept delta

gives a 5 BTU/ft 2 /sec average heating rate for 20 minutes
in the laminar flow forward wing area. Radiation away equal
to heat input occurs at skin temperature of 1,600°F. Equili-
brium in the turbulant boundary layer across the aft wing
occurs at 2,500°F. Proposed wing cross-section shows red hot
inconel outer skin separated from inner steel structural skin
by a layer of thick insulation.

Steam from supplementary cooling in leading edges,

where heating rates hit 50 BTU/ft 2 /sec and equilibrium tem-
peratures exceed materials limits, could power control/guid-
ance gear. These two concepts are heavy and primitive but
would work, though the cost in massive firing stages would
be vast. Materials to stand 3,00O°-to-5,000°F are badly needed
in order to reduce final missile weight.

NACA is developing rate controlled stability and guid-

ance system to make up for lack of oscillation damping in
the space and near-space flight of manned vehicles For . . .

some hypersonic devices (order of Mach 10) flared tail cones

provide higher stability and less aerodynamic heating than
conventional swept cruciform fins . NACA is flight testing
. .

materials to temperatures up to 7,000°F .Air Research

. .

and Development Command's latest "Tables and Graphs of

the ARDC Model Atmosphere, 1956" (replaces NACA Tech-
Note 1200) gives atmosphere data to an altitude of 330
miles is being printed by Cambridge Laboratory.
;

80 missiles and rockets

NACA boosts
rocket research
200-mile altitudes
7,000 mph speeds
A four-stage research rocket as- This was disclosed by NACA at this time suggests that far great-
sembled by the National Advisory last month during the Triennial In- er achievements have taken place
Committee for Aeronautics has at- spection of its Langley Aeronautical during the interim period which the
tained a velocity of Mach 10.4 (6864 Laboratory. The record flight took government is not willing to discuss
mph), an altitude of approximately place about two years ago at NACA's yet. At least one is the recent firing
200 miles and an estimated range of Pilotless Aircraft Research Station of a Redstone assembly for a record
about 500 miles. at Wallops Island, Va. Its disclosure 3000 miles. (See page 33)
The four-stage NACA rocket
measured 35 feet, 8 inches in length
and weighed a total of 2800 pounds.
First two stages were finned Nike
boosters, each 11 feet long. Third
stage was a finned Thiokol T-40
rocket 4 feet, 6 inches in length;
the fourth was a flare-stabilized
Thiokol T-55 which measured 6 feet
in length with instrumentation.

The assembly was launched over

the Atlantic from Wallops Island
after the area had been cleared by a
Navy air search. The stages were
fuzed to permit a brief time lag be-
tween the burning of one stage and
the firing of the next. This was
done to avoid excessive heating in
the lower atmosphere.
Maximum speed was attained at
an altitude of 84,000 feet, when the
last of the four stages was ex-
hausted. The fourth stage, together
with its cargo of thermocouples, ac-
celerometers and telemetering equip-
ment, coasted from that point to an
altitude of more than one million
feet. Although its fall into the At-
lantic was not observed, its velocity
and trajectory indicated a range of
approximately 500 miles.
Extreme range is definitely not
one of NACA's objectives in con-
ducting the aerodynamic heating re-
search program. To minimize this
feature of its high-speed rockets, it
has developed an "over-the-top" tra-
jectory in more recent firings. This
involves burning the first two stages

NACA 4-stage research roclcet ready for

launching.
on the upward portion of the trip
and delaying ignition of the remain-
ing two stages until they reach their
peak altitude and begin to descend.
Even with this technique, how-
ever, horizontal ranges of 60 to 100
miles are regularly achieved, accord-
ing to Robert L. Krieger, Engineei -

in-Charge of Wallops Island.

NACA is presently using a
souped-up four-stage rocket vehicle
at Wallops Island which employs an
Honest John as the first stage. The
other three stages are identical to
those of the earlier models. It is 41
feet in length and weighs 5700
pounds when loaded. Use of the big
ger first stage unit provides the valu-
able addition of two seconds of fir-

ing time and thus permits the entire

assembly to reach an appreciably
higher altitude.
This, in turn, means that sub-
stantially greater velocities —possi-
bly bordering on those faced by re-
entering ballistic missile warheads
— can be achieved for the final stage
of the assembly upon its plunge into
the denser layers of the atmosphere.
NACA's high speed vehicles are
providing considerable data on nose
cone re-entry problems for ballistic
missiles, but an equally important
project is the accumulation of infor-
mation on the behavior of small air-
craft models at super-speeds. This is
of particular significance to the hy-
personic rocket glider which would
obtain its initial impetus from rock-
et boost to great altitude and then
rely on the aerodynamic lift of its
wings to coast to its destination.
"This type of vehicle appears to
be the one most suited for man-car-
rying wherein we may set as our
goal the effective shrinking of the
size of the earth so that any two
points on it are only a short day's
journey apart," said F. L. Thomp-
son, Assistant Director of Langley.
Chief advantage of solid-pro-
pellant research vehicles is their low
cost and ease of handling compared
with liquid-propellant rockets, ac-
cording to NACA technicians. "We
can set up one of these solid rocket
assemblies, check out all the equip-
ment and be ready to go in three
hours," one official noted. The cost
advantage is also substantial. NACA
paid a total of about $7500 for its
earlier four-stage rockets, exclusive
of modification and instrumentation.
Liquid-propelled rockets carry a

missiles and rockets

NACA shoots stage-rockets using current
hardware in different combinations.

price tag of $35,000 and up.

NACA described some of
also
the work by Lewis Flight Labora-
tory near Cleveland on the problems
of "chugging" and "screeching" in
rocket combustion chambers. These
are low and high frequency oscilla-
tions in the flame front inside the
chamber. Even a mild oscillation can
produce pulses with a force of five
tons against the sides of the rocket
chamber, while more rapid vibra-
tions accelerate the heat transfer
rate by as much as four times, with
the result that the engine is quickly
and spectacularly destroyed.
Chugging can probably be elim-
inated through improved design of
the propellant system, but no gen-
eral solution may be found for
screeching, which takes a variety of
forms. Motion pictures of the
screeching phenomenon, taken at the
rate of 47,000 frames a second, dis-
movements with-
close three separate
in transparent lucite combustion
chambers : transverse oscillations
from one side of the chamber to the
other, longitudinal oscillations from
one end of the chamber to the other,
and rotary oscillations around the
longitudinal axis of the chamber.

missiles and rockets

 In addition to photographing
the shock fronts which occur during
screeching, NACA
uses pressure-
sensing to measure their
devices
force and an ingenious method to
record temperature variations. So-
dium, which ionizes at a known rate
in terms of temperature, is added to
the propellant. A micro-wave signal
transmitted through the rocket
chamber is altered by the variations
of sodium ionization so that an ac-
curate record of the temperature of
the shock fronts during screeching
can be obtained.
NACA employs a variety of
other test facilities in its attack on
the problem of aerodynamic heating.
Among them are:
• A gun at Ames Aero-
light gas
nautical Laboratory south of San
Francisco which is capable of firing
NACA rocket engine under static test. small models at velocities up to Mach
20. A small magnesium model fired
in this tunnel reached a speed of
11,000 mph and ignited as a result
of the tremendous heat.
• Combustion products tunnels

at Langley, one utilizing a 2.5-inch

rocket engine capable of velocities of
4750 mph and tempsratures of 4100
degrees F., and the other using high
pressure air heated to 3500 degrees
F. in a combustion chamber and ca-
pable of 1300 mph.
• Quartz tube heat lamps ca-
pable of producing rapid, extreme
and unsymmetrical temperature var-
iations on wing and tail structures
and other components to simulate
the effects of uneven heating en-
countered in high-speed flight.
• Carbon rod radiator which can
generate up to 4700 degrees at the
rate of 100 Btu per square foot per
—
second equal to Mach 5.
• Blowdown tunnel incorporat-
ing a ceramic heat exclfanger capable
of producing a jet blast of Mach 5
velocity and 4000 degrees F.
• A system of windtunnels built

under the Unitary Plan which can

simulate air velocities ranging from
Mach 0.7 to Mach 5. A new tunnel
with a larger test section capable
of subjecting full-scale components
to velocities up to Mach 3 is ex-
pected to go into operation next year.
• Flight testing of rocket-pow-
ered research aircraft like the ill-
fated Bell X-2. Work will continue
with the Bell X-l-B and X-l-E at
NACA's High Speed Flight Station
Simple NACA model to chicle operation of Research vehicle to obtain data on jet vane at Edwards AFB, Calif.
a new multi-rocket booster. in booster exhaust.

88 missiles and rockets

ICBM Engines —
Ahead of Schedule?
By Fred Hunter BULLDOZERS already had
swung into action clearing the
site when Dan Kimball, president
of Aerojet-General Corp. aboard —
a bright —
new tractor officially
broke ground for the new $13,000,-
000 Production Plant, which will be
the latest addition to the com-
pany's rocket engine facility. The
plant will be located on a 20,000-
acre site near Sacramento, Cal.
To be devoted to the manufac-
ture of big rocket engines for the
Air Force's ballistic missiles pro-
gram, the new Aerojet plant will
be the twin to another $13,000,000
facilitynow nearing completion at
Neosho, Mo. for operation by North
American Aviation.
The Air Force originally in-
tended to have Aerojet operate the
Missouri plant. Subsequently, it
was decided efficiency would be
served by turning Neosho over to
North American.
Flanked on one side by the
$9,000,000 Solid Rocket Plant,
which has been producing be-
tween 500,000 and 900,000 pounds
of propellant per month since it

began production in 1952, and on

the other by the Liquid Rocket
Plant, a research and development
facility started early in 1955 to
work on the ICBM program, the
Production Plant embodies a man-
ufacturing building 550 feet wide
and 560 feet long. It will employ
approximately 1200 workers in ad-
ministration, inspection, machin-
ing, sheet metal work, welding, as-
sembling, heat-treating, hydraulics,
tooling and maintenance. Machine
tools of approximately $5,000,000
value will be installed.
Maj. Gen. Bernard Schriever,
commander of the Air Research
and Development Command's West-
ern Development Division, said

missiles and rockets

construction on the Aerojet Pro-
duction Plant would be expedited
to bring it into manufacture at the
earliest possible date. The com-
pany has a production contract for
rocket engines under the Air
Force's program for long range
ballistic missiles, which includes
the intercontinental Atlas and
Titan and the intermediate Thor.
Aerojet has just marked up a
record for itself in the speed in
which it accomplished the instal-
lation of the test facility for its
liquid rocket developments. The
four complexes of two test stands
each were completed in 18 months,
or about half the time it ordinarily
would take to complete an instal-
lation of this character.
This photo of a test stand at Aerojet-General Corp.'s Sacramento facility shows how the
Although only 15 miles from concrete apron is protected by water-film-cooled steel plate which deflects the rocket exhaust
Sacramento, the area is isolated. during vertical test firings, protecting the concrete structure from blast erosion.
The gold dredges which once
mined the area have made thou-
sands of acres useless for agricul-
tural purposes, but an ideal loca-
tion for the development and test-
ing of large rocket engines. The
test area has a buffer zone one mile
wide around it.

The test standsrange from 50

feet wide, 50 feet high and 67 feet
deep to 87 feet wide, 100 feet high
and 82 feet deep. They are located
along a 40-foot deep ravine left by
past dredging operations and their
construction required the use of
11,807 yards of concrete. The larg-
est stands are capable of taking up
to 1,500,000 pounds thrust. All of
the high thrust stands have three Photo shows test firing of liquid rocket engine in one of the high-thrust test stands installed
this year at Aerojet-General Corp.'s facility at Sacramento.
firing positions 'and employ large
steel deflection plates which are
cooled by spraying water at a rate
of 5,000 to 10,000 gallons per min-
ute in order to prevent erosion.
In addition to rocket engines
for the big ballistic-type missiles,
Aerojet uses its test facility to
test rocket engines for other uses,
such as for the Bomarc and second-
stage Vanguard. Two high thrust
stands for these purposes incor-
porate a superstructure design per-
mitting a complete missile to be
rolled up to the stand and titled
into place for vertical firings.
Liquid oxygen is supplied by
a mobile plant in the test area and
a liquified gas plant under con-
struction west of the Solid Rocket
Plant. This facility is being con-
structed by the Air Products Co.
under contract to the Air Force. This three-position, C-clamp type test stand at Aerojet-General Corp.'s Sacramento plant is

used in development test firings of thrust chambers and ejectors. Each firing position has a
300,000-pound thrust rating.

November, 1956
 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT By Joseph S. Murphy

Noble Metals for Guided Missiles

Already there is talk of using strength and ductility; relatively low Critical properties of this na-
platinum alloy-clad copper to enable coefficients of thermal expansion. ture are the subject of intense
the ICBM warhead to cope with the At normal high temperatures, research by those now concerned
intense heating of re-entry. Some of the platinum group metals do not with very fast, very high aerody-
the pointed nose cones of the satellite oxidize. Platinum, for example, is namic heating such as that encoun-
launching vehicles may be platinum used with induction heating elements tered at hypersonic speeds in the
at the very tip. at temperatures over 2,000 °F. denser atmosphere.
Platinum is an important con- At higher temperatures, oxidiza- In a way this is unfortunate, for
tender, too, as one of several simul- tion is liable to occur, but it is at a they are both expensive and rare.
taneous cladding materials needed to very small rate and usually the oxide Production and sales are figured in
make molybdenum oxygen resistant is stable only over a small tempera- ounces instead of pounds or tons.
for high temperature operations. ture band, decomposing or vaporizing Up-to-date figures on total
These uses are being compounded away once that band is left. It always world production are not yet avail-
on top of the sharp increase in de- leaves a shiny highly reflective sur- able. It takes Washington about two
mand that has resulted in the last face. years to catch up on mineral output
few years from rising consumption Between the members of the and trade on a global basis.
by the electronics industry, where it group, hardness, strength, ductility, —
However, output and U.S. im-
is used to build greater reliability etc., vary. But when used in small —
ports has been rising for some
and accuracy into electrical contacts, amounts, one with another, proper- years, and probably hit 1-million fine
etc. ties can be altered pretty much to troy ounces in 1955. The total for
The platinum group consists of suit the metallurgist's wishes. 1952 was 675,000 ozs. and in 1953,
platinum, palladium, iridium, rho- This is fortunate because only 750,000.
dium, ruthenium and osmium. As platinum and palladium occur in any In 1955 the U.S. imported 1,009,-
they are members of the same family appreciable quantities. 819 up sharply from 601,612 ozs.
ozs.,
in the periodic table they are quite What isn't known too well about in 1954. Part of this undoubtedly
similar in many ways. Their differ- the platinum metals is how they per- came from stocks on hand, part from
ences, however, serve the very useful form under critical, ultra-high-tem- new production. You get a good idea
purpose of supplying'the qualities of perature conditions. There is some of how un-strategic the U.S. posi-
one to another through alloying. possibility that one or more of these tion is in these metals when you
Their basic advantages are: materials may suddenly become realize that domestic output in these
chemical stability; a very shiny nat- highly unstable if submitted to too two years was 61,481 and 56,766 ozs.
ural state, thus high reflectivity high a heating rate or simply to too respectively.
(95-98%) high melting points; rel-
; high temperatures and pressures in For platinum, palladium, os-
atively low vapor pressures; high an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere. mium, ruthenium, iridium and rho-

BALLISTIC MISSILE
M= 16, ALT.~85.000 FT q~ 10.000 LB/SQ. FT

AVERAGE HEATING RATE

IOOO BTU / SO. FT /SEC

(FOB 20 SEC)

B.L.TEMP. - !2,000° F

M&S. SURFACE TEMP

— S5QO° ¥

NACA demonstrates thermal desian limits of typical high drag- Heating problems of ICBM reentry is demonstrated by lum-
to-weight ratio ICBM warhead. inosity of gas around nose.

92 missiles and rockets

dium supplies, we are 90% dependent Free world reserves of platinum ture of this picture from a strategic
on foreign sources. Fortunately, metals break down something like point of view is the fact that these
neighbor Canada is one of the world's this: Canada, 6.5 million ozs.; South metals don't disappear. They are sta-
largest producers with a total of Africa, 10 million; and 5.5 million ble chemically and in the majority
nearly 296,000 ozs. in 1953. scattered widely among a number of of uses they are put to, they are
The Union of South Africa is countries. 100% recoverable.
the world's other largest producer Including the 4 million estimate Suchstocks, excluding the stock-
with 296,000 ozs. Between the two, for Russia, the 25 million of ounces pile (platinum and iridium are be-
they account for over 90% of the still estimated to exist in recoverable ing strategically stored by the gov-
total free world output. form in the ground, 15 million are ernment), must now total several
Since the war, information on platinum; 7.5 million, palladium; and million ounces. In wartime, these
Soviet production has been non-ex- osmium, rhodium
2.5 million iridium, could be requisitioned if needed.
istent. They have been estimated at and ruthenium together. But it's still not a lot in the face
100,000 ozs. a year, but may have One catch in this picture is the of sharply rising demand. Ten million
been much larger. Red natural re- fact that most production now is as ounces, for example, sounds like a
sources are thought to be the largest a by-product of mining nickel and lot, but a slide rule will quickly tell

in the world. cupper (Canada) and of gold and you it adds up to only about 350 tons.
And lately, Russia has been offer- silver (South Africa). Only Russia is
ing metals of the group for export Bell Executive Forecasts
known to have substantial, economic
in trade agreements with free-world deposits of placer deposits. And any Increased Rocket Spending
—
countries about 13,000 ounces per major increase in free-world output U.S. spending for rocket pro-
year per agreement. Some have solely for the purpose of extracting curement and development will prob-
bought more, however, and Britain, platinum would result in a material ably reach $1.25 billions over the next
for example, purchased 30,012 ozs. in increase in the cost. five years, Leston P. Faneuf, Bell
1955. Fortunately, much of this is re- And they are already expensive Aircraft Corp. president, predicts.
exported to the U.S. for stockpiling with platinum running some ISO-to- Addressing the recent Buffalo,
and use by industry. ll 20 an ounce depending on market N. Y. meeting of the American Rocket
Though Western estimates put conditions; palladium, $19-to-$24; Society, the Bell executive made it
Soviet reserves at only 4-million iridium, $90-to-$135; osmium, $80- clear that rocket propulsion isnow a
ozs., Russia still claims 80% of to-$140; rhodium, $118-to-$125 ; and full-scale industry —no longer just a
known world reserves, and the odds ruthenium, $45-to-$65. sideline.
are these claims are probably valid. An important and saving fea- Faneuf said investments in
rocket facilities over the past five
years have run well into nine figures.
Bell Aircraft alone has spent $12
million on rocket instrumentation and
production/testing facilities.
Bell's work now extends all the
way from early development to high
production, he concluded.

GE Establishes West Coast

Propulsion Systems Unit
General Electric Co.'s Aircraft
Gas Turbine Division has set up a
California Advanced Propulsion
Systems Operation in temporary
headquarters at Danville, Calif,
near San Francisco.
The new organization will take
on the task of designing propulsion
systems "both within and beyond the
earth's atmosphere," GE officials
say. And it will be free to employ
any source or kind of energy en-
gineers and scientists find adaptable
to the system they design.
The company has optioned a 12-
acre plot near Danville. If exercised,
GE will begin as early as December
with construction of a 7,000 sq. ft.
facility to house some 75 engineers.
Overall direction of the propul-
sion group will stem from GE's flight
propulsion laboratory department in

94 missiles and rockets

Cincinnati. However, the new west
coast activity will not result in an>
curtailment of advanced propulsion
Whittaker-Gyro Expansion
research work at Cincinnati.
Underway
New Missile Facilities History of the electrically driven essing, and electronic instrument
gyroscope for airborne applications fields.
At Douglas, Northrop
began in 1937 in a garage in Los An- Early in 1956 Whittaker and
Douglas Aircraft Co. and North-
geles owned by Leo Nevin Shivien. the Telecomputing Corp. merged. In
rop Aircraft, Inc. early this month
added to their respective missile plant Prior to that time airborne August 1956, Telecomputing Corp.
gyros were air driven devices. Large acquired Brubaker Electronics Inc.
facilities some 133,000 sq. ft. com-
bined. gyros for ground use were made by Brubaker became the fifth operating
the Sperry Gyroscope Co. But Schivi- unit of Telecomputing Corp. Others
Douglas took a 10-year lease on
en's work is generally acknowledged are the Engineering Services divi-
a 61,000 sq. ft. building at 11500
to have been the beginning of prac- sion, and the Enterprise Development
Tennessee St., West Los Angeles. It
will be used for missiles engineering tical application of the electrical and Mfg. Co.
driven principle to aircraft gyros. Telecomputing Corp. of North
and missiles service and training.
During World War II the Hollywood, Calif, manufactures and
Northrop leased an additional
Schivien Engineering Co. produced develops semi-automatic data reduc-
72,000 sq. ft. at its Torrance, Calif,
gyroscopes for two glide bombs tion equipment and business data
plant to provide more space at Haw-
thorne for Snark missile activities.
— Azon and Razon. Both were radio handling systems. Brubaker pro-
controlled and stabilized by Schivi- duces precision electronic products
Some 700 officeand technical workers
en's electrically driven gyros. such as delay lines, antenna filters,
were due to occupy the new facili-
When the Nike missile was de- pulse transformers and laboratory
ties early this month.
veloped some of its gyros were made test equipment. It is located in Cul-
Regulus Powerplant by the company Schivien founded ver City, Calif.
Reordered and are still being made today by Engineering Services at Hollo-
Allison Division, General Mo- that company's successor. man Air Development Center in New
tors Corp. has received a contract The Whittaker Gyro division of Mexico operates the data reduction
totaling $1,503,200 for production Telecomputing Corp. in Van Nuys, facilities there for handling optical

of J33 jet engines to be used for Calif, carries on the work begun by tracking and telemetry data.
Navy's Chance Vought Regulus I Schivien. Schivien's interests were Enterprise Development and
surface-to-surface missile. bought by the William R. Whittaker Manufacturing in Burbank, Calif,
Co., Ltd. in 1954. develops and produces special testing
Whittaker Gyro is part of a systems used by the Atomic Energy
growing organization that has been Commission for automatic control
building up facilities for R&D and and data recording. The corporation
production in the missile and air- received AEC telemetry contracts
craft control mechanism, data proc- $1.5 million over the past 12 months.

sible industry circulation of reports

AF Checks on Surplus
on testing and test equipment.
Air Force Air Materiel Com-
First two of a series so far
mand is screening about $5 million
published are AEDC Reports TR-
worth of heavy duty electronics and
56-1 and TR-56-4. Subjects are "On-
communication equipment stored at
line Automatic Data Reduction for
depots throughout the country to
Tunnel E-l Gas Dynamics Facility"
segregate current from surplus
and "Investigation of a Multiple-
stock.
Source Schlieren System for Appli-
One phase of the inspection cation to a Perforated Wall Wind-
program is determine the best
to
tunnel."
approach to marketing highly spe-
Requests for these and future
cialized surplus electronic gear.
reports should be addressed to Com-
Program is under the direction mander, AEDC at Tullahoma, Tenn.
of AMC's Materiel Redistribution
and Marketing Division. Sales that
may develop from the depot survey $26 Million For Snarks
will be announced. NORTHROP AIRCRAFT, Inc. was
assured continued developmental
production of its SM-62 Snark in-
AEDC To Circulate
tercontinental missile recently by a
Unclassified Reports $26-million follow-on Air Force
Air Force Arnold Engineering contract. Snark is powered by a
Development Center has launched a Pratt & Whitney J57 jet and has a
program to attain the widest pos- range of about 5,000 miles.

96 missiles and rockets

AMC Production Official
Cites Rising Materials Costs
At the present rate of critical
materials consumption in the U.S.
for newer aircraft and missiles, con-
servation of certain of these ma-
terials has become essential, accord-
ing to Air Materiel Command's
deputy director of production, Brig.
Gen. C. H. Mitchell.
And what is more, he told the
recent National Industrial Confer-
ence in Phoenix, the situation prom-
ises to get progressively worse with
attendant increases in cost of ma-
terials.
The next generation of aircraft,
he said, will be composites of steel,
titanium, aluminum, ceramics and
high-temperature non-metallics all —
needing development of methods for
producing, forming, joining, con-
touring and assembly.
The AMC official cites these com-
parative costs per pound:
Aluminum $ 0.35
Stainless sheet $0.73 to $ 0.87
Titanium alloy $20.00
For newer engines such as nu-
clear powered types prices run
higher:
Lithium $11.50
Reactor grade zirconium .$23.00
. . .

Beryllium (unfabricated) ...$71.50

Materials costs are rising for
two reasons, he added, scarcity and
difficulties of fabrication. For exam-
ple, he points out that it takes 3,000
lbs. of metal to produce 650 lbs. of
finished discs for one jet engine. Such
low utilization rates increase ma-
terial costs alone to $60.00 per lb.,
Gen. Mitchell said.

Bendix Acquires Interest

In Canadian Electronics Firm
Bendix Aviation Corp. has ac-
quired a 40% interest in Computing
Devices of Canada, Ltd. of Ottawa,
an electronics firm which will mar-
ket Bendix electronic and missile
components.
Deal was arranged through its
Canadian subsidiary, Bendix-Eclipse
of Canada, Ltd. It calls for a sales
and licensing arrangement whereby
the Canadian firm will handle Bendix
products.
Earlier, Bendix bought a 70% in-
terest in another Canadian firm,
Aviation Electric Ltd. of Montreal.
It serves as an outlet for the com-
pany's electrical and mechanical air-
craft components.
November, 1956
1AM Approves Contract for design and fabrica- $2 million, will begin soon on a 480-
tion of noise control equipment went acre site north of Phoenix.
Raytheon Contract to Industrial Acoustics Co., Inc. of Pending completion of the new
International Assn. of Machin-
New York through its west coast rep- plant, Sperry will start preliminary
istshas ratified a three-year contract
resentative Midair. Architectural and manufacturing operations in January
with Raytheon Mfg. Co. at Waltham,
engineering contracts were awarded using 10,000 sq. ft. of leased space
Mass. calling for total wage increases
to Pereira & Luckman. at the Arizona State Fair Grounds in
of 41c an hour. Other benefits pro-
Project is headed by Z. E. Sheff- Phoenix. The company is not plan-
vide an eighth paid holiday, 10 and ning regular employee recruiting
ner of Northrop's plant engineering
15% shift differentials and an emer- programs until later next year.
staff.
gency wage reopener clause.
Another Northrop facility near-
Lockheed Contracts
An immediate raise, retroactive
ing completion is a missile engine test
to June 1, involves increases from 14e For Nuclear Facility
cell that will accommodate a missile
to 254 an hour. Others become effec- Lockheed Georgia Division has
the size of its SM-62 Snark with
tive June 1, 1957 and 1958. let a $1,151,000 contract for con-
wings removed. It is essentially a
Company now holds contracts to struction of a nuclear support lab-
"double building" with one concrete
build Navy Sparrow III and Army oratory building as part of its A-
structure built within another.
Hawk I missiles. plane research center at Dawson-
Northrop engineers say its mass
ville.
Northrop to Build is so great that other plant workers
Laboratory will house engi-
willhear no noise whatever when an
Missile Test Cell neers and scientists from Lock-
engine is being run in the cell.
Northrop Aircraft, Inc. has heed's Georgia Division and will in-
awarded contracts for design of an clude a two-story office building
Sperry Rand
enclosed check-out building and test plus two one-story wings. It will be
cell that will house an entire tactical Names Arizona Division
situated on a 10,000-acre tract set
missile and its operational launcher. Sperry Rand Corp. has chosen aside for the multi-million dollar
New facility, to be built at its Sperry Phoenix Co. as the official Air Force center.
Hawthorne, Calif, plant, is intended name of its new electronics produc-
to make possible a full missile check- tion facility to be built in Phoenix,
Missile Gyro Firm Votes
out and test yet protect nearby per- Ariz. 200% Stock Dividend
sonnel and facilities from the ex- Actual plant construction, initi- Directors of G. M. Giannini &
treme noise levels these operations ally involving between 75,000 and Co., producers of missile gyros and
produce. 100,000 sq. ft. and costing more than control components, have voted a
200% stock dividend subject to ap-
proval of California Commissioner
of Corporations.
Dividend is payable December
1 toholders of record November
15 and will increase company's
common share holdings to 300,000.
Giannini's present backlog of $5.6
million is highest in its history. It
compares with $3 million in un-
filled orders a year ago.
Convair Top Employer
At Palmdale
Convair Division of General
Dynamics Corp., builder of the Ter-
rier and Atlas missiles, is now the
largest contractor from the stand-
point of employment at Palmdale,
Calif., jet flight test center.
Convair payroll numbers more
than 1,300; Northrop Aircraft is
second with about 1,100. However,
Convair is reported to be hiring at
the rate of 50 each week and ex-
pects to employ approximately
1,800 by the year-end.

Litton Division Moves

U.S. Engineering Co., Inc., a
division of Litton Industries, has
occupied larger facilities located at
5873 Rodeo Blvd., Los Angeles 16.

98 missiles and rockets

Cooper Changes Name, Norden-Ketay Plans Move
Plans New Facilities Norden-Ketay Corp. has begun
construction of an executive office
Cooper Development Corp., for-
building on a 450,000 sq. ft. plot in
merly Cooper, Inc., plans to con-
building
Stamford, Conn, as part of a pro-
struct a two-story office
and other production facilities at
gram to shift its offices from 99
its Monrovia, Calif., location.
Park Ave., New York City.

The companymanufactures A second building, already in

the planning stage, will house a
rocket and missile systems and
central research laboratory for the
holds a contract with Grand Cen-
tral Rocket Co. for a rocket-motor
company's missile activity. Con-
tracts it holds in this field now
unit for the Vanguard third stage.
exceed $5 million.
Pending completion of the new
Greer Forms R&D Group
facility, the company has leased a
Greer Hydraulics, Inc. of Ja-
building on Commerce Rd., Stam-
maica, N.Y. has set up a new re-
ford.
search and development division
under v.p. Jules Kendall to develop
Talco Commissions
and build prototype missile test
systems. New Catapult Test Facility
New has undertaken
division A rocket-catapult for ejection
projects with Navy Bureau
of Aero- of fighter pilots from high-speed
nautics, The Martin Co. and Farns- aircraft has entered the test phase
worth Electronics Co. on missile at Talco Engineering Co. of Ham-
test systems and is also assisting den, Conn. Evaluation is being con-

in evaluation work on advanced ducted at the company's new test-

rocket fire control systems. ing facility on a 23-acre plot at No.
Greer's work with Farnsworth Branford, Conn.
was not disclosed, but presumably Facilities at the new site in-
involves the Air Force's Boeing clude a 200-ft. horizontal track to
Bomarc supersonic surface-to-air handle large cartridge-activated de-
missile. The Ft. Wayne, Ind. divi- vices and a 25-ft. track to test
sion International Telephone
of small units.
and Telegraph Corp. is known to
be developing a "push-button" go North American Gets
or no-go type test system for the $65-million Contract
ramjet and rocket-powered Bomarc.
North American Aviation, Inc.
has received a $65,507,103 Air Force
AMF To Build New
Lab contract for continuation of re-
American Machine & Foundry search and development of undis-
Co. is planning construction of a closed weapons systems.
$4-million central engineering lab- NAA is known to have at least
oratory on a SS^-acre tract at three major missile or rocket en-
Stamford, Conn. gine programs now underway. In
New unit will consolidate op- addition to its own Navaho missile,
erations now situated at four loca- the company is building liquid pro-
tions in Greenwich, Conn., and one pellant engines for the Army's
already in Stamford. No manufac- Chrysler Redstone missile and Con-
turing is planned in the new facil- vair's Atlas intercontinental ballis-
ity. tic missile.

New Ta/os Facility Beckman Sales, Earning Up

Gets Defense Nod Bk m a n Instruments, Inc.,
e c
Navy has received approval of producers of missile test instru-
Defense Secretary Charles E. Wil- mentation, reported a 38% increase
son for a $4,440,000 expansion of in sales and similar jump in earn-
facilities at the Naval Industrial ings over 1955 for its fiscal year
Reserve Ordnance Plant, Mishawa- ended June 30.
ka, Ind., for production of the Tains Company's net after taxes was
surface-to-air missile. $1,744,856 compared with $1,322,-
Plant is operated by Bendix 050 last fiscal year. Sales were $29,-
Aviation Corp., prime contractor on 362,131 against $21,330,598 for the
the ramjet-powered Talos. year ending June 30, 1955.

missiles and rockets

 a

tion will beGE's former Naval Ord-

Lockheed Again Expands
nance Dept. in Pittsfield and its
Missile Division Special Defense Projects Dept. in
Mushrooming activity at Lock- Philadelphia. However, the compa-
heed Aircraft Corp.'s Missile Sys- ny does not anticipate any substan-
tems Division has resulted in a tial shift of personnel or facilities
1,000% expansion of space planned from present locations.
less than a year ago for its new
facilities in Stanford University's Five Firms Named
Palo Alto, Calif, industrial park. In Sidewinder Program
Lockheed now plans to start
Navy's announcement that
construction of a 51,000 sq. ft. lab-
Sidewinder air-to-air missile has
oratory, bringing to seven the num-
entered operational status (see page
ber of buildings either completed
27) also made it official that five
or underway. It will also raise the
major firms are involved in its de-
Division's facilities to about 1,000,-
velopment and production.
000 sq. ft. compared to some 96,000
In addition to prime produc-
sq. ft. it projected less than a year
tion by Philco Government Indus-
ago.
trial Division, Navy recently
The new laboratory will sup-
awarded a $l-million second source
plement two similar research build-
contract to General Electric Co. at
ings occupied in September and a
Utica, N.Y.
14.000 sq. ft. experimental building
Avion Division of American
soon due for completion.
Car & Foundry at Paramus, N.J.,
Missile Systems Division pay-
built experimental missiles during
roll now numbers about 5,000 and
the Sidewinder's research and de-
Lockheed anticipates that sales in
velopment stage at Naval Ordnance
1956 will more than double the $25
Test Station, China Lake, Calif.
million recorded last year.
Two other firms named were
Bulova Research and Development
Ouest-Aviation Reveals
Laboratories, Woodside, N.Y., and
Missile Projects Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester,
First details of guided missile N.Y. Participation by the latter
activity by Ouest-Aviation (for- confirms use of infra-red or heat-
merly SNCASE), including a series seeker type of guidance system.
of strategic missiles with a com- The company is also developing the
pletely new navigation system, have Navy's Dove air-to-underwater mis
been disclosed by the nationalized sile believed to employ these guid-
French aircraft firm. ance techniques.
The company has developed an-
other missile for armament on its Bell Sued on Computer Deal
Vautour bomber and is working on Missouri Research Laborato-
a long-range ground-to-air missile ries, Inc. has filed s*uit against Bell
for which its Trident will serve as Aircraft Corp. for $12,267 in al-
a manned prototype. leged unpaid overhead costs arising
pilotless Trident is ex-
First out of secret radar work it subcon-
pected to begin flight tests soon. tracted from Bell in 1948 and 1949.
The St. Louis firm charged in
GE Sets Up New Missile, Federal District Court, Buffalo,
Ordnance Departments N.Y., that it incurred the expenses
General Electric Co.'s Defense in modifying a radar computer un-

Electronics Division has set up a der a $51,350 government sub-con-

Missile and Ordnance Systems De- tract with Bell.
partment under general manager
George F. Metcalf with key ele-
Marquardt Employment
ments to be situated in Pittsfield. Up 65% Since January 1
Mass. and Philadelphia. Employment at Marquardt Air-
New department will take on craft Co., producer of the ramjet
systems responsibility for surface- engines for the Boeing Bomarc mis-
basic weapon systems and associ- sile,reached 2,000 on October 1 —
ated equipment to be used on land 65% increase since the beginning
and sea, according to Division man- of the year. Company expects it to
ager, Dr. G. L. Haller. reach 3,000 by mid-1957.
Nucleus for the new organiza- Distinction of being the 2,000th

November, 1956
 employee went to George C. Johnson
who joined Marquardt's test engi-
neering division as an engineer.

Industry Briefs
SERVOMECHANISMS, Inc., spe-
and missile con-
cialists in aircraft
trol systems, has opened new cor-
porate offices at 445 Park Ave.,
New York City. Company also op-
erates two divisions at Westbury,
L.I., two in California at Haw-
thorne and El Segundo, a research
laboratory near Santa Barbara,
Calif., and has two Canadian sub-
sidiaries at Toronto.

THE GARRETT CORP.'S AiRe-

search Manufacturing Division has
begun construction of two new lab-
oratory buildings in Los Angeles.
New facilities will be used to
broaden the company's electronic
and instrument operations.
RAYTHEON Mfg. Co. of Waltham,
Mass., has received a $60-million
Navy contract to produce Sparrow
III air-to-air missiles of undis-
closed configuration.

HUGHES AIRCRAFT Co., Culver

City, Calif., builder of the Falcon
air-to-air missile, has received a
$5,420,700 Air Force contract for
fighter missile systems and support
equipment.
FLIGHT RESEARCH, INC. of
Richmond, and Traid Corp. of
Va.,
Sherman Oaks, Calif., manufactur-
ers of photographic recording in-
struments, have signed a joint sales
representation agreement.

CONVAIR has awarded a $l-mil-

lion contract to Berkeley Div. of
Beckman Instruments, Inc. to de-
velop and build an electronic syn-
chronizing system to cross-corre-
late operational flight test data. It
will be used in Convair's missile
program presumably the Atlas ICBM.
NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION,
Inc. will develop new titanium al-
loys of 170,000 psi tensile strength
—40% higher than that of present
alloys — under a $2.2-million A i r
Force contract.

OFFICE OF DEFENSE MOBILI-

ZATION has awarded a rapid tax
writeoff of $44,624 at 70% to In-
dustrial Tool & Machine Co. of
Smithfield, R.I., for manufacture of
missile components.

missiles and rockets

 Industry Highlights
By Fred S. Hunter

Few people realize the progress Lockheed's Missile

Systems division has made in the last six or eight months.
Truth is it has been little less than phenomenal. A year ago
Lockheed's missile division had some good business, but it
also could have done with some additional projects which
could have produced a profit, not merely big, thick reports.
Today, its contracts total 28 in number. Some of these, of
course, are on the modest side in dollar-volume and future
prospects. But others are highly stimulating contracts, lead-
ing all the way up to weapons system management.

Because of the magnitude of three or four of these

projects,Lockheed has already outgrown its expansion plans,
which were pretty optimistic in the first place. Lockheed had
every intention of being out of its Van Nuys missile facility
by the end of this year. But it simply could not build its new
plant at Sunnyvale fast enough. This left it no recourse, but
to revise its plans so as to retain the Van Nuys facility, much
to the disappointment of the California division, covetously
eyeing the space. Here, incidentally, appears an ironic im-
plication for the future. One of these days, when the manned
aircraft passes out of the picture, it undoubtedly will be
Lockheed's still growing missile division doing the coveting
of the California division's Burbank space.

Lockheed expects that one year from now it will have

more than 10,000 employees on the missile division payroll.
This not only assures the permanent continuation of the Van
Nuys facility, but means more construction than originally
planned probably will have to be added for the new facilities
in the San Francisco Bay area, and with no waste of time.
a

North American Aviation hasn't as yet appointed a

chief engineer to succeed Ray Rice, who recently became
general manager of the Los Angeles division. Most likely
candidate probably is L. L. Waite, who now heads up the
so-called MACE (Missile & Control Equipment) group at
Downey. Waite was in engineering before he was upped to
vice president at Downey, and it would be a logical promotion.
MACE, as such, probably will be broken up after North
American moves its corporate offices into the new general
office now under construction in El Segundo. This
building
will leave thetwo divisional setups, Autonetics and Missile
Development, at Downey.

Convair is working hard to make Florida life more

pleasant for its transplanted Californians. It has started
construction on a $2,000,000 housing project at Cocoa Beach,
Fla., where it will build 130 houses on a 45-acre site to lease
to Astronautics employees working at the Air Force missile
test center. J. R. Dempsey, program director for Convair's
Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile, said the employees
will have the privilege of buying the homes through private
financing.

106 missiles and rockets

 —

NEW MISSILE PRODUCTS

MISSILE CAMERA STRUCTURAL ALLOY
A new magnesium-thorium alloy,
designated HM21XA-T8, has been an-
nounced by The Dow
Chemical Co
for supersonic aircraft and missile
applications. Quantities are on hand
for immediate evaluation, the com-
pany states.
The new material is said to offer
improved properties over its Dow
predecessor, HK31A, in the 300 to
600°F range. It now extends that
range to at least 700°, Dow officials
say, and some tests have been con-
ducted up to 900°. At 700°, the new
alloy reportedly withstands prolonged
—
exposure in the order of 100 hrs.
with little effect on its properties.
Evaluation of HM21XA-T8 is be-
ing sponsored by USAF's Wright Air
Development Center materials lab.
Write: The Dow Chemical Co.,
Dept. M R, Midland, Mich.

FLURAN SEALANTS
Complete chemical resistance to
highly oxidizing acids and alkalies,
including red and white fuming ni-
tric acid, is reported by Chemical
Process Equipment Division of U.S.
Stoneware Co. for its new fluoro-
carbon sealants.
New 20-pound aerial reconnais- and a metrogen lens to provide
6-in
Fluran J-20 and J-30 are de-
sance camera designed by Hycon Mfg. maximum area of coverage. Initially, signed for sealing stainless steel and
Co. for use in missiles and high-speed it was developed for the Radioplane
aluminum joints in high-speed air-
drones features built-in image motion RP-71 drone under direction of the craft and missiles. Fluran J-20 is
compensation for forward speed at Army Signal Corps Engineering Lab. rated as moderately soft and J-30 as
the time an exposure is made. Write: Hycon Mfg. Co., Dept. M/R, soft, and both may be applied from
The Hycon K-20 uses 9x9 film 2961 E. Colorado, Pasadena, Calif. the container as received, or with a
caulking gun having a 150 to 175°F
heating chamber.
Fluran is a grey-white putty-
MINIATURE GYRO l'ke material and is said to have an

Aeronautical Div. of Minneapol-

is-Honeywell Regulator Co. has de-
veloped a Vfe -pound, miniature inte-
grating gyro company engineers feel
may prove the answer to short-term
inertial needs for a mass-production, DUALSYN
low-drift-rate, floated gyro.
Called the MIG (miniature inte-
grated gyro), it has entered produc-
tion this month and low-quantity out-
GYRO WHEEL
put is expected early in 1957. FLEX LEAD
M-H officials say the new unit
has the same angular momentum as PIVOT
its HIG-5 gyro with performance
comparable to the larger HIGs under
rugged environmental conditions. The
unit was developed for Douglas Air-
craft Co. in its Navy instrument pro-
gram, but its role was expanded for
Jet Propulsion Laboratory's major
missile program.
The MIG measures 1.75" in di-
ameter and 2.5" long compared to
2.75" and 6" respectively for the HIG.
One example of the extent of its min-
iaturization is a 7-watt internal heat-
er element that is about the size of
a dime.
M-H pilot production tests show a
drift rate of less than .5 degrees/hour.
Under trim with each warm-up, ran-
dom drift rate will be in the order
of .15 deg./hr., the company states.
Write: Minneapolis-Honeywell BELLOWS FLOATED GIMBAL
Regulator Co., Aeronautical Div.,
Dept. M/R, 2600 Ridgway Rd., Minn-
eapolis 13, Minn.

