SPACE FAMILY ROBINSON ht wy atures ig oFea insons above ~FAMOUS SPACE PIONEERS All of today's space exploration is built solidly on the foundation of four great space pi oneers: Goddard the American, Tsiolkovsky the Russian, von Karman the Austro-Hungarian, and Oberth the Transylvanian, Their work, at the turn of the 20th century, paralleled, complemented and often duplicated one another's though they never collaborated Robert H. Goddard, in 1926, launched the first liquid-fueled rocket which reached a speed of 60 miles an hour and traveled 184 feet. Dr. Goddard originated the idea of multiple-stage rockets, clustered engines, and modern chemical fuels. It is impossible to construct or shoot a rocket today without utilizing one of his original ideas. Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky was a deaf, selt-educated peasant. His theories and writings did much to establish the science of space exploration. Where Goddard proved his theories in tests, the Russian proved his through mathematical, physical, and chemical equations—remarkably with out access to up-to-date knowledge. Theodore von Karman paved the way for the breaking of the sound barrier. Per- haps his greatest talent was the ability to create formulas and to carry out their practical applications in the space field. A world traveler, and a master of seven or eight languages, Dr. Karman has coun: seled, inspired and influenced many of his colleagues and students. Hermann Julius Oberth, primarily a professor, proved through his solid math: ematical formulas that it was possible, even in 1925, to build machines capable of escaping the earth's atmosphere. He further asserted that in the future man would orbit the earth and finally escape the force of gravity. Possibly his greatest skill lay in his ability to grasp the techni cal problems of space flight and devise solutions for themAe NRA LOST SPACE ‘SPACE DRIVE CRIPPLI UNTIL (T'S REPAIRED.GET BUSY AT REPAIR’ GO DOWN TO THE ‘SPACE MOBILE HANGAR, TAM, AND LOOK OUTSIDE! = IF THE CRUMBLING ON'S Ri TH HAS STOPPED! TIM, COME WITH ME: ARTS LOCKER , AND HE IN ANEW POWER Ut JUNE, START DISMANTLING THE DAMAGED UNIT! WE'LL HAVE TO WORK FAST! 7 COME ON, CLANCY! { IT Wit BE GooD TO BE DOING SOMETHING!HANGAR OF SPACEMOBILE NUMBER ONE... SUDDENLY, AN EARTH TREUOR Te SPACE STATION x NOW You've DONE IT! You CANT GET BAC) | By, YOURSELF! TLL HAVE TOTAM WATCHES WIDE-EVED AS A BALL OF LIGHT SWOOPS DOWN AND RESCUES CLANCY. CLIMB BACK INSIDE IR HOM Ww EP TT) of THe EARTH IS ic STARTING TO SYTHE GROUND Si NEAREST THE TWICE AS FAST ASA MAN CAN RUN, OF LAVA POLLS TOWARD le SPACE STATIO) THE RIVED: TH vA resi)LOOK, JUN! 0 OF U CULTIVATED 2\ F/ELDS, eka WNWE'LL SET DOWN HERE— SO AS NOT TO.DAMAGE THEIR CROPS! IN (OW COULD THOSE. HE THEY APPEAR TO THE AGAIN, WE'LL TRY TO MAKE FRIENDS! AND GROWING PLANTS, TAM $THAT'S LIKE HE MONSTER EARLY OR LITTLE CLANCY SLOOK, Greexi FARMERS W KNOW AGL THE WF WE CONT “| Ale cee THE FIELDS, THE HIDDEN TRAP 00 ARE COMING OU Tw IF THAT MONSTER J WAIT, TIM! ATTACKS: 4 WARNING, THE CREATURE STRIKES.EE OUT! I CAN'T Fi TL CAN'T SBE OL THE THING BLIND, OR TLL cp. I'LL HAVE TO Go U/P—/i g ADI I STILL A MoueNTs CAN'T SEE OUTS CAN /S GOT TO BE DEAD NOW=—IN THE COLD OF OUTER SPACE! BUT IT'S STILL THERE, BEAR NORTH, TIM YOU'RE RIGHT Over ABis VOLCANOSOSE BALLS OF ‘E SING TIAk DOWN! Vf \/. I SEE, TAM— BUT 1 STILL CANT BELIEVE IT! WE _DYNAMINS UNDERSTAND YouR 4 THOUGHTS! We HAVE Br ie, YO ARE, FOR SAVING ‘dy LIFE! USE YOu OTHER FORMS OF LIFE!IN H OF OUR / WHICH WOULD BE LESS HOSTILE To OLR FORM OF LIFE? THEY'RE W THEY DION'T SAY A GONE, | WORD WE COULD HEAR— DAD BUT WE JVDERS" THEM! PLANET—IF % TREAT THEM WELL! [WE BETTER SNAP- IN OUR LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS! YES, BY ALL MEANS— ($ BE FRIENDS!WE THANK YOU FOR uR ) EL Hes= WAS LooKING—\/" THEY ARE SAFE, MY HUSBAND— {AM SURE! OTHERS MY CHILDREN: TOOK CARE OF THEM HOW DID YOU BUILD YOUR WE CULTIVATE A. WONDERFUL CITY KIND OF PLANT WHOSE @GROUND, KITAN? SAP HARDENS INTO ANY ‘YOU HAVE “TOLD ME, IF WE 5 FRIENDS FROM Pi KITAN! THE MAAK / ALREADY? eer Toa ut eas ( sae scene-nzoigh | (They ven ue oor! ey age (i | eb FEARED! 