The Nome Nugget

Key U. S. Space
Officials Approve
President's Move

WASHINGTON (A) - The two
key men in the Army's space rocket
effort at Huntsville, Ala., say
they
thoroughly approve President
Eisenhower's decision to
turn it over to the civilian space
agency.

Major General John B. Medaris
said he was "both pleased and relieved by Eisenhower's decision
Wednesday. He said it "will stabilize the situation and the mission
of the great development organization I have had the honor to
command since its activation
February 1, 1956."

And Wernher von Braun, German-born rocket wizard who
heads the Huntsville team of 2,300
scientists and technicians, said:
"The President has decided that it
is in the best interest of the country that our work be continued
within the framework of NASA
(the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration). Since
NASA's establishment a year ago,
we have worked closely and harmoniously with that fine organization.

"We look forward to a continuation of our efforts with NASA in
a
progressive
space
program
which will make this nation second to none."

What NASA will take over is
the Saturn program for development
of a gigantic rocket complex taller
than the Statue of Liberty. It will
develop 1 1/2 million pounds of
thrust, far more than anything the
Soviets are now known to have.

This is enough to fling a 15- to 20-
ton satellite into orbit or land a
truck on the moon.

The Saturn program had struck
hard times under the Army's auspices. Medaris, who is retiring
January 31 as chief of the Army
Ordnance Missile Command, was
dissatisfied. Administration critics pointed to spectacular Soviet
space ventures and said in effect,
what are we doing about it?