108 missiles and rockets

indefinite shelf life. Because of its
high initial cost (now $55 per pound)
manufacturer suggests its use only in
highly critical applications. Write:
U. S. Stoneware Co., Dept. M/R,
Akron 9, Ohio.

ACID SAMPLER
A lightweight, hand-operated
sampler developed for use by rocket
and guided missile contractors in
testing fuming nitric acid has been
announced.
The unit is designed to permit
rapid removal of acid samples from
containers without the hazard of tilt-
ing or dipping. It is intended for use
in field work or factory operations
where nitric acid samples must be
secured for laboratory analysis.

Operation of the unit involves

placing the pick-up tube in a con-
tainer and pumping a hand lever.
The acid is transferred into a jar or
receptacle near the handle. The de-
vice minimizes danger to the oper-
ator during the process, yet permits
him to vary the position of ihe pick-
up tube to insure that a representa-
tive sample is secured.
Unit weighs three pounds and is
said to be priced at $274 each. Write:
Texas Metal and Manufacturing Co.,
Dept. M R, 6114 Forest Park Rd., Dal-
las, Tex.

VACUUM PRESSURE SWITCH

A Gorn GAB 1000 series of vacu-

um pressure switches respond to pres-
sure as low as 2 inches of mercury
absolute, and are said to retain their
accuracy to ± 1 inch of mercury pres-
sure under conditions encountered in
missiles.
Operating element as a bellows
that resists self-actuation under se-

November, 1956
vere vibration to 2000 cps at 10 g. The both poppet and seal move into the
switch was designed for use in inert shelteredend and out of the flow
gas vacuums. Write: Gorn Aircraft stream around the cage. Literature
Controls Co., division of Gorn Electric- available.
Co., Dept. M/R, 845 Main St., Stam- Write: Mansfield & Green, Dept.
ford, Conn. M/R, 1051 Power Ave., Cleveland 14,
Ohio.
CHECK VALVES
OSCILLOSCOPE
Protected type 3,000-psi stainless
steel check valves for missile pneu- Tektronix has announced a Type
matic systems guard the "O" ring 515 oscilloscope with a 5" cathode ray
seal on the valve poppet from damage tube said to occupy less space and to
due to flow turbulence or erosion. have wider application than many
larger instruments.
This feature, the manufacturer
says, allows a broad choice of syn- temperatures up to 450°F and special Size is 9%" x 13%" x 21%".
thetic materials for the seal since the seals can be furnished for red fuming Bandpass is dc to 15 mc. with 0.023
tensile strength of the synthetic does nitric acid. iu/sec rise time. Calibrated sweeps
not effect reliability of operation. The protected feature of the valve
from 0.2 ^sec/cm to 2 sec/cm are said
to be accurate within 3%.
For example, a low tensile takes the shape of a cage with a cup-
strength silicone can be supplied for shaped end. When the valve opens, The square wave calibrator has
11 steps from 0.05 v to 100 v said to
be accurate within 3%. with a fre-
quency of about 1 kc. Wgt. is 40 lbs.

Write: Tektronix, Inc., Dept.

M/R, P. O. Box 831, Portland, Ore.

LOADING EQUIPMENT
Load-O-Matic, a new completely
automatic loading platform for dock-
to-truck materials handling opera-
tions has been introduced by Indus-
trial Products Engineering Co. Hy-
draulically operated, it handles loads
up to 20,000 pounds.
Up and down movement of Load-
O-Matic is started by an automatic
switch bar in the loading platform,
or by an overhead pull switch if pre-
ferred. Platform is automatically
stopped at the exact level of the
truck floor by a leveling ramp which
"bridges the gap" between platform
and truck.
Load-O-Matic platform measures
8 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. and is raised and
lowered by a 8% -in. diameter piston.
Lift speed is four seconds per foot.

Write: Industrial Products Engi-

neering Co., Dept. M/R, 26-40 Jack-
son Ave., Long Island City, N. Y.
PROPELLANT VALVE
Hydromatics, Inc. has introduced
a line of pressure-operated, multi-
line propellant valves rated for use
with a variety of fuels and oxidizers.
Valve design and materials are
said to be suitable for controlling
flow of liquid oxygen, JP-4, JP-5, air,
helium, RFNA, WFNA, hydrazine, ni-
trogen, aniline, ethylene oxide, propyl
nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, anhy-

110 missiles and rockets

drous ammonia and water.
Light weight of the series is dem-
onstrated by Vz" —
%" 2-line model
that weighs 2.5 lbs. Other types are
available for 2-line or 3-line control
functions for line sizes from % in.
to' 4 in.

The valves feature a floating ball-

seat arrangement said to provide ab-
solute zero leakage at extreme tem>-
peratures and pressures. Units are
pressure actuated with inputs from
200 to 3,000 psi.
Line operating pressures handled
by the valves range from zero to
1,500 psi. Write: Hydromatics, Inc.,
Dept. M/R, Cedar Grove, N. J.

SHOCK TESTER

A dynamic shock testing device,

which measures only 26 in. high and
3 in. in diameter, yet produces a 12,-
000-pound thrust, is being marketed
by Consolidated Electrodynamics
Corp. under license with Convair.
The instrument is designed for
shock testing of components for jet
engines, aircraft, missiles and rockets.
The Hyge unit consists basically
of a cylinder enclosed piston that is
subjected to differential pressures on
its two faces. There are only two mov-

—with no— complicated

ing parts piston and a floating seal
controls.
Design of the actuator is modular
in concept to provide a variety of
forms to meet specific applications.
For testing large objects, a group of
instruments can be connected and
fired simultaneously to provide addi-
tional power and range. Literature
November, 1 956
available. Write: Consolidated Elec- INTERNAL DIMENSION GAUGE
trodynamics Corp., Rochester Div., Internal dimensions from 5 to 36
Dept. M/R, 1775 Mt. Read Blvd., inches may be measured to an accur-
Rochester 3, N. Y. acy within several millionths of an
FREE GYRO
G. M. Giannini & Co. has devel-
oped a new free gyro, the Model 3416,
with a drift rate said to be less than
18 minutes of arc per minute. It fea-
tures a cast steel frame mounted sol-
idly inside a structural outer shell
having an integral eg mounting flange.
5^ inch by the Internal Calibrating Mas-
ter. In kit form, the gauge has a plas-
tic handle with a gauge cartridge
mounted in one end and an adjustable
screw assembly on the other.
%
A series of inch diameter bars
of different lengths thread into the
gauge handle to provide a wide range
of adjustment. Connected to an elec-
tronic amplifier, various amplifica-
Shock specification for the Model
tions of the cartridge signal are avail-
3416 is 50 g's in all axes. Potentiom-
eters which supply outputs up to 70
able in different switching ranges.
Amplifications from 10 to 20,000
volts for telemetering and control
operations have a linearity of ±0.5% are available through switching. The
gauge operates on 110 volt 60 cycle
and resolution of 0.09°. Write: G. M. Giannini & Co., Dept.
power. Write: The Sheffield Corp.,
Motor is powered by 115, 200 or M/R, 918 E. Green St., Pasadena 1,
Dept. M/R, Dayton 1, Ohio.
26 volt three-phase 400 cps voltage. Calif.

COUNTER TIMER
Model 226A universal counter
timer has been designed for precise
measurement of frequency, frequency
ratio, period (1/frequency) and time
interval. Featured are direct readout
in kilocycles, megacycles, seconds or
milliseconds with automatic decimal
point indication.

There is provision for oscilloscope

marker signals for trigger level ad-
justment of start and stop points.
Three independent continuously ad-
justable trigger level controls permit
full rated sensitivity at any volt-
age level between —
300 and + 300
volts. Write: Computer-Measurements
Corp., Dept. MR, 5528 Vineland Ave.,
North Hollywood, Calif.

TEFLON HOSE & FITTINGS

Aeroquip Corp. has introduced a
new combination of Teflon hose and
"super gem" fittings for use in air-
craft and missile fluid systems includ-
ing red and white fuming nitric acid.
Aeroquip's Type 666 hose is rated
foroperation in temperatures from
—100 to 500°F. The new 666000 fittings
112 missiles and rockets
features an arrangement wherein performance ratings at environmental
compression during assembly is ap- chamber altitudes from to 125,000
plied to the wire braid only to grip
—95%
ft., relative humidities from to
the hose in the fitting. Fluid sealing and temperatures between 100"
and fitting retention become separate and +300°F.
functions within the same fitting. Exciter may be rotated 90° and
Reinforcement for the Teflon in- operated in any position from verti-
ner tube in the 666 hose is provided cal to horizontal. It is used with elec-
by stainless steel wire braid, making tronic or rotary power supply and
the assembly non-oxidizing inside and either automatic or manual control
out. Fittings are reusable. Write: system. Literature available.
Aeroquip Corp., Dept. M/R, Jackson,
Mich. Write: MB Manufacturing- Co.,
Dept. MR, 1060 State St., New
VIBRATION EXCITER Haven, Conn.
An oil-cooled, electrodynamic vi-
bration exciter produced by MB
Man- TEMPERATURE PROBE
ufacturing Co. is rated to produce a Rosemont Engineering Co. has in-
continuous force output of 3,500 to troduced a total temperature probe
5,000 lbs. and equivalent acceleration designed to meet critical accuracy re-
in a frequency range from five to quirements of Air Force specifica-
2,000 cycles. tions for air measurement at speeds
The Model C25HB meets these up to Mach 3 and higher.

Model 101U probe features a 50-

ohm platinum resistance thermom-
eter element that is said to be her-
metically sealed without sacrificing
the very low time constant.
Available literature describes
probes that are useful to tempera-
C
tures of 1500 C.
Write: Rosemont Engineering Co.,
Dept. M
R, Rosemont, Calif.

DYNAMIC PRESSURE PICKUP

A dynamic pressure pickup will
measure pressures that may consist
of complex waves from sonic vibra-
tions, blast pressures and water ham-

114 missiles and rockets

mer in liquid-filled lines.
The Type 4-430 pickup features
low internal impedance of 100,000
ohms, calibration retention, high out-
put and lack of phase lag or over-
shoot between 3 and 2500 cps.
The pickup will operate at a pres-
sure range of 10-4 to 100 psig and
temperature range of —
10 F to + 140
F. Size of the unit is l /s in. diameter,
7

and thickness of about 1 in. Write:

Consolidated Electrodynamics Corp.,
Dept. M/R, 300 North Sierra Madre
Villa, Pasadena, Calif.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPE
An electron microscope with bet-
ter than 20 Angstrom resolving power
operates at 100 kv and has a hinged
objective lens for quick change or
cleaning of pole inserts.

Also featured are a magnetic

compensator, objective diaphragm
with multiple apertures, and insert
screen with binoculars for ultra-thin
specimens. Pole pieces permit magni-
fication to be continuously variable
through a range of 5,000 to 100,000
diameters.
With diffraction pole pieces, the
magnification ranges from 1,750 to
35,000 diameters. Camera equipment
extends the range to 200,000.
Weight of the unit is 1251 lbs.
and it operates from 110 to 440 volt
supplies. Cooling water of 2-3 quarts
per minute at 30 psi or over is needed.
Write: North American Philips Co.,
Inc., Dept. M/R, 750 South Fulton
Ave., Mount Vernon, N. Y.

GUIDANCE MOUNTING
All external plumbing is elimi-
nated in a new compact manifolded
mounting base developed by Pacific
Division, Bendix Aviation Corp. for
a hydraulic missile guidance system.
The device was developed for
Convair's Terrier missile. The pack-
age contains 18 components, all
mounted on the manifold and inter-
connected with 15 ft. of integral
plumbing. As a result, components
can be removed readily for servicing
and the entire system can be tested
as a unit and installed in a minimum
of time.
The Terrier's hydraulic system
uses compressed air to deliver elec-
trical power for the missile wing ac-
tuation through integral servo valves
and cylinders, and hydraulic power
for a remotely located roll actuator.
Write: Bendix Pacific Division, Dent.
M/R, 11600 Sherman Way, No. Holly-
wood, Calif.

November, 1956
 FLOATED RATE GYRO
A floated rate gyro manufactured
from Monel, Inconel and stainless
steels has been developed that elim-
inates the need for heaters to counter-
act differential expansion effects on
accuracy over a temperature range
of —65°F to +165°F.
Type R-170 gyro is of the hyster-
esis synchronous type for operation
from 26 or 115 volts at 400 cycles
single phase or three phase. Input to
the pickoff is 26 volts ac and output
is 5 volts with a 10k ohm load. Gim-
bal restraint is achieved by means of
a torsion bar. The rate ranges from
15° per sec. to 1000° per sec. with
natural frequencies from 15 cps for
low range units to 100 cps for high
range. Accuracy is said to be better
than 0.5% and sensitivity better than
0.1%.
Write: Whittaker Gyro, division
of Telecomputing Corp., Dept. M/R,
16217 Lindberg St., Van Nuys, Calif.

TELEMETRY TRANSMITTER
A VHF-FM telemetry transmitter
is available that supplies 15 watts
minimum rf power into a 50 ohm
load over the frequency range of
TIMING GENERATOR It isbeing produced under license by 215-235 mc. Type 1461-B is designed
Electromation Co. for PDM/FM modulation. The 1461-
A new
2}4-ounce timing genera- Initial application will be in D is for FM/FM modulation. Either
tor developed by Lockheed Aircraft GSAP cameras modified for data produces ±125 kc maximum devia-
Corp.'s Missile Systems Div. is de- recording and in the newly developed tion at the output frequency.
signed to pulse at any rate from once Wollensak Fastair high-speed missile The transmitter is designed for
to 3,000 times per second.
camera. bulkhead mounting. It uses an FM
Intended to supply a time base The new unit occupies 4 cu. in. modulated crystal oscillator operat-
on the film of airborne data record- of space. Write: Electromation Co., ing at 1/6 output frequency. Sine
ing cameras, the Lockheed-developed Dept. M./R, 116 So. Hollywood Way, wave response from 100 cps to 80 kc
unit is said to be virtually G-immune. Burbank, Calif. is ± 2.5 db. Square wave response

1 16
has a rise and fall time of not more
than 5 microseconds. Weight is about
34 ounces. Size of the unit is 5 19/32 x
3 13/16 x 4 inches.
Write: Telechrome Mfg. Corp.,
Dept. M/R, 28 Ranick Drive, Amity-
ville, N.Y.

PNEUMATIC VALVE
A
pneumatic pressure regulator
and shut-off valve, developed by The
Garrett Corp.'s AiResearch Indus-
trial Division, is designed specifically
for ramjet and jet engine
rocket,
facilitieswhere source gases are
stored under high pressure.
The new valve operates with a
closing time of l/10th of a second
and provides a zero leakage shutoff
control. Its regulating function is to
reduce high pressure gas at 3,000 psi
inlet pressure to a pre-determined
lower outlet pressure.
In addition, the basic valve can
be used as a reducing and shut-off
valve for other high-pressure indus-
trial gas systems such as flowing ni-
trogen or natural gas. Write: The
Garrett Corp., AiResearch Industrial
Div., Dept. M/R, 9851 Sepulveda
Blvd., Los Angeles.

Missile
Literature
SCIENTIFIC SERVICES. New bro-
chure outlines engineering facili-
ties and services, including aero-
elasticity and structural dynamics,
aerodynamic research, aircraft oper-
ations, missile design, thermoelastic
research, vibration analysis and test-
ing. Write: Allied Research Associ-
ates, Inc., Dept. M/R, 43 Leon St.,
Boston.
MISSILE FORUMS. Two new bulle-
tins, GEZ-1741 and GEZ-1742, pre-
sent extensive treatment of technical
forums on guided missiles conducted
by General Electric's special defense
products department. Topics include
systems engineering, aerophysics
problems of hypersonic flight and
hypersonic experimentation. Write:
General Electric Co., Apparatus Sales
Div., Dept. M/R, Schenectady 5, N.Y.

HYDRAULIC VALVES. Data sheets

describe new 3-way
selector and light-
weight restrictor calves for 3,000 psi
hydraulic service. Write: Aircraft
Products Co., Dept. M
R, 300 Church
Rd., Bridgeport, Pa.

November, 1956
 INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ADHERING BODIES

SCIENTIFIC UNIONS 50 4- SCIENTIFIC
OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS
ACADEMIES
COMITE, SPECIAL POUR L'ANNEE
GEOPHYSIQUE INT'L PRES. S. CHAPMAN |

U.S.
INTL. ASTRONOMICAL 50+ PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
UNION NATIONAL ACADEMY
OF SCIENCES 1
XL
UNION OF
INT'L U.S. NATIONAL ACADEMY
THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE OF SCIENCES
U.S.NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE
TECHNICAL PANEL ON
INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR
EARTH SATELLITE PROG
CHAIRMAN, J. KAPLAN
INT'L GEOGRAPHICAL CHAIRMAN, R. PORTER
UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

TWO WORKING GROUPS

INT'L UNION OF
THEORETICAL AND EARTH SATELLITE
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
APPLIED MECHANICS

SMITHSONIAN ASTROPHYS OBSERV WITH HARVARD OBSERV

INT'L UNION OF PURE OPTICAL TRACKING, GEODETIC RESEARCH FROM ORBITAL DATA
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY

MINITRACK RADIO TRACKING. ALSO SCIENTIFIC

INT'L UNION OF DATA TELEMETERING (10-50 MW 108 MC)
GEODESY AND
GEOPHYSICS

INBOARD EXPERIMENTS
J
INT'L SCIENTIFIC
RADIO UNION
1 * COSMIC RAY OBSERVATIONS — STATE UNIV. OF IOWA
2 * SATELLITE ENVIRONM. MEASURE — NAVAL RESEARCH LAB.

INT'L UNION OF 3 *
SOLAR ULTRAVIOLET INTENSITY — NAVAL RESEARCH LAB.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
4 * IONOSPHERIC STRUCTURE — BALLISTICS ABERDEEEN
RES. LAB.,

5 * EARTH'S CLOUD COVER AND ALBEDO — SIGNAL CORPS ENG. LAB.

INT'LUNION OF
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 6 * INTERPLANETARY MATTER — AF CAMBRIDGE RESEARCH CENTER

7 * METEORIC DUST SKIN EROSION — UNIV. OF MARYLAND

INT'L UNION OF PURE 8 * PRIMARY COSMIC RAY NUCLEI FLUX

AND APPLIED PHYSICS RIAS (MARTIN CO.) AND BARTON
"
Above experiments are judged by U.S. National Committee-IGY to be significant
scientifically. Experiments 1-4 inclusive are in a more advanced state of development and
have best expectancy for successful execution. All experiments continue under periodic
review, changes in the foregoing may be made. Other proposed experiments are under
INT'L MATHEMATICAL
consideration.
UNION Copyright 1956 by
American Aviation Publications, Inc.

missiles and rockets

EARTH SATELLITE VEHICLE PROGRAM

U.S. GOVERNMENT
PRES. EISENHOWER

WATCHDOG COMMITTEE

U.S. 84th CONGRESS

GRANTS

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

OFFICE OF
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
DR. CLIFFORD C. FURNAS

H
NAVAL RESEARCH LAB-VANGUARD PROJECT
J. HAGEN OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH
MILTON ROSEN AND E. HOMER NEWELL, JR.
1

MARTIN CO. U.S. AIR FORCE

VEHICLE CONTRACTOR (LAUNCHING FACILITIES)

U.S. ARMY
SUBCONTRACTORS (TRACKING)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.

(DATA REDUCTION) (1st STAGE ROCKET MOTOR)

BROOKS & PERKINS, INC. AEROJET-GENERAL

SATELLITE SHELL (2nd STAGE ROCKET)
}]

ALLEGHENY BALLISTIC LAB-

ATLANTIC RESEARCH CORP.
(SPIN-STABILIZING ROCKETS)
GRAND CENTRAL ROCKET CO.
(3rd STAGE ROCKET)

VICKERS ELECTRIC DIV.

MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL REGULATOR CO.
VICKERS, INC.
(CONTROL SYSTEM)
(MAGNETIC AMP. AUTOPILOT)

November, 1 956 121

 !

INDUSTRY BAROMETER AsA 11 - .JUmimii

missile expenditures by the
GUIDED MISSILE EXPENDITURES three services change from month
to month, these variations tend to
observe some rather obvious trends.
To eliminate the extreme peaks and
valleys of the monthly data (see In-

1 95 5 1< >5 6 dustry Barometer-October 1956),

we have employed a twelve month
moving average. twelve month
A
moving average is a yearly aver-

age adjusted one month at a time.

For example, the expenditure
figure shown for the Air Force for
the month of January 1955 was ob-
tained by adding the monthly
figures of February through Decem-
ber 1954 and January 1955, then
AIR FORCE dividing by 12 to get the monthly
average for this period.
The accompanying graphs dem-
onstrate rather forcibly the ra-

pidity in which missiles have been

V 75 5 1< 6 integrated into the services as
major offensive and defensive
weapons. For the twelve month
period ending January 1955, the
average monthly guided missile ex-
penditures by the Army was $302,-
000. Exactly one year later the
average monthly expenditures was
$24,151,000, an increase of $23,849,-
000, an increase of 7897%
NAVY Navy's average monthly expen-
100 ditures for missiles has been rather
consistent. Low for the period Jan-
90
CO
uary 1955-June 1956, was August
80
1955 ($13,886,000). High month was
DC
<
70 V ?5 5 V ?5 6 May 1956, $15,731,000, a difference
60 of $1,845,000.
o Air Force is currently spend-
co 50
Z ing some $45,000,000 per month on
o 40
missiles and related equipment.
1 30 This is an increase of approxima-
20 tely $25,000,000 over January 1955.

10
As Air Force is obligating money
for this account at the average rate
of $60-65 millions per month, 1957
ARMY expenditures should reach the $60,-
100
000,000 per month level.
Missile expenditures by the De-
90
partment of Defense have risen
CO
a. 80 rapidly from $34 millions (Jan-
<
95 5 1< ?5 6 uary 1955) to the current level of
6 70 1
o $95,000,000 (May 1956). The serv-
60
6 ices are now obligating money
50
<s>
Z which will, in turn, show up as
g 40 future expenditures. By the end of
1 30 1956 or early 1957, these obliga-
tions incurred will become expen-
20
ditures boosting missile procure-
10
ment well above the $100,000,000
per month level.

THREE SERVICES TOTAL missiles and rockets

RIAS RESEARCH for Tomorrow
STAFFED by a select group of
scientists who are encouraged
to create their own programs of
theoretical and experimental study,
the areas under study at Martin's
RIAS Baltimore laboratory are in
no way tied to product develop-
ment or production line problems
of the parent company at Middle
River, Md. Research contracts from
outside agencies are acceptable,
provided that they deal with basic
research consistent with current in-
terests of the RIAS.
Very few of the technological
problems in any given field of en-
deavor can be solved whether —
concerning missiles, rockets, space-
ships, or any other scientific area.
RIAS not preoccupied with this
is
consideration. Nevertheless, "the
right piece of mosaic" turned up
in a program of basic research
may offer the essential clue to a
whole chain of important techno-
logical developments.
Just as plants, with the assis-
tance of moisture and fertilizer,
can convert light and inorganic
RIAS "gravity" researchers plan an experiment to aid in verification of some of the concepts
elements into food and fuel, so the
of general relativity theory. Left to right are: Dr. Gerhart Groetzinger, Dr. Phillip Schwed, reprocessing of material, plus the
Dr. Albert Krall, and Dr. Louis Witten. Bottom: Dr. David Kahn, RIAS staff scientist, studies
addition of energy which can be
the change in surface resistivity of strained wires.
converted for human use, may hold
a clue to the solution of resupply-
ing energy for crew members for
long expeditions on a satellite.
Although the practical design
concepts for such a mechanism
may still be far in the future, it is
already too late to begin expanding
our understanding of the funda-
mental energy transfers that take
place in plants. Scientists at RIAS,
therefore, are looking into the
physical, chemical, and biological
aspects of photosynthesis. These
studies may turn up knowledge
useful only in areas far removed
from space flight. But that is the
chance taken by any explorer who
seeks new fields of discovery.

Another problem close to the

missile and rocket designer is that
of material. But while the difficult
material environmental aspects of
this problem are, and must con-

124 missiles and rockets

tinue to be the object of applied
research, scientists also may find
it profitable to devote attention to

such phases as surface resistivity,

lattice dislocations in both crystal
and structure, or the effects of im-
purities on brittle fracture of
tomorrow's materials.
These latter approaches are
typical of the multitudinous prob-
lems being tackled by solid state
physicists and metallurgical scien-
tists atRIAS who seek new effects,
or a better understanding of
previously known phenomena, in
order to be able to add to the store
of knowledge of the properties of
materials. Studies such as these
may turn up clues to the eventual
attainment of materials with
strength properties on the order
of magnitudes better than those
which are presently available.

Welfare of Mankind
RIAS was chartered in 1955
to seek underlying knowledge of
the phenomena of nature and to
"evolve new technical concepts for
the improvement and welfare of
mankind." The function of the
scientist at RIAS is to cultivate
sufficient seeds of new knowledge,
leaving to the practicing tech-
nician the function of harvesting
the right crops.
A break-through in nuclear
physics, for example, might, to the
propulsion engineer, ultimately
revolutionize his concepts of space
travel, while to the medical re-
searcher the same discovery might
mean a new weapon in the war
against cancer.
The process of transforming
new discoveries into useful prod-
ucts, meanwhile, will be quickened
by the relationship which RIAS
enjoys with industry.
Through lectures and reports,
members of the engineering pro-
fession, as well as representative
groups of scientific colleagues
from universities, government, and
industry, are being ap-
already
prised of the developments in basic
research occurring at the RIAS
research center.
At present occupying tempo-
rary quarters at 2120 North
Charles Street, RIAS will event-
ually move to a larger laboratory
to be constructed in the suburban
Baltimore area. END
November, 1956
 CALENDAR
OCTOBER
29-31 —Air and Transport
Industries
Assn. (Canada), annual general
meeting, Chateau Frontenac,
Quebec.

NOVEMBER
1-3 — National Aviation Trades Asso-
ciation annual convention, St.
Louis.
8-9 —SAE national fuels and lubricants
meeting, Mayo Hotel, Tulsa,
Okla
13 - Fourth Massachusetts Aviation
Conference, Hotel Statler, Bos-
ton.
14- 15 —Aircraft Industries Association
export conference, Miami Beach,
Fla.
15- 16— New England Radio - Elec-
Meeting, sponsored by
tronics
Boston and Connecticut section
of IRE, Hotel Bradford, Boston.
—
25-30 American Rocket Society an-
nual meeting, Henry Hudson
Hotel, New York City.
28-30 —
First International Congress
on Ozone, sponsored by Armour
Research Foundation, Sheraton
Hotel, Chicago.

DECEMBER
3 — Flight Safety Foundation's 1956
seminar in cooperation with
MATS, West Palm Beach, Fla.
6- 7 — Third Annual Meeting of Amer-
ican Astronautical Society, Edi-
son Hotel, New York City.
17 —Wright Memorial Dinner, Shera-
ton - Park Hotel, Washington,
D. C.

JANUARY
14-15—Third National Symposium on
and Quality Control in
Reliability
sponsored by IRE,
Electronics,
AIEE, RETMA and ASQC, Hotel
Statler, Washington, D. C.
28-31 —
Eighth Annual Plant Mainte-
nane Show, Public Auditorium,
Cleveland.
30 — Electronics in Aviation Day, spon-
sored by PGANE, IAS and
RTCA, New York, N. Y.

FEBRUARY
26-28 —Western Joint Computer Con-
ference, sponsored by IRE, AIEE
and ACM, Hotel Statler, Los
Angeles.

MARCH
7- 9 — National Conference on Aviation
Education, sponsored by Na-
tional Aviation Education Coun-
cil, Mayflower Hotel, Washing-
ton, D. C.

missiles and rockets

People
Alexander Kartveli, vp and
chief engineer of Republic Aviation
Corp., under a change of duties
program will devote full time to
heading company-wide research

Alexander Kartveli

and development activities in air-

craft,guided missiles, and pro-
grams in such fields as weapons
systems, atomics, nucleonics, and
electronics; Richard G. Bowman ad-
vances to chief engineer in charge
of production and experimental en-

Dr. William O'Donnell

gineering; and Dr. William O'Don-

nell has been promoted to chief
engineer in charge of aircraft and
missile development.
Col. L. Zoeckler is the new
chief of the aircraft and missiles
division of Air Materiel Command.
He will be responsible for procure-
ment and production of all aircraft
and guided missiles for the Air
Force.
Dr. Herbert C. Corben is now
a member of the staff of the Elec-
tronic Research Laboratory. The
Ramo-Wooldridge Corp.
missiles and rockets
 Dr. Bruno H. Wojcik has been
appointed manager of research and
development for the industrial
chemicals division of the Olin
Mathieson Chemical Corp.
Dr. Raymond H. McFee, until
recently director of research of the
Electronics Corp. of America, has
been appointed director of research
for Aero-Jet General Corp's elec-
tronics and guidance division.
K. F. Umpleby was promoted
from chief engineer to asst. Gen.
Mgr. of the York division, Bendix
Aviation Corp. W. H. Sims, Jr., has
been named chief engineer.
Dr. Frank C. Hoyt has joined
Lockheed's missile systems division
as asst. director of research and
head of the general and nuclear
physics div. of the research labs.
Samuel Storchheim has been
promoted to chief of manufacturing
engineering & research in the
Martin Co.'s nuclear division.
Charles D. W. Thornton was
appointed director of research at
Farnsworth Electronics Co.

Ballhaus Thornton

Dr. William F. Ballhaus, chief

engineer for Northrop Aircraft,
Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., has been
elected chairman of the Aircraft
Industries Association's Guided
Missile Committee for the coming
year. He succeeds Edwin A. Speak-
man, vice pres. and gen. mgr. of
Fairchild Guided Missiles Div.
Members of the AIA Guided
Missile Committee, made up of
representatives of the leading mis-
sile manufacturers in the country,
have just returned from Norfolk,
Va., where they were briefed on
the operations and capabilities of
the USS Boston, one of the Navy's
new missile ships.
RAdm. William Henry Ashford.
Jr. (USN, ret.) has been made
manager of the newly formed mis-
sile applications division in the
Electric Storage Battery Co.'s
Exide industrial division.
Dr. Marshall N. Rosenbluth
has joined the general atomic divi-
sion of General Dynamics Corp.
F. E. Huggin, formerly of
Lockheed missile system, has been
appointed design specialist at the
San Diego advanced electronic re-
search and development center
of Marvelco Electronics division,
National Aircraft Corp.
Gerhard Reethof has been
named chief of research under the

missiles and rockets

director of research and develop-
ment for Vickers Inc.; LeRoy D.
Taylor is asst. chief engineer for
development.
George I. Willis, asst. to the
gen. mgr. of Hamilton Standard,
division of United Aircraft Corp.,
will head the company's new elec-
tronics department.
Peter J. Schenk has been
named manager of the projects
section for the new Technical Mili-
tary Planning Operation in the
General Electric defense elec-
tronics division.
William A. Rockwood has been
made asst. gen. mgr. of the tele-
communication division of Strom-
berg-Carlson, a division of General
Dynamics Corp.; Robert E. Dob-
bin has been named chief engineer.
Kirke W. Marsh has been ap-
pointed general project manager
on a major guided missile project
of Bendix Aviation Corp., North
Hollywood, Calif. Prior to joining
Bendix in February of this year, he
was senior project engineer for
Fairchild Guided Missiles on a
project for the Navy Bureau of
Ordnance in cooperation with the
National Bureau of Standards.
William Q. Nicholson, director
of engineering for Hycon Manufac-
turing Co.'s instrument division,
has been appointed chief staff en-
gineer for the company. He will di-
rect the development, introduction
and promotion of new products. Be-
fore joining Hycon in 1951 Mr.
Nicholson was a research engineer
for Hughes Aircraft Co., and an
electrical engineer at Gilfillan
Brothers, Inc.
Arthur Sommer has been
named mgr. of engineering for the
American Bosch Arma Corp.'s
Arma Division.
Donald R. Church has been
named chief engineer of Acoustica
Associates, Inc., a firm which de-
signs and manufactures ultrasonic
cleaning, processing and measuring
systems. Morris Kenny has been ap-
pointed project engineer of the
company's long-range Air Force
missile systems development pro-
gram; Martin A. Damast, senior
electronic engineer.
J. Donald Haas, formerly a
project engineer and then asst.
Dayton representative of Reaction
Motors, Inc., has been appointed
asst. Washington representative.
Samuel Storcheim promoted to
chief of mfg. engineering and re-
search in The Martin Co.'s nuclear
division.
RAdm. William Henry Ashford,
Jr. (USN ret.), appointed mgr. of
Electric Storage Battery Co.'s new
missile applications division.
Marcus C. Eliason appointed
gen. sales mgr. of Air Associates,
Inc.
Charles D. W. Thornton ap-
pointed director of research at
Farnsworth Electronics Co.

missiles and rockets

 Donald M. Hazard has been
promoted from assistant to the en-
gineering mgr. of Pratt & Whitney
Aircraft to chief of engineering
operations at the company's Flor-
ida branch.
Karl D. Swartzel, former head
of the physics dept. of the Cornell
Aeronautical Laboratory, has been
named chief research and develop-
ment engineer of the Guided Mis-
siles Div. of Republic Aviation
Corp. He will be in charge of oper-
ations research as well as develop-
ment of new missiles systems.
J. S. Morison has been ap-
pointed chief of Douglas Aircraft
Co.'s missiles computing section
and O. E. Nemitz chief of the Co.'s
missiles data reduction section.

Baboo Ram Teree

Baboo Ram ("Bob") Teree,
recently chief engineer of Weather-
head Co.'s Aircraft Division and
Special Products Division, has been
appointed chief engineer of Greer
Hydraulics, Inc., Jamaica, N. Y.
Eugene E. Crowther has been
named base mgr. of Lockheed Mis-
sile Systems Division's flight test
base at Holloman AFB, Alama-
gordo, N. M., succeeding Everett
E. Christensen, transferred to Van
Nuys as asst. flight test division
engineer. Dr. Alan Andrews has
been appointed to the staff of the
nuclear physics and engineering
dept. and Dr. William E. Frye to
the staff of the division's research
laboratories at Palo Alto, Calif.
E. C. Cornford has been named
head of the Guided Weapons De-
partment of the British Supply
Ministry.
The new Missile and Ordnance
Systems Dept. of General Electric
Co.'s Defense Electronics Division,
with headquarters at Philadelphia,
will be headed by George F. Met-
calf, formerly gen. mgr. of the
Special Defense Projects Dept.
John E. Lowe appointed direc-
tor of personnel and pub. rel. of
American Machine & Foundry Co.'s
new guided missile launching sys-
tem plant.

November, !956 133

 New Propellant Firm
Propellex Chemical a Corp.,
new firm specializing develop-
in
ment and production of propellants
and explosives, has been formed by
Dr. Robert A. Cooley, formerly of Propulsion Notes
Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp.
Company has set up headquar-
By Alfred J. Zaehringer
ters at 227 Oakley Place, East Al-
ton, 111. and has arranged for suf-
Drastic reductions in solid propellant costs are in evi-
ficient land, buildings and produc-
dence with new Phillips Petroleum Co. propellant plant 66 at
tion facilities in that area. Plan is
McGregor, Texas. The ammonium nitrate-carbon black-syn-
to place major emphasis in the avi- thetic rubber propellant runs about ten cents per lb. sec. im-
ation field on gas generating de- pulse which includes motor and propellant. Unit is the M15
vices such as jet engine starters, RATO which has an operating temperature range of 75° to —
aircraft and missile power units 170° F. One shot takeoff system for B-47 now costs about
and non-electric safety devices. $160 a unit as compared to about double cost of old unit.
In launching PCC, Dr. Cooley
said company are con-
officials
vinced there is a whole new world New process developed by Olin Mathieson is aimed at
of propellant and explosive actu- dropping costs of double-base solid propellants. Propellant
ated tools not only for the military cost for some newly developed units has dived below $l/lb.
but for industry. Previous double-base costs averaged $5-10/lb, especially for
As examples he cited guided development units.
transport missiles, auxiliary gas
generators for emergency power,
ejection devices and jet starters. Scientists at Standard Oil Co. (Ind.), developers of new
Dr. Cooley indicated that the smokeless cartridge starter for B-57, believe solids will prove
library of propellants now known useful in space operations. Reason: about 30% greater per-
to industry permits the safe, reli- formance than advanced liquid fuel motors and long-term
able and economical use of propel- storage under space conditions.
lant power to take the place of
bulky air compressors or electric
power sources. He noted, too, that Rocket lab at Purdue is studying film cooling of rocket
more versatile and less expensive motors. Engineers at the lab conclude that experimental data
propellants based on fertilizer are needed on friction co-efficients, flow of films, and tur-
grade ammonium nitrate are rapid- bulence of flows before film cooling can be put on a sound engi-
ly being developed. neering basis. With WFNA and JP rocket motors using film
cooling, loss in specific impulse varied linearly with film cool-
ant flow. Loss of 1-4% in I sp results with 2-9% coolant flow.
BritishPropellant
Firm Formed
British Oxygen Research and an atomic rocket motor near? AEC
Is first firing of
Development Co., Ltd., a new firm, labs at Los Alamos and Livermore have openly announced
was formed early this month to research and development on nuclear rocket propulsion.
take over the Research and Devel- Sandia Corp. also has been hinting at the same thing. Gen-
eral Electric has generally been pessimistic about an atomic
opment Station of the British Oxy-
rocket motor. However, it is significant to note that two of
gen Co. Group.
today's big guns in conventional rocket propulsion North —
Firm has undertaken a two-
fold investigation of the basic prob-
—
American and Aerojet have entered the atomic side door in
the reactor field.
lems of liquid oxygen, as a rocket
propellant and for crew breathing
needs.
Combustion work done at Royal Aircraft Establishment
indicates that chlorine introduction may lower flame temper-
Thompson to Build atures in hydrocarbon combustion. Carbon formation results
in large heat absorption. Result: ramjets and turbojets that
Fuel Test Facility run cooler but emit black smoke exhaust. Bromine was also
Thompson Products, Inc., Ac- studied but it has a definite inhibiting effect on limits of
cessory Division has set 1957 as flammability. British missile industry has put substantial
target for start of operation in a emphasis on ramjets lately, although liquid rocket develop-
new $10-million facility to be built ment is progressing satisfactorily.
near Roanoke, Va. to test rocket
and missile fuel and auxiliary pow-
er systems.

November, 1956 135

THEORETICAL PERFORMANCE OF SEVERAL
ROCKETDYNE
Prepared by
ROCKET PROPELLANT COMBINATIONS
a Division of North American Aviation, Inc.

llll mi
o o
S 8

g g "

I
Book Reviews
AERODYNAMICS, PROPUL-
SION, STRUCTURES. By E. A.
Bonney, M. J. Zucroiv and C. W. Bes-
ser. Edited by Capt. Grayson Mer-
rill, U.S. Navy. Published by D. Van

Nostrand Co., Inc., 120 Alexander

St., Princeton, N. J. 595 pp. $10.00.
This second volume in a series on
the principles of guided missile de-
sign contains a wealth of funda-
mental data for practicing missile en-
gineers and students. Ten chapters
are devoted to all aspects of missile
aerodynamics from preliminary de-
sign to flight test, eight to missile
propulsion including ramjet, turbojet
and rocket power, and five to struc-
tures and design practice. J. S. M.

A SPACE TRAVELER'S
GUIDE TO MARS. By Dr. I. M. Lev-
itt, 175 pp. $3.50, Henry Holt and
Company, New York.
The title of this book is rather
misleading. The theme indicates the Illustration from GUIDE TO MARS. The orbits of the earth and Mars, as seen from the north
book written for science fiction
is pole of the sky, showing the near approach of the two planets. Notice that only those oppo-
sitions which occur in the fall are the close ones, when Mars is at perihelion.
fans and that it departs from known
facts. But Dr. Levitt actually pre- to other planets and the universe. for vocational purposes. But this is
sents a highly respectful and skill- One can rightfully say that the author not just another school book; this
fully authored introduction to tomor- has "distilled all that is known about book belongs in the adult's library.
row's Mars trip. Mars into a highly readable book of Of particular interest is Dr. Levitt's
First of all, however, as only interest to everyone with a normal concise and colorful description of
the expert astronomer could do it, curiosity about the world around us." the face of Mai s and of atmospheric
-

Dr. Levitt has introduced a guide Furthermore, this is the kind of and climatic conditions on the neigh-
to planet Mars and to some extent book that may merit consideration bor planet.
In two appendices the author has
included an absorbing section on the
evolution of the solar system, its
origin and the beginning of life. Il-

lustrations are few but very good

indeed.
E. B.

VISION, A Saga of the Sky,

By Harold Mansfield, 389 pp., $5.00.
Duell, Sloan and Pierce, New York.
In this book author Mansfield
has presented the spirited history of
Boeing Aircraft Company as it
evolved from a spark of enthusiasm
caught by William E. Boeing while
witnessing America's first interna-
tournament at old-
tional aeronautical
Domiguez Ranch, a few miles south
of Los Angeles, in January, 1910.
The story of the early flying ma-
chines which inspired Boeing, the
Curtiss, Bleriot, and Farman, is fa-
miliar to all whose life work is firmly
entrenched in man's dreams of con-
quering the heavens. Though the

138 missiles and rockets

 tific books which are so absorbingly

written you hate to put them down.