2 POISONING OUR AlR-! Se waaSOUND THE ALARM! SEAL OFF THE POISONED ROOMS! START DIGGING DEEP TUNNELS, AWAY FROM OUR FIELDS! THERE ARE WEAK PLACES. N OUR TOWN'S ROOF —= AND THE MAAK HAVE FOUND Some: OF THEM! THEY HOPE WE WILL, \\ COME UP FoR AiR: SOME THE WET CLOTHS WILL PROTECT YOU FROM THE POISONED AIR! [-KitAN, CAN You ai6 A TUNNEL QUICKLY To dug SPACEMOBILES? ONCE WE ARE INSIDE THEM WE CAN BLAST THE MANTAS. WITH ROCKET FLAMES: INTO THE DOOR QUICK-! AND BELT DOWN CLANCY. AND VAKKER! DAD AND MOM MADE IT, TAME IN WITH YOUS Tuey witty FIGHT BACK— BUT IE You WILL TAKE THE RISKTHOUGH NEVER MEANT FOR A WEAPON, THE DRIVING ROCKETS ARE DEADLY AT CLOSE RANGE... MANTAS TIM) WATCH YOURSELF: ROLLING, LOOPING, TM OUT MANEUVERS THE AiRms Oe MONSTERSPROBABLY THE ONES WHO ARE WHAT ARE THO: y, ONES ON THE GROUND? 'S ONE OF THOSE: f MANTA STINGS —AND ¥ f) UGH GET OUT OUR T'S SMOKING / ‘SPACE SUITS! (COUGH!) | FAST!s eee ARE YO! Tim! o> : ALL RigHT? WHAT'S. S WRONG?Oe I HOPE THEY STAY —S THERE AND LEAVE Te FARMERS ALON: I'M BETTER Now, DAD:4 CRAIG, AM I AND MOVED T THINK IT's wi MMAGSINING THINGS? BACK FROM THE JUST BEVOND i; THERE'S CUR SPACE LAVA FLOW! (CREDIBLE, IT'S REAL, $> We'LL GARAGE OUR DAL ‘SPACEMOBILES~ANO TRY MIRACLE-} ‘TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENED! (OH, CLANCY’ ro zy | TT WONDERFUL, TO BE HOME? THE LAVA NEVER REACHED IT: I DONT }_ UNDERSTAND.— THE DYNAMINS — THOSE STRANGE VISITORS FROM A DISTANT SUN—WHO LOOK, E LITTLE SUNS THEM= SELVES! I WISH We COULD THANK THEM ay ERE! WE HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO 2 | OF WE DESIRED To SEE ASSIST T RST OF ALL HOW YOU FROM PLANET EARTH: OUR SPACE = WOLLO BEHAVE TOTHE STATION WAS “ARMERS! YOU NOT. BETTER THAN DESTROYED? i HAD HOPED! ERE LEAVING, 70, BEFORE THAT VOLCANO. BUSTS LOOSE AGAIN!ROBERT BLAZON of Richland, Washington wants to know the year Space Station #1 left Earth and how the Robinsons qualified to become the first family to Jive in space. Space Station #1, a scientific laboratory, left Earth in the year 2001. Scientists June and Craig Robinson tand their children Tim and Tam were selected by a computer as the family most mentally and physically ‘qualified to man the space station GARY SHULAR of Knoxville, Tennessee feels that Space Family Robinson is a comic hook that all ages ean enjoy..,and that comic books are not limited for only the young to read. You are correct, Gary. There are many adult comic book readers who have continued reading comic books for twenty years and more. We have had letters from ‘adults in all walks of life who continue to follow their favorite comic book charac KEN MAURER of Milwaukee, Wisconsin would like to know how the Robinsons got lost in space. The Robinsons were making scientific experiments in the oiiter regions of our solar system when the space We are sorry that we cannot answer all letters, bu ~- station was suddenly rocked by violent cosmic explo- sions. Its controls damaged, the space station was Iurled at tremendous speed deep into space and all contact with Earth was lost. BOBBY ARCHER of Cleveland, Ohio wonders how the Robinsons maintain their food, water and fuel supply. The garden on the sun deck supplies all the fresh jruit and vegetables the Robinsons can use. There tsa plentiful supply of other “preserved” Jood aboard, brought with them from Earth. Rain that falls on the space station is trapped and routed into tanks where itis purified for drinking. Fuel is no problem for the station as it is powered by electrownagnetic drive ..