Space Ship One Launch

Glenn and Shepard in the sense of seeing a real first- not to take away from
the X-15 guys- in my opinion Crossfield deserved a Medal of Freedom just for
staying cool during that engine test that blew the back half of the vehicle
to shreds. Did you hear that Pete Knight just passed away? He was a
legislator in Sacramento.

--
Jim Atkins
Twentynine Palms, CA USA

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx

"Jim Atkins" wrote in message
...
Glenn and Shepard in the sense of seeing a real first-

Let's not forget Yuri in there.

Pete

"Pete" wrote in message
...

Let's not forget Yuri in there.


Are you sure Gagarin was first?

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Pete" wrote in message
...

Let's not forget Yuri in there.


Are you sure Gagarin was first?

True. But we may never know for sure if there was another.

Pete

"Pete" wrote in message
...

True. But we may never know for sure if there was another.


Agreed. I read a very plausible article some time ago which suggested
Gagarin was third.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Pete" wrote:
True. But we may never know for sure if there was another.

Agreed. I read a very plausible article some time ago which suggested
Gagarin was third.

Steven -

Do you have a cite for the article, please?

"Stop SPAM" wrote in message
...

Would you consider changing your nick, please......

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Pete" wrote in message
True. But we may never know for sure if there was another.
Agreed. I read a very plausible article some time ago which suggested
Gagarin was third.

Steven -

Do you have a cite for the article, please?

"Stop SPAM" wrote in message
...

Do you have a cite for the article, please?


No, I don't. It was a few years ago and I don't remember the source.

As I recall, there was an Italian physician who was a space buff and
monitored satellite transmissions. He claimed he heard a human heartbeat
aboard. The story had it that the Russians had a problem bringing the craft
down at the appointed time, and when they corrected the problem it was out
of position for a landing in the USSR. Before it was again in a suitable
position the cosmonaut died. This was supposedly the first man in space.

The second flight was flown by the son of a famous Russian aero designer, I
do not recall which. More problems in the return from orbit left him very
severely injured.

Then came Yuri Gagarin, his flight went according to plan and it was
announced as the first human spaceflight afterward.

I'm not saying it happened this way, of course, but it is plausible. After
all, the Russians didn't announce their flights beforehand, and there's no
reason to keep them secret if you intend to announce your failures anyway.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Pete" wrote in message
True. But we may never know for sure if there was another.
Agreed. I read a very plausible article some time ago which suggested
Gagarin was third.

Steven -

Do you have a cite for the article, please?