Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 56 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

On closer inspection Pratt’s state- ment that we will have to invent new materials for spacesuit construction doesn’t hold up. Pratt states that viewing plates in spacesuit helmets—and direct view portals in spaceships—could not stand up against the difference in tempera- tures inside and outside. This is easily circumvented by using two pieces of transparent plastic or quartz and leaving a vacuum between them. The differences in temperature inside and Outside would have no effect on the separated sections. It is also suggested by Pratt that spacesuits and tools of any known metal would snap in the intense cold of space. Actually under certain cir- cumstances the metal would have to be refrigerated to be kept from melting under solar heat. In instances where they were shadowed from the sun a slight amount of heat, which could not escape into the vacuum, would keep the metal from becoming brittle. You’ll notice that I’m running hot and cold on this business of spacesuits. The fact of the matter is that one of the most serious problems in designing such a suit is air-conditioning, or ratherspace-conditioning—alternatively being able to heat and cool the space- suit. The same thing will have to be done to the craft in which the space pioneers ride. Dr. Donald) H. Menzel, of the Harvard Observatory, is perhaps best known for his logical debunking of flying saucers, although he has himself been debunked for his narrow view of SIXTY-FOUR the matter. Dr. Menzel is a practical man. He plans a_ porcelain-white spacesuit to reflect solar light, with metal fans jutting out like miniature wings to radiate the heat into space. He doesn’t say how this one-way effect will be realized and why the fans will not pick up radiant heat and transmit it back into the. suit. The key to the problem is that no heat will escape into space but all heat in space can be absorbed by the spacesuit without proper shielding. Every movement of the spaceman will create friction inside the suit and friction will create heat. Natural body heat will be added to this, plus what radiant heat from space that cannot be shielded out. The main problem will be refrigeration, with some heating facilities for emergencies—such as having to stand motionless on the side of a spaceship opposite the sun. Actually the elastic-binding suit, depending on white reflection of light and normal perspiration, would not be sufficient for this, unless some kind of heating-cooling circuits could be woven into the material—an electric blanket in reverse. The first suits used in space will probably be made of some lightweight, known metal—perhaps aluminium or stainless steel—and be pressurized with oxygen and helium, as are diving suits today. They will probably look much like the pictures of them look today, but their face-plates will be solid. Junior’s own little Junior will have to be satisfied with a version not quite exactly like his father may wear. commiclbooks.conm ~