Oral Histories of Ballistic Missile Development Pioneers from the NASA Oral History Project: Featuring Simon Ramo, Co-founder of TRW, and General Bernard A. Schriever, USAF Missile Architect

Nonfiction, History, Military, Nuclear Warfare, Science & Nature, Technology, Aeronautics & Astronautics
Cover of the book Oral Histories of Ballistic Missile Development Pioneers from the NASA Oral History Project: Featuring Simon Ramo, Co-founder of TRW, and General Bernard A. Schriever, USAF Missile Architect by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9780463303191
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: May 20, 2018
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9780463303191
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: May 20, 2018
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

As part of the NASA Oral History Project, three key figures in the development of ballistic missiles were interviewed: Ruben F. Mettler, Ballistic Missile Engineer; Simon Ramo, Chairman and CEO, TRW, Inc.; Co-founder TRW, Inc. (primary contractor to U.S. Air Force for ballistic missiles); and famous General Bernard A. Schriever, Commander, U.S. Air Force Western Development/ Ballistic Missile Division.

Mettler said: It was very clear to everybody that if you could achieve a 6,000-mile ballistic missile, a little more velocity would miss the Earth on the other side and, hence, go into orbit. So it was very clear that a 6,000-mile ICBM, if the payload was reduced or if an additional stage was added, could, without any doubt, be a launcher for a satellite. I used to try to explain that by saying, well, now, [Isaac] Newton, in the seventeenth century—I guess it was seventeenth, yes—had the analogy that if you imagined that there was a tower that was twenty miles high, you threw a rock out, it would land. You threw it a little harder, it would go farther. If you threw it hard enough, it would go around and hit you in the back of your head. So there was no mystery about the fact that some additional velocity and additional technology could become the launcher for satellites and for space. There was no question that Sputnik changed the attitudes and a number of the decisions in the Defense Department and really all the way up to the President, President [Dwight D.] Eisenhower, because it was a demonstration that they then, the Soviets, if you recall, then tried to advertise as a rationale for having a superior economic system, and this propaganda, what it really was, was quite effective and surprised and affected many people around the world.

There's no question that it stimulated the urgency, and schedules were shortened. I can recall clearly one trip that General Schriever made to Washington at that time. He came back and he said, "Your schedule is now one year earlier than it was," and that went through the whole program. Also it was one of the rationales for the IRBM. It was clearly an easier problem to do a 2,000-mile ballistic missile than a 6,000 mile. The idea was that an early, quick, really very crash program for a short-range weapon could then, in emergency, be deployed forward in England or Italy, even Turkey, if necessary. So Sputnik was an accelerator. It was a catalyst, maybe is the best way to say it.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

As part of the NASA Oral History Project, three key figures in the development of ballistic missiles were interviewed: Ruben F. Mettler, Ballistic Missile Engineer; Simon Ramo, Chairman and CEO, TRW, Inc.; Co-founder TRW, Inc. (primary contractor to U.S. Air Force for ballistic missiles); and famous General Bernard A. Schriever, Commander, U.S. Air Force Western Development/ Ballistic Missile Division.

Mettler said: It was very clear to everybody that if you could achieve a 6,000-mile ballistic missile, a little more velocity would miss the Earth on the other side and, hence, go into orbit. So it was very clear that a 6,000-mile ICBM, if the payload was reduced or if an additional stage was added, could, without any doubt, be a launcher for a satellite. I used to try to explain that by saying, well, now, [Isaac] Newton, in the seventeenth century—I guess it was seventeenth, yes—had the analogy that if you imagined that there was a tower that was twenty miles high, you threw a rock out, it would land. You threw it a little harder, it would go farther. If you threw it hard enough, it would go around and hit you in the back of your head. So there was no mystery about the fact that some additional velocity and additional technology could become the launcher for satellites and for space. There was no question that Sputnik changed the attitudes and a number of the decisions in the Defense Department and really all the way up to the President, President [Dwight D.] Eisenhower, because it was a demonstration that they then, the Soviets, if you recall, then tried to advertise as a rationale for having a superior economic system, and this propaganda, what it really was, was quite effective and surprised and affected many people around the world.

There's no question that it stimulated the urgency, and schedules were shortened. I can recall clearly one trip that General Schriever made to Washington at that time. He came back and he said, "Your schedule is now one year earlier than it was," and that went through the whole program. Also it was one of the rationales for the IRBM. It was clearly an easier problem to do a 2,000-mile ballistic missile than a 6,000 mile. The idea was that an early, quick, really very crash program for a short-range weapon could then, in emergency, be deployed forward in England or Italy, even Turkey, if necessary. So Sputnik was an accelerator. It was a catalyst, maybe is the best way to say it.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book Sixteen Cases of Mission Command: Historical Accounts of Battles in American Civil War, Battle of Nile, War of 1812, World War II Europe and Pacific, Corregidor, Sicily, Iraq War, Afghanistan War by Progressive Management
Cover of the book FBI Report: FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, 60th Anniversary, 1950-2010 - History, Statistics, and Analysis; Famous Cases - James Earl Ray, Ted Bundy, Eric Rudolph by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Mongolia in Perspective: Orientation Guide and Mongolian Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Security, Genghis Khan, Ulaanbaatar, Darhan, Mongol, Gutul, Altai, Hentiyn, Hangayn, Gobi by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Legacies, Assumptions, and Decisions: The Path to Hiroshima - Building the Atomic Bomb, Roosevelt and Truman, Movement Toward Douhet, Alternatives Such as Warning Japan, Soviet Involvement by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Counterinsurgency (COIN) Field Manual (FM 3-24) Tactics, Intelligence, Airpower by Petraeus - Plus Bonus IED Coverage (Value-added Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Human Factor: Biomedicine in the Manned Space Program to 1980 - Unique Insights into Biological and Life Science Research from Mercury, Gemini and Apollo through Skylab (NASA SP-4213) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Protection of Shipping: A Forgotten Mission with Many New Challenges - Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, Merchant Shipping, Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS), Historical Perspective by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Art of War Paper: Operations at the Border - Efforts to Disrupt Insurgent Safe-Havens, Dhofar, Oman, Insurgency, Counterinsurgency by Progressive Management
Cover of the book A History of the Women Marines, 1946-1977: Legislation, Korean War, Pepper Board, Snell Committee, Recruit and Officer Training, Uniforms, Promotions, Marriage, Motherhood, Husbands by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2013 President Barack Obama Inaugural Address, the 2009 Obama Inaugural Address, and Campaign Speeches from the Presidential Campaign of 2012 Against Republican Mitt Romney by Progressive Management
Cover of the book William H. Pickering: America's Deep Space Pioneer - Jet Propulsion Laboratory Leader, Explorer 1, Ranger and Surveyor Lunar Missions for Apollo Preparation, Mars and Venus Probes (NASA SP-2008-4113) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF): Concept Viability and Implementation - Carlisle Compendia of Collaborative Research - Fires, Intelligence, Movement, Maneuver, Sustainment, Protection, SOF Integration by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2011 Essential Guide to Hurricane Survival, Safety, and Preparedness: Practical Emergency Plans and Protective Measures, Plus Complete Information on Hurricanes and Tropical Storms by Progressive Management
Cover of the book March to Disaster: Major General Edward Braddock and the Monongahela Campaign - Fort Duquesne, George Washington, Indian Attacks on American Colonies, Anglo-American Troops by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy