There are days when everything goes right. Here we are at the end of a difficult year for space travel. The Air Force had nearly a dozen failures in a row with its Discoverer proto spy satellite. The Pioneer Atlas Ables moon shots were all a bust. Even the successful probes rarely made it into … Continue reading [Dec. 19, 1960] A Very Good Day (Mercury Redstone 1A)
Today, NASA made a record–just not one it wanted to. For the first time, a space program has been a complete failure. Sure, we've had explosions and flopniks and rockets that veered too high or too low. We've had capsules that popped their tops and capsules that got lost in the snow. But never has … Continue reading [Dec. 15, 1960] Booby Prize (Pioneer Atlas Able #4)
The bird finally has wings! By bird, I mean that lawn-dart of a rocket plane, NASA's X-15. Until yesterday, that sleek black vehicle, designed to probe the edges of space from underneath, had been a work in progress. The X-15 had already flown 25 times, zooming at faster than Mach 3 and climbing to a … Continue reading [November 16, 1960] Fully Fledged (a November Space Race update)
As October draws to a close, it is worth taking a pause and reflecting on all the things that did and didn't happen this month before moving on to a preview of November. In the battle of the digests, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction came out the clear winner with an aggregate rating … Continue reading [Oct. 31, 1960] Looking both ways (October wrap-up, November preview)
Talk about a good week for Space news! There I was, all ready to discuss the latest IF Science Fiction (which is quite good, by the way), and then both the United States and the Soviet Union came out with a couple of bombshells that I couldn't ignore. And neither should you. Firstly, right on … Continue reading [August 20, 1960] Up and Down (Americans and Soviets recover space capsules)
I promised an exciting week in space flight, and I'm here to deliver. Both the Air Force and NASA are all smiles this week thanks to two completely successful missions that mean a great deal for our future above the Earth. First off, the military side. 13 had proven to be a lucky number for … Continue reading [August 12, 1960] Two for two! (Space News Round-up)
Something very exciting happened this week: Spaceflight became routine. Remember just a couple of years ago? The press was full of flopniks, grapefruit-sized spacecraft, and about a launch every other month. Every mission was an adventure, and space was the great unknown. All that has changed. Not only are we launching more, and more advanced … Continue reading [June 30, 1960] On a roll! (Space Race Wrap-up)
At long last, the Soviets have launched another Sputnik. While Americans try to pierce the sky with almost fortnightly frequency (more on that shortly), the Russians seem content to proceed at a more leisurely pace, but to get more bang for their buck. Their latest shot, which the press has dubbed Sputnik 4, but should … Continue reading [May 15, 1960] Soviets take the Lead! (Sputnik 4)
Remember the years before Sputnik when space news comprised semi-annual rocket launch reports, annual Willy Ley books, and the occasional Bonestell/Von Braun coffee table book? Even after Sputnik, weeks would go by without a noteworthy event. But, slowly but surely, the pace of space launches has increased. Just this last week, I caught wind of … Continue reading [April 19, 1960] Where we are (Space News Round-up)
Something took off today from Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, not far from Cocoa Beach. There was no official announcement, and the mission was almost assuredly solely military in nature. An Atlas ICBM, clearly modified for satellite launch (note the second-stage booster), took off around 10:30 AM, Florida time. After a flawless take-off, observers … Continue reading [Feb. 26, 1960] Fair Warning (a mystery launch)