The authors have taken full ad-
vantage of their close contacts with
the planners of the U.S. satellite
program. They have dwelt on the
background and the early history of
the project and have presented the
latest up-to-date technical informa-
tion on the first satellites, their scien-
tific applications, as well as on the

technical problems of rockets, con-

trol and telemetering.
But there are other topics be-
sides instrumented artificial satel-
lites. Starting with a discussion of
present rocket research planes, such
as the X-l and X-2, the book leads
to their logical extension, the pi-
loted satelloid vehicle which circles
from SATELLITE! shows useful orbits for different kinds of satellites contemplated
lustration the earth in a satellite orbit partially
during the next few years.
supported by aerodynamic lift.
names and events belong to the his- SATELLITE By Erik Bergaust
!
Beyond this the authors ap-
tory of Boeing Aircraft Company, and William Beller, 287 pp. $3.95, proach more cautiously such contro-
the story is that of all aviation in- Hanover House, New York. versial topics as the giant space
dustry and mankind with the dreams, Erik Bergaust and William Bel- stations and exotic schemes of pro-
ambitisns, set backs, and goals which lerhave accomplished a difficult feat. pulsion, such as photon rockets and
have characterized the development They have written a book which is gravity control; but all of it makes
of present day aviation. It is a book technically accurate and at the same fascinating reading. The book ends
which, if begun, must be read; it is time immensely fascinating. There with a discussion of a crucial prob-
a book truly dedicated to, and in- are not many popular books which lem, educating and training per-
spiring, vision. contain as an appendix a list of tech- sonnel for the age of space.
W.R. nical references and very few scien- S. Fred Singer

140 missiles and rockets

How About a DEGREE In Missile Engineering?
By Captain Grayson Merrill, USN
NO first-line university,
writer's best knowledge, offers
to the fields,
chanical,
suchas aeronautical, me-
and ordnance engineer-
open courses leading to a degree in ing. However, it obviously would
Guided Missile Engineering. be advantageous to recruit engi-
Policy-making executives of neers, scientists, and technical of-
leading United States institutions ficers of the Armed Services who
of learning should establish courses can provide the desirable ingredi-
of instruction in Guided Missile ent of practical experience.
Engineering, ultimately to achieve In view of the great demand
the present stature of Aeronautical for such persons in the industry
Engineering. Available textbooks, and the latter's salary advantage
students and teachers make this over institutions of learning, it is
practical. Great public interest and expected that retired persons will
essentiality to our national defense be a best source of experienced
make it desirable. teachers, at least for some time.
The greatest proportion of U.S. Public opinion, in the form of
engineers are working on research literature and entertainment, indi-
and development financed by the cates there is a deep-seated inter-
Department of Defense and, if the est in guided missiles for young
Fiscal Year 1957 budget is a guide, people. They see in it a fascinating
over one-half of these will be work- challenge and a lucrative career
ing on guided missiles. which operates now to preserve
It is paradoxical, therefore, national security and in the future
that these engineers must train to enable the exploration of space.
themselves "on-the-job" rather A survey of any undergraduate
than in the nation's universities. technical body probably would
One probable reason for the show a strong predilection to
tardiness of universities to set up guided missile careers.
guided missile instruction is the Government will be forced to
important factor of what unclassi- establish a positive program to
fied literature they can utilize in solve the problem, possibly in the
teaching the subject. The Depart- form of subsidy or other incentive
ment of Defense has assumed no for students of technologies impor-
responsibility for creating such a tant to national defense.
body of literature and that which Patently, any university which
exists is principally in the form of already has established courses in
uncorrelated technical papers spon- Guided Missile Engineering will be
sored by the technical journals. in a position to benefit from such a
Technologies employed in program and serve its country at
Guided Missile Engineering are the same time.
probably more diverse than in any
other field of application. There Spare Time Rocketeers
should be a broad undergrad- A new
section has been estab-
uate base, including mathematics lishedby the Rocket Research Insti-
through the calculus, physics, tute in Sacramento, California, to
chemistry, electronics, mechanical make a contribution to the Interna-
engineering, and sufficient of the tional Geophysical Year: The de-
humanities to ensure social respon- signing, construction, and launch-
sibility and administrative, as well ing of an Intermediate Altitude
as technical capacity. Sounding Rocket to be known as
Proper instruction using ap- Spark L
propriate textbooks could lead to a Spark I system actually consists
BS or MS degree. A doctorate prob- of two rockets, a 350-lb thrust, 85-
ably would involve specialization in second duration, liquid oxygen-alco-
one of the missile components, such hol sustainer rocket and a 5,000-lb
as guidance, propulsion, aerody- thrust, one-second duration, solid-
namics, and would, of course, re- propellant booster rocket. Calcula-
quire original work of significance. tions indicate that the liquid sus-
Effective guided missile in- tainer will be able to carry instru-
struction could be given by instruc- ments to altitudes in excess of 100,000
tors presently working in allied feet.

missiles and rockets

 The Institute's project is being
carried out by five development
groups, Airframe, Facilities, Liquid
Propulsion System, Projects, and
Solid Propulsion System. The activi-
ties of each group are directed by
professionals in the field. Consequent-
ly, even though the educational pro-
gram is a non-military, unclassified

endeavor, its value is increased be-

cause participants are guided by per-
sonnel with substantial industrial
rocket experience.
The Rocket Research Institute,
a non-professional organization with
headquarters in Glendale, California,
was established in 1943. All work is

of a basic unclassified nature and

members gain experience through
"spare-time" training programs in
which actual solid and liquid propel-
lant rockets are designed, con-
structed, and tested.
Participation i n t h e Spark I
training program is open to all and
a desire to learn more about rocket
propulsion is the only prerequisite.
Dues are $10 per year. For additional
information, contact RBI Member-
ship Committee, 2901 Rubicon Way,
Sacramento 21, California.

18 Million Manhours
Without Accident
A safety milestone unprece-
dented in the aircraft industry is
claimed by Convair. Announcement
that 88 consecutive days worked
without a lost-time accident recently
was given at Convairs' San Diego
plant as a reminder to its 35,000 em-
ployees of their own unparalleled
safety achievement. The 18,000,000
accident-free manhour mark reached
was double the record-setting 9,000,-
000 manhours worked at Convair-
San Diego last year without a lost-
time accident.
For the 1955 achievement, the
National Safety Council recognized
Convair-San Diego as having estab-
lished a world record for safety in
the aircraft industry. Meanwhile, an
inter-plant safety rivalry was devel-
oping rapidly as Convair-Pomona,
the guided missile production facility
Convair operates for the U. S. Bu-
reau of Ordnance at Pomona, Calif.,
approached a full year worked with-
out a lost-time accident.
Approximate man-hours worked
without a disabling injury at Con-
vair-Pomona recently was 9,821,224
established over a 359-day work pe-

November, 1956
riod. Convair-Pomona attained the
one-year no-acciden mark Oct. 25,
with a manhour total of nearly 10,-
000,000. Pomona's lower manhour
record is attributable to its smaller
payroll — less than one seventh the
number at Convair-San Diego.

Redstone's Housing
Crisis Being Eased
Critical housing shortages at
the Army Ballistic Missile Agency
and the Redstone Arsenal near
Huntsville, Ala., are being relieved
with award of a contract for imme-
diate construction of 270 Capehart-
type apartment dwelling units. These
are the first of 670 such units already
authorized.
Bush Construction Co. ©f Nor-
folk, Va., was awarded a $3,789,000
contract for the first 270 units. A
contract of $98,502 for off-site util-
ities to serve the units was awarded
to Nichols Plumbing & Heating Co.
of Birmingham, Ala. Work has be-
gun after ceremonies in which a
charge of missile explosive replaced
the traditional spade to break ground.
Contract specifications for the
additional 400 units are being drawn
for circulation to prospective contrac-
tors. Redstone already has 125
Wherry-type units. More than 9,000
civilians and 2,000 military person-
nel are employed at the missile and
rocket center.
In another step to ease the hous-
ing shortage, special certificates of
eligibility for housing benefits under
Title 809 of the National Housing
Act have been authorized for 500
essential civilian workers. Almost
300 of the certificates had been is-
sued within the first week of the
authorization which enables the Fed-
eral Housing Administration to guar-
antee more mortgages in given areas
and to provide for lower down pay-
ments than on normal FHA-guaran-
teed mortgages.

missiles and rockets

 missiles and
rockets
MAGAZINE OF WORLD ASTRONAUTICS

In This Issue:
I
 missiles and rockets
Magazine of World Astronautics
December, 1956 Volume I, No. 3

MISSILES AND ROCKETS is published

monthly by American Aviation Publica-
tions, Inc., 1001 Vermont Avenue, N.W.,
Washington 5, D.C., U.S.A., Telephone:
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PUBLISHING CORPORATION: Wayne

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tor of advertising; Albert H. Stackpole,

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Stackpole, Jr., secretary.
4
missiles and rockets
 missiles editorial

and
rockets How USAF Can Aid
Magazine of World Astronautics
and Benefit Too
Wayne W. Parrish, THROUGHOUT THE ALMOST FIVE DECADES of mili-
tary aeronautical development, civil aviation has been
Editor and Publisher
a great and positive beneficiary.
Robert H. Wood, Will the civil sciences (including civil aviation) benefit
Editorial Director in like measure from the military development of missiles
Erik Bergaust, and rockets?
Managing Editor This is a very logical question. There are many skeptics
unable to foresee much real gain for the civil world in the
Seabrook Hull, necessarily hush-hush weapons projects now under tight mili-
Assistant Editor
tary control. Up to now, at least, the military services have
• • hardly been in a position to use an open road approach for
cooperating with the civil sciences.
Department Editors
But the answer to the question of benefit is resound-
Engineering: Joseph S. Murphy
ingly in the affirmative. And there is at least one positive
Electronics: Henry P. Steier
Military: Henry T. Simmons indication that the military services are fully cognizant of
Propulsion: Alfred J. Zaehringer the need for cooperation.
Astronautics: Hey ward E. Can- Meteorologists, astrophysicists, geologists and others
ney and Frederick I. Ordway III have been aware of the tremendous potentialities that guided
Manufacturing: Fred S. Hunter missiles embrace as research tools for their respective fields.
International: Anthony Vandyk
Up to now much of valuable scientific information obtained
London: James H. Stevens
from upper air rocket research has been closely held by the
Paris: Jean-Marie Riche
military.
But now comes the USAF's Air Research and Develop-
Art Director: William H. Martin ment Command with a heartening attitude. Lieutenant
Production Manager: John Walen General Thomas S. Power, ARDC's Commander, told the
Research Director: A. J. Newfield Aviators Post of the American Legion in New York last
month that there must be better cooperation between civilian
Manuscripts that are not negotiated
and military in joint scientific ventures and that such co-
should be submitted to the Managing operation will benefit both. He gave every indication of
Editor for consideration. In the event recognizing and understanding the grave problem of scientist
the subject matter of the manuscript is
considered to be in a classified area,
and engineer shortage. He stressed, too, the importance of
the manuscript must be cleared by the giving scientists freedom in their work.
proper security review office of the
Department of Defense. Responsibility
This forward-looking attitude is being translated into
for security clearance rests with the action. The test phases of the advanced USAF missile proj-
author. ects, such as the ICBM programs, are understood to be
considered for joint scientific-military advantage. Since USAF
Leonard Eiserer, needs to test its big missiles under almost true space flight
General Manager such tests will yield incalculably
conditions, it realizes that
William H. Pearson, valuable information to many sciences.
Director of Advertising
The cooperation between the military and scientists in
Larry Brettner, the space flight program is well known. The extension of this
Manager, Publication Sales cooperation into the field of missiles and rockets holds great
Elsie Gray, significance, for ICBM's in true space flight conditions should
Advertising Service Manager harvest a vast amount of scientific data.
We
salute ARDC
and General Power for this new look
of cooperation and suggest that this joint effort can lead to
Publishing Information: Published every
month by American Aviation Publica- even greater scientific progress. Many top missile scientists
tions, Inc., Washington, D. C. Printed have discussed the feasibility of using ICBM hardware for
at The Telegraph Press, Harrisburg, Pa.
scientific research flights to the moon and for circumlunar
Second class mail privileges authorized
at Washington, D. C, with additional flights. In search for the "ultimate" weapon in ballistic
its
entry at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. missiles, the USAF may
find unlimited avenues to success
by greater use of scientists from many fields in its weapons
Copyright 1956 by
program.
American Aviation Publications, Inc. Wayne W. Parrish.

December, 1956
missiles and rockets vol. 1 no. 3

cover picture:
features
Ballistic Missiles and Management,
By Major General B. A. Schriever 55

Air Force Missile Arsenal 57

Key to Survival: Missile Research and Development,

By Brig. Gen. Don R. Ostrander 58
^000*'
Comprehensive Testing Speeds Missile Development,
By Maj. Gen. L. I. Davis 61

USAF Intercontinental Missile Program 63

A New Approach to Space Flight, By Col. Wm. 0. Davis .... 64

Missile Roles and Missions 70

Power Sources for Space Flight, By Dr. S. Fred Singer 82 M/R's cover shows test bed fir-
ing a 50,000 lb. North
of
Navigation in Interplanetary Space, By Dr. Peter Castruccio . . 98
A merican / Rocketdyne oxygen-
South Africa Prepares for Satellite Tracking, alcohol engine for Cook Re-
By F. C. Durant III 102 search Laboratories' Mach 2
test sled. Perfect diamond shock
patterns depicted here will be-
come an increasingly common
news & trends sight to American missileers as
vehicles like NAA's intercon-
Wilson Shocks Nation's Rocket Experts I ARS Annual Meeting) 24
tinental Navaho reach full
Redstone Personnel Passes 12,000 Mark 29 operational development. See
Henry T. Simmon's feature ar-
Board Set in UFO Study 29
ticle, page 77.
Admiral Russell Predicts Atomic Rockets 29

Three Nike Support Units Activated at Redstone 30 columns

Boom in Transistor Output 30 Rocket Trends 34
Washington Spotlight .... 72
B-52 As Regulus Missile Launcher 30
Aerophysics 75
Expert Charts Future of "Big Brother" Satellite 32 World Astronautics 86
Murphree: Better AAM Weapons Needed 33 Propulsion Notes 93
International News 104
Astrionics 103
Industry Highlights 128
rocket engineering
Second Stage Vanguard Engine 90
departments
Problems and Promises of Free Radical Fuels 94
Editorial 9
Rocket Engineering Briefs 96 When and Where 14
Book Reviews 16
Letters to the Editors .... 18
industry spotlight New Missile Products .... 149
Case for Reliable Missile Batteries 106 Missile Literature 159
People 160
Industry News 114

Subcontractor's Guide to the Missile Industry 130 photo credits:

Industry Briefs 142 Harry Compton, E. Hull, pp.
24, 25, 26; GE, p. 32; Avco, p.
Industry Barometer 144 33; U.S. Air Force, pp. 55, 57,
58, 59, 60, 61, 62; Douglas, p.
65; NAA, pp. 77, 78; m/r, pp.
82, 83, 84; Aerojet, pp. 90, 91,
131; Westinghouse, pp. 99,
next issue 101 ; South African Inter-
January m/r will feature Navy
Missile Power and Navy Astronautics. planetary Society, p. 102;
Also: Buyer's Guide to the Electronics Industry. Exide, pp. 106, 112.

December, 1956 13
wheii and where
NOVEMBER
Nov. 28-30— First International
Congress on Ozone, sponsored
by Armour Research Founda-
tion, Sheraton Hotel, Chicago.

DECEMBER
Dec. 3— Flight Safety Foundation's
1956 seminar in cooperation
with MATS, West Palm Beach,
Fla.
—
Dec. 5-7 Instrumentation Confer-
ence sponsored by IRE Profes-
sional Group on Instrumenta-
tion, Atlantic Section, Atlanta
Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, Ga.
—
Dec. 6-7 Third Annual Meeting of
American Astronautical So-
ciety, Edison Hotel, New York
City.
Dec. 10-12 —
Eastern Joint Computer
Conference sponsored by IRE,
AIEE, ACM, Hotel New Yorker,
New York City.
Dec. 17 —Wright
Memorial Dinner,
Sheraton-Park Hotel, Washing-
ton D. C.
JANUARY
Jan. 14-15— Third National Sym-
posium on Reliability and Qual-
Control in Electronics, spon-
ity
sored by IRE, AIEE, RETMA
and ASQC, Hotel Statler, Wash-
ington, D. C.
Jan. 28-31— Eighth Annual Plant
Maintenance Show, Public Aud-
itorium, Cleveland.
Jan. 28-Feb. 1— Institute of the
Aeronautical Sciences 25th an-
nual meeting, Sheraton Astor
Hotel, New York City.
Jan. —
30 Electronics in Aviation
Day, sponsored by PGANE, IAS
and RTCA, New York, N. Y.
FEBRUARY
—
Feb. 14-15 Air Force Assn. Annual
Jet Age Conference, Sheraton
Park Hotel, Washington, D. C.
Feb. 26-28—Western Joint Com-
puter Conference, sponsored by
IRE, AIEE and ACM, Hotel
Statler, Los Angeles.
MARCH
March 7-9 —National Conference on
Aviation Education, sponsored
by National Aviation Educa-
tion Council, Mayflower Hotel,
Washington D. C.
March —
25-27 American Society of
Tool Engineers, Silver Anni-
versary annual meeting, Sham-
rock Hilton Hotel, Houston,
Texas.

missiles and rockets

 —
book reviews will be better able to make the best
judgment if he knows something of
AIRCRAFT MATERIALS AND the why and how of a project's ulti-
PROCESSES. By George F. Titter- mate use.
Published by Pitman
ton, 5th edition. It is not, however, a book for the
Publishing Corp., 2 West 45th St., layman or political science student.
New York. 898 pp., illustrated. It treats its subjects —operations re-
An up-to-date treatment of lat- search, armament and launching
est processes, materials and specifica- with scientific accuracy and thor-
tions used in the aircraft industry, oughness. But for all its thorough-
authored by the Asst. Chief Engineer ness, it is still broad in scope as a
of Grumman Aircraft Engineering listing of some of the chapter head-
Corp. Includes emphasis on new ma- ings will indicate. The first, National
terials such as titanium, plastics, Procedure, covers the basic respon-
superstrength steels. J. S. M. sibilities in the missile field of the

OPERATIONS RESEARCH, armed services and of the contractor,

including sections on Government
ARMAMENT, LAUNCHING, By
laboratories, educational institutions,
Grayson Merrill, Harold Goldberg,
etc. Chapter three is called Determi-
Robert H. Helmholtz, Third of a se-
nation of an Operational Require-
ries of six edited by Capt. Grayson
Merrill, U.S. Navy. Published by D.
ment, covering weapons effectiveness,
target damage definitions, weapons
Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 120 Alex-
ander St., Princeton, N. J. 508 pp. shortcomings, etc. Additionally there
$10.00 are chapters on tactical doctrine,
mathematics of operations research,
This third volume of this am- armament research and development,
bitious series sets out to tell guided
target vulnerability, warheads; fuz-
missile designers, engineers, instruc-
ing requirements, safety require-
tors,graduate students and everyone ments and arming components, evalu-
connected with modern aerial war-
ation and testing; elements of
fare something about the strategy
launching and design principles.
and tactics of missile warfare; why Operations Research shows how
they're needed; what kind of war-
armed services requirements derive
heads for what kind of targets; the from legal roles and missions and
operational conditions under which
outlines the teamwork in the missile
they will be stored, transported and industry needed to meet these re-
used.
quirements. The Armament section
The book was apparently writ- describes how to design a missile
ten on the very valid assumption that warhead and fuze to destroy its tar-
even the most technically concerned get. The Launching section treats the

missiles and rockets

booster assemblies, catapults, and PROPERTIES OF COMBUS-
airborne and surface launchers that TION GASES. Prepared by Aircraft
are used. The vocational potentiali- Gas Turbine Development Dept.,
ties of the book are rather obvious. General Electric Co. Published by
For those who intend to develop, McGraiv-Hill Book Co., Inc. Two
manufacture or use guided missiles volumes. $75.
this third volume should prove a A comprehensive combus-
set of
valuable library addition. S. H. tion gas thermodynamic tables, com-
piled for the first time, with the aid
RADIO TELEMETRY. By Dr.
of an International Business Ma-
Lawrence L. Rauch and Myron H.
chines Co. electronic computer, that
Nichols, 461 pp, 2nd Edition, $12.00.
is expected to prove of considerable
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
value to those engaged in combus-
At last a book on this subject
tion research, in development of gas
is available. For the first time ma-
turbines and turbojet engines and in
terial previously scattered in reports
aircraft and missile propulsion stud-
and papers is brought together. Al-
ies.
though a 2nd edition, the first was a
limited printing for the Air Force. FLUID DYNAMICS OF JETS.
Methods, foundations and techniques By Shih-I Pai. Published by D. Van
are given together with appendices. Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, N. J.,
For anyone doing telemetry research 228 pp. Price, $5.50.
and development the book is a A comprehensive treatment of
"must". Rauch's position among the the subject by an associate research
"firsts" in this field as a telemeter- professor of the University of Mary-
ing scientist is well known. His and land's Institute of Fluid Dynamics
Nichols' experience is well attested and Applied Mathematics, this book
in the completeness of the material was designed to meet the needs of
both in technical and practical mat- engineers, research workers and stu-
ters covered. dents.

December, 1956 17
letters that the satellite, into whatever or-
bit it may be accelerated, will still
retain the eastward motion it pos-
British Not So sessed while resting on the surface
of the earth, so that the entire orbit
Far Ahead
will revolve almost in synchronism
To the editor: with the rotation of the earth.
It is fallacious to state that the
...
In your November issue,
page50, under the heading "British
"earth will rotate beneath the satel-
lite" while the satellite is making
Move Ahead," you make the follow-
ing statement about the rocket gre- an orbit, as if the satellite had been
nade experiment for upper-atmos- captured after approaching from
phere temperatures and winds: outer space. As acceleration is im-
parted to the satellite at the launch-
"This is not a new technique,
ing site it will have only one relative
having been previously used by a
motion; it will return (at the sur-
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory ." .

face) to the original position after

Actually, the experiments have
completing an orbit, regardless of
been carried out previously at the any motion of this point in space,
White Sands Proving Ground by the since the satellite also has this in-
Signal Corps, U.S. Army.
herent motion.
It might be of interest to your
It is apparent that any simple
readers that the all-weather rocket- acceleration in any direction can
grenade experiment will be carried only determine the angle of the
out during the IGY at Fort Church-
satellite orbit with the equator, but
ill, Manitoba, Canada, as a joint will not prevent the satellite from
Signal Corps-University of Michigan
returning to the same point, or the
venture. A pre-IGY firing, Aerobee
rotation of the orbital plane with
SM 1.01 was successfully carried out the rotation of the earth. The orbit
on November 12, 1956 . . .

will be distorted by the Coriolis

Dr. Joseph Otterman effect but this effect is equal and
High Altitude Engineering Lab. opposite in the two hemispheres,
Dept. of Aeronautical cancels and may be disregarded in
Engineering relation to this problem.
University of Michigan The eastward motion of the sur-
Ann Arbor, Michigan face of the earth crossing the earth-
sun line at Cape Carnaveral (N. Lat.
Satellite vs. 28°30') will be about 923 mph. The

Earth Rotation satellite will be in orbit at an alti-

tude of approximately 300 miles,
To the editor: however, at which heighth the cir-
cumference of the earth would be
. . . Missiles & Rockets, Vol. 1,
an additional 1,917 miles, requiring
No. 1, p. 78, says: "Vanguard will be
an easterly motion of 993 miles per
launched at an angle of 35 to 45
hour to maintain the position of the
degrees to the equator in a south-
orbit with respect to the rotating
easterly direction. During each or-
earth surface at the launching site.
bit of the satellite the earth will
Since no special east-west accelera-
have moved about 1600 miles to the
tions are to be provided, the satellite
east if the orbit requires an hour
will fall behind, but only 120 miles
and a half." Page 18 of the National
further west of the launching site
Academy of Science's booklet
with each revolution of 1% hours,
INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL
approximately 2° of longitude, not
YEAR states that the satellite is to
the anticipated 25°.
be sent into a southeasterly orbit at
18,000 mph and at an altitude of 300 This means that the satellite
miles above the Florida coast; it
would return approximately over-
head again only after some 180 revo-
will make one revolution every 1%
lutions, or 270 hours (ll 1^ days),
hours, each time appearing about
rather than the expected 14-15 revo-
25° further to the west of the
lutions (21-22 hours). It will appear
launching site, due to the eastward
only some 120 miles to the west of
motion of the earth beneath it. Cape Carnaveral after completing
These calculations appear to be in the first revolution, 240 miles after
error through failure to consider the second, etc., giving the observers

missiles and rockets

of the western U.S., Asiaand South
America excellent opportunities for
observation, but possibly not surviv-
ing long enough to be seen over the
eastern U.S.
As startling as these considera-
tions are concerning the success of
proposed observations, it appears
that they are soundly based and an
immediate review of plans are in
order . . .

Yours truly,
Charles C. Littell, Jr.
Engineering Associates
Dayton 9, Ohio
The U.S. Office of Naval Research
which has cognizance over VAN-
GUARD launching, states that the
earth's velocity has been taken into
account in the original launching and
orbiting calculations. It is a vector in
the total. NRL says further that once
the satellite is in an orbit, it is a
separate entity, and the earth can ro-
tate under it just as it does under its
larger satellite, the moon. ,
ea.

Radiation Pressure
To the editor:
... In reading the articles on
space flight and the earth satellite
program, I wonder if any scientist
has considered the effect of the sun's
light on the satellite or the space ve-
hicle. When I took physics in high
school, we had an instrument in the
classroom which reacted very readily
to light projected against it. I have
forgotten its name, but you will rec-
ognize it from my description.
Two pieces of aluminum foil were
mounted at 90° to each other upon a
bearing to form a crossed vane as-
sembly which because of the bearing
were free to revolve. Alternate sides
of the vanes were painted black.
As the assembly revolved in the
beam of light, the shiny side of one
vane was always exposed to the light
and was repelled by the light rays
causing the vane assembly to re-
volve very rapidly. This entire as-
sembly was enclosed in a glass bell
from which the air had been re-
moved.
If such an action takes place un-
der comparatively weak light in a
partial vacuum, what will the result
be when extremely strong sunlight
strikes the surface of a light shiny
object such as your satellite in per-
fect vacuum of outer space?
You will recall another effect in-
dicating the strong pressure of sun-

December, 1956
 . .

light in the action of the luminous To the editor:

particles and gas making up the tail . . The article, "Teamwork: Key
of a comet as it approaches the sun to Success in Guided Missiles" by Dr.
and swinging around it heads out von Braun in the October 1956 is-
into space again. The tail of the com- sue of M&R, expresses most suc-
et is always away from the sun as if cinctly the attitudes here at Douglas
a strong wind from the sun were regarding the development of guided
blowing it, even when the speed of missiles. We would like to give each
these particles in the tail must exceed of our engineers a copy of this arti-
that of the comet itself to place the cle and therefore wish to know
tail always ahead of the comet as it whether reprints of it are available.
rushes away from the sun in its re- E. P. Wheaton
turn to outer space. Chief Missile Engineer
I'm not a scientist and I lack
Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.
the "know-how" to calculate the pres-
Santa Monica Division
sure of sunlight on a surface of any
given size, but as a very interested
layman in the conquering of space I
Missile Production
can't help wondering from my high Is Challenge
school science whether this idea has To the editor:
been considered. . . . Congratulations on the test
Perhaps if the pressure is suffi-
flightand number 2 of Missiles &
cient why not utilize it, like a ship
Rockets. They are excellent proto-
when sailing at sea in a strong wind,
types for what is destined to be the
to propel a space vehicle once it had
leading publication in man's last
neither atmosphere nor gravity to
frontier.
retard it.

Norman F. Blubaugh We who

are actively engaged in
have awaited just such a
this field
7148 W. 93rd Place
magazine; the context and format
Los Angeles 45, California
of M&R are perfect.
The writer hopes that future
Reprints Wanted
issues will carry some articles on
To the editor:
the production aspects of the busi-
... I very much enjoyed read- ness, as well as the interesting en-
ing the first issue of your magazine. gineering side. The actual produc-
It is timely and fulfills a real need tion analysis, tooling and material
in the field. handling problems which production
Particularly, I enjoyed the engineers must surmount to produce
article entitled "Teamwork: Key to these new vehicles are challenging.
Success in Guided Missiles," by Dr. The new avenues explored and tech-
Wernher von Braun. niques developed for the fabrication
reprints of this article are
If and assembly in metals which were
available I would greatly appreciate laboratory specimens a short time
it if you would send me six copies . .
ago are every bit as fascinating as
Joseph M. Cahn the aerodynamics and propulsion
Guided Missile Research problems which daily confront the
Division designer. Tooling up for miniatur-
The Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation ized cybernetics can be as interest-
8820 Bellanca Avenue ing and challenging as the original
Los Angeles 45, California design for the systems.
This production engineering is
To the editor:
what gave America her technologi-
.The performance chart con-
. .
cal advantage over the rest of the
cerning liquid propellants and oxidi-
world. It is hoped that, within the
zers included in your November, 1956
limits of Security, (there goes that
issue of Missiles & Rockets, after
word again) some of these facets
page 134, can be very useful to me. I can be explored in your pages . . .

would appreciate a reprint of the

Chris Lembesis, P.E.
chart if one is available . . .

L. H. Sachs, Attorney Unit Leader, Material Handling and

Legal Department Plant Layout
General Electric Company Missile Development Division
Building 100 North American Aviation, Inc.
Evendale, Ohio Downey, Calif.

December, 1956
 :

NEWS AND TRENDS

Wilson Shocks Nation's Rocket Experts

Defense Secretary Directive Confounds Missile
Men at American Rocket Society Annual Meeting

By Erik Bergaust and Seabrook Hull

NEW YORK— The timing of De- to "It just doesn"tmake sense ... a superiority had changed to a look of
fense Secretary Wilson's "roles and life ordeath decision for the country serious respect for a vital, deadly
missions" directive cutting the heart . .the easy way out in settling an
. business.
out of the Army's guided missile ef- interservice squabble ." . . As outgoing ARS President
fortwas uncanny enough almost to In other ways, the ARS annual Xoah Davis handed over the keys of
have been intentional. The edict fell meeting was the most successful yet. office to incoming President Com-
and exploded like one of their own To the industry, it was certainly mander Robert C. Truax, the society
devices, wreaking shock and confu- newsworthy and profitable. Papers found itself in the best condition in
sion among some 1600 top U.S. presented ranged from such titles as its history. It was financially solvent
rocketeers and missileers gathering Theory and Experiment on the Burn- with "comfortable" reserves. Mem-
in New York City for the Eleventh ing Mechanism of Composite Solid bership was increasing at a rate of
Annual Meeting of the American Propellants, Molybdenum for High 200 a month with an "over 6,500"
Rocket Society. Strength at High Temperatures, and year-end membership virtually as-
Though Wilson's latest missile British Sounding Rockets to: Life- sured.
order (see page 70) was meticulously time of Artificial Satellites of the Plans were approved for doing
avoided as a subject for discussion on Earth, Some Social Implications of even more to enable the ARS journal,
the Society's formal agenda, it topped Space Travel, and Projecting the Law Jet Propulsion, to serve its member-
all others as a topic of talk and per- of the Sea into the Law of Space. ship better. New committees
were set
plexed-to-heated comment in hotel More than ever before, there was up in the areas of solid propellant
hallways, rooms and hospitality a sense of "having arrived." Missiles rockets, liquid propellant rockets,
suites. and rockets were fast becoming the ramjet propellant and combustion, in-
The general consensus among most important U.S. defense indus- strumentation and guidance and
the men whodesign, engineer and try. Space flight already was in the space flight. Commander Truax pre-
produce America's super-weapons serious planning stage. The general dicted that these committees would
ranged from a puzzled "Hmmm ."
. . public's knowing smile of tolerant "sink their roots deep among the
membership and play a major part in cleared some confusion in the Penta- ARS Personalities
fostering the technical life of the gon, but what everyone is wondering
society." Two new board members, now is if it didn't create a great deal
Convair's Krafft Ehricke and Lt. Col. more on the outside where many think
John P. Stapp, were elected to replace it counts more in the industry. —
retiring members John B. Cowen and And there was bitterness too.
George P. Sutton. "What ballistic missile does the Air
Force have?" was one question. "Of
Wilson Brings Consternation
course, the Air Force has some mis-
The shock and surprise at Wil-
siles,but what are they? Of their
son's order limiting Army missile
air breathing missiles the Matador is
operations to firings of 200 miles or
inadequate and obsolescent. The
under stemmed not from theories and
Snark is a subsonic missile which is
convictions over the military roles
already obsolescent, although it is not
and missions of the three services. It
even ready."
came from deep concern, even alarm,
at the possible ultimate effects of this
"... down a
the Nike can shoot
decision on America's race with Rus- Navaho four USAF fighters and
. . .

sia to maintain technological superi- a bomber, the B-58 Hustler, are faster
ority in the air. than the Snark After fooling . , .

The most oft-heard question was around for 12 years with air breath-
"What does this mean to Redstone ers; only after much resistance, AF
Arsenal's Intermediate Range Ballis- finally conceded there might be some-

tic Missile project?" The most ad- thing to ballistics missiles after all
vanced of all the ballistic missile pro- . . . Army already has much ex-
grams, it looked at first glance as perience ... in the joint Jet Pro-
though when money appropriated for pulsion Laboratory-Army project a
research in 1957 had run out, that Jupiter device was fired more than
would be it. Why should the Army .3,000miles ... 95% of U.S. ballistics
fight for research funds to build a know-how is in the Army."
missile it could never use? And what These were but a few of the com- Edwards AFB's Gomperti
would happen to the top research and ments that flew fast and heavy . Keep testing until they work
development team, a ballistics missile against the decision during the week-
team, built up under rocket pioneer long ARS session. Some points might
Wernher von Braun? have been stretched a bit in the en-
In line with the Army's newly thusiasm and deep-seated feelings of
assigned sole cognizance over short the speakers. However, they express
range surface-to-air missiles would the views and feelings of men who
they be ordered to adapt ballistics form the very heart of our missile
know-how to anti-aircraft missiles? effort. They are the brains, the in-
Bell Telephone and Douglas Aircraft
spired and dedicated men, the pio-
—
wondered too would their anti-air-
neers with the imagination and tech-
craft (Nike) missile experts sud-
nological abilities to probe the un-
denly be asked to go ballistic? And
Chrysler Corporation wanted to known. They are the brains without
know: "Do we stop making Redstone which this country cannot win the
missiles or will our contract be battle of technology it now wages
shifted over to the Air Force? with Communist Russia. And the fact
GE's Fred Brown
Wilson's directive may have that these brains are now troubled Rocket engine sales up

Aerojet's George Pelletier Convair's Krafft Ehricke Boeing's Norman Baker

. . . No change in ICBM contracts . . . New ARS director . . . Will the AF keep Bomarc?

December, 1956 25
 —
news and trends
erational responsibilities. The Sec- well. As one disgruntled ARS mem-
retary of Defense has repeatedly ber putit "Wilson may have settled
:

stated that a decision with reference an argument but he started a fight."

to roles and missions would not in-
volve the termination of any par- ARS Meeting Details
ticular weapon system." Now, covering the week's order
There was a notable lack of com- of scheduled business in a little more
ment in support of the Defense Sec- detail, members got a preview of

retary's decision. Though there were some new high-altitude sounding

AF representatives attending the rockets.
meeting, most were notable for their W. C. House, C. H. Dodge, R. D.
silence.Those who did comment Waldo, A. Schaff, J. L. Fuller, and
backing up Wilson's views, did so 0. J. Demuth —
from Aerojet-General
without enthusiasm, apparently with- Corp., Azusa, Calif., detailed four
out conviction. And many of those future research rocket systems.
who claimed agreement obviously Douglas Aircraft Co., Santa
were suprised, if not shocked, at the Monica, Calif., is believed to have a
sweeping nature of the directive. Rockair system under development
They too wondered what it would and almost ready for launching, the
mean in the future. Aerojet group reported. This system
uses an airplane as a launching plat-
Little Hope in Loopholes form for any suitable sounding
rocket. The plane zooms into a vertical
hope was taken from the
Little
attitude, fires the rocket upward.
apparent "loopholes" in the order
that this limitation on Army opera- System No. 2 is designed to ex-
tions did not prevent it from "making tend the 250-mile summit altitude
feasibility studies." Again questions. potential of the present Aerobee re-
"What did this mean? Maybe the search rockets to above 300 miles.
Army could make three or four mis- The new system would employ an ad-
COOPER DEVELOPMENT'S WASP ROCKET vanced vehicle similar to the Aerobee
displayed at Coliseum power show. siles and test them, but why
do it,
if they could never use them? Better but with four thrust chambers which
may be the most serious result of the to spend research money on projects would fire two-at-a-time.
new roles and missions directive. included in roles and missions." A third vehicle known as the
In this connection MISSILES But talking and walking about, Spaerobee simply adds a second stage
to the Aerobee, pushing the rocket to
& ROCKETS obtained the following you got the feeling from top research-
statement from Major General J. B. ers, production men, salesmen and a summit altitude of 350 miles with
M a d e r i s, Commanding General, military leaders alike that this wasn't a 40-pound payload.
Army Ballistic Missile Agency, the end of the affair. There were System No. 4 is a more general
Huntsville, Ala.: guesses that Wilson would think concept, concerned essentially with a
"The Department of Army has again when he realized the full im- staged vehicle. "Using presently
authorized me to announce that any pact of what he risked. And there available solid propellant
rockets,"
existing developmental missile pro- were convictions that Congress in stated the Aerojet planners, "staged
gram will not be affected by any the next few months would have vehicles can be assembled yielding
forthcoming decision in service op- something to say on the matter as almost any desired performance."
Homer E. Newell, Jr., Naval Re-
search Laboratory, reported that a
number of new sounding rockets are
under development. And, said Dr.
Newell, less expensive solid propel-
lant vehicles comparable in altitude
and payload capabilities to the liquid
propellant Aerobee-Hi may be avail-
able in the near future.
John W. Townsend, Jr., Naval
Research Laboratory, and Robert M.
Slavin, Air Force Cambridge Re-
search Center, described two new
versions of the Aerobee-Hi expressly
designed for upper air research in
the forthcoming IGY Program.
Leslie M.
Jones and Nelson
Spencer of the University of Michi-
gan, William Stroud of Fort Mon-
Confidential friends at ARS annual meeting. mouth Evans Signal Laboratory, and
 news and trends
Electric reported success in the solu-
tion of those problems relating to de-
velopment of the Vanguard's first-
stage power plant. First delivery of
known as the X405, was
the engine,
made on schedule last month.
Rocket Exhibition
A special exhibition on missiles
and rockets under the auspices of
the American Rocket Society was
featured at the 22nd National Expo-
sition of Power and Mechanical En-
gineering at the Coliseum.
Nineteen exhibitors, including
ARDC's Col. Wm. O. Davis presented one of 48 technical papers. the prime contractor and subcontrac-
tors for three stages of the Navy's
all
Warren Berning Aberdeen Ballis-
of Powered by oxygen and
liquid Project Vanguard, had displays
tic Research Laboratory reviewed gasoline, the rocket would cover its (Martin Company, General Electric
the development of the new solid 1,500-mile range at speeds up to Company, Aerojet-General Corpora-
propellant sounding rocket, the Nike- Mach 7, at altitudes up to 155 miles. tion, and Grand Central Rocket Com-
Cajun, reported that work with solid This proposed vehicle, said Mr. Stine, pany) Other exhibitors included the
.

propellant sounding rockets is just would be an excellent research tool, company holding systems responsibil-
beginning. Interesting developments an important first step in transcon- ity for the Air Force IRBM and
in this field are underway, they said, tinental rocket transport. ICBM missiles (Ramo Wooldridge
and will be completed soon. In coping with high temperature Corporation) the company building
;

flight, one of the most promising de- the rocket engine for the ICBM
Rocket transport seen feasible
velopments, according to Robert R. (Rocketdyne, Division of North
Use of a rocket vehicle as a
Freeman of Climax Molybdenum Co., American Aviation) and the coun-
transport capable of spanning the ;

is the creation of four new arc-cast try's oldest rocket engine manufac-
3,000 miles between New York and
molybdenum alloys. These alloys, they turer (Reaction Motors, Inc.).
Los Angeles in a little less than an
claimed, have higher useful strength
hour has been visualized by many
at temperatures over 1,600° F than
rocket experts for some time. G.
any other material now known, and Reel st one Mortgage
Harry Stine of White Sands Proving
for temperatures over 2,400° F, cer-
Ground said that such a vehicle could
amic and vapor-deposited molyb- Crisis Eased by
be built within the next five years
show prom-
and proposed a possible design for a
denum-disilicide coatings
Local Group
ise of long time protection where
prototypal craft.
mechanical impact, high stresses or Determined community action by
It would look similar to the Bell
severe thermal shock is not involved. citizens of Huntsville, Ala., has
X-2 or the Douglas Skyrocket. Of its
Only recently made commercially broken the tight mortgage money
65,500-pound total take-off weight,
available, the four alloys can be shortage that threatened to halt
43,500 pounds would be propellant?,
urgently needed new housing for
20,550 pounds structural weight, and easily produced and fabricated.
1450 pounds would be payload.
many of Redstone Arsenal's 9,000
George L. Macpherson of General
civilian workers.
In September, the Federal Hous-
ing Administration designated
Huntsville as an emergency area and
authorized "Title 809" loans of 30
years, very low down payments and
4M> per cent interest. This action had
been requested by Alabama's Senator
John Sparkman and Huntsville and
Redstone officials. Hundreds of Red-
stone employes applied for loans un-
der the new dispensation but only a
sparse number was able to obtain
financing through normal commercial
channels.
Five Huntsville citizens and four
financial companies banded together
in this crisis to form a new firm to
buy, sell and service FHA
and Vet-

missiles and rockets

 news and trends
e r a n s Administration-guaranteed
mortgages. Quick Washington ap- Admiral Russell Quotes m/r
proval of the new firm was given by
FHA at instigation of Sen. Spark- To Predict A-Rockets Soon
man, and loan applications are now
being processed in Huntsville. Profits
As the main speaker of the Honors Night dinner of the Amer-

of the new company will be very nar-

ican Rocket Society's 11th Annual Meeting in New York, Navy Bureau
row, as the 4% per cent loans will be
of Aeronautics Chief Rear Admiral James S. Russell, USN, forecast
the advent of successful atomic power for space flight in the not-too-
discounted at from IY2 to 2 per cent
far-distant future. In his prepared text* he said: "I have read in
through the Federal National Mort-
gage Association, a government- MISSILES & ROCKETS magazine that the Atomic Energy Commis-
sionis working on rocket propulsion. With you (ARS) and the Atomic
sponsored agency which serves as a
secondary mortgage market.
Energy Commission working in the same science, it takes practically
no extrapolation to envision safe and non-poisonous atomic fuels and
Redstone Personnel extra-mundane use of atomic power for casual space travel ... I expect
these things sooner than we would normally expect them to happen."
Passes 12,000 Mark He wedding of rocket and turbojet engines
also predicted the

The expanding scope of missile for manned "The manifest answer is to blend the capabili-
interceptors.
and rocket Redstone Ar-
activities at ties of the turbojet and the rocket engine in a combination power

senal, Huntsville,Alabama, is indi- plant . Thus with rocket power we are giving the airplane greater
. .

cated by announcement that the mili- reach and maneuverability, as with rocket power we give its armament
tary and civilian personnel at its greater reach and flexibility of employment."
three units has now passed the 12,000 Showing how missiles are being adopted into the Navy, he said
mark and is stillexpanding. This in- that there are now10 Reguhts ships operational, including submarines,
cludes the Arsenal itself, the Army and that five years from now there will be at least eight Talos cruisers,
Ballistic Missile Agency and the Ord- 22 Terrier ships and 17 Tartar ships. And he looked forward to de-
nance Guided Missile School. This is livery for operational use of the joint Army-Navy 1500 mile IRBM
an increase from 8,700 at the same Jupiter, thus perhaps taking a little of the sting out of Defense Sec-
time last year. It is very near the retary Wilson's recent controversial "roles and missions" directive.
total employment at the same site
during World War II when the Arse-
-In the actual delivery of his speech at the ARS dinner, Admiral
Russell deleted the words "MISSILES & ROCKETS". ARS Secretary
nal was concerned with manufacture
A. C. Slade said after the dinner that she and ARS Board Chairman
of explosive ammunition.
Andrew G. Haley had asked the Admiral beforehand about the wisdom
UFO Board Set of mentioning m/r at the ARS Honors Night dinner. However, in the
release of the speech from the Department of Defense, Washington,
The National Investigations
D. C, to the world's press, the ivording was that quoted above.
Committee on Aerial Phenomena
has named a nine-man board of gov-
ernors to direct its effort to provide New Avco Facility
j
"more honest information" about
flying saucers and space flight.
The committee is a non-profit or-
ganization set up recently to provide
the public with a "broader under-
standing of such aerial phenomena as
unidentified flying objects and the
technical problems of space flight."
Elected to the board were:
Dr. Charles A. Maney, professor
of physics, Defiance (Ohio) College;
Rear Admiral D. C. Fahrney, retired;
A. M. Sonnabend, president, Hotel
Corporation of America, Boston; the
Rev. Albert H. Bailer, Robbins Mem-
orial Congregational Church, Green-
field, Mass.; Brig. Gen. Thomas B.

