vonBraun and the Space Race

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 3:33 am

I was reading this book that you should ALL buy. It is called The Moonlandings by Reginald Turnill; it is a REALLY good book. Anyway it is all about the Space Race and whatnot. The first chapter deals with a topic we have talked about before: the V-2 and vonBraun's level of guilt. I am not exactly sure what I am trying to provoke here as it is 4AM, but the book does mention that there is no way he couldn't have known what was going on. They even compare his life to that of Dr. Faustus. Basically you get what you want if you give your soul to the devil or something. They didn't explain it too well. They were saying that vonBraun didn't really care what it took for him to see a man on the moon and for him to be responsible for him getting there. Basically when Germany wasn't doing so hot, he saw a better opportunity over here and came on over because he realized that was the only way to accomplish his goal or whatever accoriding to this Turnhill guy. Well yes of course he ended up doing the Saturn V thing, but they start to talk about what impact the whole V-2 project had on getting to the moon. So basically the logic they follow is that the Explorer 1 satellite was launched in a Juno rocket which was developed from a Jupiter C rocket, which was developed from a Redstone rocket which vonBraun created directly from the V-2. I am not exactly sure where I am getting at with this, but basically Turnhill argues (and it makes sense I guess) that we got a man on the moon at the expense of all those that suffered at Dora building the V-2s. I have never heard of a twist like that being put on it, but I found just the first chapter of this book incredibly fascinating.
Now for some more sad news. The whole history repeats itself thing obviously happens. After the success of Apollo 11, funding is cut while just earlier people wanted NASA to have more money. Well obviously they just wanted to beat the Russians to everything, so voila they have funding. After the Apollo funding gets cut completely, the Saturn Vs (three of 'em) leftover are all just on display. Apollo 18, 19, and 20 were to look at more places on the moon, possibly solving the question of whether or not there is/was water at one point on the moon. You see the same thing happen today. Spaceflight has become so routine, that when even gong to the moon seems routine, why keep shoveling money into the Shuttle Program that just keeps having disasters? I have had people say that to me, and then other people basically have to hold me back. I don't really know what to say. I mean there isn't anything routine about going to the moon or docking with the ISS. I guess I just don't understand why people think that. I mean, yeah okay so we are good at it and don't mess up (usually). That doesn't make it routine. Maybe it is just me, but I find it quite amazing that something like the Shuttle works as well as it does as often as it does. I mean there is a chance everytime you strap yourself in and turn on those SRBs that something bad is going to happen.
Please bear with me, I have been writing this for a while, and I am not sure if I am getting choppy with my 430AM writing skills. I must have talked about a million things, but this is what is on my mind and who better to share it with than my Hab1 people! I know a lot of the other posts on here have gone astray and stuff, but please try to keep this one at least about space or something and reply in some sort of meaningful way. Or like don't reply at all. Just don't do some sucky reply just to reply. I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but yeah, I'm a little tired I guess.
Yeah I think I am jumping around again, but some weird thought just came to my mind. What if vonBraun really was that selfish and did just want to get people on the moon no matter the cost? I guess you can take that multiple ways...I don't know. Just a thought to ponder. It is hard for me to think of him as anyone other than the guy with a vision in that awesome Space Camp thingy "A Time for Courage." I have seen it way too many times, and I could recite all the lyrics but yeah. I guess just after reading this, I am not sure what to make of the guy...I may not have included all of the details of the first chapter, so if what I am saying makes no sense, go get the book and read it. I highly recommend it.

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 2:23 pm

Speaking of Von Braun, today (June 15) in 1938, he was discharged from the Luftwaffe. Also, he died today in 1977 in Alexandria, Virginia, of cancer.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 7:05 pm

Well attempting to stay in a space topic here i think i need to make a couple of corrections to the things said above. Not much just a few little technical things which i can get picky aboiut. First the Explorer 1 was not launched on a Juno it was launched on the Jupiter C which was essentially a Redstone wit an upper stage added to it. You might have gotten that mixed up because i believe the Juiter C is sometimes refered to as a Juno but they are not seperate rockets. Also the only thing is with the Saturn V's yes there were 3 left over after the moon landings but only 2 of those are on display. The Saturn V's at KSC and JSC are the 2 leftover Saturn V's from the moon landings but the third one was used to launch the Skylab space station. The Saturn V at Huntsville was never intended for launch but was used for testing. Just a couple of little nitpicks but felt i needed to add that to it.

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 7:15 pm

Yeah I totally wrote that at 4AM. I am not suprised I got a thing or two wrong.

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 7:21 pm

Excuses, Excuses.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Sun Jun 15, 2003 7:25 pm

Now you see why i try to get to bed bt 2 am or so. Sounds like you need to get to sleep earlier too. But actually the book sounds good i'll have to check that out.

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 1:14 pm

Operation Paperclip, in which von Braun and his team were brought to the US, took place today 58 years ago.

stargazer0105 · Post by **stargazer0105** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 2:07 pm

I've always thought that was an interesting name. Operation Paperclip, I like it. I also think why it was called that is pretty interesting.

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Fri Jun 20, 2003 10:49 pm

I have a history teacher that always wears a paperclip on his shirt. He admires the paperclip scientists so he did it that way.