1953

From The Space Library

Jet Propulsion Laboratory completed development of the Corporal I, the first U.S. surface-to-surface ballistic missile, and continued with Corporal II development. Army Ordnance also asked JPL to study application of large-scale solid propellant rockets for use as surface-to-surface guided missiles.

Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co. developed power transistor (20 watts).

USAF initiated meteorological survey over the United States with large plastic balloons to obtain data on winds, temperatures, and cloud formations over 50,000 feet. This survey, known as "Moby Dick," was expanded later to include other select launching areas of the world. (See February 19.)

Dr. Hubertus Strughold of SAM published The Green and Red Planet: A Physiological Study of the Possibility of Life on Mars.

Dr. E. G. Bowen of the Australian Radio and Physics Division of the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization first propounded the theory that meteoric dust provides the nuclei for heavy rainfall. By 1956, he had collected worldwide statistics revealing correlation between heavy rainfall and showers of meteors through which the earth passed. In 1960, additional data were acquired with U-2 aircraft.