Catron, retired; Frank Edwards, ra-

dio-TV commentator, Indianapolis ;

Talbot T. Speer, Speer Foundation,

Baltimore; the Rev. Leon C. Levan,
New Jerusalem Christian Church, Dr. Arthur Kantrowitz (left), director of the Avco Research Laboratory, and Dr. Lloyd P.
Pittsburgh, and Robert Emerson, Smith, president of the Research and Advanced Development Division, survey landscaped
Nuclear physicist, Kaiser Aluminum model of the permanent facility to be built by Avco Manufacturing Corporation. The re-
search, administration, development and fabrication complex is on a 100-acre wooded site in
Company, Baton Rogue, La. Wilmington, Mass.

December, 1956 29
 position of the light gives a varying
Three Nike Support voltage polarity along the junction
from side-to-side.
Units are Activated Putting this "lateral voltage" to
work, it was found an angular mo-
At Redstone tion of the light smaller than 0.1
Three Nike guided missile direct second of an arc can be measured.
support detachments have been acti- This angular sensitivity is so great,
vated at the Army Ordnance Guided Wallmark said, that such a cell could
Missile School, Huntsville, Ala. They detect the center point of the sun
are the first such units to be acti- with "great accuracy" and form the
vated here and will broaden the range heart o f a n automatic navigation
of instruction available to students system using the sun as guide.
in the rapidly growing service train-
ing school. They also will expand the
number of trained personnel quali-
AAS Controversy
fied to give instruction to other Army In protest against American As-
missile units as they are activated. tronautical Society management sev-
Their 13-weeks training cycle eral well-known society directors re-
will include technique of missile fire, cently resigned en masse. Following
acquisition radar and computer, the earlier resignation of Dr. Robert
track radar, internal guidance, me- W. Berry and Dr. C. C. Adams of
chanical repair and launcher control. National Research and Development
Corporation, the following directors
now have also quit: Dr. Wernher von
Scientist Sees Boom Braun of Army Ballistic Missile
Agency; Dr. S. Fred Singer of Uni-
In Transistor Output versity of Maryland; James B. Cul-
lum of Eastman Dillon; Krafft A.
Rapid growth of the transistor
Ehricke of Convair Astronautics;
industry and prospects for the future
Frederick I. Ordway, Heyward E.
of solid state physics were high-
Canney, Jr. and Ronald C. Wakeford
lighted in information disclosed at
of General Astronautics Corporation.
the second annual meeting of the
IRE Professional Group on Electron
This leaves the future of the AAS
very much in doubt.
Devices recently in Washington, D.C.
Dr. William Shockley, director
of Shockley Semiconductor Labora- B-52 As Regulus
tories t o 1 PGED
assembly that
d a
about 13 million transistors would Missile Launcher
be produced in 1956. He estimated
The Boeing B-52 may be modi-
40 million in 1957.
fied to carry large missiles that will
Shockley is generally credited enable them to release their payload
with development of practical tran- many miles from their target. Tests
sistors while he was with the Bell run with the Chance-Vought Regulus
Telephone Laboratories. He said that launched from the B-52 have shown
although practical transistor opera- that this combination is feasible. An
tion to 100 mc is feasible now, de- AF concern with the B-52 is that not
velopments in the next few years only is it five times the radar target
would enable operation in the kilo- the B-47 is, but its altitude over tar-
megacycle range. get, 50,000 feet, is such that it can be
Advanced ideas on possibilities jumped from above by the Russian
of semiconductors was fore-told by MiG-17. Also, with advances made in
Dr. J. T. Wallmark, Radio Corp. of ground-to-air missiles, altitude alone,
America Laboratories who disclosed whether it's 50,000 or 100,000 feet,
data on a new light-sensitive device offers little protection.
that could be used to guide missiles The Regulus may be particularly
by sunlight with unheard-of accur- adaptable to this operation. Its fold-
acy. ing wings would probably enable it
RCA has developed a novel to be entirely contained within the B-
photocell based on voltage produced 52's massive bomb bay. The Regulus
by a semiconductor junction when II will be supersonic and will have its
light is focused on it through a lens. own "lock-on-target" self-contained
Wallmark has found that moving the guidance system.

missiles and rockets

 news and trends

Expert Charts Future

of Big Brother Satellite
General Electric rocket expert TV transmission is line-of-sight, and He explained that at this height
R. P. Haviland recently predicted is not limited by signal strength. Be- only three stations would be needed
that "television transmission will be ing very short wave, neither would it to cover the earth. He also forecast

the satellite's first major communi- be bothered by the ionsphere. that satellites will be used for map-
cation service." Briefing GE engi- Haviland, now a flight test plan-
ping primarily to determine the shape
neers on the practical future of satel- of the earth. This would significantly
ning engineer with GE's Missile and
aid both astronomers and navigators.
lites, he said the advent of man-made Ordnance Systems Department,
Haviland also said that the day
space stations will make it possible Philadelphia, said a world-wide TV
would come when satellites would be
to simulcast programs all over the system could be established with four
used in weather forecasting. He
world without the use of coaxial satellite stations traveling 4,000
pointed out that they could view cloud
cables or transmission systems. miles high.
coverage over extremely large areas
Haviland, who was project engi- They would be equally spaced in a short time.
neer on the Bumper two-stage rocket about the earth and be visible at any-
Obviously, too, they would be
that set a world altitude record of instant from any point in the earth's
useful strategically in watching and
244 miles in 1949, said satellites can equatorial region. A TV signal could
reporting enemy build-ups, industrial
serve as relay stations in a world- then be transmitted from any ground
expansion, etc.
wide television system in the same location in this region to the nearest
However, in the final analysis,
way that an airplane recently re- satellite and relayed from satellite
the uses to which post-Vanguard "big
layed live TV programs from Cuba. to satellite. At the proper location,
brother" satellites will be put will de-
Thisa dream long held by
is the signal would be retransmitted to
pend largely on their initial cost of
televisionnetwork operators. Long a receiving station on earth.
installation and their subsequent cost
before the coaxial cable and micro- Equipment that the satellites of maintenance in comparison with
wave relay stations came into their would have to carry for this system alternative means of accomplishing
own. Not-so-dumb artists and engi- would be good quality receivers and the same thing. Strategically, there
neers proposed elaborate networks of transmitters. The major ground may be no substitute for the satellite
specially-equipped cargo planes or- equipment needed would be large di- in accomplishing certain military ob-
biting on station continuously during rectional antenna. jectives. And since the military serv-
each broadcast day. This was one of Haviland continued that Proj- ices traditionally are not concerned
the first plans offered for nationwide ect Vanguard is now under way. Yet with the profit motive, big satellites
TV coverage. But, other systems less only 10 years ago an earth satellite will find many military uses.
dependent on weather and, over the was strictly science-fiction material. However, their role in such
long haul, less expensive came along "If large satellite relay stations could things as TV relaying will have to
and they were never developed. be established in an orbit 22,300 successfully pass close cost examina-
However, the distances covered miles above the earth, then the world- tion before anyone signs the first con-
by satellites could be much greater. wide TV system could be simplified." tract for hardware.

w
Rocket expert R. P. Haviland thinks a "Big Brother" satellite will facilitate world-wide television coverage.

32 missiles and rockets

 Murphree: Better A AM Weapons Needed
First public disclosure that mis- ments are "along somewhat different
siles would be used to defend U.S. lines than the improvements being
bombers against attacking enemy air- made in the Regulus missile."
craft was made recently by missile Increased Accuracy by Refinement
czar Eger Murphree when he cited
In a summation of research
the need for "more effective" air-to-
needs, the Defense official found a
air missiles for that specific purpose.
"heavy incentive for increasing ac-
The need for air-to-air missiles
curacy." "New ideas," he said "are
will continue, Murphree explained,
needed to fully obtain what is de-
since the need for long range inter-
sired," although "much can be done"
ceptor planes "will exist for a long
to increase accuracy "by i efinement
-

time." While the surface-to-air mis-

of present developments."
sile "will largely displace short range
interceptor planes," he noted, it "will
not take over all the functions of the Quarles, Carlson in
interceptor aircraft."
The Special Defense Assistant
for Guided Missiles outlined general
Redstone R&D Posts
missile requirements before the 11th Two significant appointments to
Associates' Day of Stanford Research research and development posts at
Institute inSan Francisco. In specific Redstone Arsenal and the Army Bal-
areas, Murphree told the group: listic Missile Agency, Huntsville, Ala.,

1. The Nike I and Terrier will be were announced in November.

"gradually" outmoded as aircraft de- Dr. Gilford G. Quarles, formerly
signs advance because of need for director of the Ordnance Research
greater range and altitude capability. Laboratory Pennsylvania State
at

— —
But their replacements the Nike B University, becomes scientific and
and Talos "are real improvements" technical consultant on the staff of
and "will meet our needs for a while" Maj. Gen. J. B. Medaris, command-
in surface-to-air developments. ing the ABMA, which developed the
2. High speed enemy ramjet and Redstone missile and now is pressing
long range ballistic missiles will pre- development of the "Jupiter" inter-
sent a dual defense problem. The new mediate range ballistic missile. At
surface-to-air missiles will "not be Penn State Dr. Quarles directed
effective" against them nor can radar Navy weapons research, specializing
pick them up at "sufficiently long dis- in underwater ordnance. In World
tances" for defense missiles to be ef- War II, he was responsible for re-
fective. search, development and engineering
3. The recently announced Navy of a homing torpedo.
Sidewinder, which he confirmed the William S. Carlson, of
Dr.
Air Force also would use, was labeled Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, is
"quite a simple missile" but it "has named chief of Redstone Arsenal's
certain limitations in use." Also in newly created Air Defense Labora-
the air-to-air category, "substantial tories,a part of the R&D Division
improvements" are being made to the of the Arsenal. At Frankford, he
Navy Sparrow and the Air Force Fal- was in charge of research and de-
con and future developments "will velopment of the Fire Control In-
represent an extension along present strument Group.
lines."
The new Air defense Labora-
Long range surface-to-surface
4.
tories at Redstone perform support-
missiles "are not likely to have the
ing guided missile research and de-
requisite accuracy" essential for hit-
velopment in the fields of detection,
ting "hard targets where bombs must
acquisition, fire control, guidance
be placed essentially on the target."
But they will be effective against in- and control systems and in counter-
dustry areas "where a very high de- measures against all forms of enemy
gree of accuracy is not required." effort to prevent proper functioning
5.Murphree disclosed for the of missile systems. It also is con-
first time that improvements are be- cerned with planning long range pro-
ing made
to the Matador, presumably grams of research and development
in the guidance area. While similar for established and future missile
to the Regulus, the Matador improve- systems.

December, 1956
 Rocket Trends
By Erik Bergaust
WE WERE RATHER PLEASED when Life magazine called us up some days
ago, asking if we could provide the original art work that accompanied
—
our little story on how the Russians by implication are boasting —
about their forthcoming IGY satellites. Those who recall this story
from our November issue will remember that some Russian engineer
had copied Dr. Fred Singer's MOUSE orbiter. Aside from this, we
might add that this magazine, i. e., Missiles & Rockets, is hard at
work trying to round up as much authentic information as possible
about Russian rockets and Russian astronautics trends for a forth-
coming issue. We have quite given up the idea of going to Russia for
first-hand information. Not having heard from the Soviet embassy
here in Washington for some months, and since it is now more than
one year since we applied for a visa, we take it for granted that we
shall never be honored by a visit to Russian engineering and research
centers. Indeed, that story in our November issue is not going to help
us get any visa. But we still shall come out with a "Russian issue."

WHAT MAY TURN OUT TO BE THE WORST ERROR IN JUDGMENT in

American technology was .announced by Secretary of Defense Wilson
recently, when he heralded that USAF has been picked to conduct the
country's intermediate-range missile activities, leaving the experienced
Army ballistic missile experts cold (see page 70) One particular as-
.

—
pect of Wilson's directive which does not seem to have been taken
—
into consideration is the obvious fact that American missile engineer-
ing as a whole may be set back several years.

ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL content don't mix we have been told since
way back. Nevertheless, we cannot help having a noticeably proud
feeling about the 20-page insert following this column. We are humble
in our appreciation for the advertiser requesting this particular posi-
— —
tion in the magazine. Furthermore, the ad as such leads us to believe
that liquid oxygen isn't dead. M/R will follow this up in the next issue.

THE AIR FORCE did not have any Navaho pictures to release at press time.
However, Henry Simmons' fine story (page 77) on North American and
their forthcoming intercontinental missile has been dressed up with
an Apache/Navaho totem pole to indicate what kind of sophisticated
blow must be contemplated from this side of the ocean in case some-
one decides to hit the war path. But everybody seems to know
what the Navaho looks like. How about it Air Force? We feel certain
the Russians know what it looks like, and that they know what this
—
missile is capable of with a nuclear warhead. And that's pretty much
the point, anyway . . .

WE HAVE FOLLOWED WITH GREAT INTEREST the British Interplane-

tary Society in its efforts and struggles. We have somewhat tried to
grasp their troubles each time we have visited the Secretary's crowded
and antique 12 Bessborough Gardens office in London; we think the BIS
is a progressive organization. However, it was with mixed feelings that
we read a BIS press release a few days ago, with information on "the
full story of the way British engineers helped lay the path for America's
artificial satellite." The release refers to an article in Spaceflight deal-
ing in part with the "resemblance" of the Vanguard design and a
British satellite proposal made 5 years ago. A U.S. Navy friend says
this doesn't mean the British taught us how to design the Vanguard
vehicle. We should think not.
VOL. NO. 3
1
missiles and
DECEMBER 1956

rockets
MAGAZINE OF WORLD ASTRONAUTICS

Ballistic Missiles

and Management
By Major GeneralB. A. Schriever
Commander, Western Development
Division, USAF

THE AIR FORCE missile

ballistic
program encompasses the largest
possible to develop a reliable guid-
ance system, and that the overall
program was assigned the highest
priority in the Air Force with pre-
concentration of men, money and weight of the missile could be con- cedence over all other programs, and
materiel on a science-industry siderably lessened. the Air Research and Development
military basis that has ever been These factors brought the ICBM Command was directed to establish
achieved. The end product required weapon system to the forefront as an an organization in the field which
— an operational intercontinental attractive manageable proposition. would exercise overall responsibility
ballistic missile at an early date. The ICBM, an impractical device in and authority for the program.
To give due and just credit to the early atomic weapon age, now as- In August 1954, the Western
the contribution which science and sumed new military worth and im- Development Division of Head-
industry is providing the Air Force portance. Based on these facts and on quarters ARDC was established in
in this dynamic program requires lengthy meticulous study and analy- Inglewood, California. WDD was to
some explanation of the method sis, sweeping changes in the Air have responsibi lity and authority
used by the Air Force in selecting Forch approach to the ICBM develop- over all aspects of the program with
its scientific and industrial asso- ment was to take place. the specific purpose of reorienting
ciates for the ballistic missile task, These studies were conducted by and accelerating the ICBM program
how it organized for the job, and the Air Force's Strategic Missile in order to achieve the earliest pos-
the degree of success achieved in Evaluation Committee, headed by sible operational capability.
the program to date. Prof. John von Neumann, Atomic By January of 1956, the Air
The factors effecting the accel- Energy Commissioner and an eminent Force Ballistic Missile Program had
eration of the Air Force long-range scientist, and composed of eleven of been expanded to include the IRBM
ballistic missile program were pri- the Nation's top scientists, many of THOR. The ICBM program already
marily scientific and technical. whom had worked on the A-Bomb de- had under development all the sub-
The thermonuclear break- velopment. systems such as propulsion, guid-
through in 1952-1953 was a major To implement the letter and ance and nose cone, which were re-
break. The possibility of high yields spirit of the committee recommend- quired for the THOR. Therefore,
in reasonable packages meant that ations, the Secretary of the Air only the Douglas Aircraft Company,
accuracy requirements could be re- Force directed the acceleration of which has the airframe, assembly
laxed, that it was now technically theICBM program development. The and test responsibility, was added

December, 1956 55
 to the list of industry contractors. ticipating in the program. Ramo- these new
test facilities are in them-
Tapping the ICBM program pro- Wooldridge also provides technical selves outstanding achievements.
vided a special opportunity for maxi- supervision of the entire Air Force Detailed preliminary technical
mum saving in development time ballistic missile program by an indus- studies and systems analyses pointed
and money. trial firm, was adopted by the Air strongly to the wisdom of instituting
The establishment of WDD by Force in order to gain the services of some form of industrial competition
the Air Force was indeed a unique an organization which possessed out- and reliability
to insure availability
and important management step. It standing scientific and technical tal- of intricate componentsand subsys-
marked the first time that the Air ent as well as proven systems engi- tems. Early in the program WDD
Force would retain full and complete neering know-how. adopted a two pronged philosophy of
management responsibility o v e r a By mutual contractual agree- —
competition competition among
major development effort. ment between Ramo-Wooldridge and contractors and alternative (not par-
the Air Force, Ramo-Wooldridge allel) technical approaches.
Three Management Elements emphasis is confined solely to tech- The alternative technical ap-
This overall management or- nical direction and weapon systems proach patterned after nuclear
is
ganization consists of three major engineering responsibilities and pre- weapon development which has prov-
elements operating as an integrated cludes Ramo-Wooldridge participa- en to be so successful. The principle
team. The supervising element is tion in any hardware phase of the of selective competition was adopted
the Western Development Division weapons under development. Thus, in the choice of the prime contractors.
of the Air Force's Air Research and theWDD/BMO/R-W team operates It was felt that such a philosophy
Development Command. The techni- as an integrated organization to would accomplish an end result soon-
cal staff of WDDis comprised of a expedite the completion of the vital er, better, and in the end cheaper, as
corps of very highly qualified hand- ballistic missile program. well as provide the optimum technical
picked officers of which more than A novel feature of the WDD/- backup.
one-third have been awarded Ph.D's BMO/R-W management approach The Air Force Ballistic Missile
and Master Degrees. Many of them was the formation in 1953 of the In- Program is a single program for
are experienced missile experts who which three missile configurations
tercontinental Ballistic Missile Scien-
have proven their capability and tificAdvisory Committee to the Sec- will emerge, two for the interconti-
technical competency on other Air retary of the Air Force. Composed of nental mission and one for the inter-
Force missile projects. outstanding men in science and engi- mediate range mission. These are not
The second major element is the neering and under the Chairmanship separate independent missile system
Ballistic Missile Office of the Air of Prof. John von Neumann, this com- approaches as often implied. While
Force's Air Materiel Command, mittee has proven to be of inestimable missile configuration and staging ap-
which, with Brig. General Ben I. value in its counseling capacity to the proaches differ physically and tech-
Funk in charge, exercises contract-
WDD/BMO/R-W organization, in nically, there is a very high degree of
ing and procurement responsibility guiding working relations with the interrelations and interchangeability
for the entire program. Atomic Energy Commission, and in among the subsystems (propulsion
General Funk directs the activi- guiding the technical study and ana- guidance and nose cone) being devel-
ties of the AMC Ballistic Missile lysis of major problems connected oped. Also the test program for each
Office, while also serving as a with all phases of the program. missile configuration compliments the
Deputy Director of Procurement and The Scientific Advisory Commit- other and even here alternate test ap-
Production of the Air Materiel Com- tee now functions as the primary sci- proaches are being taken.
mand. In this capacity he also serves entific advisory group on ballistic mis- The concurrent development and
as an Assistant to AMC Commander siles to the Secretai-y of Defense, and production of the Air Force's Ballis-
General Rawlings, and as such has in this capacity provides technical ad- tic Missile Program under the man-
direct access to all of the Air Ma- vice and counsel to all three services. agement supervision of the WDD/-
teriel Command Staff in support of Industrial partners completing BMO/R-W team is an integrated ap-
the program. He also has directive the industry-science-military team's proach without precedent. The pro-
authority over those Air Materiel efforts are geographically located gram is on schedule. Milestones are
Areas concerned with the ballistic from coast to coast in virtually every being met and we are confident that
missile program. state in the Union. they will continue to be met.
In addition, General Funk has More than 30,000 persons are ac- The Air Force firmly believes in
special plant representatives who tively employed by these 17 major the policy of utilizing the demon-
answer to him in all of the con- contractors. Numerous subcontrac- strable effectiveness of all elements
tractor plants in the program and tors and small businesses employing of U.S. science and industry. Accord-
who are able to supervise and ex- thousands more in support of this ingly, the strongest scientific-indus-
pedite all a c t i o n s involved in the vital national effort. trial-military team possible has been
implementation of program con- A program of such scope neces- assembled by the Air Force in all
tractual requirements. sarily needs many
supporting facil- fields of ballistic missile requirements
The third important element is ities — and complex-
facilities of size in support of this, the nation's high-
the Guided Missile Research Division ity heretofore unknown. For example, est priority program.
of theRamo-Wooldridge Corporation, large rocket engines to power the mis- Without this philosophy and
weapon system en-
selected to provide siles had to be designed, developed, without the wholehearted response
gineering and technical direction to and tested —
requiring new and of science and industry, the task
the nationwide industrial team par- unique testing facilities. Many of could not be accomplished. *
56 missiles and rockets
 Unlike SM*S| AT-
LAS. Both I CRMs be-
lieved to Be two-
stage liq. racket mis-
long, nose siles. Nose lone rep-
shaped. resents third stage.
MATADOR TM-61

US Air Force Missile Arsenal

Manufacturer Designation Powerplant

Surface-to-Surface

Convair ATLAS SM-65 North American liquid rocket ICBM, thermonuclear warhead

Douglas THOR WS-3I5A North American liquid rocltet IRBM under development

Martin MATADOR Allison J33-A-I7 + solid Guided bomber; also TM-6IB

TM-6IA/B boosters (later versions to (longer), TM-6IC and TM-
have more powerful J33) 61 D. In service

Martin TITAN WS-107 Aerojet liquid rocket ICBM under development

North NAVAHO SM-64 2 Wright ramjets + North Under development in several

American American liquid rocket as versions
booster

Northrop SNARK SM-62 P & W J57 + 2 boosters of In production

33,000 lbs. each

Surface-to-Air

Bendix/ TALOS L McDonnell ramjet + booster In production; also TALOS

McDonnell SAM-N-6 and TALOS-W for
Navy and Army

Boeing BOMARC IM-99 2 Marquardt ramjet -f- Aero- Missile-carrier missile (FAL-
jet rocket CONS)

Air-to-Surface

RASCAL GAM-63 Liquid rocket Launched from 8-52 or B-58

Air-to-Air

Douglas DINS-DONS North American liquid rocket Under development, atomic

warhead

Hughes/ FALCON SAR-98 Thiokol solid rocket In production. Also FALCON

Philco 2 and FALCON 3

Fairchild SOOSE Fairchild J83 or 6E J85 ECM vehicle, no warhead

(Philco SIDEWINDER Solid rocket Operational, infra-red hom-

AAM-N-7 ing; NAVY MISSILE, might
be used in AF fighters, such
as F-104)

GAR 98 FALCON

SM 64 NAVAHO
Picture to be released soon. Liq.
rocket booster anflr two ramjets.
Canard stabilizers up front. Super-
sonic, 5,000 mlle^fange.
 : —

Key to Survival:
Missile Research and Development

THIS modern age of supersonic musket to the H-bomb, reveals, in tends through the Secretary of the
INplanes, missiles and rockets, we no truth, that "past is prologue." The Air Force to the Chief of Staff who
longer can depend upon sheer quan- analysis provides another truth. As has an Assistant Chief of Staff for
tities of men and weapons to bring always, military men strive to pro- Guided Missiles and a Dep. Ch. for
us victory in any future war. We can- pel destructive power to greater dis- Dev. who, in turn, acts as his pri-
not match the Soviets either in man- tances at ever-increasing speeds, in mary advisor on all Air Force guided
power or numbers of weapons, nor their never-ending search to find the missile matters.
do we wish to do so. "ultimate" weapon. But never yet We now have reached ARDC
Quality and superiority of our has that goal been attained. the operational level for the pro-
weapon systems, then, are the key- Before we take a philosophic gram. ARDC is responsible for plan-
notes of our air research and devel- approach to the future of guided ning and managing all Air Force
opment program. The fact was em- missiles, let's review how we in the guided missile development projects.
phasized last year by the Secretary of Air Research and Development Com- Here at headquarters in Baltimore,
the Air Force when he appeared be- mand plan, manage, and provide the Maryland, an assistant for Guided
fore the Senate Armed Services Com- technical leadership for the Air Missiles, reporting directly to the
mittee. At that time, he said, in part Force guided missile development Commander, coordinates all activi-
". The Air Force has no inten-
. . program. ties of guided missile projects.
tion of getting into a numbers race In carrying out our mission, we
with our potential enemy. We are de- receive the necessary resources and Special Organization for
termined, instead, to maintain the directives through a channel which ICBM Development
qualitative superiority of the Air starts with the Congress which ap- Because of the accent today on
Force. Research and Development is propriates the money to support our the ICBM (Intercontinental Ballis-
the most important activity within operations. The channel then flows tic Missile), a special organizational
the Air Force and industry to insure through the President who signs structure has been superimposed on
maintaining that position." appropriation bills. When this is the basic structure to manage the
Research and development con- accomplished, the Department of Air Force program in the area of
stantly gives birth to weapons of Defense assumes the leadership for ballistic missile development. The
increasingly destructive power. But the administration of the overall special organization is the Western

the whole evolution of explosives operations. Development Division with head-

and the vehicles which have carried At the Department of Defense, quarters in Los Angeles, California.
or launched them shows that, in a special assistant for Guided Mis- Its commander has been delegated
time, each weapon system was super- siles coordinates all such programs considerable authority to speed up
seded by a new and superior one. for the three services of our Armed this very vital and high-priority de-
An analysis of weapons from Forces. Funneling down to Air velopment program.
the mace to the longbow, from the Force level, the control channel ex- —
Several committees made up of

58 missiles and rockets

 : —
both military and civilian experts Perhaps because of over im- to the earth's surface and flies with-
are in existence to speed up deci- agination in writers and the drama- in the earth's atmosphere to its
sions on the review of various facets tization of the capabilities of the target.
and phases of the program. ICBM, press and public attention The other category is the bal-
In carrying out the Command's centers on this vehicle. But ARDC's listicmissile which is guided into

responsibilities for the research and responsibility is not confined to this space and follows a ballistic flight
development programs for guided weapon alone. The Command is con- path to its target. Both of these
major research,
missiles, each of our cerned with the development of a types are capable of delivering atoms
development, and test centers plays whole spectrum of weapons which and thermo-nuclear warheads.
an important part. are essential in carrying out the All of this effort, then, is di-
roles and missions of the Air Force. rected toward giving us a versatile
Three other organizations,
Among and more effective family of guided
these are:
which report directly to the ARDC
Commander, are integral compo-
The guided
aircraft rockets missile weapon systems, either in
which can be launched offensively combination with manned weapon
nents of the command and make
from our interceptors against in- systems or complementary to them.
major contributions to any end pro-
duct in the guided missiles pro-
vading enemy targets or defensively A little more than a decade after
from our own invading bombers the first powered flight by the
grams. They are
against enemy interceptors. Wright Brothers, a small group of
The Armed Services Technical The interceptor missiles which aviation-minded men, with vision
Information Agency (A S T I A), lo-
can reach out at long range, as com- and faith in the future, began pro-
cated in downtown Dayton, Ohio,
pared with anti-aircraft and artil- moting the development of our first
which provides centralized technical
lery missiles, to intercept and de- guided missile. They called it a
information services to all Depart-
stroy incoming enemy bombers these "Flying Torpedo." Heading the dedi-
ment of Defense agencies and their
are area defense weapons as con- cated group were Orville Wright,
contractors. ASTIA is responsible
trasted with local defense weapons. "Boss" Kettering, Elmer Sperry and
for collecting and cataloging re-
search and development information
The air-to-surface guided mis- General "Hap" Arnold all men who—
sile for use either in the tactical occupy an enviable niche in Avia-
and disseminates it on a "need-to-
role at shorter ranges in support tion's Hall of Fame.
know" basis.
of the ground forces or in a stra- Dogged effort on the part of
The Air Force Office of Scien- tegic role at long ranges to apply the group resulted in a successful
tific Research (AFOSR), located in
airpower to the military and eco- launching of the vehicle in Septem-
Washington, D.C., which conducts nomic structure of an enemy. ber 1919. Since the launching of the
an exploratory research program in Several categories of missiles Flying Torpedo, we've made tremen-
the physical and bio-sciences are being developed in this area. dous strides in all phases of the art
through contractural arrangements One is an airplane type of winged of aerodynamic, electronics, and pro-
with profit and non-profit institu- missile which follows a path parallel pulsion. Compared with this early
tions and universities. The purpose
of the AFOSR program is to pro-
Northrop's SM 62 SNARK intercontinental missile is outdated. But the Air Force has learned
vide new scientific knowledge, and much and has gathered valuable information from SNARK experimentation on how to design
to recognize and report scientific tomorrow's more sophisticated ICBM weapons.

achievements, the application of

which may result in new concepts
of air warfare or new air weapons.

This Office of Aircraft Nuclear

Propulsion, located in Washington,
D.C., which is responsible for moni-
toring the development of nuclear
propulsion for aircraft.
All three organizations, directly
or indirectly, contribute to the sum-
total input which furthers our
guided missiles project progress.
All units mentioned work to-
gether as a team within the ARDC
structure. But in addition to our
operational command teammates,
such as AMC, we have others
equally active, equally important.
We work closely with industry and
the universities and research groups
of the Nation because it is —
in this
scientific, technical and production
potential — that our future airpower
will be built.

December, 1956 59
effort, however, our guided missiles
of today are completely automatic
weapons of superb sophistication
and complexity, and tremendously
of superb and increased capability.
Their future potential is limited
only by men's imagination. And we,
students of modern weaponry, cer-
tainly could never be accused of
being unable to see beyond present
horizons.
We readily see, then, that our
interest in guided missiles dates
back to World War I. True, our
efforts prior and even during
to
World War II,the rocket and
in
missile fields, though continuous,
necessarily were limited.
On a crash basis, we did de-
velop the famed bazooka, which
helped materially in defeating the Air Force missile researchers are engaged in varied propulsion experiments. High-energy
rampaging Rommel in Africa. We solid propellant boosters that are easy to handle have high priority.

also crash-programmed the 4.5-inch

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles knew he was automatically pushing
barrage rocket used so effectively
(ICBM) the third is an Intermedi-
; another button setting off the enemy's
in the Pacific. During the war, the
ate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). retaliatory ICBM's?
Tiny Tim and the 5-inch HVAR,
the rocket-propelled mineclearing
Philosophically speaking are we — an enemy would push his but-
If
on the threshold of forging an "ulti- ton, he would do so knowing there
snake, and aircraft JATO all were— mate" weapon? would be little hope he could wipe out
entered into our armament
in-
Committed as we are solely to our numerous launching sites. He
ventory.
defense, any potent weapon possessed would just as surely know we are
In 1942, liquid-fueled V-2 rock-
by us would not ride to target on a prepared to retaliate.
ets were successfully flight-tested by
surprise mission. But it is possible From a military standpoint,
the Germans. Between 1944 and 1945,
that an enemy might risk launching therefore, only one conclusion can be
they produced about 6,000 V-2's. Of
his own if he were convinced it would drawn from the facts presented here.
this total, approximately 3,600 were
wipe out our retaliatory capabilities. Sparking World War III with the
launched against allied targets.
Therein lies the main reason for use of long-range thermo-nuclear
Compared with the spectacular our feverish haste to develop a su- weapons certainly would set off a
German effort, however, our pace was perior family of weapons. A state- chain reaction. Such rockets and mis-
pedestrian. The Germans first devel- ment made recently by U.S. Civil De- siles would then indeed be "ultimate"
oped the "Fritz X," later the semi- fense Administrator, Val Peterson, weapons. Ultimate that is, because
guided V-l missile, and lastly the V-2 pinpoints one overriding reason why. the next and final one would be, as
ballistic missile. Our own develop- why. Einstein so often said, the "stone-age
ment in these areas was virtually non- "The age of big cities is past," club."
existent. Administrator Peterson said "An — AGAIN, philosophically speak-
For some time after World War H-bomb of only 10 megatons (there is ing, can we invalidate this conclu-
II, progress centered on the develop- talk already of 40 megatons) would sion? We can, definitely. As military
ment of liquid-fueled rockets. Cur- destroy a modern city over an area of men, we do.
rently, the Air Force, as well as the 50 square miles and its environs . . . If "past is prologue" proves true
Army and Navy, are researching and If 67 U.S. cities were to be subjected in the case of the ICBM, we shall
developing missiles using liquid rock- to H-bomb attack equivalent to the
( forever continue to seek to develop
et propulsion. one which caused an island in the the "ultimate" weapon.
Since this article is a philosophi- Pacific to disappear), 22 million The logical step in achieving this
calapproach to the research and de- people would be seriously injured; worthwhile goal will depend entirely
velopment of rockets and missiles, we nine million would be killed." upon future research and develop-
shall discuss neither their technical In the light of these facts, an ment. We will always maintain a
aspects nor the advantages or draw- epochal event in weaponry might progressive attitude and look to a
backs of their propellants major — come to pass in the relatively near new frontier. This forthcoming In-
features in the progress of the state- —
future a nuclear ICBM standoff. ternational Geophysical Year may
of-the-art. What then? bring a realization of satellite launch-
Our current research, naturally, Would a standoff prove a definite ing. This within itself may open a
leads into the very vital ballistics mis- deterrent to war? Would a potential new era of manned satellites or pos-
silesdevelopment program. Efforts aggressor push a button sending his sibly glide rockets. With such devel-
fixon the "Atlas," "Titan," and the ICBM's screeching through the stra- opments, we could have stand-by
"Thor." The first two are designed as tosphere at hypersonic speeds if he forces in space guarding peace. *

60 missiles and rockets

 — —

Comprehensive Testing
Speeds Missile Development

By Major General Leighton I. Davis

Commander, Hollomun Air Development Center,
Air Researeh and Development Command, VSAF

WAS my privilege several years tion or proof of design rather than as models and mockups. Critical compon-
ITago to discuss with the late Dr. a partner in progress. The proper in- ents are fabricated and tested to de-
Robert A. Millikan the advance of tegration of testing into missile de- termine performance limitations as
modern technology. I raised the ques- velopment results in rapid progress well as weight, space, and power re-
tion of the relationshipbetween the- because experimental data is avail- quirements. Vendor supplied items
ory and experiment and whether the- able when needed. If testing is treated are checked against specifications in
ory or experimental "gadgetry," such as a "necessary evil," to follow rather tests that simulate the new environ-
as electron microscopes and cyclo- than to accompany design and engi- ment. Major components and subas-
trons, contribute more to the growth neering, progress is slow and overall semblies are tested to determine their
of modern scientific knowledge. The costs are high. compatibility in the system.
context of his answer was that one Before developing this thesis Flight test operations are a final
could not advance without the other, the thesis that testing is an integral part of the developmental phase. They
that each was essential to progress in part of development and has a re- are a continuation of the pattern of
the sciences and that rapid progress generative, beneficial effect on the data gathering to verify or modify
was achieved only when theory and progress of the project— we must look engineering assumptions and compro-
experiment were in proper balance at the total pattern of development of mises. It is common to launch hun-
complementing and supplementing a military weapon. dreds of missiles before levels of per-
each other. The study phase includes the defi- formance and reliability are achieved
It can be said that testing bears nition of a military need and valida- that justify production for inventory.
the same relationship to engineering tion of that need by documentation. A The production phase is accom-
as experiment does to theory. necessary part of this phase is a panied by still more testing to check
In missile engineering the rela- formal statement of the problem and the product of production tooling and
tionship is even more firm, because of the need for a solution; in other to check the latest engineering
designers and engineers invariably words, a "requirement." changes.
are required to go beyond available The developmental phase includes On casual consideration it might
—
experimental data to extrapolate in- design, engineering, fabrication, and seem that a comprehensive testing
to regimes of performance where many tests. Engineering testing, in program delays the date for opera-
there are no test data points to guide contrast to proof or acceptance test- tional use of a weapon. The time re-
them. ing, runs throughout this phase. De- quired to develop a new weapon for
The need for test information is work on computers
signs are tested by the military inventory is a matter of
taken for granted in missile work, but and simulators. Engineering assump- great concern to defense management.
too often it is looked upon as verifica- tions and compromises are tested by Steps have been taken to shorten the

December, 1956 61
"study" phase by speeding up the val- that ground checks can be run in par-
idation of the requirement, by speed- allelwith flight operations, "systems
ing up contractor selection and con- designed" data gathering and data
tract negotiation. reduction equipment all speed up the
The preferred way to shorten the development cycle by feeding test data
second or developmental phase is to qiiickly back into the engineering
treat the many testing operations in process.
this phase as opportunities to gather The best proof of this thesis,
—
data faster to feed data back into that well planned and intensive test-
engineering so that the product will ing speeds up development, lies in ex-
advance up the ladder of performance perience. An analysis of missile proj-
and reliability in a spirited progres- phase will show
ects in the flight test
sive manner. a wide variation in the pattern of
A poor way to attempt to shorten progress. Projects that are dragging
the development cycle to skimp on
is — firing missile after missile with
t e s t i ng—gamblingon immediate little increase in performance or re-
large scale production. This invari- liability —
often are plagued with
ably results in expensive and time component failures. These troubles
consuming retooling and crash modi- could have been decreased by ade-
fication programs. The writer has no quate component testing earlier in
quarrel with production at a low rate the development phase. On the other
early in the development phase, be- hand, some projects progress rapidly
cause this phase will proceed faster USAF SM
AFB. Numerous
62 SNARK
test
takes off from Patrick
models of this missile
— missiles are ready on schedule, com-
if more items are available for test, have been launched. prehensive pre-flight checks reveal
and because production methods and few troubles —and
performance and
tooling must be checked before pro- sound program of testing supports reliability are demonstrated by fewer
duction for inventory is initiated. and reinforces the upward trend of firings than originally scheduled. Be-
To support the main thesis that progress lies in component success or hind this success you will find exten-
testing has a beneficially regenerative failure. sive and careful testing, testing that
influence on the progress of missile is not uncommon
It in fact — goes hand in hand with design and
development, one must examine the much —
too f r e q u e n t that an un- engineering, just as experiment must
timing, the data flow, and inter-rela- tested item, a connector or a relay, accompany theory in the progress of
tionships of design, fabrication and fails during launch of a complete our technology.
testing. Well planned tests — tests that missile. As a result the whole pro- The big pay off is reduction in
quickly disclose deficiencies, tests that —
ject is set back with no data on time and reduction in cost. The latter
make data immediately available to that test and a long wait for another part of development, the flight test-
the engineer so that he can correct missile —
uncertainty results and re- ing phase, is very expensive in terms
a parameter or redesign a component quirements are generated for more of time and money. Production tool-
—these steps are essential to rapid tests to determine what failed. The ing as well as scarce designers and
progress. net effect is a general depression of engineers are standing by waiting for
On the other hand, tests that the rate of progress. On the other results. The running cost of the proj-
do not include sufficient data gather- hand, comprehensive component ect may be millions of dollars per
ing to determine the cause of mal- testing aids in successful flight test- month and the missiles themselves on
function, or tests that result in loss ing to the point of reducing the a per pound cost are more dear than
of a missile and necessitate a wait- number of missiles required to de- gold and diamonds. Rapid progress
ing period for the next missile are — termine performance and reliability. towards goals of performance and re-
depressing and degenerative in the Facilities for test exert a strong liability decreases the running time
sense of lowering the rate of prog- influence on the rate of progress. Ade- of the project and saves missiles in
ress towards performance and reli- quate instrumentation, sufficient the most critical and expensive phase
ability. An example of the way a telemetry equipment and channels so of the total weapon development. *

Lockheed F-94 carrying full-size missile in its nose (circled) is used by Air Force as flying test bed for checking out missile guidance and
telemetering gear. This approach saves money. Other Air Force missiles are designed to return to base and land after test flight.

