“The ‘Spirit of Youth’ Reaches the Moon.” Illustration by Frank R. Paul for Bob Olsen’s story titled “Four Dimensional Transit.”
Published in “Amazing Stories Quarterly,” Vol. 1, No. 4 (Fall, 1928).
“… pointed in different directions – we can easily steer toward any given point, merely by turning one or more of the tubes in the direction opposite from that in which we desire to go, and shooting a charge of explosive gas through the tubes. . .That isn’t perfect, but I think it will be close enough for now. My mechanism for controlling the rocket tubes is very crude and imperfect. When I get time, I expect to work it out in such a way that the rockets can be operated automatically by means of the joy stick – just like ordinary flying. For the time being, however, our present method will serve the purpose. I think.” [Quoting the story]
[Note: Our spacefarers in the “Spirit of Youth” used the rudder and prop to get the plane high enough above the earth. Then they kicked in the rockets for the journey into space. Sounds a bit like Virgin Galactic’s strategy for getting into space, except that the “Spirit of Youth” made it all the way to the moon. I wonder if Richard Branson read “Amazing Stories” in his youth.]
“The ‘Spirit of Youth’ Reaches the Moon.” Illustration by Frank R. Paul for Bob Olsen’s story titled “Four Dimensional Transit.”
Published in “Amazing Stories Quarterly,” Vol. 1, No. 4 (Fall, 1928).
“… pointed in different directions – we can easily steer toward any given point, merely by turning one or more of the tubes in the direction opposite from that in which we desire to go, and shooting a charge of explosive gas through the tubes. . .That isn’t perfect, but I think it will be close enough for now. My mechanism for controlling the rocket tubes is very crude and imperfect. When I get time, I expect to work it out in such a way that the rockets can be operated automatically by means of the joy stick – just like ordinary flying. For the time being, however, our present method will serve the purpose. I think.” [Quoting the story]
[Note: Our spacefarers in the “Spirit of Youth” used the rudder and prop to get the plane high enough above the earth. Then they kicked in the rockets for the journey into space. Sounds a bit like Virgin Galactic’s strategy for getting into space, except that the “Spirit of Youth” made it all the way to the moon. I wonder if Richard Branson read “Amazing Stories” in his youth.]