« and the equipment aboard produces rocket fuel jor the spacemobiles. Many readers have written, in complimenting the art front covers, They have asked that we ge Wilson, used on 04 print the name of the artist, He is Ge Numerous requests have been received ibscribe to Space Family Robinson, tion is printed at the bottom of page 1. ing how to informa: we wish to thank the g following readers for having written to Space Station DENIS GrORGE Fern Creek, Ky Mrtony movssan — Erangeline,Ta, nici pssxts ‘Wilmington, N.C. {TIM SEBLYE: Lansing, Mich ony Moon. Jackson, Miss. won wuerrUst Jilinetio, Wako DAVIDLANGrOMD Winder, Georgia“ wicmati.ezamLax * Trumbull, Conn oh PALMYRA Kings Park, N.Y. WILLIAM cMUKGH Morin, Calif MARKY ANDES Millville. NJ. eS xuoeeren St. Lonis, Mo. BRIAN VERICGAN Metairie, 1a. 2.J.zuuirskt —Elmarood Park, ill, ¥. s, Hiket. Covina, Calif. WON PATHENSON Wellsboro, Pa. _‘DAYiD aaa Austin, Minn Cowsn Sutton, Surrey, Bigland DAVID HANNA Columbus, Georgia DUHAMEL. — Montreal, Q., Canada eaMtunos utd Toronto, Onty Can. (ALAN BUSCHTE Gilmer, Texas. 91M HONE Dencer B.GILLES PE Philadelphia, Pa, were steramiex Manville, NJ. Rmawrvcet Cedar Brook) MARY HERSMCAN pencer, W. Va PHILLIP DAWSON Norfolk, Va. 30HN bNcLE Pidccptehe "wen viven pmo Maks toe MIKE MEDONALD —Greentille, Ky. RICK FUNK Sarisota, Fla. pavipksszon — Sutimereille, SC. Lan COE Cleteland, Ohio WM, xrratenis St.Louis, If. 1, MERCREDE BILLY HARMON ‘Leon, lowa ——miLin Mays Blackstone, Va Ft. Chipewyan, Alta, Can, curs ireunL —— Derarur, Ga, FenUMMEL So, Portland, Mais sarrxins No. Brookfield, NJ Av RRS Peekskill Oakland, Cali Tow Tiowssox Alexandria, Va TOMS ROMINSON Fulto Minneapolis, Minn, risw'romucio Regina, Sask, Can, DONALD KINe Lovell, Mass. cute NewYork. N.Y YyxNcsTROM. Athens, Ohio Newark, Delaware Otve, Nebraska TONY TURNBULL. JAMES DICKEY boway HUDSON DIANGARET OWEN DAVIN LOMINS GRAY HomSON Tere Pans STEN EHERLEY Joven City, Tower KEN HU, Enimetsbrre, low EARY HicHLny SANDIEA DENNIS mnandoah, Va. 34, ROUSE KUNTSCHENDEL “Milwaukee, Wis. XEN SMITH DAVID LAM ‘Agana, Guam EMANLES nRAWwER Carbondale, Ul. Oak: Rid Lafayette, Calif Philadelphia, Pa, SALCMAKL HALL EDDIE BURNS EVEN CILLESPIE | HAMILTON MARY YADRICK. KES WILLIAMS Puyallup, Wash. Newcomerstown, Ohio No. Bergen, N. J. New Orleans, ia. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Milwaukee, Ores. Baker shel San Antoni IENOR, 38 Columbus, Ohio Address your letters to: SPACE STATION #1, K. K. Publications, Prince George, B.C, Can. acacvuprxow | New Branswick, Ned. NCENCELSES 3 Brooklyn, LoELLA maxi Red Deer, Altan Can, TERRY STORES Americus, Ca, sactiaricumey Berkeley, Calif. Nanticolie, Pa, DANA KENDAL Pun San Leandro, Calif. wusnis WiLtins —Fitegeral Commerce, Okla: toss Calorade Springs, Calo. Three Rivers, Mick. w.suuuivan Brussels, Ont, Federal Way, Wash, 6k0, 8088, 38. Lewistoun, Belton, Mo, Poughkeepsie, N.J. Limestone, Maine Hope, B.C.,Can. Chippewa Falls, Bis. Archa! wombY HASULIOS Sine SAUTER Jackson, Denver, Poughkeepsie, -Y. 12601ADAPTING 10 SPACE Because space is not adapted to man, man must adapt himself to space. So if you would like to be an astronaut, prepare your- self for a real challenge. It is not an easy job. The average American astronaut is younger than forty, of medium height, and in superb physical condition. He has the best psycho- logical and intellectual attributes suited for space flight. He is a university graduate with degree in the physical sciences, or in engi- neering, He is also a graduate of a military test pilot training school and has at least 1500 hours flight time. That all sounds rather simple, but can- didates undergo an extensive array of tests to determine their qualifications. Aspiring astronauts are tested on general intelligence, logical thinking, mathematics, engineering, mechanics, aviation, memory, visualization and spatial orientation. Their personalities are probed in personal interviews, self- examination by answering hundreds of ques: tions, completion of sentences, listing of personal preferences, telling stories sug- gested by pictures or inkblots, and”interpre- tation of the question “Who am 12” This is only the beginning. Along with these mental tests come the physical endur- ances. Candidates must pedal a stationery bicycle while