Way Back When – July 9, 1961

Apollo approaches from the left for moon landings

The earlier missions will give astronauts the chance to practice flying the craft and to test its highly sophisticated equipment on these missions. Apollo will be boosted by Saturn rockets now under development. The Saturn C1 with a thrust of 15 million pounds is scheduled for tests this summer.

As for the missile powerful enough to boost the 150,000 pounds Apollo for the moon landing, scientists believe the answer lies in an enormous space vehicle called Nova which is also in the planning stage NASA Chief James E Webb described it.

“The overall height of the Nove will be some 360 feet – 60 feet taller than a football field is long. The diameter of the first stage will be some 50 feet and the upper stages some 25 feet. In one version the first stage will consist of eight clustered F-1 engines, each developing a thrust of 15 million pounds, using conventional rocket fuel. In cluster, the engines will produce a total thrust is about 12 million pounds. This version also calls for second and third stages fueled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.”

President Kennedy's new space budget call for $48.5 million to start work on a liquid-fueled Nova. Another $62 million has been earmarked to perfect solid fuels for Nova. As soon as the technical promise of each can be assessed, one will be selected for final development and utilization.

At the same time, additional millions will be spent on unmanned machines on the moon. They will be equipped with television cameras and other equipment to send earth information needed for safe manned landing.

Edgar M Cortright, Assistant Director of NASA's Lunar and Planetary Programs, explains: “Project Prospector will be capable of landing thousand of pounds of useful payload at a predetermined location on the lunar surface. Before the landing of man, we will be able to establish a small depot of supplies and equipment, possibly a jeep for surface transportation and small rockets to return