Destination Moon Page #4

The reason is quite simple...

we are not the only ones who know

that the moon can be reached.

We are not the only ones

planning to go there.

The race is on!

And we'd better win it because...

there is absolutely no way to stop

an attack from outer space!

The first country that can use the moon

for the launching of missiles...

will control the Earth!

That gentlemen, is the most important

military fact of this century!

Gentlemen!

I see no need for further discussion!

It's our job!

Well, all I got to say is we better

build it in Texas.

It's the only state big enough

to hold it!

If you can increase the initial velocity

only 600ths of a mile per second...

you can make the trip in

2 days instead of four.

We'll have to compute what that

means in reaction mass.

This is a case where pounds of ship

costs many pounds of reaction mass.

Try titanium!

That's exactly right as far as

appearance goes.

All that remains now is to test it.

It goes for it's atmosphere chamber

test this afternoon.

I've added one detail, Charles.

What is that for?

The chaffing suits we wear over our

pressure suits are in different colors.

Why?

- For identification.

We'll use these 4 colors for the 4 crew

members then nobody can get lost.

The moonscape is pretty drab.

These bright colors

will give us high visibility.

Your right if no one minds looking like

a carnival balloon!

Hey, Brownie!

What do you want?

Have you taken a look down from here?

No, I never liked high places. Why?

You're halfway to the moon already!

It's the other half that's tough!

- I wouldn't worry about that!

How come?

Who are you kidding? This thing

is as close to the moon as it'll get!

I never felt so silly in my life as I

have since you sent for me!

You show me all your nice plans for

instruments to navigate to the moon.

I help you build them.

We install them.

You teach me how they work

and I understand how they work.

But nobody tells me

how the ship works!

This thing is built like

the Washington Monument!

You could stick an atom bomb under it

and it wouldn't go!

What's the matter, Brownie?

It's nothing. Just a bellyache.

You been eating green apples?

I haven't been able to eat anything.

I tried to get you before you left

Washington. - Is anything wrong?

It's not the engine, is it?

Have you tested it?

Not yet and it doesn't look like

we're going to.

"I'm directed to inform you that your

petition to test an atomic engine...

is regretfully denied."

Denied?

"It is our opinion that a danger exists

should the engine fail structurally."

"There is a possibility of dispersal of

radioactive materials."

We've told them a dozen times the area

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