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(meteorobs) Fwd: First object in space
Slightly off-topic for our list, but very interesting nonetheless.
NOTE: Brian is not a current 'meteorobs' reader. If you follow up,
please be sure to reply directly to 'Brian.Noe@vandenberg.af.mil'.
Clear skies!
Lew Gramer <owner-meteorobs@meteorobs.org>
-----Original Message-----
From: Noe Brian Capt 381TRSS/TSF <Brian.Noe@vandenberg.af.mil>
To: "'meteorobs@atmob.org'" <meteorobs@atmob.org>
Subject: First object in space
Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 20:38:16 -0000
Wayne,
I happened to read your message asking about the first object in space -
whether it was really Sputnik or the lid blown from an underground nuclear
test. I have heard that rumor about the 1947 nuclear test, but the problem
is that nobody was tracking it, so it's really conjecture.
What I CAN tell you, however, is that Sputnik was definitely NOT the first
man-made object in space. In fact, in 1949, the Army launched a modified
V-2 rocket (WAC corporal second stage) to an altitude of 250 miles.
Additionally, in 1954, the Army launched two rockets, one an Aerobee
(modified WAC Corporal); the other a Viking to altitudes of 80 miles and 158
miles respectively. Space is conventionally considered to begin at 50
miles, placing all three vehicles well outside of the boundary. As much as
I might have hoped it would be an Air Force bird :-), the AF was
surprisingly short-sided in its embrace of space. I got this information
from Beyond Horizons: A Half-Century of Air Force Space Leadership by David
N. Spires (Air University Press) page 17.
Hope this is helpful.
Very Respectfully,
Brian J. Noe, Capt USAF
Commander, Faculty Development Flight
381 TRSS/TSF
1472 Nevada Ave St 228
VAFB, CA 93437
(805)606-0101 / DSN 276-0101
brian.noe@vandenberg.af.mil
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