Where's my script? (F&SF Part... um... Pioneer IV update!; 3-08-1959)

[galacticjourney]

Isn't it frustrating when you try to tune into your favorite program and hear nothing but static?

Sorry folks! I'd planned to give you Part 2 of this (last) month's F&SF. Well, the last third of the issue is taken up by a Poul Anderson novelette, and I know I won't be able to devote a whole article to just that, assuming I can even get through it. But I don't have enough to fill an article with the remaining stories.

Therefore, I have resolved to just give you all an extra-long column day-after-tomorrow! It will be worth the wait, I promise. There are some fine stories this month. And who know? Maybe the Anderson story will be good.

...

...

(gasp)

All right, I can't hold my breath that long.

--------



In other news, if you've been tracking the flight of Pioneer IV, you may have heard that we finally lost communications with the plucky little probe at more than 400,000 miles away. This isn't the fault of the ground antennas, which could probably track the vehicle much further out. The satellite's batteries just ran out of juice. Hopefully, when we have bigger rockets (perhaps the Air Force's Thor "Hustler"?), we can send out satellites with solar panels on board that can broadcast indefinitely.

Anyway, the Russians are crowing that their Mechta made it further, but we're saying that our science was better. But can we really trumpet our mission as a triumph without a sodium flatulence experiment?

See you on the 10th!





(Confused? Click here for an explanation as to what's really going on)

Comments

[glymr]

I, for one, am looking forward to your "extra-long" article.

Poor Pioneer IV! Solar panels do seem like the logical solution for satellites...the idea of sending out a self-powering satellite (or even one with a nuclear battery, perhaps?) has a certain appeal, doesn't it? Though I suppose our ability to detect it would be limited.

[galacticjourney]

The nice thing about detection vs. transmitting is ground equipment can be as big as you jolly well like. If you've seen the big dish at Jodrell Bank in England, you know we can make some awfully big "ears."

The trick is to have antennas all over the world so that the target probe is always in sight. I know both the Air Force and JPL have erected listening posts in exotic places like Peru, Hawaii, Malaysia, Australia, etc. to that end.