Art by John Polgreen for the book “Space Travel” by Willy Ley. Poughkeepsie: Guild Press, (1958).
“Minerva – the first interplanetary ship – as she leaves the space station on her trip to the minor planet Eros.
“Eros is one of the hundreds of minor planets, also called planetoids or asteroids, in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Eros was discovered in 1898 and, when its orbit was calculated, it was discovered that it did not stay in the space between Mars and Jupiter. It crossed the orbit of Mars and came much closer to earth than Mars, which at its minimum distance is still 35 million miles away.” [From the text]
The final destination is Mars and two winged rocket ships may be seen attached to the side of the Minerva. Those ships will actually attempt a landing on Mars. Minerva will remain behind on the Martian moon Phobos.
Art by John Polgreen for the book “Space Travel” by Willy Ley. Poughkeepsie: Guild Press, (1958).
“Minerva – the first interplanetary ship – as she leaves the space station on her trip to the minor planet Eros.
“Eros is one of the hundreds of minor planets, also called planetoids or asteroids, in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Eros was discovered in 1898 and, when its orbit was calculated, it was discovered that it did not stay in the space between Mars and Jupiter. It crossed the orbit of Mars and came much closer to earth than Mars, which at its minimum distance is still 35 million miles away.” [From the text]
The final destination is Mars and two winged rocket ships may be seen attached to the side of the Minerva. Those ships will actually attempt a landing on Mars. Minerva will remain behind on the Martian moon Phobos.