heartbeat and oxygen consump- tion are recorded. Their lung capacity, body radiation count and specific gravity are meas- ured. They walk for miles on a moving tread- mill. They plunge their feet into icy water and swelter in humid rooms of 130 degrees. Their bodies are exposed to high pressure and weightlessness, They are asked to re- act to confusing situations and to work out complex problems while spinning in 2 cen- trifuge which multiplies the gravity forces. Candidates are isolated in dark, soundproof rooms for hours of absolute silence and then exposed to a barrage of high frequency sounds. They are also seated in a chair which rotates simultaneously on two axes and asked to keep it on an even keel with a control stick, normally and while blindfolded. If a candidate does exceptionally well on all of these tests and actually becomes an astronaut, then he is busy every waking hour training for the challenges of space flight. He receives instruction from top scientists in the fields of astronautics, bal- listics, trajectories, fuels, guidance and missile operations. He studies basic avia- tion biology, space environment, astronomy, meteorology, astrophysics, and geography, and learns how to make accurate scientific observations in these areas. Astronauts undergo constantly the train- ing, practice, and instruction which will enable them to withstand the heat, pressure, acceleration, deceleration and weightlessness of space flight conditions. They must keep physically fit, ride the centrifuge, maintain flying proficiency by piloting a supersonic fighter for so many hours a month, and gain experience in weightlessness Besides all these physical and intellectual requirements for an astronaut, there is one more important factor. It is a psychological one. An astronaut must want genuinely to go into space. He must want to do this, being fully aware of the dangers of failure, and putting up with the rigorous training without complaint. He must want to be an astronaut not for the glory, not for being a daredevil hero, but because of a deep motivation which urges him to accept with courage the challenge of breaking through the limits which would bind: man forever to this earth.It is a common trend in this century for man to experiment with animals first before risking human lives in the cause of scientific progress. This is particularly true in the field of space biology. Ever since German V-2 rockets were cap- tured for research work after World War Il, there have been monkeys, mice, guinea pigs, rats, cats, bears, chimpanzees, dogs and other animals used for space experimenta- tion, They have been rocketed to great heights and sent into orbit, whirled dizzily in cen- trifuges and hurled down tracks on rocket sleds. They have drifted without weight in zero-gravity tests and floated in capsules beneath high-flying balloons. The first space pioneer of the animal king- dom was a thesus monkey named Alberta. She provided the first occasion for man to examine the physiological effects of weight- lessness. The doctors learned, happily, that the experience was not too disturbing. It was found over the next few years that monkeys could breathe normally, maintain their regular circulation, and digest food quite naturally. Exposure to cosmic radiation failed to produce any dramatic health hazard. In another test, two white mice were hurled above the earth in a nose cone, and spectacular pictures of their weightless con- dition were taken. Chimpanzees are indispensable for re search in the space field because of their high intelligence. They have been used to perfect safety harnesses for pilots subjected to the great forces of deceleration. Because the chimps are so intelligent, they have also given the scientists some trouble. They have very good memories, and after a number of tests. they recall very well the terrifying noises and forces they can expect. One veteran chimpanzee was none the worse for ‘wear, physically, but he didn't like the pros- pect