This is what happens when you let scientists play with toys. Apparently, last summer, the Air Force detonated three atomic bombs high above the South Atlantic… just to see what would happen! That's actually a little too glib. Dr. N.C. Cristofilos, of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, has always wanted to trace the lines of magnetic … Continue reading Kaboom! (Project Argus; 3-26-1959)
Something went into orbit on the 28th. Maybe. Normally, I herald each new space launch with strident fanfare. After all, when Vanguard or Explorer go up, it's big news and everybody knows about it. But the Air Force's announced launch of "Discoverer" on February 28 has that same sort of strangeness and after-the-fact quality I've … Continue reading Fool's Satellite (Discoverer 1; 3-02-1959)
At long last, the Vanguard team has launched the satellite it had always wanted to. Vanguard II soared into orbit atop its 3-stage launcher yesterday joining four other satellites (three American, one Soviet) around the Earth. It is expected to orbit for the next 300 years. The Navy and NASA have been trying for almost … Continue reading Vanguard does it again! (Vanguard II; 2-18-1959)
It's time for a little timely flag-waving. Last year, around the time I started this column, Operation Blue Bat wrapped up. It was one of our better moments, foreign policy-wise. Who'd even heard of Lebanon before 1958? But when that country came to the brink of civil war in the aftermath of the Iraqi revolution, … Continue reading Send the Marines! (1-17-1959)
These are exciting times we live in. The drop in published science fiction is (almost) made up for by the increase in space-related articles in my newspaper. I read an Associated Press piece yesterday that I thought was particularly interesting: "NEW YORK (AP) Colonies of Earthmen will occupy the Moon, Mars and Venus. Rockets will … Continue reading Things to Come (10-31-1958)