62 missiles and rockets

December, 1956
A New Approach
to Space Flight

Should the space flight challenge be attacked on the basis

of our missile and rocket experience? Or should we attempt
a different approach?

By Colonel William 0. Davis

Office of Scientific Research, Air Research

and Development Command

THE most popular approach to space-flight vehicle, one can take control and ability of the vehicle
the conquest of space up to the many approaches. The list below is to fly. is a very rig-
This, of course,
present time has been the ballistic only one possible such list. orous requirement and suggests
type vehicle, high accelerations, 1. ) High Probability of Person- —
either multiple motors the failure
vertical takeoffs and chemical fuels. nel Eecovery. of any one of which will not cause
In other words, we are asking our- 2. ) High Probability of Equip- loss of control, a propulsion system
selves, "In what way may we extra- ment Eecovery. which is inherently incapable of
polate the techniques of the guided 3. ) High Probability of Mission failure, or a flight condition where
missile to manned spaceflight, how Success. power-off control is feasible until
can we use the rocket to put a man 4. ) Human compatibility with emergency escape can be made.
in space?" the system. The second requirement, high
This perhaps is not the best ap- (a) Low but no zero accele- probability of equipment recovery,
proach today. Instead of continuing ration. implies all the foregoing and in
to extrapolate our past techniques (b) Tolerable temperature addition requires that the spaceship
into the future, let us stop and take limits. be capable of being landed with
—
stock see what capabilities do exist (c) Short flight times. high reliability in the event of com-
for manned spaceflight and whether (d) Reasonable re-entry pro- plete power failure. It also means
or not we can meet them with the file. that if staging is used each of the
techniques available to us. Let us 5. ) Performs Function Com- separate stages must be recoverable
forget for the moment we ever patible With Cost. Let us discuss and re-usable. Finally, it points to
heard of the rocket and the guided each of these requirements briefly. the desirability of a single stage
missile. Let us assume that we will High probability of personnel vehicle which eliminates the neces-
start from scratch with the science recovery implies first of all adequate sity for staging.
that is available to us and a knowl- protection against the various en- High probability of mission
edge of our objectives and design vironmental hazards of space; sec- success implies in addition to all
a spaceflight system from here. ondly, however, it implies that a the foregoing that the entire system
In trying to decide what the re- power failure at any phase of the be made as completely reliable as
quirement must be for a usable mission must not result in a loss of possible and that the necessary

64 missiles and rockets

maneuvers to complete the mission power, so that by doing work the follow a profile which does not im-
be possible and easily performed, total energy release to the vehicle pose excessive thermal loads or
without serious risk to personnel in the form of heat may be kept accelerations upon the human pas-
and equipment. as low as possible. sengers of the vehicle.
We come now to the question of Finally, the man himself must The requirement that the space
human compatibility with the space- be a part of this thermodynamic vehicle must perform a function
flight system. system and his products and his compatible with its cost implies, I
(a) Low but not zero accelera- heat must fit into the system in such believe, a very thorough study of
tion: It clear that a necessity for
is a way as to insure maximum sur- the military and civilian utilization
high accelerations will greatly limit vival probability and maximum ef- of space travel. At the present time,
the flexibility of space travel and in ficiency. One more factor is import- relatively little consideration has
particular will require that only the ant in connection with this require- been given to this subject.
most physically fit may possibly em- ment. The thermodynamic cycle of In the early days of military
ploy this form of transportation. man and machine must be studied aviation, shortly after the Wright
Secondly, high accelerations carefully because in this application Brothers had made the first manned
will produce a much greater stress it is clear that we wish to consume flight, the military view was limited
on all parts of the vehicle thus in- energy and conserve mass. to that of employing the aircraft for
creasing the probability of failure (c) Short flight times: Under observation purposes. The develop-
of the components and of the system most early approaches to flight be- ment of the modern philosophy of
as a whole. Thus, a desirable ob- tween two planets the minimum air power took many years. Since
jective is to develop a ship which energy orbit has been suggested. spacecraft will inevitably be much
has the lowest possible acceleration This, in general, requiresa long more expensive than the early air-
compatible with fuel economy and time and may well involve serious craft, it appears essential that this
mission to be performed. personnel and logistic problems. phase be undertaken prior to the
On
the other hand a system of development of vehicles for manned
Human Survival
At the same time even though spaceflight in which the vehicle spaceflight.

experience may demonstrate that

could be accelerated even though at Now is the time to undertake
a reduced rate for an indefinite extensive studies of the strategic
man can survive and even adapt
period of time would permit much and tactical employment of space-
himself completely to life under con-
ditions of zero gravity, such condi-
more rapid travel between two flight for military purposes. At the

tions certainly will add to the dif-

planets and, therefore, noticeably same time, as has been the case
space and reduce personnel and logistic prob- throughout history, there will in-
ficulty of operation in
lems. This objective, consistent with evitably be important civilian and
should be avoided if at all possible.
Zero gravity may be avoided either other technical problems involved, commercial applications of flight in
by the artificial rotation of the is highly desirable. this new environment, and it goes
vehicle to substitute centrifugal Reasonable re-entry pro-
(d) without question that thought
force for gravity, or perhaps by the file
: It stands to reason that the should be given to this subject.
employment of a method of propul- return into the atmosphere of earth In considering these applica-
sion yielding low acceleration. and landing on the earth should tions attention should be given not
(b) Tolerable temperature
limits: Any propulsion system will
produce some heat. A space vehicle
within sight of the sun also will be
receiving heat from the solar radia-
tion. A major problem on a vehicle
well may become that of maintain-
ing a livable temperature while
absorbing heat from the propulsion
system or auxiliary power system
and adding it to the heat already
being received from the sun.
For example, the mean temper-
ature of a space vehicle at the same
distance from the sun as the earth
will, of c o u r s e, be essentially the
—
same as that of the earth approxi-
mately 68°F. Clearly an average
temperature much higher than this
is undesirable, so that transfer of
heat to the vehicle by the propulsion
system or auxiliary power system
should be minimized. Where pos-
sible the heat from the propulsion
system should be used for auxiliary

December, 1956 65
 —
to the difficulties of achieving space- in space. Under these conditions it hundred to a thousand or higher are
flight with today's techniques, but iscertain that maneuverability will completely impractical in terms of
to the assumption that an idealized be required. the economical transportation of pay-
form of spaceflight can be developed Both the planetary landing cap- loads between the planets on a rou-
in which many of the objections abilityand the ability to maneuver tine basis. Thus, the ultimate pro-
which face us today will no longer imply that this vehicle must be able pulsion system should be one which
be present. In other words, one to carry a large fuel reserve for provides for as low a mass ratio as
should assume that spacecraft may sustained operations in space and a possible. This means systems involv-
be flown with no more difficulty than safe return of personnel and equip- ing high exhaust velocities or linear
that encountered today in the opera- ment to base. Fuel reserves should systems of propulsion which do not
tion of aircraft for commercial pur- be at least comparable to those used incorporate the conversion of energy
poses. in present day military aircraft and to thrust by means of heat. Nuclear
considering the nature of the en- propulsion, if proved feasible, would
Landing On Other Planets vironment a factor as high as 2 meet this requirement. Many other
In order to perform a useful would not be excessive. possibilities have been suggested
function for either military or com- Finally, there is the matter of for example, ion propulsion.
mercial purposes, it would appear economy to discuss. If, as in the case If space travel is to become a
that a capability to land on other of the atomic bomb, an enormous routine operation between planets it
planets is highly desirable. This strategic advantage should be gained is clear that the fuel for the vehicles

problem is undoubtedly a difficult from the development of a space ve- should be relatively plentiful in the
one and is a sensitive function hicle then certainly this would be solar system and in fact the optimum
of the amount of atmosphere pos- worth a major national effort regard- situation would be one in which the
sessed by other planets, the type of less of cost. fuel was available on any planet and
propulsion system and the method However, if we are to consider could be refined with equipment
of control. Achievement of this cap- spaceflight as a routine future mili-
transportable within the space ve-
ability might well require the tary possibility, and in particular, if
hicle itself. Hydrogen or any form
presence of more than one propul- we thereof would meet this criterion
are to consider it as a commercial
sion system or at least a propulsion possibility, then the matter of econo- and there are other possibilities.
system which might be used in two my becomes of much
greater concern. Certainly this set of require-
or more modes. It is, of course, unlikely that any ments sounds very stringent if not
Since cannot be expected that
it such system will be developed impossible to achieve, at least until
prepared landing surfaces will be cheaply, but if at the completion of a some far future time. But if history
available on the surface of other development program, future units follows its usual course, we may log-
planets, it is clear that this vehicle can be built at relatively low cost, ically expect a capability of this type
must be able to land under condi- then this type of transportation may to develop rather unexpectedly. As
tions of rugged terrain. Particularly in time become quite feasible on a in the case of the atom bomb. Since
from the point of view of military reasonably routine basis. we cannot afford to follow all possi-
operations, but later for commercial
Let us, therefore, stipulate that
ble routes to the future the most
operations, a certain amount of
for routine space operations it is de-
likelyavenues of research must be
maneuverability is desirable.
sirable that unit cost of production
pursued at this time.
Consider, for example, a space vehicles be relatively low including It seems clear that propulsion is
station or other observation plat- the cost of fuel and other auxiliary the key to the whole problem. A pro-
form in an orbit about the earth. equipment. Secondly, it will be ex- pulsion system which would provide
Such a station might in one applica- tremely uneconomical to attempt to continuous though low thrust for an
tion be used for the purpose of maintain military operations o n a indefinite period of time would pro-
military reconnaissance or observa- continuing basis with vehicles which vide the answer to many of the prob-
tion of the enemy by photographic, can be used only once. It is necessary lems that have been raised. If this
telescopic and radar means. Such a that the ultimate vehicle for space- type of propulsion system were avail-
vehicle would be extremely vulner- flight involve neither expendable ve- able today, it certainly would be pos-
able if it were committed to a com- hiclesnor expendable stages or other sible to think in terms of a workable
pletely predictable orbit. It would components. space vehicle.
be necessary only to compute the In my opinion, the way to
exact position which the satellite Economical Aspects manned spaceflight would then be
would occupy at a given time in All major portions of the equip-
open almost immediately, provided
order to direct a counter missile ment should be both reclaimable and we had the auxiliary problems solved
against this target. Thus, in this reusable in order for this venture to
in the meantime. Although it might
particular application the ability to be economically feasible. well take fifty years to solve the engi-
maneuver, to change velocity, to Regarding the a 1 1-important neering problems of putting a man
change position, to vary the orbit question of fuel and propulsion as it in space with current missile con-
becomes important. affects economy of operation, it ap- cepts, it is likely that the utilization
Ifindeed space is to be the next pears obvious that the most desir- of new
concepts will achieve the same
major military environment, it is able system will be one incorporating results sooner. It is easier to climb
clear that ultimately we may expect a low mass ratio. over a stone wall than to beat our
the possibility of combat operations Certainly mass ratios of one way through with a jack hammer. *

66 missiles and rockets

 Wilson's Missile Order-
Detailed Text
Because of its potential vital bearing on the rate of development of
U.S. missile progress and on the outcome of the West's battle with
Russia for air supremacy, m/r herewith reprints the missile sections
of The Secretary of Defense's November 26 Memorandum for Mem-
bers of the Armed Forces Policy Council.

Defense Secretary Wilson

MEMORANDUM FOR: Members of the Armed Forces tively to implement the intent of Congress as expressed in
Policy Council. the National Security Act.
No basic changes in the present roles and missions
SUBJECT: Clarification of Roles and Missions to Im- of the armed services are necessary but the development
prove the Effectiveness of Operation of the of new weapons and of new strategic concepts, together
with the nine years' operating experience by the Depart-
Department of Defense.
ment of Defense have pointed up the need for some clarifi-
Important changes in organization and in roles and cation and clearer interpretation of the roles and missions
missions are not easily decided upon or effected. It is not of the armed services. We have recognized the need for a
as though we were starting fresh with a clean sheet of review of these matters and from time to time certain steps
paper, so to speak, or could set up a theoretically perfect have been taken and we are now taking others to improve
organization and division of responsibilities between the the effectiveness of our overall military establishment, to
Military Departments. Assignment of responsibilities must avoid unnecessary duplication of activities and functions,
continue to recognize the precedents of the past and the and to utilize most effectively the funds made available by
availability of men and facilities for carrying out assigned the people through Congress.
missions. Problems of this nature would be easier to solve I would like to point out that clarification and inter-

if there were always complete unanimity of opinion among pretation of roles and missions does not in itself predeter-
all responsible executives of the Defense Department, both mine the weapons to be used by each of the armed services
military and civilian. The very nature of the problems, and their numbers, nor the numbers of men to be trained
however, and the varying background and experience of in various fields. It should be clearly understood that the
the individuals serving in responsible positions make some approval of roles and missions of the armed services for
differences of opinion normal and to be expected. guidance in peacetime does not predetermine the weapons
In spite of the differences of opinion which may or forces which a commander in the field would be per-
there are times when conditions require that changes
exist,
mitted to use in the event of war. Also, the development of
should be made in administrative responsibilities and at a weapon by a particular military department does not in
itself predetermine its use. Such determinations rest with
such times decisions are mandatory. That is the situation
now. the Secretary of Defense after considering the recommen-
The National Security Act of 1947 states:
dations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of
the Military Departments.
"Declaration of Policy The recent clarification of command responsibilities
for field commanders should be most helpful in deter-
"Sec. 2. In enacting thus legislation, it is the intent of Con- mining weapons and forces to be employed in various mis-
gress to provide a comprehensive program for the future sions and should assist the Joint Chiefs of Staff in making
security of the United States; to provide for the establish- recommendations in this regard to the Secretary of De-
ment of integrated policies and procedures for the depart- fense, in order to determine approved requirements for
ments, agencies, and functions of the Government relating
each of the armed services.
to the national security; to provide three military depart-
ments, separately administered, for the operation and ad-
We have recently reviewed five important problem
areas which need to be cleared up. The recommendations
ministration of the Army, the Navy (including naval avia-
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in regard to these matters have
tion and the United States Marine Corps), and the Air
been carefully considered and their differences of opinion
Force, with their assigned combat and service components;
carefully weighed. In addition, I have given consideration
to provide for their authoritative coordination and unified
to the opinions in these areas of responsible officials, both
direction under civilian-control of the Secretary of De-
military and civilian, in the Office of the Secretary of De-
fense but not to merge them; to provide for the effective fense. These matters are being resolved as follows:
strategic direction of the armed forces and for their opera-
tion under unified control and for their integration into an (Parts 1 and 2 on manned aircraft omitted)
efficient team of land, naval and air forces but not to estab- 3.Air Defense.
lish a single Chief of Staff over the armed forces nor an
Consideration has been given to distinguishing be-
armed forces general staff (but this is not to be interpreted tween Air Force and army responsibility for surface-to-air
."
as applying to the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Joint Staff)
guided missile systems for defense of the Continental
Nine years of experience operating under the Na- United States on the basis of area defense and point de-
tional Security Act of 1947, as amended, have proved the fense, as well as the criterion of an arbitrary range limita-
soundness of this comprehensive program for national se- tion.
curity. Area and point defense systems cannot be defined
The statementof roles and missions recommended with precision. Area defense involves the concept of locat-
by the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Key West and Newport and ing defense units to intercept enemy attacks remote from
approved by Secretary of Defense James Forrestal and as and without reference to individual vital installations, in-
modified in 1953, have also proved to be sound and effec- dustrial complexes or population centers. For such a de-

70 missiles and rockets

fense system to be effective, extensive information gather- a. That such missiles be designed and programmed
ing networks such as the Semi-automatic ground environ- for use against tactical targets within zone of operations,
ment (SAGE) system are required to trace continuously defined as extending not more than 100 miles beyond the
the enemy attack and transmit and present the data in us- front lines. As such missiles would presumably be deployed
able form for guiding the defense weapons to counter the within the combat zone normally extending back of the
attack. As applied to surface-to-air missiles, this means front lines about 100 miles, this places a range limitation
that area defense missiles, because of their more wide- of about 200 miles on the design criteria for such weapons.
spread sitings, will normally receive their guidance infor-
b. That the tactical air support functions beyond
mation from the network system rather than from acquisi-
those that can be provided by Army surface-to-surface
tion and tracking radars located in the vicinity of the mis-
missiles as above defined remain the responsibility of the
sile launching site.
Air Force.
Point defense has as its purpose the defense of speci-
fied geographical areas, cities and vital installations. One It is evident that the tactical air forces programmed

distinguishing feature of point defense missiles is that their for Army support should be reconsidered and the Joint
guidance information is received from radars located near Chiefs of Staff have been requested to furnish me with
the launching sites. their recommendations for specific adjustments as to the
The present state of the art justifies development of number and types of planned Army guided missile and un-
point defense surface-to-air missile systems for use against guided rocket units and with the number of Air Force
air targets at expected altitudes out to a horizontal range tactical wings which may be eliminated as a result of these
of the order of 100 nautical miles. decisions.
It must be clearly understood that the Commander- In preparing these recommendations, the develop-
in-Chief, Continental Air Defense Command, who has been ment of balanced and interrelated Army and Air Force
given the responsibility for the Air Defense of the Contin- tactical support forces for the accomplishment of overall
ental United States, Alaska, and the United States area of U.S. national security objectives must be considered, rather
responsibility in the North East, also has the authority and than the development of completely independent Army and
duty for stating his operational need for new or improved Air Force forces to accomplish tactical support tasks. In
weapon systems and for recommending to the Joint Chiefs developing force recommendations in this area, as well as
of Staff all new installations of any type. Therefore, no for other U.S. Military forces, it should be recognized that
Service shall unilaterally plan for additional missile in- all operations in which our forces will be employed will
stallations of either category (point or area defense) in be conducted under the command of the designated com-
support of CINCONAD's responsibilities until and unless manders who will have the necessary forces assigned to
they have been recommended by CINCONAD to the Joint them for the conduct of their missions by higher authority.
Chiefs of Staff, and approved by that body.
In conformance with the above: 5. Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).
a. The Army is assigned responsibility for the de- In regard to the Intermediate Range Ballistic Mis-
velopment, procurement and manning of land-base sur- siles:
face-to-air missile systems for point defense. Currently, a.Operational employment of the land-based Inter-
missile systems in the point defense category are the NIKE mediate Range Ballistic Missile system will be the sole re-
I, NIKE B, and land-based TALOS.
sponsibility of the U.S. Air Force.
b. The Air Force is assigned responsibility for the
b. Operational employment of the ship-based Inter-
development, procurement and manning of land-based mediate Range Ballistic Missile system will be the sole re-
surface-to-air missile systems for area defense. Currently, sponsibility of the U.S. Navy.
the missile system in the area defense category is the c. The U.S. Army will not plan at this time for the
BOMARC. operational employment of the Intermediate Range Bal-
c. The Navy, in close coordination with the Army listic Missile or for any other missiles with ranges beyond
and Air Force, is assigned responsibility for the develop- 200 miles. This does not, however, prohibit the Army from
ment, procurement and employment of ship-based air de- making limited f easibility studies in this area.
fense weapons systems for the accomplishment of its as- (The Intercontinental Ballistic Missile has pre-
signed functions. viously been assigned for operational employment to the
d. The Marine Corps is authorized to adapt to its or- U.S. Air Force.)
ganic use, such surface-to-air weapons systems developed There are a number of other matters relating to re-
by the other Services as may be required for the accom- search and development of particular weapons that will
plishment of its assigned functions. affect the choice of weapons to be used for various missions
e. In overseas areas, the U.S. theater commander in the armed services. These choices can only be made after
should normally assign responsibility for air defense to an a careful technical review of the capabilities of the various
air component commander, with appropriate participation weapons under development. I refer particularly to weap-
by other components. Under this arrangement, Army units ons systems such as the NIKE and TALOS and the multiple
in combat zone should continue to be responsible for their approach (JUPITER-THOR) to developments such as the
own local defense, employing organic means. Other Army Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. This memorandum
air defense units should carry out point defense missions does not attempt to answer those questions which can only
under the air component commander. Air Force units be decided after studies now in progress are completed, and
should carry out the area defense missions. Special em- should not be so interpreted.
phasis should be given to simplicity, flexibility and mobil- In the meantime, these competing weapons systems
ity of weapon systems employed in air defense in over- will be continued with support from Fiscal Year '57 funds
seas areas. Navy forces should continue to be responsible until the completion of the technical evaluation referred
for their own air defense at sea, employing organic means. to above. Budget support in Fiscal Year '58 for the land-
As approved by the theater commander, the air compo- based TALOS, as required, will be provided by the U.S.
nent commander should establish such procedures for co- Army. Budget support in Fiscal Year '58 for the land-based
ordinating Army, Navy, and Air Force air defense forces Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Program, as required,
as may be required to carry out his responsibilities, and, will be provided by the U.S. Air Force.
in addition, should establish such detailed procedures as In view of the great interest in these matters in the
are necessary for proper coordination with national air de- Congress, copies of this memorandum are being sent to the
fense commanders of allied countries. appropriate Congressional Committees. In addition, in
order that there can be full understanding of these deci-
4. Air Force Tactical Support of the Army. sions within the Military Departments and by the public,
copies of this memorandum are being made available to
The Army will continue its development of surface-
the press.
to-surface missiles for close support of Army field opera-
tions with the following limitations: C. E. WILSON
December, 1956 71
 —

Washington Spotlight
By Henry T. Simmons

The Air Force has started a detailed technical evalua-

tion of Jupiter mid-range ballistic missile to determine how
much of the former Army project should be continued to sup-
plement its own work on the Thor. Recommendations are to
be ready by Feb. 1. Big problem is how to handle the develop-
ment of the Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile if the Jupiter pro-
gram is sharply cut back. Some airmen suggest the sailors
could get along with an 800-mile weapon rather than the
1500-mile Jupiter in which they were participating with the
Army.
•

The USAF Thor intermediate range ballistic missile

has already been shipped to Patrick AFB, Fla., and it is
said first prototype will be fired this month. Douglas engi-
neers have reportedly made phenomenal progress on the bird.
•

Lockheed is begging the Air Force to let it release pic-

tures and further news of its three-stage X-17 research
rocket, designed to gather information on ICBM warhead re-
entry problems. (M&R, Nov., 1956, p. 43). Unclassified models
of the Sergeant-Recruit rocket combination have been dis-
tributed. •

The Air Force pushing research work on a workable

is
missile defense system for bombers, but it hasn't found the
answer yet. Biggest headache is the design of a finned missile
which can be launched across the bomber's airstream without
being thrown completely off course.
•

Relaxation of the Defense Department's policy for dis-

persal of key military production facilities seems to be under
way. Boeing, for example, recently took an option to buy a
Ford plant at Richmond, Calif., for assembly of the USAF
Bomarc interceptor missile. If it goes ahead with the pur-
chase, it will mean that the hard-driving dispersal policy of
former USAF Secretary Harold Talbott is virtually dead.
•

Air Force intelligence has learned that the Russians

have developed a rocket engine of 120 metric tons thrust
more than 264,000 pounds. Although extremely large solid
propellant engines have been tested in the U.S., the largest
liquid propellant engine shown publicly is the 140,000-pound
North American booster for the Navaho. Much larger engines
are under development for the Atlas-Titan ICBM program,
however.
•

Top Pentagon are not entirely satisfied with

officials
the progress of the Air Force missile program, noting that
the airmen have only two fully operational missiles today,
despite years of development labor, while the Army and Navy
have four or five each. One official blames the slow progress
on Air Force reluctance to top off questionable projects.
•

The stretch-outs ordered last month by the Air Force

in the WS-110A chemical bomber and WS-125A nuclear
bomber projects may not be enough to satisfy Pentagon budg-
eteers. Look for a further slowdown
— —
particularly in the
nuclear bomber to make more funds available for the big
ballistic missiles.

72 missiles and rockets

 Aerophysics
By Seabrook Hull

The Vanguard project constitutes man's first venture

in the fourth —
environment space. It is a technological ac-
complishment of profound historical significance. However,
in the quiet background, projects are already in the hardware
stage that will take living men as well as black boxes beyond
atmosphere's outer limits.

One is the AF's North American X-15. It requires not

only the full abilities of near-escape, but those of a safe re-
entry as well. Unlike the ICBM which need only remain lethal
for a few seconds, both the X-15 and its pilot must return
to fly again.

Considered test vehicles for inhabited space bombers,

manned —
satellites, etc. X-15's A, B, and C will reportedly ex-
plore 3000 mph, 50 mi. up; 4500 mph, 100 mi. up; and 6000
mph and over, 150 mi. up and out.
The range of operating conditions of the X-15 from—
near-space flight to the sea-level environment of approach
—
and landing is unprecedented and necessitates virtually an
entire new vehicle system. Throughout reentry and descent,
its speed (controlled by glide angle) must be slow enough to
maintain laminar flow in the boundary layer and fast enough
to maintain control effectiveness. Too fast, and the resulting
turbulent boundary layer will transfer heat to skin at a de-
structive rate. Too slow, and the loss of control will be cata-
strophic.

The speed band between too fast and too slow is ex-
tremely narrow and varies critically with altitude. The X-15's
piloting system will be of the command variety, automatic and
more sensitive than the human touch. Measurement of flight
conditions —
altitude, speed, rate of descent and climb, pitch,
roll and yaw —
requires new techniques. A thin probe would
melt. A stainless steel ball with static ports may be used in-
stead. Aneroid devices are useless. And in 100 per cent dis-
sociated air, radio may be unreliable.

Vanguard and its successors will explore the massive

high-energy spectrometer that is space, and give some indica-
tion of effect on pilot, plane and astrionics gear. As soon as
these results start coming back, X-15's system will be final-
ized and should fly in two years.
*
Dissociation becomes a vital science in itself. It is the
basis for "free radical" fuels; it controls heating rates in
hypersonic flight; and (the latest) it cuts combustion effi-
ciency in low-pressure rocket engines. A little light reading on
the subject will help anyone concerned with the coming ages
of flight.

Research shows that the laminar flow equilibrium tem-

perature at Mach 8.0, altitude 150,000 ft. of a point on a wing
10 ft. back from the leading edge is 1000°F, assuming skin
has 0.85 emissivity; and that of the leading edge itself is
4500°F, against a stagnation temperature of 6500°F.

December, 1956
 —

THE NAVAHO CHALLENGE

By Henry T. Simmons

MANY their
have made
companies
on a single
fortunes
2.5 at altitudes
weight is
up to 75,000 feet. Its
probably in excess of 50
fruitful idea but few have learned tons. It employs some radical air-
how to assure the continuous pro- frame innovations, included a canard
duction of significant ideas and their stabilizer just behind the nose.
profitable exploitation. Power for the Navaho is sup-
Among those few, the name of plied by two different engines. For
North American Aviation, Inc., sustained flight, it is said to use
must surely be included. Its formula: two huge Curtiss-Wright ramjet en-
Tackle a project so challenging from gines. And to achieve the speeds
a technological standpoint that the necessary to generate sufficient ram
answers, when obtained, must neces- air pressure to permit the C-W en- J40's and Pratt & Whitney J57's.
sarily open broad and profitable new gines to operate, the Navaho uses a The X-10 isused to check out ad-
avenues in the business and indus- large North American liquid propel- vanced designs, electronics systems
trial world. lant rocket engine with a designed and flight characteristics.
The challenging project in North thrust of 140,000 pounds. With the end of the X-10 test
American's case is the SM-64 Navaho An indication of the present program in sight, North American
intercontinental missile. It was in- status of the program is the fact that is ready to move into the final and

itiated by the U.S. Air Force in flight testing of the North American most difficult stage of development
1950 and has been under high pres- X-10 test vehicle is now nearing com- that of test firing the genuine article.
sure development ever since. pletion at the Air Force Missile Test Both range and missile instrumenta-
Little has been said officially of Center, Patrick AFB, Fla. Although tion have been designed to gather
the Navaho. Pentagon officials de- the firing range extends 5,000 miles performance data along the entire
scribe it in their speeches as an air- from Florida to the Ascension course of the sprawling range, and
breathing surface-to-surface mis- Islands in the South Atlantic, only a it is expected that this final stage
sile with a range of about 5,000 fraction of that distance is now in will begin shortly.
miles. Beyond that, they hold their use for the X-10 program. These sketchy details illustrate
silence. The test vehicle, which is equip- something of the magnitude of North
But a considerable number of ped with retractable landing gear, is American's task in designing and
additional details have been unoffi- apparently aerodynamically similar developing the Navaho. Probably
cially but reliably attributed to the to the Navaho itself. Power is sup- one of the most acute problems is
North American bird. It is said to plied by a pair of turbojet engines, that of aerodynamic heating. At
be capable of speeds of about Mach variously reported as Westinghouse velocities of Mach 2, for example,

J. H. Kindelberger, Board Chairman, North L. L. Waite, Vice-President, North American Joseph G. Beerer, General Manager, Missile
American Aviation, Inc. Aviation, Inc. Development Division.

December, 1956 77
Samuel K. Hoffman, General Manager, Dale D. Myers, Chief Engineer, Missile De- T. F. Dixon, Chief Engineer Rocketdyne
Rocketdyne Division. velopment Division. Division.

surface heating as great as 300 de- quirements. Titanium is much faces capable of handling mammoth
grees F. may be expected, while stronger than aluminum, possessing air loads. One of the Navaho's con-
Mach 3 will produce temperatures of the strength of some carbon steels, trol planes is the size of a drafting
about 660 degrees F. but at the same time it is 40% light- sturdy enough to bear
table, yet it is
To be sure, missile test vehicles the weight of six automobiles.
er than steel.
have already achieved speeds of Vibration and flutter are par-
Mach 10 and above, but these were ticularly acute problems for all mis-
Thermal Problems
rocket-powered ballistic devices with siles, including the Navaho. Notes

very short flight durations. In the One of the knottiest heat prob- one expert:
case of the Navaho, which will main- lems in the Navaho has to do with "Vibration in the wrong place
tain velocities of 1650 mph to 2000 fuels and hydraulic fluids. How do can cause disaster. All missile sys-
mph for a period of several hours, you prevent the liquids from boiling tems and equipment are sensitive to
the problem is to lick the effects of or detonating at the enormous tem- some form of vibi-ation. Suppose, for
sustained intense heat. peratures to which the skin will be instance, that automatic control
From a structural standpoint, subjected? North American engi- equipment is improperly mounted or
the heat problem seems to be well neers have sought a variety of an- located. It may send the wrong set
in hand. In that area, the principal swers, including ways to keep liquids of signals to the control surfaces,
headaches are heat-induced expan- from boiling, development of fuels which would amplify the vibrations.
sion and shrinkage, further compli- requiring no refrigeration and Control surfaces could be ripped off
cated by stress and vibration. While methods of cooling fuels without and the vehicle entirely destroyed."
aluminum alloys and steels remain greatly increasing weight. Just how Fabrication of one large alum-
useful for certain applications in the they have resolved the difficulty has inum section for the Navaho also in-
Navaho, very extensive reliance on not been suggested. volved peculiar problems. There was
titanium alloys proved necessary to Still other new problems were no tooling large enough to hold cer-
meet new strength-to-weight re- encountered in designing control sur- tain important structural units, nor
was there a proper fusion welding
machine available. Engineers of
NAA's Missile Development Divi-
sion coordinated the construction of
one of the largest jigs in the com-
pany's history to hold the aluminum
pieces tightly against one another.
They also adapted a fusion arc weld-
er bathed in a stream of inert gas
which is capable of joining seams at
the rate of 20 inches a minute.

New Industrial Know-How

As
a result of its weapon system
responsibility for the Navaho, North
American has encountered virtually
every problem facing missile engi-
neers today. Its response to these
challenging difficulties has resulted
North American engineers ready a model, possibly suggestive of the NAVAHO, for wind- in the development of valuable new
tunneltests. Note the extreme fineness ratio, the delta airfoil on the aft section and the
small canard stabilizer close to the nose.
industrial processes and know-how,

78 missiles and rockets

and has opened important new ave- dyne is presently the leader in U.S. Two other NAA divisions which
nues of future growth. rocket propulsion technology by vir- owe their origin to early work on the
During the brief period the tue of its long head start in the field. Navaho and other missiles are Atom-
Although other companies are now ics International and Autonetics. The
Navaho has been under development,
for example, three new divisions beginning to press it, Rocketdyne re- former was created to exploit peace-
have been split off from the parent mains "the only company able to de- time uses of atomic energy for gen-
Missile Systems Division. All were liver proven engines of very high eration of electric power, following
organized last year. power," Kindelberger declared. NAA's early studies of the feasibility
In addition to its Canoga Park
of nuclear energy for propulsion of
Most important is Rocketdyne,
facility, where Rocketdyne has more missiles and aircraft. Its two prin-
which came into being as a result of
than 450,000 square feet of new en- cipal projects are a sodium reactor
NAA's development of large, high-
gineering and administrative space experiment at Santa Susana and an
powered liquid propellant rocket en-
in operation or under construction, organic moderated reactor in Idaho,
gines not only for its own require-
ments but for other highly important the division operates two other im- both under construction for the
portant facilities. These are the Pro- Atomic Energy Commission.
missile projects. With headquarters
at Canoga Park, Calif., the division pulsion Field Laboratory, located in Autonetics was organized to ex-
presently has 8600 employes and ex- a 1600-acre section of the Santa Su- ploit advances achieved in the devel-
pects to add another 3000 in 1957. It sana Mountains north of Los Ange- opment of automatic navigation and
now has orders to supply rocket en- les, and an engine plant at Neosho, control devices required for missiles
gines for all but one of the large Mo. and piloted aircraft. One of its most
rocket-powered missiles now under The Santa Susana facility is
promising fields is that of inertial
development in the U.S. They include used to test very large rocket en- navigation for guided missiles. Al-
the Navaho, the Army
Ordnance gines, turbopumps and other com- though its work is still largely in the
Redstone, the Convair Atlas, Martin ponents for this purpose, more than
;
research and development stage,
Titan, and the Douglas Thor. The a dozen test stands capable of with- Kindelberger said, "it is hoped that
exception is the Army-Navy Jupiter standing enormous thrusts during several of the good products emerg-
project. firing runs have been installed. The ing now from development will bring
Recently described by NAA Neosho facility was originally sched- large production orders."
Board Chairman J. H. Kindelberger uled to be operated by Aerojet-Gen- North American has also devel-
as "one of the brightest spots in the eral Corp., but the USAF abruptly oped a number of important indus-
North American picture," Rocket- switched it to Rocketdyne. trial processes as a direct outgrowth

80 missiles and rockets

of theNavaho program. One of these
is the CHEM-MILL process, pat-
ented by NAA
and licensed through-
out the aircraft industry by Turco
Products, Inc., Los Angeles. It is an
etching process which cuts away un-
wanted material by chemical rather
than machining methods.
Development of this process
came about when an NAA research
unit found there was simply no other
means of forming a particular mis-
sile section. Its value lies in the fact
that it can carve many complex sin-
which
gle-piece sections out of metal
previously had to be assembled from
as many as 20 bits and pieces. Fur-
thermore, the new sections are light-
er from the assembled sections.

Navaho Test Flight

First Navaho test flight
from Patrick AFB is being
planned. North American engi-
neers and Air Force officials are
believed to have scheduled the
flight for late this year. Although
the ARDC missile range extends
5,000 miles into South Atlantic to
Ascension Island first flight is not
expected to cover this distance.
—
The huge missile first true in-
tercontinental U.S. guided weap-
—
on will use conventional turbo-
jet engines in addition to ram-
jets. Operational model is de-
signed as liquid rocket/ramjet
vehicle. Navaho is scheduled to
become U.S. Air Force's first
—
long-range missile until the At-
las and Titan ICBMs become
operational.

Despite North American's suc-

cess in converting the problems of
missile engineering into new and
profitable lines of activity, the real
significance of its Navaho effort is
the fact that this weapon will prob-
ably be the first full-fledged opera-
tional intercontinental missile to go
into the Air Force inventory.
Although the Northrop Snark
turbojet-powered intercontinental
missile could probably go into oper-
ational use any time the Air Force
desired, it is likely that the Air Force
will postpone procurement of such a
weapon until the Navaho is avail-
able. No less an official than Penta-
gon Missile Czar Eger V. Murphree
supports this view, noting that the
Navaho represents a bolder attack
on the state of its art than its
Northrop rival. *

December, 1956
 .

Artists' conception of how a satellite vehicle — manned or unmanned —

may use atomic power supply. Power unit may follow the satellite at
some distance for radioactive protection.

Power Sources for Space Flight

By Dr. S. Fred Singer
Professor, Physics Department
University of Maryland

NEXT power
rocket propulsion,
to elec- exist in the universe, our most con- cal, radioactive, nuclear and solar,
the most important
tric is venient source being the sun. Among the choice generally can be made in
ingredient of space flight whether un- these four methods, namely chemi- terms of the overall degree of com-
manned or manned. Guiding equip- plication of the satellite, the amounts
ment, computers, electronic circuits, of power required, the importance of
Table I
transmitters and receivers, all re- radiation hazard, and similar factors.
quire electric power; and human oc-
Energy Output of a Power Supply For example, one would not put a
cupation increases these require- Divided by its Weight nuclear power supply in a minimum
Power
ments markedly. Watt- Range satellite whose total requirements

No wonder then that in the de- hour/lb (Watts) are in the order of a few watts of
sign of space vehicles the provision Dry battery 14 < 10 electric power. Similarly, a chemical
Activated battery battery by itself could not econom-
of electricpower plays such an im- types 25 < 10
ically furnish power for a large space
portant role. There are two general Re-chargeable
nickel-cadmium vehicle.
methods for solving this problem: battery 12 < 10
one can either take the power along Fuel cell battery . 60 > 100
As in all space vehicle applica-

or, one can pick it up along the way. Radioactive battery 10* < 10 tions, the primary and most impor-
Nuclear reactor weight. Table ex-
Chemical batteries, radioactive and power supply tant criterion is I
. 5x10° > 100
nuclear power supplies belong to the (max) presses some typical energy-per-
Fusion power sup-
first category. weight factors.
ply 5xl0 10 > 100
In the second category we must (max) But energy output per pound is
make use which Solar battery .... infinite < 100
of energy sources not the only criterion. Depending on

82 missiles and rockets

the application the amount of power cells would be useful also for stand- the meteorological satellites carrying
which can be furnished instantane- by duty e.g. during maintenance or television cameras, and even for satel-
ously may be important. Here, for repairs of a nuclear power supply lites which explore the space between
example, the solar battery which is in a manned space vehicle. Storage the earth up to and beyond the moon.
best by the weight criterion makes cells furnish a convenient power An interesting method for sup-
a rather poor showing. The third cri- package to supply occasional peak plying power at a low level, 5 to 10
terion relates to the total amount of loads such as extremely high power watts, is a radioactive poiver source.
power needed in the vehicle. Differ- bursts for radio communication pur- In distinction to a nuclear reactor
ent power supplies require different poses;it is more economical to store this would be a passive source which
amounts of overhead, e.g. the initial energy in batteries than in condens- does not use fission, does not generate
weight investment for a nuclear or ers. any neutrons or additional radioactiv-
fusion power supply is very large so A very interesting type of ity. It simply uses the heat energy

that the supply becomes economical chemical re-chargeable battery is from a quantity of material which has
only if the power requirements are the so-called fuel cell which is being been made radioactive and whose ac-
fairly high. intensively studied in Great Britain. tivity is now decaying. There is a

At this stage we can discuss the Basically the fuel cell consists of a wide choice of radioactive materials.
container for hydrogen gas, another The important parameters are the
characteristics of the various power
for oxygen and the fuel cell itself half-life which must be long enough
sources; their optimum application
which converts the chemical energy to compare to the period of applica-
will then become fairly obvious.
of recombination directly into elec-
The Leclanche cell or
dry battery is not a very efficient de-
the usual trical form. The output therefore con-
sists of electrical energy and water.
A
vice but convenient. It is always It is perfectly possible then to circu-
ready for use, requires no prepara- late the water to a nuclear power
tion, evolves no gases, poses no radi- source which decomposes it again into
ation hazard and has a reasonably oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis
long shelf life. The same advantages and feeds it back into the oxygen and
also apply to the mercury cell with hydrogen tanks. In this way a large
the additional point that nuclear power installation could con-
its voltage
tinuously electrolyze water and re-
does not drop until near the end of
charge fuel cell batteries which could
its useful life. The initial Vanguard
then be used by space vehicles. Such
powered almost exclu-
vehicles will be
an application would be of importance
sively with mercury cells.
for example in interplanetary explor-
Other one-shot batteries, e.g. si- ations where small exploration ve-
lace-zinc cells are more but
efficient hicles would operate from a mother-
are best suited for short time appli- ship. The smaller vehicles might be
cations such as for guided missiles manned; therefore a nuclear power
and high altitude rocket nights. They supply and associated shielding would
require activation which can at pose a heavy weight penalty. In this
times be inconvenient; they evolve case the fuel cell would be a simpler
gases which are corrosive. Other- and more convenient solution of the
wise they are very similar to the dry problem.
batteries, except that their shelf-life
Solar Battery
is essentially infinite until they are
The solar battery is by this time
activated. After the electrolyte has
well established. It will certainly find
been added, their life becomes very
its use in small instrumented satel-
short, of the order of 1 or 2 days.
lites, possible not in the Vanguard
The re-chargeable batteries of series but certainly soon thereafter.
which the nickel-cadmium or silver- The battery works on the photovoltaic
cadmium are the most efficient, have principle with photons from the sun
no special advantage for space flight NUCLEAR
giving up their energy directly in a
vehicles unless we can supply an-
REACTOR
thin silicon wafer by moving an elec-
other power source e.g. solar power
POWER
tron against the built-in potential. SUPPLY
or nuclear power, which will re- Taking the solar energy input at the
charge the batteries. A typical ap- top of the atmosphere as 1400 watts
plication therefore would be in a per square meter and the measured
satellite the earth which
circling efficiencies of about 10% for the cells
spends about half of its time in the now available, one arrives at an elec-
earth's shadow. During that portion trical power output of about 100 watts
the batteries would supply the elec- per square yard of battery.
trical power and during the daylight It also happens that 100 watts is
portion the solar battery might re- adequate for the power requirement Nuclear reactor power supply sources need
only be shielded on the side facing instru-
charge the storage cells. The storage of the larger instrumented satellites, mentation or crew compartment.

