Walt Whitman Junior High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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THE SPACE AGE Satellites The first satellite was launch- ed by the Russians in 1957. One of the main problems of launching a rocket or satellite is overcoming inertia, as stated in Newton's Laws of Inertiag a body at rest tends to remain at rest unless acted upon by some outside force. After this is overcome, the satellite must be balanced. The satellite is controlled by two natural for- ces: the centrifugal force and the earth's gravitational pull. The satellite must be exactly balanced between these two forces in order to remain in orbit, What It's Like In Outer Space The satellites that are now tra- veling out in space keep in constant touch with the earth. Their mes- sages have helped to tell those on earth more about the universe. On any average day now, more than twenty-five satellites Cusually eight American to one Russianj are traveling in orbit around the earth. This fleet of satellites is on a tremendous exploration mission. The satellites go through the dense world of outer space at speeds ranging from 16,000 to above 20,000 miles an hour. Space is by no means empty. It is filled with cosmic dust, solar winds, rays waves, electrons, protons, nuclei of atoms, and specks of matter be- fore it has become material or after it has ceased to be that. As a result of the information gathered by U.S. satellites and space probes, new vistas are open- ing in scores of different fields! global TV, cheap transoceanic telephone calls in unlimited vol- ume, day and night navigation by I fixed stars, and an apparently cli- matic breakthrough in long range weather forecasting. The United States is already helping nine other countries in space efforts of their own---Great Britian, France, Canada, Australia, japan, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Argentina---and is trying to get the Soviet Union to cooperate in a weather satellite program. Meanwhile, the space fleet will continue to grow. American Space Vehicles 1. Explorers- The Explorers re- corded the existence of radiation around the earth. They also took the first pictures of the earth from space, 2. Vanguards- The Vanguards obtained data on the earth's mag- netic fields and on solar radia- tion. 3. Pioneers- The Pioneers are now orbiting the sun. They sent back important data on solar phenomena. 4. Discovers- The Discovers weee used to perfect the re-entry and recovery techniques, and also stopping and restarting of rocket motors in flight. 5. Tiros- The Tiros were design- ed to aid weather forcasting. They also transmitted photographs of cloud formations. 6. Transits- The Transits were used to test radio signals as an aid for navigation. 7. Midas- The Midas were used to detect missile launchings any- where on earth. This is accom- plished by use of instruments that are sensitive to infra-red rays. 8. Echo- The Echo is used in orbiting. CIt is still in orbitb It is a huge silvery balloon used to reflect radio waves. 9. Courier- This satelitte is used for global relays of radio and television waves. LINDA MIRINGOFF DOROTHY URMAN 7

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I S-114' F, P ,,f' ...f- ii- ,NNNN NNNX 6 if THE FIRST MEN INTO SPAQE Americans were exuberant on February 20th, this year,when Lt. Col. John H. Glenn circled the earth three successive times in his rocketship Friendship 7. Lt. Col. Glenn was the first American to succeed in this astounding feat. To say that we are proud of our out was pioneer in space goes with- Lt. Col. Glenn question. feted with celebrations in his honor in Washington D.C., New York, and in his home town, New Concord, Ohio. He received thousands of letters from en- thusiastic citizens from every state in the union. He was awarded medals, keys to the city, and other tokens of affection. The orbiting of the earth took approximately five hours. A large compliment of scientists, technicians, and helpers were re- sponsible for the successful carrying out of plans that re- ,Pk quired months of preparation. Previous to Mr. G1enn's notable achievement, two Russian cos- monaufs had likewise achieved worl- wide acclaim by orbiting the earth. Yuri Gagarin and Ghermane Titov circled the earth one and seventeen times respectively. We must not forget astro- nauts Alan Shepard in the Free- . if-, dom 7 and Virgil Grissom in the Liberty Bell 7. Mendick wr

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KFHWWW ,RESEARCH IN SCIENCE A Desireable Career In The Space Age Science as a career for junior high school boys and girls is a vital subject today because of re- cent advances in space, nuclear, and engineering research. Mr. Slotkin, ninth year science . . teacher, in a recent interview outlined possibilities of making science a life-time career. He stressed that the average student interested in science believes that he can become ei- ther a chemist, nuclear engineer, or space engineer, but that he does not know about the need for bright and enthusiastic researchers According to Mr. Slotkin, re- search is the most important in any scientific field. Without research none of the sciences could be applied. Too many of today's pupils are discouraged from research because of finan- cial reasons. The researchefs salary is considerably lower than the applied scientist's. This is very unjust but the salary of the researcher is being in- creased steadily. fj 6 Q What makes people go into research? Is it curiosity or dedication? Research is the most difficult field of science and presents a challenge. If you are successful in research, you have the thrill of original achieve- ment. HSome peop1e,n Mr. Slotkin says, Hare gifted enough to be- come researchers and are obligated to use their ta1ents.N He agrees with Dr. Albert Schweitzer who says, Uwhatever you have received more than others....in health, in talents, in ability, in success.. all this you must not take to your- self as a matter of course. In gratitude for your good fortune, you must render in return some sacrifice. We must give most of all, of ourse1ves.U Robert Brownstein l 8 1