"Next Stop The Moon" Collier's Sept 7, 1946

I am fascinated by the Collier's "Man Will Conquer Space Soon!" 8 magazine series (1952-1954). It laid out a well-articulated plan for the general public to understand America's possible future in space.

Recently I came across the Sept 7, 1946 issue of Collier's which also laid out a vision for how America might choose to explore space. Although not as visual as the 1950s Collier's (and not really for children), it is an interesting popularization of spaceflight.

"The first trip is not going to be a Sunday-afternoon picnic. It will be physically arduous and it will cost a tremendous sum of money..."

Pendray's primary employment was in public relations; however, he always was interested in rocketry. He was an early experimenter with liquid propulsion rockets. Pendray was a contemporary of Robert H. Goddard, whose papers he later edited with Goddard's widow. Pendray and his associates worked on the beginnings of rocket development and technology, which led to his founding of the American Interplanetary Society [which was renamed the American Rocket Society (ARS)] in 1930.

"He will need some kind of 'moon suit,' a highly developed, thoroughly planned, all-enclosing mobile shelter that will provide air at atmospheric pressure like a diver's suit."

"...therefore, control of the moon in the interplanetary world of the atomic future could mean military control of our whole portion of the solar system. Its dominance could include not only the earth but also Mars and Venus..."

"The same atomic power, however, could be used constructively in ferrying humans to the moon."

"The moon, therefore, is well worth studying these days. It may be the fortress of the next conquerer of the earth. It may also be the first stop on the interplanetary transportation system of the next century."