earlyspace_v_bw_o_n (original 1959 press photo)
“The sharp, clear photographs recently taken of the earth from more than 300 miles in the sky marked a major advance in our space program.
The recovery of the film also was significant.
We have succeeded in opening the door to true photographic reconnaissance of the earth, not only because of the quality of the photographs taken, but also because of the success of our recovery system.
Many approaches were made, and much experimentation was necessary before our recovery technique was perfected, but now we can be certain that we are able to recover a space payload. We use a parachute to settle it slowly to the earth, as in the planned landing of our Mercury astronauts, or use an outside shell, which will boil away due to the heat generated by friction with the atmosphere.
Engineers had a multitude of problems to solve in working out these solutions.
It has been shown that when an object falls from space it gains speed until it hits the earth’s surface at 450 feet a second, or slightly more than 300 miles an hour. The instantaneous deceleration at the point of impact is about 40,000 G’s – that is, 40,000 times the force of gravity. A 100-pound object hitting the earth in this fashion would have an instantaneous weight of about 4,000,000 pounds!...”
As written by Dr. I. M. Levitt, Director, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. A wonderfully nostalgic glimpse by the respected Astronomer of an early space flight accomplishment. So, possibly a “Wonders of the Universe” installment?
Unfortunately, the attached newspaper clipping was cut off at this point.
The helicopter appears to be a Sikorsky S-55 (H-19 Chickasaw). Perhaps a Cruiser in the background? Destroyer? Idk. With the recovery boat closing in on the payload.
Finally, is there ANYTHING that John Gorsuch could not render???
I don’t think so…AND he was prolific!
1959, I had no idea his works went back that far.
earlyspace_v_bw_o_n (original 1959 press photo)
“The sharp, clear photographs recently taken of the earth from more than 300 miles in the sky marked a major advance in our space program.
The recovery of the film also was significant.
We have succeeded in opening the door to true photographic reconnaissance of the earth, not only because of the quality of the photographs taken, but also because of the success of our recovery system.
Many approaches were made, and much experimentation was necessary before our recovery technique was perfected, but now we can be certain that we are able to recover a space payload. We use a parachute to settle it slowly to the earth, as in the planned landing of our Mercury astronauts, or use an outside shell, which will boil away due to the heat generated by friction with the atmosphere.
Engineers had a multitude of problems to solve in working out these solutions.
It has been shown that when an object falls from space it gains speed until it hits the earth’s surface at 450 feet a second, or slightly more than 300 miles an hour. The instantaneous deceleration at the point of impact is about 40,000 G’s – that is, 40,000 times the force of gravity. A 100-pound object hitting the earth in this fashion would have an instantaneous weight of about 4,000,000 pounds!...”
As written by Dr. I. M. Levitt, Director, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. A wonderfully nostalgic glimpse by the respected Astronomer of an early space flight accomplishment. So, possibly a “Wonders of the Universe” installment?
Unfortunately, the attached newspaper clipping was cut off at this point.
The helicopter appears to be a Sikorsky S-55 (H-19 Chickasaw). Perhaps a Cruiser in the background? Destroyer? Idk. With the recovery boat closing in on the payload.
Finally, is there ANYTHING that John Gorsuch could not render???
I don’t think so…AND he was prolific!
1959, I had no idea his works went back that far.