Some Implications of the Sputniki I

A world-famous authority on the problems involved in conquering outer space offers some scientific observations on satellites and missiles which have not been adequately stated in the daily press

Ever since Sputnik No. 1 took up its orbit around the earth thorough newspaper readers must have been thoroughly bewildered by the headlines they could read in succession. One read: “Sputnik’s Meaning: ‘Catch Up Or Die’ Says Rocket Engineer.” He was immediately fired from his job. Another one was “Just a Silly Bauble Says Presidential Advisor.” He was not fired. Still another one: “ ‘Does not Worry Me One Iota’ Says Ike.” This was followed by statements that the U.S. missile program would not be speeded up because it was a high-pressure program already. Then Dr. Killian of M.I.T. was appointed to speed up the missile program. A budget cut of $170 million for basic research was quietly restored, but not so quietly that the newspapers failed to catch on.

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Willy Ley

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A world-famous authority on the problems involved in conquering outer space offers some scientific observations on satellites and missiles which have not been adequately stated in the daily press

Ever since Sputnik No. 1 took up its orbit around the earth thorough newspaper readers must have been thoroughly bewildered by the headlines they could read in succession. One read: “Sputnik’s Meaning: ‘Catch Up Or Die’ Says Rocket Engineer.” He was immediately fired from his job. Another one was “Just a Silly Bauble Says Presidential Advisor.” He was not fired. Still another one: “ ‘Does not Worry Me One Iota’ Says Ike.” This was followed by statements that the U.S. missile program would not be speeded up because it was a high-pressure program already. Then Dr. Killian of M.I.T. was appointed to speed up the missile program. A budget cut of $170 million for basic research was quietly restored, but not so quietly that the newspapers failed to catch on.