December, 1956 83
tion of the power supply; the mean haust temperature in the vicinity of
energy of the decay, which should be the freezing point of water always SOLAR
as high as possible; and availability can be obtained provided one is will- BATTERY
since in many cases the overriding ing to build a large satellite and there-
consideration will be the cost. For this fore a large radiating surface. Its
reason authors always have consid- area in square yards is given approxi-
ered the waste products from nuclear mately by expressing the energy to
fission reactors. be radiated in kilowatts.
For example, L. Lawrence's As- Another special problem for a
Missiles & Rockets,
trosatellite (see nuclear reactor supply is the effect of
Issue No. 1) uses a strontium 90 radiations on structure of mate-
its
radioactive supply. Calculations
rials, electronic instrumentation and
show, however, that there are special
human beings. The structural effects
advantages in using gaseous radio-
can be designed for and have been by STORAGE
active fission products for satellite
BATTERY
power supplies. One of the most this time well studied. The effects of

promising is Krypton-85. It has a nuclear radiations on electronic com-

number of special advantages par- ponents can be quite severe, particu-
ticularly from the safety point of larly on transistors which depend for
view. Itis not stored by the human their operation on the presence of mi-
organism and can be dispersed easily nute traces of impurities. Changes in Simple diagram of solar battery principle.
by evaporation into the atmosphere. This system may be applicable to small, un-
the internal structure of these tran- instrumented satellites shortly.
sistors will upset their operation. For
Atomic Power For other applications shielding
Nuclear reactor power supplies
human beings the tolerance limits are
may be a preferable method for solv-
are bound to be of importance for any closely specified and must not be ex- hazard problem,
ing the radiation
application requiring more than 100 ceeded for long periods of time. The particularly no human beings are
if
to 1000 watts. The nuclear power sup- two general choices the designer has involved. In that case it would pay to
ply is practically without competition. are: (i) to make use of the inverse make the reactor as small as possible
As discussed before it can be aug- square law and put the nuclear power in order to cut down the weight of
mented with a chemical fuel cell. Bas- supply far away from the space ve- shielding material; the so-called
ically the nuclear reactor acts as a hicle instrumentation and occupants; "fast" reactors developed at Los Al-
heat source, approximately one bil- or (ii) to make use of shielding. amos would be particularly well suit-
lion B.T.U.'s are produced for every Obviously choice (i) is the more ed. Also the vehicle would be designed
ounce of uranium which is fissioned. efficient method and in the absence of so that the solid angle subtended by
This heat must be transferred to a large accelerations is to be preferred, the reactor to the rest of the vehicle is
working fluid which then can drive e.g.the reactor power supply on take- small in other words a long, thin con-
;

a heat engine. It is well known that off could be integral with the space struction would be preferred. This
the efficiency of a heat engine de- vehicle but would be shut off, all of would make possible the use of a small
pends on two temperatures, namely the power being furnished by bat- amount of shielding material, so-
the extremes of its temperature cycle. teries. On reaching orbit or whenever shadow shielding, covering only
called
The nuclear reactor itself can be run the propulsion system is off and the a fraction of the solid angle and there-
very hot, limited only by the strength acceleration becomes zero, the reactor fore weighing only a small amount.
of materials at high temperatures. would be removed to some safe dis- All of the power sources discuss-
However the achievement of a low tance from the space vehicle, with ed here are essentially in the proto-
exhaust temperature may be a prob- only a cable connecting the two. Then type stage or beyond, and should be
lem since there are no means of con- the reactor can be turned on by re- available when required. The futur-
ducting heat away from a space ve- mote control and electricity piped into istic power source, of course, is con-
hicle. Nearly all of the heat energy the space vehicle. Similiarly for land- trolled fusion. When
this problem is
must therefore be radiated away into ings the reactor would have to be shut solved, we have not only an elec-
will
space. A design study has been made off first before it is brought close to trical supply of great efficiency, but
by the author which shows that an ex- the vehicle. one which could make use also of the
hydrogen which exists everywhere in
RADIOACTIVE KRYPTON WORKING FLUID the universe. It will then no longer

POWER LEADS be necessary to carry uranium within

the space vehicle.
The abundant amount of electric
power which now can be furnished
by nuclear supplies and by large solar
supplies especially will be important
for electrical propulsion schemes such
TURBINE GENERATOR more ways than
as ionic propulsion. In
HEAT EXCHANGER one then, the electric power supply
Nuclear power source diagram. Radioactive Krypton is used as working
problem holds the key to interplanet-
fluid. Conventional
turbine and electrical generator are employed. ary flight. *

84 missiles and rockets

 World Astronautics
By Heyward E. Canney, Jr.

Dr. Ralph E. Lapp's new book Atoms and People

(largely on earthbound H-reactors) has brought forward ideas
significant to nuclear spaceship propulsion. Dr. Homi Bhabha,
an Indian physicist, he noted, predicts that a method will be
found for the controlled liberation of fusion energy within
the next 20 years. A hydrogen spaceship is far away indeed,
but considerable progress seems to have been made in the
basic energy problem. In fact, the contents of a recently pub-
lished Russian progress report on thermonuclear controlled-
power have so startled the AEC, that some pressure has been
generated to reduce the high secrecy on American thermonu-
clear work (such as Project Sherwood) which is suspected
widely to be hampering progress.

What may be the nearest thing yet to a real space

suit has been recently revealed by the B. F. Goodrich Rubber
Company. The wearer breathes 100 per cent oxygen at all
times, and has under it a special suit of underwear which pro-
vides him with ventilation. Bodily freedom is apparently good,
and protection is provided against low atmospheric pressures,
high acceleration, heat, cold, and sea water in the event of
ditching. This suit has been designed for the Navy, which
seems thus far to have been continually in the lead in the
design of such equipment.
•

Dr. Hubertus Strughold of the USAF School of Avia-

tion Medicine introduced a new term "the ocosphere" which
defines that zone in a planetary system within which life-
supporting elements occur. In the solar system the zone would
lie approximately between the orbits of Venus and Mars and
the critical chemical element in question would be oxygen.
He reiterated the long-held estimate that there are 100,000
planets in the Universe capable of sustaining life as we know
it.
•

The "paraballoon", an air-transportable inflatable

tactical radar station, developed by Westinghouse, is 30 feet
in diameter and weighs 1700 pounds. Air pressures ranging
up to 10 psi are used to maintain dimensional stability. Tech-
niques of this kind may well be adapted for future satellites
or other space vehicles where large light-weight curved sur-
faces are desirable. These include parabolic reflectors for
microwave radio relay and mirrors for large space telescopes.
•

Recent public concern over possible injury from re-

peated exposures to X-rays has prompted research on the sub-
ject. The clinical danger, with good practice, does not seem
to be serious, though the question does arise whether or not
X-rays from the sun might not prove to be a problem in space.

missiles and rockets

rocket engineering

Second
Vanguard
Automatic welding of Aerojet's new re-
generatively-cooled "spaghetti"-type VAN-
GUARD thrust chamber prior to its being
wire wrapped. Aluminum-alloy tubes are used
to form the walls of the chamber and also
serve as passages for the coolant liquid
(oxidizer). Unique design gives considerable
saving in overall weight compared to con-
ventional thrust chambers, with no sacrifice
in system performance. One of these cham-

bers has been test fired an aggregate of

eight minutes— considerably greater than the
specific operating duration the second-stage
propulsion system will be called upon to
deliver.

Members of Aerojet-General Corpora-

tion's top technical team on the design,
development, fabrication, and testing of the
second-stage propulsion system for the VAN-
GUARD Launching Vehicle get together
around a model of the VANGUARD to con-
sider one of the many difficult engineering
problems associated with this pioneering
scientific effort. From left to right are C. C.
Ross, Liquid Engine Division Manager; W. C.
House, Chief Engineer; E. R. Elko, Chief
Project Engineer, Missile Roclcet Projects;
and W. D. Stinnett, Vanguard Project En-
gineer.
Stage
Engine
Second-stage thrust-chamber assembly
undergoes static test firing at Aerojet's
Azusa Plant. Propellant combination used is
unsymmetrical dimethyt-hydrazine UDMH) (

as fuel and white fuming nitric acid (WF-

NA) as the oxidizer. This unit provides im-
pulse for the complete second stage (which
also houses the inertia! guidance system, the
third stage, and the satellite itself) to propel
it from burn-out of first-stage boost at 36
miles to orbital altitude of 300 miles. The
second-stage propulsion system includes in-
tegral propellant tankage, the helium-
pressurized direct feed system, the gimballed
thrust-chamber assembly, and related electro-
mechanical valve and control components.
Thrust is almost 10,000 pounds.

Representatives from the Department of

Defense, the Naval Research Laboratory, The
Glenn L. Martin Company (prime contrac-
tor), and Project Vanguard sub-contractors
inspect test facility designed and constructed
by Aerojet at its Azusa, California, plant for
static test firing of second-stage engine.
Successful full-scale static test firings have
been conducted for durations from 5 to 100
seconds. Engine is designed for 130 second
during period.

Newly-constructed test stand at Aero-

jet's Sacramento plant is shown in final
stages of completion. This structure has been
activated and is presently being used for
-Full-scale static test firings of the complete
second-stage system. Aerojet's Azusa and
Sacramento test facilities are both being
utilized for VANGUARD component and
system evaluation and are currently in full
operation.
 Propulsion Notes
By Alfred J. Zaehringer

Liquid ozone (LOZ) still hasn't been fired in a rocket

motor. Reason: only small amounts have been prepared and
LOZ stability is still critical. Armour and Linde have spent
several years of research on LOZ preparation and stability,
but even purest LOZ detonates. Although not having perform-
ance characteristics of LOZ, fluorine-type oxidants have bet-
ter chances of early test stand runs.

Look to the solid-fuel ramjet to compete with solid

propellants. Several companies are hard at work on this sys-
tem. One company has had the system under development
for over 8 years. University of Detroit's Missile & Rocket Sec-
tion is working on the thermochemistry of solid-fuel ramjet
propellants. Usual fuels: highly compressed aluminum or
magnesium metal powders. Reports are that air-fuel specific
impulses of around 200 lb-sec/lb have been achieved. Despite
long-term work, SF ramjets have "flown" only in tests stands
for limited time runs. Although SF ramjets with metallic
fuels give highly smoky exhausts, claims are that this is no
objection for surface-to-air missiles and would be a tracking
aid.

Another new entry in the solid-propellant field: Pro-

pellex Chemical Corp., prexied by Dr. R. A. Cooley who form-
erly headed Olin Mathieson solid-propellant operations at East
Alton, 111. New Group will locate in the St. Louis area and
will develop and manufacture solid propellants (including
double base), cartridge systems, and explosive devices.

Present trends in solid propellants are toward one

versatile propellant with both high and low-burning rate
possibilities and with performance of over 225 lb-sec/lb. Two
most widely used oxidants in composite propellants are smoke-
less ammonium perchlorate (near 225) and ammonium nitrate
(near 200), although Aerojet is still using smoky potassium
perchlorate (180-190) for many applications. Standard fuel-
binders are the polysulfide (Thiokol) and synthetic rubbers
(Grand Central, Phillips, and Standard Oil). Development
work now is being carried on with epoxy, polyester, polyure-
thane, and vinyl-type fuel-binders.

"Pusher" is the large booster rocket development by

Phillips Petroleum using same propellant combination used
in M15 RATO (see M/R Prop. Notes, Nov., 1956). The 2-ft.
diameter rocket has a total length of about 15-ft. Although
no data were given, the booster appears to have an impulse
rating of below the British RAVEN (about 350,000 lb-sec)
and well below the Soviet T-7A (ca i/k-million lb-sec).

December, 1956
 ; — —
rocket engineering

Problems and Promises of Free Radical Fuels

To bridge the vast energy gap by passing H= through an electric ground, but the weight of the perm-
between conventional chemical arc, has been a chemist's tool for anent magnets would be a handicap
fuels and the ideal nuclear rocket, years. It is the desire to utilize this to flight.
efforts are being made to develop a reaction to develop a "conventional" • Mixing with noble gases such
whole new concept of rocket propel- family of fuels that is new. as helium, argon, etc., to keep the
lants known as free radicals. For example, suppose that ord- highly reactive free radicals separ-
The goal is a relatively uncom- inary ethane, CsHe, has been broken ated. Problem is how away
to filter
plicated fuel with, say, 10-to-20 down through the prior application the suppressant gas when pure
times the per pound energy content of energy into ethyl free radicals free radicals are wanted for fuels.
of the best rocket propellants now a rather disorganized mixture of C-
Storage under extreme pres-
•
available. Another realistic target C, CH, H, C, etc. Upon ressociation
sures when standard gas laws no
is some means for high Mach num- into ethane, it will give off heat longer apply. Little is known about
ber vehicles at high altitudes— energy at the rate of 200 kilocalor- this phenomenon as yet. But weight
—
300,000 feet or more to "get some- ies per mole. This compares to 33
of the pressure vessels would again
thing for nothing" in the way of kilocalories per mole when ordinary be a likely disadvantage.
propulsive efficiency. Subsidiary, JP4 fuel is burned with nitric acid.
• Electro-static separation
but still important considerations The ethane reaction is one of the
similar to the magnetic phenomenon.
include: Reduction of the gross- least productive of the free radical
However, at voltages required cor-
launching-weight-to-payload ratio reactions. Others with much higher
ona discharge would probably be a
and the conservation of national re- heats of reaction are now being re-
problem. Again, so would the weight
sources. searched. A ressociation reaction,
of the necessary equipment.
for example, involving ethyl free
Dissociation Phenomenon radicals and oxygen raises the
The problem of designing and
A striking example of free radi-
temperature of exhaust gases to
lining combustion and exhaust cham-
cals in nature is the phenomenon of
over 12,000°F.
bers to cope with the temperatures
dissociation. The skin of a missile involved in free radical reactions.
flying at Mach 8 at 150,000 feet Storage Problem Possible solutions now being studied
should theoretically heat up to Preparation of free radicals is include the use of very dense ceram-
6,000°F. But it doesn't. In fact, North relatively simple. Apply enough ics and/or fluorinated plastics.
American Aviation's Chief Thermo- heat or electrical energy and they Though the latter do not remain solid
dynamicist, Maury Sulkin, says it bust apart. Storage, however, is at the temperatures involved, the
will zip smoothly, albeit warmly quite another thing. They are highly liquid film they form when they melt
along at an equilibrium tempera- —
unstable gregarious, as it were, to is chemically inert (whereas free
ture of only 1,000°F. the Nth degree. Keeping them sep- radicals are extremely active chemi-
There are two reasons. One is arated into their free radical state callyand has a very low heat transfer
that as the missile body heats up, the until they are used is one of the rate. In any case, these liners would
more heat fed into the skin; the main problems now being studied. certainly have to be replaced after
more heat radiates away. But more There are several avenues of pos- each flight.
importantly, air at this speed hit- sible solution. These include: If the tremendous air stagna-
ting and passing over the vehicle •Supercooling down towards tion heat flux at the nose of a hyper-
—
dissociates breaks down first into absolute zero. The Army, a pioneer sonic vehicle could be recovered and
atomic oxygen and nitrogen; then in the present work, has succeeded utilized to dissociate fuels in flight
into charged ions. in doing this in the laboratory. Dis- instead of melting the vehicle's
These are free radicals. The advantages of this method include nose cone, the range of any initial
tremendous energy required to the need for heavy cooling equip- fuel load could be immensely in-
break them loose from their normal ment (all right on the ground, but creased.
stable diatomic molecular state self-defeating inthe air), costly Similarly, at very high altitudes
serves to reduce the temperature of cryostat storage facilities and the (300,000 feet and up) the air is be-
the air passing over the skin. But ever-present danger of an unavoid- lieved to be 100% dissociated by the
once past the missile and out of its able catastrophic explosion should energy of ultraviolet radiation. And,
high energy gradient, these par- temperatures rise to the critical while it is very thin, properly de-
ticles bounce around, collide and re- point. signed intakes at high speeds could
form into molecules. When they do, • Magnetic suppression of the bring sufficient free radicals to ma-
all the energy that went into dis- free radical gas. A monatomic polar- terially assist the internally-carried
sociation originally is given back to ized magnetic field will prevent ro- fuel load. This sounds like getting
the air. tational excitement of the particles something for nothing. It isn't. It is
The free radical reaction itself and prevent ressociation. This sys- merely one possible way of utilizing
is not new. Atomic hydrogen, freed tem might be the answer on the the sun's radiated energy. *
94 missiles and rockets
 —
rocket engineering
assumes full control of the GAM-63 January. In all, the company now
Bell Sets Up Guided Missiles,
Rascal air-to-surface missile and leases six buildings in the Denver
Rockets Divisions other programs. —
area the most recent a 50,000 sq.
Separate guided missiles and The rockets division takes over ft. structure to be used as a ware-
rockets divisions were established all rocket propulsion design, testing house until the permanent plant is
lastmonth by Bell Aircraft Corp. in and manufacture. ready for occupancy.
a sweeping reorganization of its Two other components of the
Niagara Frontier operations. WS group are avionics and research. Douglas To Test Trior
former Niagara Frontier
Bell's The former will handle all of Bell's At Sacramento Plant
Division has been dissolved in electronic and servomechanical Component testing of Thor
favor of two major operating groups work. Latter will concentrate on ap- IRBM missile will be conducted by
— an aircraft division and weapons plied research and study contracts, Douglas Aircraft Co. at its new test
systems division. The new missiles will be in charge of nuclear engi- installation under construction on a
and rockets groups will be subdivi- neering. 1,750-acre plot leased from Aerojet-
sions of the latter organization.
Bell president Leston Faneuf
Martin On Schedule General Corp. at Sacramento, Calif.
Field station supervisor of new
said the new set-up has been under In Denver Move
The Martin Co. on November
plant will be J. F. Goodman and
study and planning for a year. It
initial employment
expected to
is
is designed to decentralize the 30 expected to start "on schedule"
reach 200. First complete Thor air-
company's diversified products busi- its move into a new engineering ad-
frame is now being built.
ness and strengthen product lines. ministration building near Denver
Vice presidents Julius J. Dom- site of its Titan ICBM airframe pro-
onkos and Roy J. Sandstrom will duction (M/R October, p. 55).
NAA Head Sees Bright
head the aircraft and weapons sys- Some 300 employes will trans- Future For Rocketdyne Div.
tems groups respectively. Each will fer to the permanent plant site dur- J.H. Kindelberger, board chair-
have full responsibility for sales, de- ing the first three weeks of this man of North American Aviation,
sign, production and procurement month. Inc., views the company's Rocket-

for its particular product lines. Martin schedule now calls for dyne Division as one of the brightest
In the weapons systems group, completion of its main factory spots in the North American picture.
the new guided missiles division building at the new location late in Addressing some 1,300 NAA
management club members recently
in Los Angeles, Kindelberger said
the Divisionhas orders to supply
engines for the larger rocket-
all
powered missiles being developed in
the U.S. He cited North American's
own Navaho, Army's Redstone, Con-
vair Atlas, Martin Titan and Doug-
las Thor.
He also noted that Rocketdyne
Division employment, now approxi-
mately 8,600, is about double that of
a year ago and probably will in-
crease another 3,000.
For the present, he added, NAA
is the only firm able to deliver
proven rocket engines of very high
power, but told supervisors the com-
pany is going to have to work hard
in the future to keep ahead of its
nearest competition.
Kindelberger indicated the hope
that the Navaho missile program
will move into a production phase
that would demand more of the area
and facilities of NAA's Los An-
geles Division.
Of another North American
missile activity, he classed inertial
navigation (guidance) development
and production as one of the most
favorable aspects of its Autonetics
Division activities.

96 missiles and rockets

Navigation in Interplanetary Space
October M/R
featured an outstanding article on NAVIGATION BY
SATELLITES, written by Lovell Lawrence of Chrysler Corporation. His
article was based on a paper "Astro —
an Artificial Celestial Navigation Sys-
tem," presented at a Franklin Institute symposium and published by the
Institute's JOURNAL, in Monograph 2. The response to Mr. Lawrence's
article has been so great that M/R decided to pursue this fascinating subject
further. The navigation aspect of astronautics has not been considered to
any great extent, and we are honored to publish this follow-up feature article,
written for M/R by Dr. Peter Castruccio of Westinghouse Corporation. He
is currently engaged in advanced planning of interplanetary astrionics com-
munications and navigation aids of the future.

By Dr. Peter Castruccio

DURING the first phase of the de- the aid of a clock —a method similar Navigational systems similar to
velopment of space flight, it is to that of the sea navigator when he the ones now employed for airships
likely that the navigational aids will takes a "fix." can be employed in space and, as far
be primarily optical, with only The problems of the space trav- as we know today, they should work
limited radio aids. In the second eler are, however, enormously more better because no distortion or de-
phase of ever-expanding space traf- complex than those of the seaman. flection of the rays will occur in
fic more automatic means will come First of all, with the exception of space. Also, the problem of "radar
into existence and we will witness the stars, all his points of reference horizon" caused by the Earth's cur-
the ever-increasing use of radio- move continuously. Therefore as vature will not arise. Space naviga-
navigation. To navigate success- soon as he has performed one ob- tion is more complicated than earth
fully, the ship's pilot must know: servation and is preparing for the navigation because while Earth-
1) His position with respect to next his frame of reference has based navigational aids are fixed
some frame of reference. moved. The space navigator then with respect to the Earth's frame of
2) His direction of travel with faces a dilemma if he makes quick
:
reference, space systems must of
respect to the same frame of refer- observations, his accuracy will suf- necessity move with respect to each
ence. fer; if he takes time and does a good other because of the constant mo-
job in observing, his frame of ref- tion of all planets and satellites.
3) His speed.
erence shifts too much. If he relies
4)The position of the body to- Different Systems
solely on optical measurements, he
wards which he is traveling. Nevertheless, such systems can
must consult complicated tables of
still be conceived in several forms:
5) The direction of travel of predicted planet positions, or he
the body. 1) Beams aimed between plan-
must use an electronic computer. At
ets (or satellites of interest), form-
6) The speed of travel of the best, his job will be a tedious and
ing polygons of variable legs, which
body. painstaking one.
legs always represent the shortest
7) Any predictable deviations While this laborious procedure distance between planets.
from a straight-line course of the issatisfactory for slow ships, it be-
body. 2) Very broad beams, or even
comes less and less desirable for
omnidirectional radiators, placed on
Of course, 4), 5), and 7)
6), faster ships. For example, a ship
if
the planet of destination.
must be related to the same frame were to leave Earth under a con-
of reference as 1), 2), and 3). stant "ig" acceleration, directed to 3) Space Loran or analogous
In space the position of all Mars at its closest distance, and
systems.
major celestial bodies is accurately halfway during the trip it were to In cases 1), and 2), the ship's
known or accurately predictable. reverse its direction and slow down pilot would tune his guidance equip-
Thus the principal problem of the at the same constant acceleration, ment onto the frequency of the
space navigator is to know his posi- the trip would take only 39 hours. source of destination and close the
tion, direction of travel and speed. Although the motor for such a ship ON switch; the automatic equip-
This can be done by observing the is far beyond our present possibili- ment would do the rest. It is con-
stars, the Sun or the Planets within ties, recent announcements, such as ceivable that tuning could be auto-
the Solar System by means of ac- Dr. Saenger's photonic rocket, fore- matically performed by merely
curate optical instruments and with shadow what may come. pressing a button corresponding to

98 missiles and rockets

the destination. Advantage could be place them in known orbits around locityNavigation) is that it can fur-
taken of the Doppler frequency the Sun, which makes the stations nish the space ship an instantane-
shift of the received signal to deter- essentially artificial planets. ous proportional fix, whereby the
mine the ship's speed. The accuracy A drawback of this second ship can know its position with re-
of the beamrider system would theo- method lies in the fact that the spect to any point of the Solar Sys-
ratically be very high. Loran stations (or beacons) being tem. In addition, RAVEN can fur-
With the beamrider system, an very light compared to the Planets, nish the ship its correct speed and
antenna of 30-foot diameter operat- may be seriously influenced by the direction of travel, by making use
various gravitational forces acting of the Doppler effect, i.e. by meas-
ing at a 3-centimeter wave length
could theoretically guide a ship
within the Solar system. In fact, uring the difference between the
from an Earth base to Mars at its some believe that they never could received frequency and the known
be placed in a completely stable and frequency of the beacon.
closest distance with an accuracy of
10,000 miles. This compares very fa-
permanent orbit. All this information can be de-
vorably with accuracies quoted for Any erraticmotion of great termined automatically by appro-
celestial navigation; however, it is
magnitude would of course spoil the priate instruments within the ship
probably unnecessarily high. advantages of this system. It would and presented to the pilot by a
Because of the rotary motion of thus appear that the best location guidance computer which would
all heavenly bodies, the beam would
for Space Loran beacons is on exist- calculate, from the information re-
have to be rotated in synchronism ing celestial bodies whose courses ceived, the quantities of interest to
with its home planet or, in the case are accurately known and predicta- navigation.
ble. Even knowing their exact mo-
of an omnidirectional radiator, sev- The difference between the first
tion, however, does not completely
eral would have to be installed on two systems and RAVEN is that
the surface of a planet to avoid cast- solve the problem. They have
still
while 1) and 2) furnish direct guid-
ing a shadow when the beacon is the great disadvantage, with re-
spect to the Earth-based Loran sys-
ance to the destination, RAVEN fur-
turned away from the ship. nishes only a fix, the pilot must then
tem, of moving continuously. This
The third navigational system calculate and set his own course.
drawback can be combatted, how-
is an extension of the
basically
ever, by carrying a computer in the
Loran system in three dimensions. Technical Problems
ship which would take their motion
Surface Loran uses three ground
into account and correct for it. Spe- The largest single problem of
stations — operates basically by
it
cial signals could be emitted by the space navigation is range. Many of
measuring the distance from the
stations at periodic intervals to syn- our Earthly communications sys-
three fixed stations from the air-
chronize the computer, i. e., to cor- tems are omnidirectional the trans-
craft. If we have three fixed points
rect automatically any errors the mitting antenna sends forth energy
in a plane and if we know the dis-
tance of an unknown point to each
computer may have accumulated in all directions, and the receiving
since the preceding signal antenna can receive in all direc-
of these three points, we can draw
The advantage of the Space- tions. This is the typical case for
three circles, centered on the three
Loran (RAVEN: Ranging and Ve- radio or TV, and also for LORAN.
fixed points, with their radii equal
to the measured three distances.
The point of intersection of these
three circles gives the position of
the unknown point. In space we
have three dimensions to contend
with instead of two, so we need one
more fixed point, making a total of
4 stations.
In the case of Loran, all the
computations a r e, of course, per-
formed automatically within the
aircraft. The same would apply to
Space Loran. The difficulty with
Space Loran, which we do not find
in Earthly Loran, is that the sta-
tions must move themselves to pre-
vent their falling on some planet or
on the Sun, and to keep them in reg-
ular orbits.
Their motion must be accu-
rately known, otherwise the entire
system becomes useless. To do this
one possibility is to install them on
planets, satellites, or on artificial
satellites (space stations) circling
Radio beams between planets will let pilots relax as automatic equipment guides them along
the planets. Another solution is to shortest route.

December, 1956 99
 :

It is safe to state that such a sys-

tem would not be operative in space
(except for relatively short dis-
tances) with the presently available
techniques. The range for voice
communication, for instance, with
the best equipment available today
and with practical size antennas
aboard ship, would be about 16 mil-
lion miles. This is obviously inade-
quate in view of the fact that the
shortest distance to Mars is 36 mil-
lion miles.

RAVEN can be
The range for
calculated (with omnidirectional-
transmission and reception) at
about the same figure. To achieve
greater ranges, several means are
available —
some of these can be
used today, others require further
development effort but will presum-
ably be operational by 1970. These
are
1) Beaming of the transmitted Broad beams and omnidirectional radiators show how proven air navigation methods may
energy. be adapted to space travel.
2) Beaming of the received
signal. beaming will allow much greater this procedure for each new beam
3) Increasing transmitted ranges than the 16 million miles position. It is obvious that in doing
powers. quoted above. Even a relatively this we lose time.
4) Improve the sensitivity of broad beam, such as 30°, will If now we compare the beam
the receivers. increase the range from 16 to 160 system with the time spread system
5) Improve the information million miles. in respect to the time required to
content of the signal and the means Anothertechnique which is contact a receiver of unknown posi-
to extract the signal from the back- still imperfectly developed but tion we find that the time spread
ground noise. which may well be useable to its full system, operating at full efficiency,
6) Reduce the quantity of in- advantage by 1975 is that of integra- will require less time. Conversely,
formation per unit time, i.e. tion. This technique reduces the for the same lost time, the time
"spread" the messages out in time quantity of information transmitted spread system will reach out further
and develop equipment capable of by spreading out the message in in range.
taking full advantage of such a time. It can be computed that with
technique. perfect integration, the range in-
We can thus conclude that
beaming has an advantage over a
While 1, 2 are immediately ap- creases as the square root of the
perfect time spread system only if
plicable today, 3 to 6 require fur- message spread in time.
ther development. Beaming, while it we know the position or the general
increases the range because it con- Time Spread System area of the receiver to be contacted,
centrates the energy, has its draw- It is interesting to compare the so that our scanning time may be
backs in that the beam must be beaming system with the time spread rather limited.
aimed between the transmitter and system. It is obvious that the beam- It is worth mentioning that the
receiver. Beaming requires a knowl- ing system concentrates the energy Solar system is very nearly flat and
edge of the position of the ship from in one direction, with a correspond- the orbits of the planets all lie ap-
the base, and vice-versa. ing loss for all other directions; the proximately in a plane. Space navi-
While beaming is obviously range thus increases in the beam's gation within the Solar system may
necessary for the first navigational direction, but drops in all other di- well be confined within this plane,
method proposed (beamrider) it rections. If we are transmitting, and unless other noteworthy objects be
would not be applicable to the sec- we do not know the position of the discovered in other regions of space
ond system nor to RAVEN. With ex- receiverwe wish to contact, we must which, in the light of our present
isting techniques, the range achiev- move our beam until contact is made. knowledge, appears unlikely. Thus,
able with a fully omnidirectional In so doing, we must: transmit in all navigation and communication
system is about 16 million miles. It a certain direction, wait a sufficient- radiation patterns need be omnidi-
is probably not too far-fetched to ly long time for the message to reach rectional only in azimuth, and con-
predict that by 1975 or so this figure the receiver, wait for the receiver fined to a relatively narrow eleva-
can be increased by at least one to pick up the message, then wait tion sector. This arrangement would
order of magnitude. for the message to be re-transmit- further increase the ranges of all
Even with today's techniques, ted and to reach us. We must repeat our communications systems.

December, 1956 !0I

South Africa Prepares
for Satellite Tracking

Bv F. C. Durant III

When the U.S. launches its first time around.

earth satellites from Florida dur- The South African Interplane-
ing the International Geophysical tary Society (SAIS) was founded
Year they will head southeast ap- less than four years ago by a pair
proximately along a 40° path. In of engineers of Johannesburg, A.
South African Interplanetary Society con-
South Africa, eyes will be trained W. Andersen and Perry Carlson. ducts exhibits to arouse public interest in
northwest, waiting for them. No The first president was A. E. H. forthcoming ISY satellites.

one at the southern extremity of Bleksley, professor of applied math-

Africa waits with more anticipa- ematics, University of the Wit- tion was held at the "Spring" Fes-
tion than members of the young watersrand. Professor Bleksley set tival Show of the Witwatersrand
but growing South African Inter- forth the functions of the SAIS at Agriculture Society. The SAIS has
planetary Society. the inaugural public meeting in been a member of the Interna-
The Union of South Africa May, 1953. He said the functions tional Astronautical Federation
will probably be the first land mass
—
are two-fold "To perform an edu- since 1953.
of any size to view the U.S. artifi- cational function and to undertake The SAIS membership has just
cial satellites. Their trace will research." The first function in- passed the 100 mark. But, the So-
carry them too far to the north to volves public lectures and publicity ciety has demonstrated that it is
be seen from South America on of a conservative nature. Member- foverned by Directors who appre-
the first pass. In all probability the ship qualification of the Society is ciate the fine distinction between
satellites will be launched at night simply to have a serious interest in fantasy and actual achievement.
to aid official U.S. tracking stations astronautics. Technical or profes- This conservative position on the
strung out into the Carribean. sional qualifications are required often controversial subject of as-
These early tracking data will be of Fellow members. Research by tronautics has won for the young
vital in determining the ultimate the SAIS has been largely aca- Society local recognition by mem-
path of the satellite. Of prime im- demic. A Technical Advisory Com- bership in the Johannesburg Coun-
portance will be the direction and mittee coordinates such study and cil for Adult Education and the
velocity at burnout of the third performs an advisory function on South African Association for Ad-
stage of the Vanguard satellite the various programs. vancement of Science.
launching vehicle. The SAIS maintains a library The Union of South Africa is

Less than a half hour later the at Johannesburg and publishes a not one of the handful of nations
satellite will have passed over or quarterly Journal containing orig- active in rocket and guided mis-
near the tip of South Africa and inal articles, pertinent news of sile development. And yet, the av-
will be on its way around the world the Society, its activities and items erage man, whether he be a pro-
to pass over the United States of significance to astronautics. The fessional or simply intelligent, has
about on hour later. If the launch- Journal is interesting and has car- a strong interest in the develop-
ing at Cocoa, Florida, were at 10 ried a series of excellent articles ment of astronautics. This common
p.m., the satellite would pass near entitled "Rocket Propulsion" and interest around the world has led
South Africa after 4 a.m. because "Space Flight" by the first SAIS to the formation of astronautical
of the six hour difference in time Technical Director, Dr. J. Venter. societies as foci of discussion and
zones. Assuming that the time of The Society has a close relation- study of the subject, as well as fel-
launching will be in late evening ship with the Astronomical Society lowship with like-minded individ-
and the early morning skies over of South Africa and cooperated uals. The South African Interplane-
South Africa are clear and bright with them at an exhibition in Jo- tary Society is one of these. Their
there is a good chance that the hannesburg last year. A few activity has been exemplary and
satellites will be spotted on the months ago a much larger exhibi- future growth seems assured. *
102 missiles and rockets
 Astrionks
By Henry P. Steier

Big "missing link" in information made public on

the scientific part of the Vanguard program is the computa-
tion facility. A news conference, presumably on the com-
putation part of the program, was scheduled for Oct. 31 by
International Business Machines Corp. but suddenly called
off. Rumor has it that interservice rivalry is delaying
credit-giving to Army and hence to IBM. Indications are
that IBM is supplying computer equipment gratis. Even so,
Army feels its big part in operating the communication
link with the computer is not getting attention it deserves.
So, Pentagon clamp-down persists while "security" prob-
lems are untangled.
The commonplace dry-cell battery still appears as
best hope in the near future for powering small satellite
communication links. Jorgen Jensen, Martin Aircraft Co.
engineer, recently compared various power supplies and
the dry cell came out on top. Dry cells deliver 50 watt hours
per pound. Motor generator, chemically powered, delivers
same power per pound of fuel but not including weight of
machinery. Solar batteries deliver that power per pound
but need a complex and heavy control system. Thermo-
couples also require controls and weight might be a few
pounds per watt. Atomic power plants impose severe shield-
ing weight problem because many astrionics components
are sensitive to radiation.

Sensitivity of semi-conductors to nuclear radiation

needs research. Big gap in information on the subject was
indicated at recent IRE meeting on Electron Devices in
Washington, D. C. Anyone with information on the subject
was asked to leave name and address in a ballot-type box.
Pentagon wants to arrange a symposium on the subject
at an early date.

Infra-red know-how in firms doing missile guidance

work might come in handy in other fields. Aerojet General,
Eastman Kodak and Nevada Air Products are interested in
applying missile infra-red detection and ranging techniques
to civil proximity warning devices for reducing mid-air air-
craft collision hazards.

Philadelphia manufacturers have made a generous

offer to theIRE Professional Group on Telemetry and Re-
mote Control. They are offering five prizes of $250 each for
best technical papers to be presented at the National
Symposium on Telemetering scheduled for Philadelphia,
Penna. on April 15-17, 1957.
Although not among the inboard experiments to
first
be made with the Vanguard satellites,the question of
whether changes in the earth's field during magnetic
storms are due to ionospheric currents or to an extra-ter-
restrial ring current must be resolved. Information is
needed for more accurate prediction of magnetic storms
that wreck communication. Problem will be weight of the
magnetometer. Varian Associates has flown their proton
precession magnetometer in rockets. A light-weight version
of it stands a good chance of being tried in a satellite.

December, 1956
 International News
By Anthony Vandyk
One way to start an argument in Canada is to mention
the Velvet Glove. The Canadian government's official line on the
air-to-air missile project is that it enabled the nation to stockpile
know-how in the guided weapons field. Critics say that the Vel-
vet Glove should have been named the White Elephant because
the missile was adopted by the Royal Canadian Air Force despite
the expenditure of $24 million on it since 1950. Nonetheless, the
government insists that the money was well spent. R. O. Camp-
ney, Canadian Defense Minister, has declared that the Velvet
Glove project paved the way for the nation's industry to manu-
facture a more advanced type of guided weapon, the American-
designed Sparrow.
•

Visitors to Britain's rocket and missile range at Aberporth,

Wales, recently got an unexpected demonstration of the jettison
procedure followed when an air-to-air missile failed to fire. After
it had launched its first Fairey Fireflash, a Hawker Hunter could
not fire the second. Observers noted a flash as the explosive bolt
was detonated and the missile then twisted away from the
fighter. The Hunter then performed a series of rolls in quick
succession to be certain that the Fireflash had in fact been
jettisoned.
•

Plans for the reorganization of Britain's missile program

now are almost complete. The FINANCIAL TIMES says that
efforts will be concentrated on the development and rapid pro-
duction of six projects: a medium-range bombardment missile;
an intercontinental bombardment missile (using rocket motors
of over 100,000 lbs. thrust) a ship-to-surface missile; a ship-to-
;

air missile; a surface-to-air missile; and an advanced air-to-air

missile.
•

France's prime supplier of rocket motors is Societe d'Etude

pour la Propulsion par Reaction, usually known as SEPR. The
French Aircraft Industries Association has disclosed that SEPR
rockets are to be used in the Dassault Mirage and the Sud-Est
Durandal lightweight fighters as well as in the Sud-Ouest Tri-
dent. The first French aircraft using rocket power, the Sud-Ouest
Espadon, was equipped with a SEPR unit and jettisonable rocket
fuel tanks.
•
E. G. D. Andrews, Chief Designer of Armstrong Siddeley
Motors' Rocket Division, pointed out recently that none of the
components of a rocket engine use up much energy except the
combustion chamber. For example, he said, the turbine which
drives the fuel pumps takes only about three per cent of the total
energy, whereas the compressor of a gas turbine takes about 60
per cent. So, while the overall efficiency of a gas turbine is greatly
affected by the efficiency of its components, the combustion
chamber is virtually the key to the efficiency of the rocket engine.
As long as the remaining components reach a satisfactory stand-
ard of reliability their individual performances do not greatly
affect the overall performance of the engine.

missiles and rockets

 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT By Joseph S. Murphy

HHi . ^l:!!IIUII!!lllllllllll!illllllllllllllll!llll!l!!illll!llllllllll!lllllll{IIIIIIIIU^

INDUSTRY CHALLENGE:

Case For Reliable Missile Batteries

Exide Industrial Division of neering and production know-how pointed to expedite availability of
The Electric Storage Battery Co., in the ordnance field, to come up new missile batteries from concept
producer of the battery for the first with advanced missffe batteries. to delivery.
wakeless torpedo, has streamlined This year Exide created a Mis- And because of the trend
its development and manufacturing sile Applications Div. under RAdm. toward use of batteries with alka-
facilities to meet stepped-up guided W. H. Ashford (USN-Ret.) to spear- line electrolyte in current missiles,
missile battery demands. head its missile program. It col- Exide has organized an alkaline di-
The company has set up within laborates with Exide's engineering vision within engineering for pre-
its ownorganization a team of spe- group to pick appropriate electro- liminary design, development and
cialists devoted full time to the mis- chemical battery systems for spe- testing of prototypes. Fundamental
siles program. Task of this group is cific missiles. information for the final design of
to take advantage of basic research A coordinator of missiles appli- a missile battery system comes to
findings, combine them with engi- cations engineering has been ap- design engineers from this group.
Another new Exide unit is the
Some Typical Discharge Rates of Storage Batteries Silver Battery Division within its

in Missile Applications manufacturing department.

A recognition of the reliability
and versatility limitations of me-
chanical energy sources is shifting
missile engineers more and more to
reliance on the battery industry to
develop power units specifically de-
signed for their intricate applica-
most adequately ful-
tions. Batteries
fill these requisites of missile power
sources:
• Maximum reliability.

• Maximum energy output per

unit of weight and volume.
• Precise voltage regulation.

Intercontinental Missile — 60 Minutes Air-to-water — 15 Minutes

• Efficient operation over a

Air-to-Air — 90 Seconds Ground-to-Air — 3 Minutes Underwater — JO Minutes

106 missiles and rockets

 : —
wide temperature range.
• Long shelf life.
• Minimum activation time.
• Maximum mechanical stabil-
ity against vibration, impact and
other hazards.
• Minimum maintenance.
A choice of electrodes for either
primary or secondary battery sys-
tems is available. Exide designs, for
example, include missile batteries
with silver-oxide and nickel-oxide
positive plates in combination with
zinc or cadmium negatives. These
supplement its lead-acid battery
systems, including the newer cal-
cium and long-life Silvium alloy
batteries.
Of the electrode systems now
and nic-
available, silver-oxide-zinc
kel-oxide-cadmium batteries are re-
ceiving most attention for missile
application but in certain instances
;

other types might be desirable.

