THE VIKING ROCKET STORY

by Milton W. Rosen ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 25, 1955

An unofficial report from official sources (the author is Chief of the Rocket Development of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington) on Rocket Viking 10, designed to explore the upper atmosphere. The record runs the gamut of interest to the layman. He carries his adventure tale from the crude pioneering of Goddard in 1926 through Germany's V-1 and V-2 weapons, and into the hush-hush experimentation of the post-war years, climaxed by the first nine Vikings, the abortive first trial of Viking 10, and its reconstruction and triumphant ascent at White Sands, New Mexico, last year. Steering clear of technological details, Mr. Rosen makes obvious the design problems to be overcome, the materials and techniques which made construction of the rocket possible, the obstacles in transportation and reassembly, the precautions and engineering feats involved in building site, the instruments and teamwork for the takeoff, control, and assembling of information . The individuals, theoreticians and ground crew alike, who figured in the picture, are brought naturally and convincingly into the narrative. Even the most difficult mechanical intricacies are presented with the immediate readability of first class journalism. The style is dexterous, skillful, creating genuine suspense. Deserves and should receive wide acclaim. And there's a big plus sale among junior enthusiasts.

Pub Date: May 25, 1955

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1955

Categories: NONFICTION