Word: earthly
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Satellites are getting more sophisticated. The first few tumbled any which way through space; now they are expected to perform all sorts of complicated maneuvers. The Air Force's Discoverer II, whose re-entry capsule came to earth embarrassingly close to northern Russia last week (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS), was as full of busy gadgets as a watch is full of works. The main purpose of its gadgetry was the seemingly simple task of keeping the satellite horizontal in relation to the surface of the earth below -a necessary step toward effective photographic reconnaissance...
Once in orbit, the little jets went back into action. To keep the satellite horizontal, they had to make it turn just as fast as it circled the earth: one revolution, one turn. This was done by an infrared scanner, which watched the line of the horizon ahead and released little spurts of gas to keep the satellite's attitude stable. This complicated operation seems to have worked well. As Discoverer II circled the earth, its directional radio signals kept at a steady level. If Discoverer had not been stabilized properly, they would have fluctuated as the satellite wobbled...
...will snap into position as soon as it is spaceborne. The array of solar batteries is expected to develop as much as 400 watts, about enough to run a small toaster. Most of the energy will be stored in nickel-cadmium batteries. When triggered by a signal from the earth, the batteries will power the satellite's radio transmitter...
...first paddle-wheel satellite will not try for Venus, but will follow a long elliptical orbit that will take it about 30,000 miles from the earth. It will carry various instruments, but its principal job will be to answer promptly when spoken to. If all goes well, it will draw on its stored solar power and speak in a loud radio voice. Then its designers can judge whether a transmitter of this type can be made loud enough to be heard from Venus...
...kind of life that might develop on the surface of a small, central-heated star would not resemble earthly life. It would have to get along without light, except perhaps faint starlight, and it would have to cope with gravitation and probably atmospheric pressures enormously greater than are felt on earth. But there is no reason why life in such a place could not evolve into intelligent forms...