Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 42 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Midas Gold a very valuable industrial pigment. It is finding great use in America as a car finish. A STEP ON THE WAY— One more step towards the construction of a rocket that will leave this Earth and journey into space is the new Super Sprite rocket motor developed by de Havillands to assist the take-off of heavy military aircraft. The fuels used are hydrogen peroxide and kerosene, catalysed by a secret solid sub- stance that takes the place of the usual liquid calcium permanganate. This catalytic material converts the hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and steam. The oxygen is used to effect combustion of the kerosene, which is iniected. A completely smokeless exhaust results from the omission of calcium permanga- nate. The Super Sprite develops a thrust of 4,000 pounds, weighs 600 pounds and has a burning time of 40 seconds. The con- structional details are, unfortun- ately, a military secret. AND ANOTHER TO FOLLOW Sign of the increasing interest in space flight is indicated by the latest Annual Report of the British 123 Interplanetary Society. Last year there was a twenty per cent increase in membership, less than in previous years, but still swelling the ranks of people who actually demonstrate their belief in the possibility of conquering space. The Society now has 2,419 mem- bers. Of these, 584 are Fellows (holding scientific qualifications) and 1,835 Ordinary Members (not holding any special scientific quali- fications). The annual subscription for ordinary members remains unchanged at £1 Ills. 6d. (one guinea for those under twenty-one). The Society’s address is 12 Bess- borough Gardens, London, S.W.1. INNINGS OVER While speaking of the British Interplanetary Society, it might interest readers to note that Arthur C. Clarke, who has been Chairman of the Society for three consecutive years, is retiring from that position due to the fact that he intends to spend most of this year in America. During his tenure of office, Mr. Clarke worked hard and long for the Society, putting it on the map, so to speak, by his own prolific output of articles‘ and fiction. His absence from the Chair will not go unnoticed. comicloooks.comn