Several practical missile bat-
tery systems are available, and
Exide has been active in the devel-
opment of the most important types
which appear to have missile appli-
cability. Pertinent features of such
systems are
PRIMARY SYSTEM (One-Shot Ap-
plication)
Silver-Zinc —High specific ca-
pacity.Extremely low impedance.
Operating temperature from 32 to
160 degrees Fahrenheit. Heaters
often supplied for operation at be-
low-freezing temperatures. Excel-
lent storage (up to two years).
Water- Activated Batteries
Have a definite place in certain mis-
sile applications, but subject to cer-
tain limitations.
Mercury Dry Cell —Better than
common dry cell on storage. Low
impedance and operation at low
temperatures.
Common Dry Cell (Le Clanch6)
— Convenient, reliable and economi-
cal in price. Excellent for high-volt-
age sources. Maximum safe storage
about one year. High impedance
causes high specific weight at mis-
sile rates. Operates poorly at low
temperatures.

SECONDARY SYSTEMS (Re-

chargeable)
Silver - Zinc —
Lightest weight
system. Operating temperatures
from 32° to 180°F. Non-spill capacity
considerably reduced at tempera-
tures below freezing. Maintenance

missiles and rockets

rather difficult. No ready way to of construction. Active parts of the
check state of charge. Subject to pre- cell are stored dry, with electrolyte
mature failure from maintenance held in a separate compartment, re-
abuse. Life is short compared with quiring little or no attention.
some other secondary systems. The system is completely inert
until the time of discharge, when a
Lead-Acid — Standard for com- rapid-action mechanism fills the
parison of other systems. Compar- cells from the electrolyte reservoir.
atively low in cost. Has application Pre-flight testing to insure bat-
for preliminary or check testing tery operation, a routine procedure
when space and weight are of less with secondary systems, is unneces-
importance than economic factors. sary with primary batteries. Their
Capacity can be determined by volt- high quality makes it possible to
age or specific gravity. Works at predict their reliability. This qual-
temperatures up to boiling. Can be ity can be assured by proper manu-
made non-spilling. Heavy. Capacity facture and control procedures.
is lowered at sub-zero temperatures. A silver-zinc secondary battery
has an obvious role in the early
Nickel-Cadmium Long life. — phases of a missile evaluation pro-
gram, but in the final stages, a pri-
Work at temperatures up to boiling
mary system is to be preferred. The
(212°F), Gives better performance
reliability of a secondary battery
than other types of couples at sub-
can be demonstrated by preliminary
zero temperatures. Exceptionally
discharge. It can be used for pre-
unaffected by maintenance abuse.
flight testing of the missile control.
Heavier than lead-acid missile bat-
It is at no disadvantage with regard
teries. Non-spill. Requires mainte-
to weight.
nance. No ready way to check state
of charge.
Silver-Zinc System

Generally, the silver-zinc elec-

Primary Secondary
vs.
—
trode battery either p r i m
a r y or
The missile engineer must make secondary — superior to others in
is
a basic decision on whether to em- missile applications, because of
ploy a primary (one-shot) or a sec- weight, volume and electrical be-
ondary (rechargeable) battery sys- havior.
tem. Like any other battery, the sil-
Primary systems have the ad- ver-zinc system is composed of posi-
vantage of completely reserve-type tive and negative plates, separators

missiles and rockets

and electrolyte, assembled i n a suit-
able container which is shaped to fit
the particular missile.
The active material of the posi-
tive plate is an oxide of silver. There
are two states of silver-oxidation,
silver oxide and silver peroxide. Cer-
tain operational restrictions make it

desirable to use oxide the

silver —
lower state of oxidation in secon- —
dary battery systems.
The same
restrictions do not
apply to primary systems, making it
possible to use silver peroxide for
them. Thus, the silver content of a
primary battery can be about one-
half that of a comparable secondary
battery.
Zinc sponge in plate form is
used as the negative active material
in both primary and secondary
silver-zinc batteries.
The active materials must be
distributed and placed within the
battery to give maximum plate area
and minimum electrical impedance.
The physical condition of the silver
oxide and zinc affects battery per-
formance. Thus, design, condition
of materials and assembly are criti-
cal in the manufacture of a silver-
zinc battery.
Potassium hydroxide in water,
is used as the electrolyte. Higher-
strength electrolyte has advantages
in battery operation, but at lowest
temperatures, lower-strength elect-
rolyte is used. A concentration of
30 per cent potassium hydroxide in
water has a freezing point of about
—65°F.
The alkaline electrolyte of a
change dur-
silver-zinc cell does not
ing the operational cycle. This pre-
cludes the use of a hydrometer, as
in lead-acid cells, to determine state
of charge.

Typical Missile Battery

A typical silver-zinc primary
missile battery of proven design is
shown in the accompanying photo-
graph. It consists of much more
than the cell itself. The battery
cells,completely dry and electrically
inactive, are surrounded by a heat-
ing blanket with thermostat.
The electrolyte for the battery
is held in a bag container, separate

from the battery cells but within

the metal container. Space is pro-
vided for a heater and thermostat
to heat the electrolyte and hold it
at operating temperatures.
A closed pipe connects the
December, 1956
 — — — —— —
Specific Weights and Volumes of Missile Batteries 1

Watt Hours Watt Hours Operating

Per Pound Per Cubic Inch Voltage

PRIMARY SYSTEMS
30 1.50 1.35
3
Water-Activated .... 28 1.60 1.10
rr
Mercury Dry-Cell .... i 0. i\) l.UU
A
*± U.o 1
d on

SECONDARY SYSTEMS
30.0 1.75 1.35
Lead-Acid 12.0 1.20 1.75
Nickel-Cadmium .... 8.3 1.75 1.35

1
Based on efficiently-designed, complete bi teries, with auxiliaries, at missile discharge
rates.
- Activation system Included. 3 Activation system not Included.

electrolyte container with the bat- major types of missiles. They have
tery cells. It has a valve or ruptur- been used successfully to provide
able diaphragm with an opening or intelligence power for interconti-
breaking mechanism. A pressure nental ballistic and ground-to-air
differential is maintained between missiles; intelligence and control
the electrolyte bag and battery cells. power for and
air-to-air missiles;
When power is required, activ- control, intelligence and main pro-
ating devices operate to release the pulsion power for air-to-water and
electrolyte into the cells. The normal under-water missiles. *
activating impulse is an electrical
current of about one ampere for 10 Terrier to Get
to 20 milliseconds. This power is
New Launchers
used to fire one or more squibs,
which power the activating devices. Navy has awarded a $23 mil-

For some applications, a me- lion contract to Northern Ordnance,

—
chanical activating impulse system Inc.
sile
of Minneapolis to produce mis-
launchers for a new type frigate
is used. For this requirement, in-
to carry the Convair Terrier.
ternal linkages can inaugurate the
flow of electrolyte, or a percussion
pinion can be used. New AF Heavy Press
In normal practice, the elec- Engaged in Missile Work
trical load is connected to the bat- West coast's first USAF heavy
tery, so that filling of the battery press to become operational — an
constitutes the closing of the power Loewy extruder at Harvey
8,000-ton
circuit. The load can consist of elec- Aluminum Co.'s Torrance, Calif,
tronic gear for filament power and
inverter input for plate supply cur-
—
plant is now producing heavy
structural parts of the B-52 and
rent, actuating devices for flight other advanced aircraft and missiles.
control, detonating devices and mis- New press measures 288 ft.
silemotivating power. long and weighs 3 million pounds.
A typical set of short-run oper- A 12,000-ton extruder is being as-
ating conditions for which such a sembled at the Harvey installation.
battery might be designed are:
Current Pulsing 12.5 to -45 amperes Air Associates Subsidiary
Voltage 28 maximum to 26 mini-
mum,
regardless of pulsation
Opens New Laboratory
Time of Discharge 120 seconds A new research laboratory for
Time to reach operating voltage after advanced electronic development is
activating impulse less than one being established by Electronic
second under load Communications, Inc., subsidiary of
Environmental specifications M1L- Air Associates, Inc. in temporary
E-5272A facilities at St. Paul St. and Uni-
Storage Life Up to two years versity Pkwy., Baltimore.
Reliability 999 per cent, plus A permanent research facility
Silver-zinc primary systems are situated in north Baltimore is ex-
adaptable to applications in all pected to be completed next spring.

missiles and rockets

 —
lion, highest in its peacetime his- at Los Angeles County and local
General Dynamics Nets
tory. President and chairman John municipal governments for assess-
$21 Million Jay Hopkins forecast that 1956 sales ment of personal property taxes
General Dynamics Corp., in- are expected to approximate $1 bil- against materials used in complet-
cluding its Convair Division which lion and that those in 1957 will ex- ing defense contracts.
builds the Terrier and Atlas Mis- ceed that figure substantially. General Dynamics Corp. seeks
siles, netted $21,076,298 for the first return of $89,558 from the county
nine months of 1956, up 53.2% over Tax Suits Go On Trial, and $28,763 from the city of Pomona
the same period last year. Then Recess Until January for the 1953-54 tax period. Aerojet's
G-D sales were $691,009,401, Two test suits involving General suit asked $120,561 from the county
higher than the $687,274,182 for the Dynamics Corp. and Aerojet-General and $32,000 from the city of Azusa.
full year 1955. Profit before taxes Corp.'s defense activities came to Basic point of issue is the tax-
was $39,139,700 compared to $28,- trial in Los Angeles last month and able status of work in process.
779,390 a year ago. were promptly recessed until Jan- Firms contend such materials ac-
Corporation's backlog on Sep- uary 16. tually belonged to the government

tember 30 stood at about $1.8 bil- Both court actions are directed and were not subject to local tax.
Los Angeles county assessor claims
that the materials assessed had not
been paid for by the government,
hence technically were the personal
property of the companies.
Decision to take the claims to
court was government sponsored
and the two firms were chosen be-
cause together they hold virtually
every type of defense contract let
by the government. However, re-
gardless of final decision of Los An-
geles superior court, appeal is con-
sidered almost a certainty.
Significance of the test case is

evident in the tax sums at stake

some $15,000,000 in personal prop-
erty taxes in Los Angeles County
alone hinge on the outcome.
Temporary recess was ordered
to obtain additional information
about the assessed property.

Armco To Expand
Stainless Output
Armco Steel Corp. has asked
Office of Defense Mobilization for a
certificate of necessity covering
planned $55-million expansion, in-
cluding rolling and processing fa-
cilities for 17-7PH stainless steel.
Armco president R. L. Gray said
17-7PH is in demand by aircraft and
missile manufacturers for wings and
control surfaces to combat high tem-
peratures generated at supersonic
and hypersonic speeds.

Titanium Firm Buys

New Plant
Titanium Metals Corp. of Amer-
ica has purchased the Ohio River
Steel Div. plant of The Louis Berk-
man Co. and will convert it into an
exclusive specialized facility for
rollingand forging titanium. Plant
issituated at Toronto, O., 60 miles
west of Pittsburgh.

114 missiles and rockets

NAA Revamps
Autonetics Div.
North American Aviation, Inc.
has set up a new reliability and
standards department and estab-
lished engineering activity in five
other areas as full-fledged depart-
ments of its Autonetics Division.
On the list were guidance,
flight control, armament control,
and special products. De-
flight test
partment managers are: E. A.
—
Holmes III reliability and stan-
dards; S. Y. Eyestone guidance; —
Williams—flight control J.
D. L. ; C.
—
Elms armament control D. ; B.
Wright— flight test and G. D. Shere
—processing.
C-W Building New Plant
For Missile Subsidiary
A 100,000 sq. ft. facility for mis-
sile development and manufacture
by Aerophysics Development Corp.
is one of three new plants being ac-
tivated by Curtiss-Wright Corp.
The ADC addition represents
new building construction. Other
plants being activated were leased
from Studebaker-Packard at Utica,
Mich, and South Bend, Ind. and
provide more than 1-million sq. ft.
each.

Raytheon Gets $35 Million

Army Electronics Contract
Eaytheon Manufacturing Co.,
Waltham, Mass. has been awarded
contracts by Army totaling about
$35 million for further development
and production of electronic mili-
tary equipment.
The new award presumably in-
volves production of the Hawk sur-
face-to-air missile, although exact
terms of the contract were not dis-
closed. Army indicated $6 million is
to be used for plant preparation and
tooling.
Last month Raytheon received
a $60-million Navy contract to pro-
duce Sparrow HI air-to-air missiles
(M/R November, p. 104).

Olin Mathieson 9-Month

Net At $14.2 Million
Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp.
reports net earnings of $14,299,715
on sales of $155,491,766 for its third-
quarter ending September 30. This
compares with a net of $12,514,568
on sales of $138,340,735 for the same
period last year.

December, 1956
Nacimco — New Missile
Instrument Firm
A team of four ex-Convair en-
gineers have joined with C. L.
Rubesh, owner and operator of Na-
tional City Machine Co., to organize
Nacimco Products, a new aircraft
firm in San Diego.
Principal fields of interest will
be ground and airborne technical in-
strumentation systems for aircraft
and missiles; research on special-
ized engineering, and precision
parts and tooling for aircraft manu-
facturers.
Convair engineers associated
with the venture are R. C. Green-
baum, former senior electronics en-
gineer, as chief engineer; W. D.
Howell, former Convair senior buy-
er, as general manager; J. E. El-
liot, a Convair flight test engineer,

as design engineer; and, J. L. Shum-

way, ex-Convair flight test engineer,
as research physicist.

Facilities Picked
For Atlas Testing
Convair has designated four
separate to be used for
facilities
testing its Air Force Atlas intercon-
tinental ballistic missile when trials
begin sometime within the next 18
months.
Two sites are Convair facilities
in San Diego —
one for testing mis-
sile components situated near Point
Loma, and another in Sycamore
Canyon for engine tests without fir-
ing complete missiles.
Also, at Edwards AFB, engine
runs will be conducted and missile
systems operated, without launching
a vehicle. Convair will have a staff
of 500 at this location.
Actual test firings will take
place at Patrick AFB, Fla. where
it willexpand its staff to about 450.
Inall, Convair will employ 1,000

in the test program alone and an-

other 7,000 in production at its $40-
million Astronautics plant being
built in San Diego.

Motorola Gets New

Transistor Contract
Army Signal Corps Supply
Agency has awarded a $1 million
contract to Motorola, Inc. for tran-
sistor development.
Project will be undertaken by
company's Phoenix, Ariz. Semi-
conductor Products Div.

December, 1956
Boeing Options Plant
To Build Bomarc
Boeing Airplane Co. has nego-
tiated a purchase option agreement
with Ford Motor Co. on the latter's
Richmond, Calif, plant as an alter-
nate site for its production of Bo-
marc surface-to-air missiles.
Earlier, Boeing had investi-
gated two other locations one in—
San Leandro, Calif, and another in
Salt Lake City for Bomarc produc-
tion. Last year the company settled
on its Wichita, Kans. facility to
build the missile, but a step-up in
production of the B-52 there touched
off thesearch for a new plant.
Final decision to buy the Ford
facility will bemade in the near fu-
ture, according to Boeing president
William M. Allen. If option is exer-
cised, Boeing initially plans to use it

for Bomarc assembly operations.

AF Missile Facility
Gets New Computer
Air Force's Patrick AFB, Fla.
Missile Test Center has introduced
a new mechanical computer in its
instrumentation system to speed the
use of data from one firing in plan-
ning another.
Unit is designated FLAC (Flor-
ida Automatic Computer), has a
memory of 4,096 words and can do
1,750 computations per second. De-
vice was developed by Radio Corp of
America. RCA will operate it under
AF contract.

Prime Contracts to Drop

For Small Business
Small business enterprises
stand to get a lesser share of De-
fense prime contracts as more and
more defense dollars are spent on
aircraft and guided missiles, ac-
cording to Asst. Defense Secretary
Robert Tripp Ross.
Ross indicated it will be neces-
sary for such firms to obtain much
of their defense business in the
future as subcontractors.
Ross told a Small Business Op-
portunity Meeting in Cleveland that
there is not a single known small
business supplier for aircraft and
guided missile items costing $10,000
or more. However, the Defense Pref-
erential Planning List shows the
USAF has 73 such items for aircraft
and nine for missiles.

December, 1956
 —
McDonnell Sales Up,
Backlog at $71 1 Million
McDonnell Aircraft Corp., a key
figure in the Talos and Green Quail
missile programs, reports a sub-
stantial boost in sales and net earn-
ings for first quarter ended Septem-
ber 30.
Earnings were $1,738,978 on
sales of $57,299,735 compared with
$1,234,574 and $41,454,685 respec-
tively for the like period in 1955.
A new $58-million order for
F3H-2N Demon fighters boosted
firm'sbacklog to a record $711,918,-
860 compared with $601,032,299 a
year ago.

New ARDC Agency

Aids Small Business
A new procurement agency
Executive for Small Business has —
been set up by USAF's Air Research
and Development Command to step
up the utilization of small firms hav-
ingR&D technical capability.
New office will be based at
ARDC headquarters in Baltimore
but will have representatives at the
AF development field offices (New
York, Washington and Los Angeles)
and in the procurement section of
each ARDC center. Plans call for
additional representatives at other
strategic points throughout the
United States.
Plan is to have ESB serve as a
one-stop counseling service for rep-
resentatives of small business. In
return, however, the AF command
expects to gain greater access to
source information about firms with
potential R&D procurement possibil-
ities.

C/L Shifts NAA Pay

13 Times in Six Years
Recent 2^-per hour pay hike at
North American Aviation marked
the thirteenth time since 1950 that
cost-of-living allowance has affected
itspay scales.
Of the 13, 10 have been pay in-
creases ranging from one to seven
cents and two have been decreases
one for l<f and another for 3<t.
Most frequent activity occurred
between 1950 and 1952 when the
Bureau of Labor Statistics' con-
sumer price index increased 13.4%.
Since then it has increased only
2.6% in four years.

missiles and rockets

 Industry Highlights
By Fred S. Hunter
you would like to work in a cave, file your application
If
with the Rocketdyne division of North American Aviation.
Rocketdyne's warehouse at Neosha, Mo., where it will produce
rocket engines for the Air Force's ICBM program, is a huge
underground room, 52,000 square feet in size, quarried in the
side of a limestone hill. Ceiling of this unique facility is limestone
28 feet above the asphalt floor and is supported by huge stone
pillars left in place by the mining operations. A railroad spur
runs into the cave, which has 20 acres of space for additional
warehousing. It's quite a set-up, complete with automatic sprink-
lers in the roof, high-type light and a silica jell humidifier to
maintain constant moisture control. The air conditioning is nat-
ural; the cave has a constant temperature of approximately 65
degrees.
•
Navy's infra-red Sidewinder air-to-air missile is as inex-
pensive as it is said to be efficient. This remarkable weapon,
developed under the guidance of Dr. W. B. McLean, technical
director of the Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake, will
cost only about $800 in quantity production. Sidewinder is 9 feet
5 inches long and weighs about 155 pounds. It is powered by a
solid-propellant motor and has a speed of about Mach 2.5. Reports
say it not only has shot down a larger missile, probably a Mata-
dor, but that it has also split a target Sidewinder. Dr. McLean's
idea, when he began work on the Sidewinder project several
years ago, was to develop a missile that could be handled on ship-
board almost as simply as 25 inch shell. How well he succeeded
is illustrated by the fact that the way to test a Sidewinder's com-
bat readiness is to wave a flashlight in front of it. If it sounds a
warning buzz like a rattlesnake and its nose seeker whips around
following the light, the missile is ready.
•
Lockheed's Missile System division has developed a new
timing generator for cameras used to record missile flights. In
tests,the 21/4,-ounce unit has withstood acceleration loads exceed-
ing 100 Gs and temperatures ranging from minus 65 to near-
boiling 185 degrees. The device, which is installed as a basic part
of a recording camera, marks the film through use of a light-
conducting "optical probe." This marking system, says its inven-
tor, Lockheed electronics engineer James T. Path, is practically
unaffected by shock, temperature change or film speed. First use
of the timer will be in GSAP camera modified for data recording
and in the Wollensak Fastair high-speed missile camera. Lock-
heed has applied for a patent on the timer and has licensed Elec-
tromation Co. in Burbank to manufacture it.
•
Hughes Aircraft Co. had so much success with its control
systems reliability road show last year, it sent out a second road
show this year. This time it is the GAR-1 Falcon and currently
is on the final lap of a 12-week tour. Show consists of a large
display for exhibit inside shop areas of component sub-contrac-
tors; a smaller unit for lobby display; a talk illustrated with
slides; a color movie, and miscellaneous literature for hand out
to employees. Purpose is to impress employees of vendors and
subcontractors with the need for building quality and reliability
into the Falcon. Workers have a better understanding after wit-
nessing the show, Hughes says.

missiles and roclots

 ; ; :; ;;; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ;; ;

SUBCONTRACTORS GUIDE 1
to missil
STATE FUEL ENGINE BODY
ALABAMA Rohm & Haas ; Thiokol Redstone Arsenal Redstone Arsenal
Thiokol
ARIZONA Goodyear Aircraft
CALIFORNIA Aerojet; Aerophysics Develop- Aerophysics Develop-
Ramo-Wooldridge ment; Aerojet; Mar- ment; Aerojet; Convair,
Grand Central quardt Rocketdyne Douglas Hughes Lock-
; ; ;

St'd Oil of Calif. Ryan Ramo-Wooldridge heed; NAA; Northrop;

;

Olin-Mathieson Grand Central Cooper Radioplane Ryan Ramo- ; ; ;

TTT 11 TV
RMI Development; Raytheon; Wooldridge; Cooper De-
1 y—i

Olin-Mathieson; RMI; velopment Raytheon ;

r 11 ca LUIlc in urns i iivtriiiauor ,

Hunter Douglas Alum.

COLORADO Ramo-Wooldridge Ramo-Wooldridge Ramo-Wooldridge
• * 1 ( 1 1 1111

CONNECTICUT Olin-Mathieson Pratt & Whitney;

ijyLoiniii^-rvvco ,

Landers, Fary & Clark

DELAWARE DuPont
Hercules Powder
ILLINOIS Olin-Mathieson Rock Island Arsenal
INDIANA St'd of Indiana Bendix; Allison-GM; Bendix
Munice Gear Works
KANSAS Beech ;
Boeing
KENTUCKY National T)i<>Hllpr<?

MARYLAND Olin-Mathieson Fairchild Martin; Fairchild

Allegany Ballistics Lab.

MASSACHUSETTS GE Raytheon ; Avco

^ III m
a I a
Dow Chem.
MICHIGAN m.

Continental Motors; Chrysler; Utica Bend;

American Rocket; American Rocket ; Uni- Brooks & Perkins
veiodi ividLiiiiie , lecuiii-
seh Products ; Utica Bend
MISSOURI Propellex Chemical McDonnell ;
Rocketdyne McDonnell
Emerson Electric
NEW JERSEY RMI; Thiokol; American Power Jet;
M. W. Kellog RMI ; Thiokol ; ACF Ind.
Propeller Div., Curtiss-
Wright; Wright Aero.
NEW YORK Olin-Mathieson Cornell Fairchild; ; Bell; Sperry-Gyroscope
Allied Chemical Shell Cornell ; Fairchild; Cornell;
Union Carbide Eastman Kodak
Air Reduction Republic
Buffalo Electro-Chemicals Bendix Scintilla;
Linde Air Prod. Western Electric
NORTH CAROLINA fl£*V 1 1 If r» YX Oerlikon *
DohctIpq •

OHIO Olin-Matheison ; RMI GE ;

Goodyear ;
Thomp- Firestone; Crosley Avco
son Prod. Colson Corp. ;

Olin-Mathieson; RMI
OKLAHOMA Bell Oil & Gas; Phillips Phillips
PCMMCYI X/AKJIA
rtlNINjTLVAlNlA Penn Salt j Air Products GE •
Philrn •
Alron
Lycoming Avco
TCKIKICCCEC
1tNNcbbbb
Farragut; Raytheon
TEXAS Phillips Anderson, Greenwood Chance Vought;
Pnillina \?
1i 1 1
o v*r\
V alU
1 II [
*
,
J. , V CXI \J

VIRGINIA Atlantic Research American Machine &

Foundry
Atlantic Research

WASHINGTON Boeing
WEST VIRGINIA Westvaco
PRODUCTION AND TYPICAL CONTRACTORS
The millions now spent yearly on di-
Raw Materials Sources rect operational procurement of vehicles
MATERIALS A B c
with names like Talos, Nike, Jupiter, Side-
anthracite V
bit. coal V winder, etc., will soon be billions.
lignite V If aircraft require the extensive serv-
helium V ices of a diversified industry, so do mis-
hydrogen V siles to an even greater degree. All the
natural gas V skills and materials required for airplanes
nitrogen V
oxygen V are needed for missiles, plus a great deal
petroleum V more.
uranium V The speeds and environments of mis-
silesexceed those of manned flight to a
aluminum V
antimony V point where, as in the case of the ICBM,
-
arsenic V they approximate those of meteors.
beryllium V Optimum solutions to the problems
bismuth V
facing designers, engineers and produc-
cadmium V
cesium V tion experts in the missile field have yet
chromium V to be found. They lie in the great wealth
cobalt \ of knowledge and ingenuity that resides
columbium \
in the great and varied mass of American
copper V industry. Similarly, materials that never
gallium V
germanium V flew before, may tomorrow be the main
gold V structural and skin materials of missiles.
hafnium V More than ever before, the missile
indium V subcontractor both current and potential
iron ore V plays a vital role not only in supplying the
lead V
magnesium V prime contractor with the bits and pieces
manganese V and components he specifies, but also is
mercury V relied upon heavily for new ideas, ap-
molybdenum V proaches, suggestions, inspirations.
nickel V
platinum metals V Thus, we consider this table not only
potassium V a service to the subcontractor who, we as-
rare earth metals V sume, is always interested in new markets,
rubidium V but also we feel it is a service to the mis-
sodium V sile industry as a whole, in that it will
selenium V
silver V facilitate the flow, exchange and cross-
tantalum V fertilization of ideas that are needed if
tellurium V U.S. supremacy in the field is to be main-
thallium V tained.
tin V The companies listed do not include
titanium V
tungsten V all of the prime contractors (guidance
zinc V suppliers are to be covered in the Janu-
zirconium V ary issues of M/R) . Rather, the companies
listed are typical of those that are pio-
asbestos V
barium V neering in this field. They are the main
boron V elements concerned with fuels, engines
bromine V and missile bodies.
chlorine V * * *
corundum V
diamonds (ind.) V FOR ADDRESSES OF TYPICAL
fluorspar V CONTRACTORS, SEE NEXT PAGE.
graphite V
iodine V
jewel bearings V
kyanite V Information in this guide is de-
lithium V rived by m/r's research department
mica V
nitrates V from industry, official and semi-official
phosphates V Government sources. In future issues
potash V of m/r similar data ivill be supplied on
quartz (radio) V manufacturers of guidance systems,
salt V
steatite talc V launching gear and other major missile
strontium V components and systems.
sulfur V
A—Continental U.S.
B—U.S., Canada, Mexico.
C — Overseas dependence.
 1

TYPICAL MISSILE CONTRACTORS

ALABAMA Marquardt Aircraft Co. CONNECTICUT Boeing Airplane Co.
R.C. Travis, Mgr. Material Wichita Division
Redstone Arsenal Research Div. Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
16555 Saticoy St. R. M. Barry
U.S. Army (United Aircraft Corp.)
Van Nuys, Calif. Wichita Kansas
Wilbur Davis, Chief Bert J. McNamara, Pur. Mgr. I,

Procurement & Contracting North American Aviation, Inc. 400 Main Street
Huntsville, Ala. M. A. Starr, Material Dir. East Hartford 8, Conn. KENTUCKY
12214 Lakewood Blvd.
Rohm & Haas Co. Lycoming Division Nat'l Distill's Products Corp.
Downey, Calif.
A. H. Belcher, Pur. Dept. Avco Manufacturing Corp. Louisville, Ky.
Redstone Arsenal Research Div. Northrop Aircraft, Inc. George J. Rapuano, Pur. Mgr.
Huntsville, Ala. Stanley Brodhead, Sales Mgr. Reynolds Metals Co.
D. F. Beck
Prime Contracts 2500 53rd Street
Thiokol Chemical Corp. Chief Purchasing Agent Louisville, Ky.
1001 E. Broadway 550 S. Main Street
Redstone Arsenal Div.
Hawthorne, Calif. Stratford, Conn.
Huntsville, Ala.
Landers, Frary & Clark
MARYLAND
Radioplane Co.
ARIZONA P. Chase, Dir. of Material
I.
47 Center St., New Britain The Glenn L.Martin Co.
Hartford, Conn. E. D. Carter, Mgr.
Goodyear Corp.
Aircraft Operations Branch
Sub-Contracting
(Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.) 8000 Woodley Avenue
Olin-Mathieson Chem. Corp. Middle River, Md. (location)
W. E. Green, Customer Rel'ns Van Nuys, Calif.
Winchester-Western Div.
Litchfield Park, Ariz.
Baltimore 3, Md. (address)
Rocketdyne Div. W. Miller Hurley
(30 mi. North of Phoenix) Olin-Mathieson Chem. Corp.
North American Aviation, Inc. Div. V.P. and Gen. Mgr.
275 Winchester Ave. Industrial Chemicals Div.
E. F. Brown, Manager,
CALIFORNIA New Haven 4, Conn. John Logan, Divisional V.P.
Contracts & Proposals
Aerophysics Development Corp. 6633 Canoga Avenue 10 Light Street
(Curtiss-Wright) Nuclear Fuels Division Baltimore, Md.
Canoga Park, Calif.
Edward Hartshorne, Gen. Mgr.
Arnold Grim, Contract Admin'r
924 Lobero Hotel Bldg. Ryan Aeronautical Co. 275 Winchester Ave. Fairchild Aircraft Div.
Anacapa St., P. O. Box 689 M. K. Smith New Haven 4, Conn. (Fairchild Engine, Airplane)
Louis Fahnestoclc, Dir.
Santa Barbara, Calif. 2701 Harbor Drive
Projects Administration
San Diego I 2, Calif.
DELAWARE
William Healey, Chief Hagerstown, Md.
Material & Procurement The Ramo-Wooldridge Corp. Hercules Powder Co., Inc.
P. O. Box 689
Allegany Ballistics Lab.
Mr. Fran Brown 917 Market St.
Santa Barbara, Calif. Cumberland, Md.
Purchasing Agent Wilmington 99, Del.
Aerojet-General Corp. 6245 W. 89th Street
(Gen'l Tire & Rubber Co.) Los Angeles 45, Calif. E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. MASSACHUSETTS
Explosives Dept.
F. H. Gebhart, Pur. Agent Raytheon Manufacturing Co.
Grand Central Rocket Co. Wilmington 98, Del.
P. O. Box 296 Paul B. Wilson
Rick Daenitz, Pur, Agent
Azusa, Calif. Dir. Planning, Procurement
P.O. Box III
Con voir- Astronautics Redlands, Calif. ILLINOIS Waltham 58, Mass.
(General Dynamics Corp.) Rock Island Arsenal Missile Systems Division
C. F. Uhden, Mgr. of Material Norris Thermador Corp. (U. S. Army) Bruce R. Brace, Pur. Agent
San Diego 12, Calif. 5217 S. Boyle Ave. Joseph Curley Bedford, Mass.
Los Angeles, Calif. Chief Procurement Branch
Con voir- Pomona Commercial Equipment Div.
(General Dynamics Corp.) Rock Island, III.
Hunter Douglas Aluminum Paul B. Burns, Pur. Agent
O. W. Connell, Pur. Agent 3017 Kansas Avenue Waltham, Mass.
Olin-Mathieson Chemical Corp.
P. O. Box 101 Riverside, Calif. Explosives Dept.
Pomona, Calif. Missile Systems Division
Norl A. Hamilton
Cooper Development Corp. Thos. J. Flannery, Pur. Agent
Douglas Aircraft Co. Orin E. Harvey
Div. V.P. and Gen. Mgr. Lowell, Mass.
Edw. Curtis, Dir. of Contracts East Alton, III.
2626 S. Peck Road
Santa Monica, Calif. Gov't Equip. Division
Monrovia, Calif. Metals Division George E. Larson, Pur. Agent
Hughes Aircraft Co. Jesse E. Williams Wayland, Mass.
Raytheon Manufacturing Co.
Aircraft Div. Div. V.P. and Gen. Mgr.
Government Equipment Div. Government Equipment Division
M. E. Taylor, East Alton, III.
Santa Barbara Lab. Elmer G. Westlund, Pur. Agent
Director of Procurement
Robert T. Kiely, Pur. Agent Government Mfg. Plant
Culver City, Calif.
Santa Barbara, Calif. INDIANA Waltham, Mass.
Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
Missile Systems Div.
Missile Systems Div. Bendix Aviation Corp. Avco Research & Advanced
J. B. McChesney Pt. Mugu Plant Produ ts Div., Missile Section Development Division
Fred H. Moore, George Wiley, Materials Mgr. Albert Maki, Ass't to Pres.
Sunnyvale, Calif.
Materials Manager 400 S. Beiger St.
R. M. Robertson 208 Union Street
7701 Woodley Ave.
Pt. Mugu, Oxnard, Calif. Mishawaka, Ind. Lawrence, Mass.
Van Nuys, Calif. Standard Oil Co. of Calif.
Allison Div., Corp.GM General Electric Co.
R. F. Bradley, Manager
Olin-Mathieson Chemical Corp. F. J. Giorgiannl Aircraft Access. Turbine Dept.
Aviation Division
Aviation Division Dir.,Purchasing, Matr'l Ctrl W. T. Courts, Mgr. Materials
Standard Oil Bldg.
J. M. Rogers, West Coast Mgr. Plant 3, P. O. Box 894 Lynn, Mass.
1373 Westwood Blvd. San Francisco 20, Calif. Indianapolis, Ind.
Small Aircraft Engine Dept.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Standard Oil of Indiana T. Foy, Mgr. of Materials
Reaction Motors, Inc.
COLORADO 137 W. Ilth Street Lynn, Mass.
J. M. Rogers, West Coast Mgr. The Glenn L. Martin Co. Indianapolis, ind.
1373 Westwood Blvd. Denver Division
Los Angeles, Calif. Roth B. Hooker, Dir. Muncie Gear Works MICHIGAN
(Joint office with Procurement and Facilities Muncie, Indiana Chrysler Corporation
Olin-Mathieson) P. O. Box 79 1
Missile Operations
Denver Colorado KANSAS Magnus von Braun
Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.
I ,

Gen'l Supervisor
Guided Missile Division The Ramo-Wooldridge Corp. Beech Aircraft Corp. Contract Specifications
J. D. Easterly, Mgr. (under construction) A. S. Odevseff, Mgr. P. O. Box 2628
81 I Seville Ave. Purchasing Agent to be named Military Engineering Detroit 31, Mich.
Huntington Park, Room 414, 1845 Sherman St. East Central Avenue
Los Angeles County, Calif. Denver 3, Colorado Wichita I, Kansas [Continued on Page 134)

132 missiles and rockets

 ( Missile Contractors, Cont.)
Continental Motors, Inc. Linde Air Products Colson Corp. Lycoming Div.
M. R. Ramsey, Pur. Agent (Union Carbide & Carbon Corp.) Elyria, Ohio Avco Manufacturing Corp.
Market Street 30 E. 42nd St., N. Y. 17, N. Y. C. L. Briceland, Pur. Mgr.
Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.
Muskegon 82, Mich. Raymond J. Cowden, Sales Mgr.
Sperry Gyroscope Co. Defense Products Div.
Williamsport Plant, Wmpt., Pa.
Dow Chemical Co. (Sperry Rand Corp.) C. D. Smith, Mgr.
R. H. Boundy, V.P. W. G. Neumann, Pur. Dir. 200 Firestone Parkway
1

Aero Division Akron 17, Ohio TENNESSEE

Director of Research
Midland, Mich. F. Baron, Purchasing Agent Crosley Division
Olin-Mathieson Chem. Corp. Avco Manufacturing Corp.
Great Neck, L. I., N. Y.
Brooks & Perkins, Inc. G. Richard Lott
Joseph D. Taylor, Works Mgr.
J. S. Kirkpatrick Scintilla Division 349 W. First Street
Nashville, Tenn.
V. Research & Develop.
P., Bendix Aviation Corp. Dayton, Ohio
Detroit 16, Mich. W. B. Wilson, Pur. Agent
Reaction Motors,
Sperry Farragut Co.
Inc.
Sidney, N. Y. (Sperry Rand Corp.)
American Rocket Co. G. Richard Lott
C. S. Rockwell, V.P. and
Alfred J. Zaehringer Fairchild Guided Missiles Div. 349 W. First Street
Works Manager
Wyandotte, Mich. (Fairchild Engine & Airplane) Dayton, Ohio
Bristol, Tenn.
A. W.
Doherty, Contract Mgr. (Joint office with
Universal Machine Co., Inc.
T. W.
Ungashick, Sub-c't rep. Olin-Mathieson) Raytheon Manufacturing Co.
B. L. Scott, Dir. Purchasing
Wyandanch, L. I., N. Y. MissileSystems Div.
3 6 Lincoln Street General Electric Co.
I
Theodore L. Sheldon, Pur. Agt.
Fenton, Mich. Olin-Mathieson Chemical Corp. Aircraft Gas Turbine Div.
Bristol, Tenn.
Liquid Fuels Div. Evandale Operating Depart.
Tecumseh Products Dr. L. K.Herndon, V.P. and F. N. Estes, Mgr.
955 Brown Street
Acting General Manager Materials Assembly and Spares TEXAS
Tecumseh, Mich. Chance
P. O. Box 480 Evandale, Ohio Vought Aircraft Inc.
Utica Bend
Curtiss-Wright) ( Niagara Falls, N. Y. W. L. Hoffman, Materiels Mgr.
W. B. Boyd, Mgr.
P. O. Box 5907
E. K. Mashell, Dir. Purchases
Bell Aircraft Corp. Materials,Components,
Utica, Mich. Dallas, Texas
Norman A. Lomas, Pur. Mgr. and Overhauls
Aircraft Division Evandale, Ohio Temco Aircraft Corp.
MISSOURI Maurice J. Coughlin, Dir. Charles E. Kimbark, Jr.
Jet Engine Department
Procurement, Weapon Syst's Div. Purchasing Dept.
McDonnell Aircraft Corp. G. E. Hotaling, Mgr. Materials P. O. Box 6191, Dallas, Tex.
P. O. Box
W. J. Gamewell, Pur. Mgr.
I

Evandale, Ohio
Buffalo 5, N. Y.
Box 516, St. Louis 3, Mo. Anderson, Greenwood & Co.
Flight Propulsion Lab.
Cornell Aeronautical Lab., Inc. Lomis Slaughter, Jr.
Rocketdyne Div., NAA (Cornell University)
Wayne Wheeler, Mgr. Materiels
V. P. and Chief Engineer
Neosho, Mo. Evandale, Ohio
Joseph C. Polizzl, Pur. Agent 1400 North Rice St.
Propellex Chemical Corp. 4455 Genesee Street Aircraft Nuclear Prop. Dept. Bellaire, Texas
St. Louis, Mo. Buffalo 21, N. Y. Dr. A. E. Focke, Mgr. Materials
Phillips Petroleum Co.
Evandale, Ohio
The Emerson Electric Mfg. Co. Eastman Kodak Company Rocket Fuels Division
J.A. Alles, Purchasing Dir. J. E. Doyle, Dir. Purchases Goodyear Aircraft Corp. F. M. Files, Mfg. Branch Mgr.
8100 Florissant Ave. 343 State Street (Goodyear Tire& Rubber) Air Force Plant 66
St. Louis 21, Mo. Rochester, N. Y. D. E. Zesiger, Mgr. McGregor, Texas
Sub-contract Projects
Republic Aviation Corp. Varo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
1210 Massillon Road
NEW JERSEY C. E. Reid, Director
Akron 15, Ohio
D. H. Kennington, Dir. Pur.
Production, Procurements 2201 Walnut St.
American Power Jet
705 Grand Avenue
Farmingdale, L. I., N. Y. Thompson Products, Inc. Garland, Texas
23555 Euclid Ave.
Richfield, N. J. Allied Chemical & Dye Corp.
Cleveland 17, Ohio VIRGINIA
Nitrogen Division
Reaction Motors, Inc. American Machine & Foundry
Warren P. Turner, Director
40 Rector Street
N. Y. 6, N. Y.
OKLAHOMA Defense Products Group
Application Engineering and Bell Oil & Gas J. D'Areizo, Div. V.P.
P.
Contracts Division Shell Oil Co., Aviation Dept. National Bank of Tulsa Bldg. I 101 N. Royal Street
Denville, N. J. J. S. Harris, Aviation Mgr. Tulsa, Okla. Alexandria, Va.
Thiokol Chemical Corp.
50 W. 50th St., N. Y. 20
Phillips Petroleum Co. Atlantic Research Corp.
784 N. Clinton Ave. Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. Rocket Fuels Div. Dr. L. L. Weil, Dir.
Trenton 7, N. J. 30 E. 42nd Street, N. Y. Okla.
Bartlesville, Chemistry Division
ACF Industry, Avion Div. Air Reduction Co., Inc. 901 N. Columbus St.
William Bingham 150 E. 42nd Street, N. Y. PENNSYLVANIA Alexandria, Va.
Park Place Buffalo Electro Chemicals General Electric Co.
WASHINGTON
I I

Paramus, N. J. Buffalo, N. Y. Special Defense Projects Dept.

Russell W. McFall, Mgr. Eng. Boeing Airplane Co.
M. W. Kellogg Co.
Thomas B. Rees, Pur. Dir.
NORTH CAROLINA 3198 Chestnut Street Pilotless Aircraft Div.
Oerlikon Tool & Arms Corp.
Philadelphia, Pa. N. W. Grigg, Materiel Mgr.
Foot of Danforth Avenue
W. Buol, Purchasing Agent Philco Corp. Box 3707
Jersey City 3, N. J. B.
P. O. Box 3049 Gov't & Industrial Div. Seattle 24, Wash.
Wright Aeronautical Div. Ashville, N. C. William MacMurtrie
T. D. Teigen, Buyer of
(Curtiss-Wright Corp.) Gen. Purchasing Agent
Douglas Aircraft Co., Inc. Outside Production
J.M. Cowell, Dir. Purchases 4700 Wissahickon Ave.
Charlotte Div. Smith Tower, Seattle 24, Wash.
Wood-Ridge, N. J. Philadelphia 44, Pa.
D. J. Bosio, Dir., Materiel (Missile Production currently
Propeller Division 1820 Statesville Road Pennsylvania Salt Co. at Plant II, E. Marginal Way,
(Curtiss-Wright Corp.) Charlotte 6, N. C. 1335 Chestnut, Whitemarsh Seattle 24, Wash.)
F. W. Moore, Pur. Mgr. Philadelphia, Pa.
Caldwell, N. J. OHIO Aluminum Co. of America WEST VIRGINIA
Crosley Div. New Kensington, Pa. Westvaco Chlor-Alkali Div.
NEW YORK Avco Manufacturing Corp. Air Products, Inc. Development Department
Western Electric Co. Harold Brouse, Products Dir. S. S. Stewart, Pur. Dept. Food Machinery & Chemical
Defense Project Division 1329 Arlington St. P. O. Box 538 Corp.
220 Churchill, N. Y., N. Y. Cincinnati 25, Ohio Allentown, Pa. South Charleston 3, W. Va.

Subcontracting Guide to the Electronics and Astrionics

Industries Will Be Featured in the January Issue of M/R
Hughes Sales At $300 Million— Backlog $500 Million 300 persons, works on a two-shift
per day basis in six buildings total-
Hughes Aircraft Co., prime con- volume in semiconductors runs be- ing 135,000 sq. ft. of floor space. He
tractor for the Falcon air-to-air tween $55,000,000 and $60,000,000 attributed the company's entry into
missile, has disclosed its annual and that Hughes accounts for about this field to the new high standards
aviation sales for 1956 will be about $12,000,000, or 20% of the industry
of performance required in elec-
$300 million; current backlog is total.
tronic armament control systems
approximately $500 million and em- ; He also forecast that industry
and guided missiles it develops and
ployment exceeds 25,000. dollar sales volume insemiconduc-
produces for the Air Force.
Joseph S. O'Flaherty, manager tors will increase five-fold over the
of Hughes Semiconductor Division, next four years, to about $300 mil- Market 85% Non-Military
revealed these figures late last month lion by 1960. At Hughes, the $12 mil-
Of the future market potential,
as he spelled out in detail the com- lion for 1956 compares to $5,400,000
the Hughes official expects that the
pany's activities in semiconductor in 1955. The company's volume has
$300 million industry of 1960 will
production. about doubled each year since 1953.
supply about 85% by dollar volume
The Hughes estimated
official O'Flaherty said Hughes semi-
to civilian industrial markets and
the present annual industry sales conductor division now employs 1,-
only 15% to the military. He esti-
mates there are some 40 companies
now engaged in producing semicon-
ductors, but that new capital re-
quirements and complexities of man-
ufacture may alter the structure of
competition in future years.
O'Flaherty said probably no in-
dustry is based so closely on initial
discovery and research as is the
semiconductor field. Advanced re-
search in solid state physics and the
chemistry necessary to produce semi-
conductors has already passed into a
realm of physics beyond the knowl-
edge which produced the A-bomb, the
Hughes official points out. "Yet we
have only scratched the surface."
"Literally thousands of scien-
tists have a working knowledge of
nuclear fission," he adds, but "only
a relative handful have a compar-
able understanding of solid state
physics."

Replaces Expensive Tubes

Of the new Hughes products, he
said the company's quick-recovery
an engineer-
silicon diode represents
ing modification to overcome the
past sluggishness of silicon com-
pared with germanium in handling
electrical current.
Hughes other new product, the
small power rectifier, has working
voltages up to 400 volts. It is planned
for use in the place of selenium recti-
fiers and will do the work formerly
performed by large and expensive
specialized vacuum tubes, O'Flaherty
said.

Both the quick-recovery diode

and power rectifier are now ready
for large scale production. O'Flah-
erty feels their development will re-
sult in the introduction of semicon-
ductors into new and expanded in-
dustrial fields.

138 missiles and rockets

North American
Nets $28.7 Million
North American Aviation, Inc.
reports a net income of $28,760,962
for its fiscal year ended September
30, a drop of 11% from $32,349,176
for 1955. Sales, however, were at a
—
record high increasing almost 12%
from $816,676,329 in 1955 to $913,-
981,913 this year.
The slump in earnings was at-
tributed to expansion of research
its
and development program and an in-
crease in R&D work for the govern-
ment under cost-type contracts
which do not allow substantial profit
margins.
Chairman J. H. Kindelberger
noted that the company's 1956 ap-
propriations of $23,683,099 for capi-
tal construction is the highest in its
history.
Among its future prospects for
large-scale production, the company
cited its Navaho intercontinental
air-breathing missile, the F-100F
two-seat fighter and two new planes
being developed for the Navy.

IRE Groups Drop Merger

Question of a merger between
the IRE Professional Groups on
Telemetry and Remote Control and
on Aeronautical and Navigational
Electronics has been dropped.
A committee appointed to study
the matter has recommended this
action. Also, it concluded that the
customary meeting of the two groups
at the annual Dayton PGANE meet-
ing be eliminated.
The committee said the Dayton
meeting has grown too large to per-
mit easy assimilation of additional
papers.

New Accelerometer
At Northrop
Engineerson Northrop A i r-
craft, Snark intercontinental
Inc's
missile program have developed a
new manometer accelerometer said
to be copied after the balance mech-
anism of the human ear.
Twin tubes of glass hold an elec-
trolytic solution that covers tungsten
electrodes in the glass. Connected to
a Wheatstone bridge the device acts
as a plumb bob to detect deviations
in position or changes in speed of a
missile. The capsule
is temperature
controlled for uniform response.

December, 1956
imliislrv briefs LARGE CONTRACT of undisclosed AEROJET-GENERAL has redesig-
value has been awarded to Radio nated its Electronics and Guidance
LOCKHEED'S Missile Systems Div.
Corp. of America to develop and Div., now calls it Avionics Div. Man-
produce an air-ground data trans- ager is J. S. Warfel.
in September received more than
now nego- mission system for U.S. Air Force.
$30 million in orders, is AUTHORIZATION TO OPERATE
tiating R&D contracts worth about THE MARTIN CO. was awarded nuclear science facility at Palo Alto,
$60 million. USAF for modification
$599,623 by Calif, isbeing sought from Atomic
of TM-61 Matador missiles. Energy Commission by Lockheed's
UTICA-BEND CORP., new Curtiss- Missiles System Div. Purpose: R&D
Wright subsidiary that is to build LITTON INDUSTRIES, INC. re- in reactor components.
Army's Dart missile, was awarded ports earnings of $1,019,703 on sales
a $4.8 million contract to prepare of $14,920,050 for fiscal year ended HOFFMAN LABORATORIES, INC.
for receipt and installation of ma- July 31. Net was up almost 134% plans to build a 40,000 sq. ft. elec-
chinery at its Utica, Mich, plant. as sales jumped 67%. tronic R&Dbuilding opposite
present facilities in Los Angeles.
It will house new products engi-
neering staff and a complete engi-
neering library.

GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP. has

granted $1 million to Univ. of
California for expansion of its La
Jolla, Calif, campus to provide
graduate program in science.

SERVOMECHANISMS, INC. has

leased 13,160 sq. ft. additional space
at 8825 Sepulveda Blvd., Los
Angeles to house its Western Div.
management, engineering, account-
ing, customer liaison departments.

AUTONETICS DIV., North Ameri-

can Aviation Inc. has moved pur-
chasing and warehousing depart-
ments numbering 350 personnel into
new 150,000 sq. ft. building at 201
W. Manville, St., Compton, Calif.
PHILCO CORP., co-producer with
General Electric of Navy's Side-
winder missile, has purchased Sierra
Electronic Corp. of San Carlos, Calif.
SEC president Willard Feldscher be-
comes v.p. and general manager of
the wholly-owned Philco subsidiary.

NORTHROP AERONAUTICAL IN-

STITUTE has broken ground for a
23,00 sq. Engineering Education
ft.

Building to be situated at Aviation

and Arbor Vitae Blvds. adjacent to
Los Angeles International Airport.

AMERICAN BOSCH ARMA CORP.

reports net income of $3,385,438 on
sales of $86,729,566 for nine months
ended September 30 compared with
earnings of $2,971,878 and sales of
$55,660,928 for this period last year.
Sept. 30 backlog was $175 million.

TRANSVAL ENGINEERING
CORP., specialists in transistorized
airborne electronic equipment, has
opened its second plant and plans a
5,000 sq.ft. expansion of its main
plant in Culver City, Calif.
142 missiles and rockets
 V - >

INDUSTRY BAROMETER Department of Defense is now

GUIDED MISSILE OBLIGATIONS INCURRED incurring obligations for guided mis-
(12 Month Moving Averages) siles and missile components at the
100 average rate of $120,518,000 per
90 month (June 1956). This is an in-
80 crease of 836,012,000 from June 1955,
1/5
1
1
Q5 95
7—
up 43%.
| 70
6 60 -GUIDED MISSILES In order to clear up any misun-
Q
I 50
M AIRCRAFT
derstanding as to the exact definition
40 —
— Ik of "obligations incurred," the Depart-
\
30 \ —
<> ment of Defense uses the wording set
**
forth in Budget-Treasury Regulation
20
No. 1. Regulation No. 1 defines "ob-
10
ligations incurred" as orders placed,
contracts awarded, services received
-10 and similar transactions that take
J FMAMJ J ASOND J FMAMJ JASOND place during a given period requir-
ARMY ing future payment (expenditures)
180 of money. Due to the complex funding
160 system used by the three Services, it

140 is possible to develop negative obli-

120 1955 1956 gations which are usually called de-
100 obligations. Deobligations occur when
80 past obligations are cancelled faster
60 than current obligations are incurred.
40 Sometimes huge deobligations take
20 place that merely reflect changes in
-- "bookkeeping" procedures. In Aug-
-20 / ust of 1954 the President signed Pub-
40
-60
\— lic Law 663. Section No. 1311 defined

J FMAMJ J ASONDJ FMAMJ J A SOND the basis on which the services should
record obligations incurred. Previous-
NAVY
ly, letters of intent were counted as
1000 obligations. Letters of intent are now
! 900 excluded by Section 1311.

2 800 At the end of each fiscal year

1 700 1955 195<
the Services are required to certify
o
;Q600 both the amount of funds obligated
°500 and the unobligated portion. The
Navy was the only Service able to
1 400
complete the tremendous task of re-
I 300 moving letters of intent obligations
200
I
from their books by June 30, 1955.
100 Therefore, their minus obligations
— -- (deobligations) for that month re-
J FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ J A SOND flectnot only contracts cancelled, but
AIR FORCE
the purging from the records of let-
1000 ters of intent.

900 For the effect this procedural re-

£800 vision had on Navy obligations, see
1 700 1 955 V)56 the Navy chart of obligations incur-
D
red, June-December 1955.
600
3
500 The Army and Air Force, on the
made their obligations re-
other hand,
§ 400
adjustment from July through De-
300
I cember of 1956.
200
This bookkeeping readjustment
100
had no effect on DOD contractors,

J FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ J SOND

THREE SERVICES TOTAL
 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OBLIGATIONS INCURRED
(12 MONTH MOVING AVERAGE)

1955 1956

.Missiles as Missiles as
a %of a % of
Missiles Aircraft Aircraft Missiles Aircraft Aircraft
(OOO's) (OOO's) (OOO's) (OOO's)

January $ 88,227 $ 418,044 21.1% $ 94,330 $ 234,847 40.2%

February 92,493 419,965 22.0% 104,706 240,027 43.6%
March 84,812 431,991 19.6% 110,516 368,616 30.0%
April 86,137 461,390 18.7% 108,402 378,001 28.7%
May 83,562 451,674 18.5% 106,116 396,815 26.7%
June 84,506 356,713 23.7% 120,518 610,674 19.7%
July 84,159 341,084 24.7% $644,588 $2,228,980 28.9%*
August 94,997 255,170 37.2%

September 80,876 288,594 28.0% * 1st 6 months 1956

October 81,793 216,302 37.8%

November 81,904 187,258 43.7%

December 100,554 183,648 54.8%

Year 1955 $1,044,020 $4,011,833 26.0%

since letters of intent are generally $94,330,000 in January 1956; $120,-

followed by written contracts. 518,000 for June 1956 and at the same
time provide a referential framework
As obligations incurred fluctuate
wildlyfrom month to month, we have comparing these with aircraft and
related equipment obligations. Air-
employed a twelve month moving av-
craft and related equipment obliga-
erage to smooth out the peaks and the
tions for these same three months
valleys while at the same time point-
ing up any trend characteristics. For
were $418,044,000 January 1955;
$234,847,000 January 1956; $610,-
a detailed explanation of this statis-
674,000 June 1956.
tical technique, see Industry Barom-
eter —November 1956. The Army's average obligations
Some typical unclassified obli- for missiles and related equipment
gations incurred in 1956 include con- has varied greatly from month to
tracts to Glenn Martin, $14,234,000 month. High for the period January
for Matador missiles (January) ;
'55 to June '56 was January 1955's
Aerojet-General, $9,000,000, facilities obligations of $45,000,000. Present
for pilot production and production obligations level is close to $30,000,-
testing of liquid rocket engines (Jan- 000. All present indications point to
uary) Air Products, Inc., $3,910,000,
; change in obligations level for
little

facilities to produce LOX (liquid oxy- the remainder of calendar 1956. Aver-
gen) (January) General Electric
; age obligations incurred for the last
Co., $5,000,000,development and pro- half of 1956 should hover around the
duction of radar antennaes for use $28-32 million dollars per month.
in tracking guided missiles (Febru- Missile obligations incurred by
ary) Air Products, Inc., $5,768,000,
; the Navy have had only slight fluctu-
for liquid oxygen and nitrogen ations. Low month for the iy2 years
(April) North American Aviation,
; analyzed was July 1955 ($9,509,000)".
$5,325,000, for facilities for Produc- High month was $19,381,000 obli-
tion of the Navaho (April ) Hercules ;
gated in June 1956. During the last
Powder Co., $3,610,000, solid propel- six months of 1956 chances are good
lant rocket systems (May) Convair, ; that average missile obligations for
$7,715,000, Facilities to support In- the Navy will be accelerated to the
tercontinental ballistic missile pro- $25 million per month level.
gram (June) North American Avi-
; The Air Force is currently in-
ation, $16,152,000, for Navaho. curring more obligations than the
The accompanying graphs and Army and Navy combined. Average
chart show both the rapid rise in De- obligations during the last half of
partment of Defense missile obliga- 1956 should rise some $25,000,000 per
tions, $88,227,000 for January 1955; month over June 1956's $72,000,000.*

missiles and rockets

 —

NEW MISSILE PRODUCTS

MISSILE CHECKOUT SYSTEM
An
ultra-rapid missile tester for use
in the field has been developed by the
Microwave Division of Sperry Gyroscope
Co. Known as RACE (Rapid Automatic
Checkout Equipment), it is designed to
do most of the analytical thinking for
military combat technicians.
RACE brings automation into the
battle field to keep modern weapons
fit-to-fight. It uses computer elements
to checkout all parts of a missile sys-
tem, finds faulty components and de-
livers a punched card that identifies
the fault.
An electronic memory supervises the
checkout by controlling generators that
transmit test signals to each missile
through cables and by microwave radio.
Progress of tests is indicated at a
master console. Go-NoGo panel lights
indicate progress of the tests and give
a "Go" signal at the end if everything
is satisfactory.
Electrical, eletronic, pneumatic and
hydraulic systems used for guidance,
tracking and stabilization are tested in
a few minutes. When a fault is discov-
ered, lights on a master test console
pin-point the fault. At the same time
a punched card is delivered.
The card shows the fault and the
maintenance procedure for curing it. In
this way rapid plug-in replacements can
be made or the missile excluded from
the battery if repair time is too long.
One of RACE'S features is simul-
taneous test of slow and fast reacting
circuits. With this feature RACE does
not have to wait upon slow acting com-
ponents that would increase test time.
Write: Sperry Gyroscope Co., Microwave The RACE missile tester console shown delivering a punched card for use by a technician
Div. Dept. M/R, Great Neck, N. Y. in rapi d repair of a missile component.

PNEUMATIC CART/AIR STAND may be selected by adjustment of a PLUG-IN SWITCH BOARDS

Two new pieces of aircraft and mis- thermostat setting. Plug-in circuit boards used in
sile support equipment, a high-pressure For rocket and missile applications, ground support and field test equipment
air bottle cart and a mobile high-pres- it is capable of boosting nitrogen to
for the Northrop Snark missile permit
sure air stand, have been unveiled by pressures of 6,000 psi.
plugging-in such items as a 12-deck 26-
Accessory Controls & Equipment Corp. The stand has two supply systems position stepping switch. Switch con-
one to serve for direct loading of air tacts are produced by etching circuit
bottles and a second that may be regu- boards.
lated automatically for any pressure The method allows 348 connections
from about 100 to 5,000 psi. Write: Ac- to be made simultaneously. Northrop
cessory Controls &
Equipment Corp., has licensed United Geophysical Corp.
Dept. M/R, 146 Willard Ave., Newington, to make the new device. Write: Elec-
Conn. trodynamic Division, United Geophys-
ical Corp., Dept. M/R, Pasadena, Calif.
ANALOG-DIGITAL CONVERTER
An8-ounce digitizer for converting
analog information to binary-coded
decimal digital information has been
announced.
For use in telemetering to convert
meter readings into digital readings for
printing on charts at range stations, the
device is flexible and permits handling
The ACE-37 cart is rated for 3,600 any desired number of decimal digits
psi pressures, has a capacity of 18,000
through addition of modules to the ba-
sic assembly.
cu. in. and weighs about 2,000 lbs. It
Measuring 2 11/16 x 2 in., each
measures 42" high, 38" wide and 60"
module added to obtain another decimal
long.
place adds % inch to the length. Each
The ACE-36 air stand is designed to module has a code disk and gear train.
provide a 5,000 psi source of dry air for A code and dual brush system is
starting jet engines and calibrating in- used that eliminates ambiguity. Write:
strument systems. It supplies capacity Commercial Sales Dept., Federal Tele-
to dry 16 cfm by means of a refrigerant- phone and Radio Co., Dept. M/R, 100
type dehumidifier and desired dryness Kingsland Road, Clifton, N. J.

December, 1956 149

 COMPRESSION SYSTEM

New "central compression system"

developed by Cardox Corp. for testing
aircraft and missile pneumatic systems
delivers 54 acfm of air with 70 °F or —
lower dewpoint at any needed pressure
from 3,000 to 12.000 psi.
The new system, devised from com-
ponents used in the coal mining indus-
try for almost 20 years, is said to be
operable within a day or two after de-
livery.
It consists of a semi-portable, self-
contained assembly including compres-
sor, 50-hp electric drive, controls, filter-
ing and drying equipment and storage
vessels that are mounted on structural
steel skids. Write: Cardox Corp., High
Pressure Air Div., Dept. M/R, 307 No.
Michigan Ave., Chicago 1.

PRESSURE SCANNER
The Datex Model SP-101 pressure
scanner introduced by G. M. Giannini
& Co. is aimed at lower cost and im-
proved accuracy in pressure instrumen-
tation. It is designed to permit meas-
urement of up to 12 pressure sources
with only one transducer.
The SP-101 can be used to auto-
matically introduce calibration or zero
pressures during each scan cycle, there-
by allowing calculation of exact trans-
ducer response and enabling greater
accuracy.

Basic unit consists of a stator hav-

ing 12 input ports and a rotor that con-
nects any one of these to an output
port. A unidirectional high-torque motor
rotates the rotor to a desired position
and built in provisions are available for
indication of position either visually or
digitally for operation of recording de-
vices.
SP-101 operates over a range from
0.1 to 350 psig and is usable for
psia
dry air and non-corrosive gases. Dimen-
sions are 6% x 5% x 5Vz in. Write: G.
M. Giannini & Co., Inc., Dept. M/R, 918
E. Green St., Pasadena, Calif.

missiles and rockets

 —
applications and 1.61 lbs. for Series 6050
MISSILE HYDRAULIC VALVES for %-in. line installations.
A series of hydraulic accessories de- Series 7300 four-way, pilot operated
veloped by Aircraft Products Co. for solenoid selector valves are available
3,000-psi missile and aircraft systems with a variety of design variations
includes two-way, three- and four-way with or without manual override; three-
shut-off and selector valves and low- position, spring centered; two-position,
leakage sequence valves. spring offset; three-position detent;
Series 6100 and 6200 two-way, sol- with thermal relief; and, with spool and
enoid-operated shut-off valves weigh 1.40 sleeve combinations to meet
varying
and 1.47 lbs. respectively and employ a porting needs.
balanced, inverse poppet said to allow a New slide-type sequence valves have
wide range of flows and pressures in a maximum internal leakage of 15
either direction. Available sizes are drops per minute but are produced in
adapted to V4 % or %-in. line instal-
, special models with maximum leakage
lations. of only five drops per minute.
APC's Series 6000 three-way selector Valves are available for y4 or %-in.
valve is designed to handle flows up to tube sizes and are provided with either
6 gpm through y4 or %-in. tubing com- full flow by-pass or thermal type auxil-
pared to 3.2 gpm for standard %-in. iary relief valves for cracking pressures
models. Also solenoid operated, this ranging from 8 to 4,000 psi. Write: Air-
series weighs craft Products Co., Dept. M/R, 300
1.5 lbs. for y4 to %-in.
Church Rd., Bridgeport, Pa.

IS

TUBING TESTER
A
completely automatic test device
for inspecting non-magnetic rod, tub-
ing wire or bar stock has been intro-
duced by Magnaflux Corp.
Called Magnatest FW-400, it locates
such defects as overlapping seams, di-
ameter changes, inclusions, voids, metal-
lurgical variation and splits. Unit is
designed to handle aluminum, brass,
copper, tungsten, austinetic stainless
steel and titanium from 1/64 to 3 in.
diameter.
FW-400 is available for hand opera-
tion in laboratories or for completely
automatic, high-speed operation on
production lines. Speeds in excess of 150
to 300 fpm can be accommodated. Write:
Magnaflux Corp., Dept. M
R, 7300 W.
Lawrence Ave., Chicago 31.

152 missiles and rockets

 FUEL CONTROL UNITS

Two new fuel control units for use

on turbine-type auxiliary power units
and guided missiles have been unveiled
by Pierce Governor Co.
New units are basically mechanical
type governors with single or dual valve
systems. Simple valve units control flow
of one fuel, whereas the dual valve type
controls and proportions flow of two
fuels ranging from JP-4 jet fuel through
red fuming nitric acid.
Complete Pierce unit, weighing less
than 3 lbs., requires only 0.8 hp input.
At speeds of 10,000 rpm, flows of 10,000
pph can be controlled with complete
stabilization reached in 0.2 seconds after
transit from full open to full closed
positions.
Units are adaptable to control fuel
flows of 500 to 15,000 pph at higher or
lower operating speeds. Write: Pierce
Govern Co., Inc., Aircraft Accessories
Divs., Dept. MR, Anderson, Ind.

ALL-METAL MOUNT

New Series 1255000 diagonal spring

Equiflex vibration isolator and shock
mount marketed by The Ucinite Co. are
said to withstand repeated 15g shocks
without loss of efficiency and 30g ulti-
mate.
Design features all-metal construc-
tion, non-linear spring characteristics,
high damping and all -positional or all-
attitude performance. Units reportedly
withstand hours of resonance with input
of .036" double-amplitude per Spec. MIL-
E-5272A. Write: The Ucinite Co., Div.
of United-Carr Fastener Corp., Dept.
M/R, Newtonville 60, Mass.

missiles and rockets

 SOLENOID VALVES Shockmount for Vanguard
New lightweight solenoid valves de-
signed for guided missile systems meas-
ure 2" long by 1" diameter and weigh
only 10 oz.
Valves feature a two-in-one operat-
ing arrangement whereby they can be
operated from either an open or closed
position. Changeover from one use to
another is accomplished by simple me-
chanical rearrangement of the solenoid.
Another feature includes a zero
leakage provision made possible by an
internal vent to the atmosphere through
a controlled outlet which prevents mois-
ture or contaminated air from reaching
moving parts.
Valve hermetically sealed and
coil is
solenoid may
be rotated on the valve
body to position electrical connector in
most desirable location.
Valves are designed for use with air,
helium, nitrogen, liquid oxygen or cor-
rosive liquids. Write: Automatic Con-
trols Div., Clary Corp., Dept. M R, San
Gabriel. Calif.

MOUNTINGS

Multi-directional mounting system built by Robinson Aviation, Inc. will protect Vanguard
earth satellite's Minneapolis-Honeywell inertial guidance system. Four Robinson Met-L-Flex
resilient elements will be attached to the rocket bulkhead with the equipment installed inside.
Mounting system is designed to instantly attenuate shock of 6 g or vibration over 65 cps.

THEODOLITE tect gyro alignment discrepancies by

continuous observations of reflections
New azimuth alignment theodolite from a mirror mounted on a monitored
introduced by Perkin-Elmer Corp. per- wall. The discrepancies produce error
mits alignment of precision missile guid- signals which are applied as corrective
ance gyros within an accuracy of 2 sees, signals to the drive elements of the
of arc. gyro.
It is designed to automatically de- Components are a dual optical sys-

155
 tem, a mount, and a precision electronic
reading system. An upper optical sys-
tem serves essentially as a precision
theodolite, whereas a lower unit con-
sists of two modulated light sources, a
telephoto objective, a beam-dividing
"Vee" mirror and a photomultiplier tube.
Operation of the system hinges on
use of a telephoto lens as a monitoring
objective and the reflected beam of a
monitored unit's mirror provides the
source for indication of alignment con-
dition. If out of alignment, light energy
entering a photomultiplier originates an
error signal. The phase relationship of
the energy is then used to determine
direction of error.
Write: Perkin-Elmer Corp., Engineer-
ing and Optical Div., Dept. M/R, Nor-
walk. Conn.

SERVO MOTOR

Smallest standard subminiature

servo motor available claims Ford In-
strument Co. for its Model SM-58 motor
which weighs less than 1 oz. and mea-
sures %-in. dia. by 1-in. long.
New motor is proposed for variety
of applications in servo systems, com-
puters, indicating systems and missile
control systems.
Model SM-58 operates on 26 volt,
400 cycles with a control range of
— 26 volts. Other characteristics in-
clude 2V2 watt input; 1/10 watt output;
0.063 in. oz. stall torque; 8,800 rpm no
load speed, and ambient range from
—75 to 200°F.
Write: Ford Instrument Co., Div. of
Sperry Rand Corp., Dept. M/R, 31-10
Thomson Ave., Long Island City 1, N. Y.

156 missiles and rockets

 SLOTTED LINES
Six portable slotted lines, Models
319 to 324 that have a carriage drive
mechanism integral with the waveguide
assembly have been announced. The im-
pedance meters can be used to measure
VSWRs and impedances from 2600 to
18,000 mc covering the waveguide sizes
from 3 x 1% inches to 0.702 x 0.391
inches.
The meter is supported by a remov-
able pedestal casting. Residual VSWR is
said to be under 1.01 with imperceptible
slope and slot leakage.
A mounting hole is provided for use
with all standard military and commer-
cial rf probes. Write: John Mather Lup-
ton, Inc., Narda Corp., Dept. M/R, 420
Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y.

SILICONE RUBBER
A silicone rubber that cures at room
temperature has been developed for use
in high impedance electronic circuits in
missiles.
Coating of component parts in cir-
cuits with the new rubber improves re-
sistance to vibration, moisture resist-
ance, surface resistivity and other elec-
trical properties.
Components may be inspected by
slitting the rubber after application, and
then patching. Application is with a gun
at about 100 pounds pressure. The ma-
terial is being used in the Snark missile.
Write: Dow Corning Corp., Dept. M/R,
Midland, Michigan.

SUB-FRACTIONAL HP MOTORS
Series of sub-fractional horsepower
motors introduced by George W. Borg
Corp. are rated in the range from
1/2000-hp to 1/750-hp for precision in-
strument use.
Designs feature end bells and gear
train cases of die-cast alloys that are
precision machined to form a totally
enclosed housing. Available types in-
clude synchronous and induction motors,

December, 1956
 psi. Write: McCormick Selph Associates, and is protected from moisture by a
Dept. M/R, 15 Hollister Airport, Hollis- copper nickel-plated casing.
ter, Calif. Fixed temperature settings range
from — 20
C
F to 400"F.
VIBRATION TESTING MACHINE Write: Metals & Controls Corp.,
The Model 14-28 Vibration Testing Spencer Thermostat Div., Dept. M/R,
Machine, developed for vibration testing Attleboro, Mass.
of small items, is said to be small and
lightweight with widely variable ampli-
tude and frequency.
MOTOR-GEAR-TRAIN
Product of the Ahrendt Instrument High torque, low speed and wide
Co., the machine has a cast aluminum temperature range combined with smal-
base and weighs 30 lbs. Dimensions are ler sizeare the unusual features claimed
15 in. length, 6 in. width and 9 in. for a new motor-gear-train designed
height. by John Oster Mfg. Co. Only 2.8 in.
long, the size 18 torque is 25 oz.-in.
with or without gear trains. Write: at 1.7 rpm unloaded and operates in
George W. Borg Corp., Borg Equipment temperatures as low as 55 C. — J

Div., Dept. M/R, Janesville, Wise.

Type 5602-02 uses a single phase
capacitor or 2-phase servo motor and
GAS GENERATORS is rated for continuous duty at 115V
60 cycles.
Pre-packaged gas generators, pro- Write: John Oster Mfg. Co., Dept.
duced by McCormick Selph Associates to M R, Avionic Div., Racine, Wise.
make explosive power widely available,
can provide power for pressurization of
fluids, ignition of liquid propellants. op- SERVO ACTUATOR
eration of turbines and actuation of
pistons and expandable rings.
Write: The Ahrendt Instrument Co..
The units are capable of creating a Dept. M
R, 4910 Calvert Rd., College
known amount of gas at predictable Park, Md.
pressures and temperatures for a given
time and it is said that they are insensi-
tive to vibration and acceleration due DISC-TYPE THERMOSTAT
to the absence of moving parts. A miniature, Klixon, snap-acting
Included as part of the generators thermostat especially recommended in
or as separate sub-assemblies are elec- aircraft controls and guided missiles has
trical squibs, and electrical connections been developed by the Spencer Thermo-
can be made by leads or by quick-con- stat Division of Metals & Controls Corp.
nect plug and receptacle combinations. The C7216 unit features the Spencer
Horsepower ranges from 0.01 to 150 Disc thermal element, silver electrical
and output pressures from 15 to 25,000 contacts, a hermetically sealed assembly,

White-Rodgers Co. has announced

a D-9 permanent magnet type rotary
servo actuator designed for continuous
operation at an output rating of 70
inch-pounds at 8.5 rpm.
The servo, which the company says
meets applicable military specifications,
features limit and centering switches
and potentiometer for feedback of posi-
tion information.
Weight of the unit is 1.9 lbs., diam-
eter is 3 5 16 in. and overall length is
4% in.
Write: White-Rodgers Co., Dept.
M R, 4407 Cook St., St. Louis 13, Mo.

FLUSH LATCH
An improved flush latch with spe-
cially designed rubber gaskets for better
latch sealing characteristics has been
reported by the manufacturer, Missile-
Air.
Self -sealing is accomplished by rub-
ber gaskets which are fuel-resistant and
surround "push" and handling buttons
at access doors and panels. These Series
1100 units have over-center toggle ac-
tion, weigh only one ounce and are
available for all door and offset thick-
nesses.
Write: Missile-Air, Dept. M/R, 1616
West 134th St., Gardena, Calif.

158 missiles and rockets

 RUGGEDIZED CAMERA missile literature
TEMPERATURE CONTROLS. Six-page
brochure MC-132 gives physical dimen-
sions, current ratings, temperature
ranges and other characteristics of min-
iaturized temperature controls for
missiles and related applications. Write:
Fenwal Inc., Dept. M/R, Ashland, Mass.
INSTRUMENTS. A 31-page general cat-
alog gives specifications, descriptions
and illustrations of instruments for an-
alysis, control and data processing.
Write: Consolidated Electrodynamics
Corp., Dept. M/R, 300 North Sierra.
Madre Villa, Pasadena, Calif.
OSCILLOSCOPES. Quick reference cat-
alog of a complete line of oscilloscopes,
large screen cathode ray tube indicators,
electronic test instruments, and equip-
ment for photo-recording. Write: Allen
A new ruggedized camera developed where such equipment previously could B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., Technical
by Kay Lab for rocket and jet engine not be employed due to high noise con- Sales, Dept. M/R, Clifton, N. J.
test facilities and rocket launching sites ditions. Write: Kay Lab, Dept. M/R, PRINTED CIRCUITS. A 15-page bro-
has been designed for high-noise appli- 5725 Kearny Villa Rd., San Diego 11, chure covers processing and materials
cations. Calif. data used in making printed circuits.
The camera combines with another Step-by-step information is given to-
new development, an acoustical hous- ACCELEROMETERS gether with the characteristics of vari-
ing, which provides about 45 db of iso- Formica
lation. Housing is arranged to accept
A new line of accelerometers,pres- ous base materials. Write:
sure pickups and force gages using piezo- Corp., Dept. M/R, 4617 Spring Grove
the remote iris-focus, auto-zoom lens Ave., Cincinnati 32.
electric materials has been announced.
and three-lens turret accessories for the
Change in sensitivity over a tempera- POWER CONVERTERS. A 4-page bro-
camera. ture range of —
65 to 230 degrees F is chure, catalog 56P, describes newly de-
In tests with the equipment at less than 10 percent, according to the veloped ac-dc converters using semicon-
rocket firing sites, performance was re- manufacturer. ductor devices to replace vibrator or
ported trouble-free at locations where High sensitivity is maintained at dynamotor conversion. Test is directed
sound levels well over 150 decibels had lOmv/g. Natural frequency is 35 kc, and to designers of missiles and airborne
previously been measured. a high g range of 10,000 is handled. systems where operating environments
The new combination camera and Information is available in Bulletin ere a problem. Write: Power Sources,
housing is expected to make possible the 803. Write: Kndevco Corp., Dept. M/R, Inc., Dept. M/R, 8 Schouler Court, Ar-
use of television in many applications 161 California St., Pasadena, Calif. lington, Mass.

December, 1956 159

 people
Thomas B. Carvey, asst. head of the
design integration department, has been
appointed head of
the launchers and
powerplants depart-
ment of Hughes Air-
craft Co.'s guided
missile laboratories.
John W. Withers will
succeed Carvey in
the design integra-
tion post. Dr. Morris
Feigen has been
named senior staff
engineer of the de-
Carvey s i g n integration
dept. Michael E. Hiehle has been named
project manager for the weapon sys-
tems development laboratories. John R.
McCharles and Alexander S. Jerrems
were named asst. directors of Hughes'
fire control systems laboratories.
John
E. Lowe, formerly personnel
mgr. of American Machine & Foundry
Co.'s electronics division, has been ap-
pointed director of personnel and public
relations of the company's new guided
missile launching system plant in Roch-
ester; U. W. Richardson has been
named defense products mgr.
Autonetics (a division of North
American Aviation, Inc.) engineering is
now headed by the following persons:
J. C. Elms, armament control; D. L.
Williams, flight control; D. B. Wright,
flight test; S. F. Eyestone, guidance;
E. A. Holmes, III, reliability and stand-
ards; and G. D. Shere, data process
equipment.
David L. Grimes has been appointed
president of Narmco, Inc., manufac-
turer, among other things, of aircraft
and missile components.
Edward Hartshorne has been named
gen. mgr. of the nuclear fuel division
of Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp.
J. S. Warfel is manager of Aerojet-
General Corp.'s new Avionics Division,
formerly known as Electronics and
Guidance Division.
Dr. John L. Miller, director of de-
fense activities for The Firestone Tire
& Rubber Co., has
been named deputy
chairman and a
member of the Na-
tional Council of the
Artillery Division of
the American Ord-
nance Assn., in ad-
dition to his position
as deputy chairman
of the Guided Mis-
sile and Rocket
Division.
Ml " er The following
persons have recently joined the staff
of the Applied Physics Laboratory of
the Johns Hopkins University: Thomas
S. Mortimer, Kenneth W. Howard, Jr.,
and Herndon H. Jenkins, Jr., associate
engineers, and George Gebel and Jacob
L. Herson, engineers. The Laboratory is
engaged in guided missile research and
development.
Roger A. Burt has been appointed
manager of the systems analysis section
of Electronic Control Systems, Inc., an
affiliate of Stromberg-Carlson and a
subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Lawrence G. Haggerty has been
elected president of Farnsworth Elec-
tronics Co. P. E. LaLiberte has been

missiles and rockets

appointed sales manager for weapon
control equipment for General Electric's
light military electronic equipment de-
partment.
Rod Koutnik has joined the auto-
matic controls division of Clary Corp.
George F. Metcalf has been named
general manager of General Electric's
new missile and ordnance systems de-
partment.
Dr. George Roka has been named
director of the semi-conductor division
of Marvelco Electronics Division, Na-
tional Aircraft Co.
L. S. Preston has been appointed
chief engineer of the Electronic Engi-
neering Co. of California; D. R. Proctor
will be his assistant.
Brig. Gen. Howell M. Eates, Jr.,
asst. deputy commander for weapon
systems at ARDC's Detachment No. 1
at Wright-Patterson AFB, has been
promoted to major general. This de-
tachment manages the development of
USAF missiles and aircraft weapon sys-
tems.
Under a major reorganization, Bell
Aircraft Corp's Niagara Frontier Divi-
H sion will be discon-
^tfBBp f
tinued and its ac-
i vi t i e s
t will be
divided into two new
—
divisions the A i r-
craft Division headed
by vice president
Julius J. Domonkos
and the Weapons
Systems Division
headed by vice pres-
ident Roy J. Sand-
strom. The Weapons
Domonkos Systems Division will
be subdivided into four units: Avionics,
John H. van Lonkhuyzen, mgr. Rockets, ;

William M. Smith, mgr.; Guided Mis-

siles, Jesse H. Zabriskie, mgr.; and Re-
search, John F. Strickler, Jr., mgr.
Edwin H. Meier, head of the Hughes
Aircraft Co.'s guided missile engineering
laboratories at Tucson, and Frank G.
Miller, head of the systems engineering
department in the guided missile lab-
oratories at Culver City, have exchanged
positions.
Henry A. Boguslawski has been
elected vp-engineering sales for Rocke
International Corp.; M. M. Riise (Cmdr.
USN, ret.) has been named exec. asst.
to the president. Boguslawski was form-
erly associated with RCA; Mr. Riise was
with Sperry Rand, in operations for the
Defense Department's missile program
and guidance system.
Allan W. Jayne will head Gabriel
Electronics Division's research and de-
velopment activities at the Gabriel
Company, Needham Heights, Mass. Dr.
Richard J. Burke has been named head
of Lockheed Aircraft Corp.'s Missile
Systems division's telemetering depart-
ment.
David P. Coffin, Jr. has been ap-
pointed chief of Hoover Electronics Co.'s
Engineering Department, defense pro-
jects section; Robert P. Wehrmann will
head the telemetering section.
Dr. Robert E. Buchele has been
named staff assistant to the Western
Division manager of Servomechanisms,
Inc. Dr. Earl L. Steele was appointed
chief engineer of the development de-
partment, Semiconductor Products Divi-
sion, Motorola Inc.
Warren E. Milner was appointed to
the newly created position of mgr. of
the Milwaukee plants of AC Spark Plug
Division of General Motors.

161
December, 1956
 Sperry, Alcoa Sign
Wage Agreements
Sperry Gyroscope Co., division
of Sperry-Rand Corp. has reached
agreement with International Union
of Electrical Workers on a 4-year
pact covering 9,500 employes. It
provides a 5<t per hour pay increase
and a cost of living adjustment of 2#
an hour effective November 1.
Aluminum Co. of America and
United Auto Workers signed a 3-
year, no-strike contract providing
benefits of about 46<* an hour over
the three years. It covers about
4,200 UAWmembers at Alcoa plants
in Garwood, N.J.; Vernon, Calif.,
Chicago and Cleveland.

Ex-Northrop Official
Forms New Firm
Cybergor, Inc. has been organ-
ized under president J. J. Gorman,
former Northrop budget director,
as a new source of magnetic ma-
terials. D. F. White, until now chief
engineer of Marchant Research
Corp., is v.p. -engineering.

New company is specializing in

ferrites and grain-oriented silicon
and nickel steel toroids. Offices are
at 1705 W. 135 St., Gardena, Calif.

P&W Employment Drive

At Half-way Mark
A drive by Pratt & Whitney Air-
craft division of United Aircraft
Corp. to add 3,000 technicians to its
payroll by December 31 has reached
the midway point, according to com-
pany officials.

P&W payroll in October moved

beyond 38,500 toward a goal of
40,000 by the year end. Employment
drive is aimed at virtually all job
—
categories machine operators, tool
and die makers, sheet metal, weld-
ing and assembly technicians, en-
gine test house operators, mechan-
ics and inspectors.

Its current missile activity in-

cludes production of J57 engines for
the Northrop Snark.

missiles and rockets

Marquardt, Bendix nuclear science and engineering to
its rocket engines and other devel-
Get Tax Write-offs opments.
Marquardt Aircraft Co. has New office is headed by D. A.
been granted an accelerated tax Young, asst. chief engineer of Aero-
amortization of 60% by Office of jet's Liquid Engine Division.
Defense Mobilization covering new
$3,295,475 facility at Ogden, Utah. Navy Lets $31 Million
Bendix Products Div., Misha-
Contracts for Sidewinder
waka, Ind. was granted a rapid tax
Navy last month let two new
write-off at 40% for new missile
contracts totaling $31 million for
facilities valued at $316,275.
production of guidance and control
units for its Sidewinder air-to-air
Avco Leases Denver Office missile.
Avco Manufacturing Corp. has An award of $17 million went to
leased 3,000 sq. ft. of office space in
General Electric Co. and another for
the Mile High Bldg., Denver presum-
$14 million to Philco Corp.
ably in connection with its ICBM
nose cone development work. West Coast Gets
Avco is one of two firms work- New Electronics Firm
ing on the critical nose section for
Dr. J. V. N. Granger, former
the Titan missile which Martin will
head of Stanford Research Insti-
build near Denver.
tutes radio systems laboratory, has
The company expects some 35
formed Granger Associates, a new
employes will be assigned there.
California corporation for develop-
ment and production of aircraft
Aerojet Sets Up electronics equipment.
Nuclear Department In addition to Granger as pres-
Aerojet-General Corp. has es- ident, other officers are R. M. Leon-
tablished a Nuclear Projects De- ard, secretary, and R. J. Halk, treas-
partment at its Azusa, Calif, plant urer. Temporary offices are at 801
in a move to promote application of El Camino Rd., Menlo Park, Calif.

December, 1956 163