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 Insurgents to Presidents: Contemporary Civil-Military Relations in Brazil, El Salvador, and Uruguay - Iron Lady Dilma Rousseff, Comandate Gonzalez, Sanchez Ceren Legacy, Pepe the Revolutionary, Mujica by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air Force Doctrine Document 2 (AFDD 2), Operations and Organization - USAF Air and Space Operations, War Strategy, Effects-Based Operations (EBO), Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Toward Mach 2: The Douglas D-558 Program - Skystreak and Skyrocket Early Transonic Research Aircraft (NASA SP-4222) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Gangs and Crime in America: Gangs in Central America - Legacies of War and Authoritarian Rule, Poverty, Lack of Education and Employment, Societal Stigmas, Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC), MS-13 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Airpower and Ground Armies: Essays on the Evolution of Anglo-American Air Doctrine - 1940-43 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Encyclopedia of Military Space Operations at Cape Canaveral: From Early Ballistic Missile Launches in 1953 through Titan, Atlas, Delta, and EELV Launches with Mission Details by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Essential Guide to Child Abuse and Missing Children: Law Enforcement and Family Response, Injuries, Illness, Fatalities, STDs and Sexual Abuse, Battered Child Syndrome, Burn Injuries, AMBER Alert by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Factors of Religious Violence and a Path to Peace: A Study of the 16th Century Anabaptists - Radical Protestant Reformation, Apocalypticism, Melchioite Leaders, Munster Rebellion, Christian Doctrine by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Land-Based Air Power in Third World Crises: A Look at Different Types of Crises, Mayaguez Incident, Bay of Pigs, Yom Kippur War, Sub-Saharan Africa by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Role of Mental Illness Identification and Screening in Firearm Background Checks: Thorough Exploration of Legal, Procedural, and Clinical Implications of Identifying Potential Mass Shooters by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Pediatric Cancer Sourcebook: Retinoblastoma (Eye Tumor of the Retina) - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Imperial Policy and the Integration of Gaul into the Roman Empire: Roman Legions Conquered Tribes, Military Foundation, Political Inclusiveness and Roman Tolerance, Economic Benefits of Empire by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2013 Pentagon Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan: Afghan Security Forces, Governance, Reconstruction and Development, Regional Engagement by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Reimagining The Man Who Would Be King: Narrative Fictional Adventure Story to Impart Counterinsurgency Theory to Busy and Easily Distracted Service Members Based on Afghanistan and Iraq Experience by Progressive Management
Cover of the book NASA History Series: The Birth of NASA - The Diary of T. Keith Glennan, The First Years of America's Space Agency, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Saturn, Moon Landing, Communications Satellites (NASA SP-4105) 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