FIRST STEPS TOWARD SPACE - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 10 215
pair kit and medicine chest would be carried—the
latter containing a little alcohol which might be
raided to celebrate the lunar landing. The imperative
need to minimize dead weight is humorously
reflected in the spartan culinary outfitting. There
was to be only one electrically-heated pan for boiling
and frying, one cup, one spoon and one plate
for each of the crew—and only one knife and fork,
passed hand to hand, between all three. Power for
cooking, lighting and heating was to be obtained
from the main battery. All waste products would
be disposed of through one of the airlocks.
Since the ship was to be self-reliant as regards
navigation, various necessities were mentioned, such
as geometrical instruments, mathematical tables,
almanacs, etc. With weight-saving always in mind,
indelible balsa-wood pencils would be supplied and
light rice-paper used for printed and written matter.
A rangefinder, small telescope, sextants, and a
chronometer were to be carried to obtain star-fixes
while in transit and also for use on the Moon.
Four spacesuits were to be taken—that is, one
spare in reserve. The helmets were to be roomy,
oxygen in liquid form probably used, and arrangements
would be made for heating. Dark goggles and
sunburn lotion would guard against the Sun's
actinic rays. It was suggested that rubber membranes
might be provided which could be inflated
balloonwise over the head and arms, inside the
atmosphere of which the astronauts might eat and
drink while on a long exploratory trek. (This idea
might be extended, with several obvious advantages,
to use of a gas-proof membrane, attached to a
thermally-insulating base, to contain the whole
spacesuited individual.)
A light canvas tent and light camp beds were to
be carried by the party to improve thermal insulation
during rest periods while abroad on the Moon.
Contact with the ship would be maintained either
by signal rockets or light flashes. It was also remarked
that reports and commentaries might be
transmitted to Earth as signals or speech via a light
beam. Today, xenon flashers and lasers are proposed
possibilities for this purpose.
The program of exploration was visualized as
including checking the Moon's gravitation with a
spring-balance and gravity pendulum, geological
surveying, photographing and mineralogical sampling.
The field and laboratory equipment proposed
for this work was given.
The main article on the British Interplanetary
Society spaceship concluded with a note that a
"launching device" for the vessel would be discussed
in a subsequent issue of the Journal. But war intervened
and the article was not written. A few details
were however given in the July 1939 Journal. 1 "
These, slightly augmented by remarks elsewhere
and the present writer's recollections, are as follows:
The ship was imagined as being launched almost
vertically from a flooded rotating caisson submerged
in water. Said Smith, this floatation would have
"distributed the load over a greater area." High
pressure steam was to be injected into the caisson
to start the vessel upwards, and almost immediately
afterwards 126 of the first Step rockets would be
ignited by impulse from a running dynamo situated
in the conduit at the bottom of the Step. This was
intended to avoid excessive instantaneous load on
the ship's power-pack.
Launching was to take place from a high-altitude
lake situated as near the Equator as possible. Reasons
for this choice were: maximum advantage from
Earth's rotation, minimum air-resistance loss, minimization
of launch weight, a range-head more
easily sequestered and patrolled than one on land,
and less damage to surroundings in event of explosion.
Most favoured location was the Andean Lake
Titicaca, 3800 m high, partly in Bolivia and partly
in Peru, centered on about 16° south latitude, and
with access by railroad from the Pacific Coast. 19
Upon outbreak of war, further concerted work
became impossible, and the Society's activities were
suspended. However, some leading members maintained
contact, and work was still done, the fruits
of which are found in post-war publications.
I think I am justified in saying that the foregoing
much abridged account of the work of the pre-war
British Interplanetary Society's Technical and Experimental
Committees reveals original and sound
technical thinking on many of the problems involved.
Indeed, at the time of publication, the British
Interplanetary Society spaceship was in overall
conception and detail by far the most realistic and
competent embodiment existing. At this later and
technically more potent date, we may perhaps sum
its virtues and failings by saying: "If not true, it
was well invented."