Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 50 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION forward. The faster these molecules are discharged the more effectively they will send the heavy mass of the spaceship forward. The speed of the molecule’s departure depends upon the temperature of the chemical reaction pro- ducing them. The best we can do by way of tempera- ture of chemical reactions is below 3,000° C. This means that quite a lot of chemical fuel must be carried to give sufficient weight of molecules to be discharged effectively to move the weight of the ship. Chemical reactions take place between atoms so that they arrange themselves in new ways. No atoms are destroyed or new atoms cre- ated. That is the reason why the temperature range from chemical reactions is limited. But suppose atoms are destroyed or created. That, of course, gives the power to nuclear reactions and pro- duces temperatures which are really high. The fast moving molecules at Hiroshima were an example of how a very 104 small weight of substance can move enormous quantities of matter. In such reactions we have real possibilities if only we can control them suffi- ciently to produce a thin stream of molecules moving thousands of times faster than those issuing from the tail of a chemical rocket. An ounce of fuel might then suffice to propel a vessel of many tons weight at high velocity into and across interplanetary space. There is an interesting varia- tion on the Back to go Forward _ theme. One object can be set in motion by bringing another to rest, or by slowing it down. Thus water in motion can pass through turbines and be slowed down by setting electric generators in motion. Man’s earliest conquest of the ocean used the same principle in slowing down the moving air of the wind against his sails so that his ships went forward. Is there anything in space like that wind? There is no air so there can be no wind. There is, however, move- comiclbooks.com