of going through the test again and made a terrific fuss. Finally, he mashed a banana across the face of a friendly engineer. From then on the chimps were fed tran- quilizers before the test! In 1959, 2 small rhesus monkey named Able and a larger squifrel monkey called Baker were placed inside the nose cone of a Jupiter IRBM and shot 300 miles above the earth, at a velocity of 10,000 miles per hour. During fifteen minutes of flight, the monkeys were weightless for nine minutes and exposed to cosmic radiation. They were the first known living specimens to endure such a test and return alive. One of the tests at the Walter Reed Insti- tute of Research disclosed an_ interesting fact about monkeys. Some of them developed ulcers while under the stress and distraction of making decisions and were promptly named “executive monkeys'"! Second to the chimpanzee in intelligence rating is the humble pig whose internal tissue is somewhat similar to that of a human being. The pig has a docile temperament and the weight of a medium-sized man, and has been very useful in deceleration tests. Hurled down a monorail track, anesthetized to remove the chance of pain, they were subjected to violent stops which produced forces up to 80 g's! All of them survived. It should be mentioned here that human volunteers have been subjected to forces as great, sometimes greater than those experi- enced by the animals. Over the years of experimentation with animals, scientists have been able to de- velop the equipment necessary to keep human astronauts alive and well while trav- eling through space. Surely we owe a great debt of gratitude to these lesser creatures of the earth who made it possible.Gaptain Venture SLRVWING THE WRECK mg x 2) ( OF THEIR SRACESHIP (By es ON 4 WATER-COVERED FY fom | PLANET, CAPTAIN REX VENTURE AND SCOTTY MACKAY ARE FUBITIVES FROM A HOSTILE CIVILIZATION IN THE ANETS LONG { STRANGE! THEIR W CLOTHING AND THEIR IKE ANY OUTCASTS I EVER SAW! J Ba| \/ You TWO OUTCASTS ARE We ARE NOT - CHARGED WITH OPERATING AN \_— OUTCASTS! UNAUTHORIZ: EI SINKING A POLICE PATROL er D VEHICLE ~AND QUR JOB IS TO BRING THEM IN, NOT TO. WONDER ABOUT THEM! RE THEY HAVECONDEMNED TO HARD LABOR INTHE A\INES— FOR LIFE TAKE THEM, AWAY! A HIGH SPEED ELEVATOR TAKES REX AND SCOTTY —AND THEIR POLICE ESCORT WHEN. SPACESHIP WAS STRUCK BY A METEOR! AT ONCE, YOUR EXCELLENCY! FOLLOW “THAT OTHER CART— AND BRING BACK A FULL La4D OF ORE! NO SHIRKING! IS AWFUL HEAT! D TAKE ANY CHANCE ‘TO GET FREE!IN THE ORE WASHIN iG ROOM EXT EMPTY BASKET. VES INTO PLACE ..AND THAT'S: INTO THE SLUICE! AYE, CAPTAIN! AND WE MOVE WE MADE IT BEFORE ANY GUARD COULD USE HIS RAY WHAT'S: NEXT?NK, A, AND WogoDy'S HERE YET!AKE ANY PLAN!ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “YOU_AND’ Vo 2 CHEERIOS REALLY MAKE SWEET MUSIC TOGETHER, BULLWINKLE ! CHEERIOS w’ mk ave Y fan Lots oF US PEOPLE MUSCLE-MAKIN’ Go-Go-GO! Pe PROTEIN... DO YOU MEAN THAT EVERYONE SHOULD GO WITH THE GOODNESS or CHEERIOS? DARN TOOTIN JG BUT THEY SHOULD WATCH WHERE: h THEY'RE GOING!MIDDLEMEN OF SPACE Between the early space pioneers and the astronauts are the scientists and engineers who design the vehicles and instruments, mix the fuels, and search for the materials of space travel. Four of these top men are Americans, working together for a common goal — conquering space. Wernher von Braun devised the first model of the German V-2 rocket in 1938, before coming to America. His inspired leadership and technical knowledge make him a genius at getting things done. He headed a team which developed five of our major missiles, launched Explorer | Pioneer IV, and developed the giant clustered-engine booster, Saturn. Von Braun has been honored with countless awards for his work. Another product of the German rocket age is Krafft Ehricke, the great theorist of the modern space pioneers, Studying and experimenting with liquid hydrogen for years, he devised ways to contain and iso- late this tricky and dangerous element so that it could be used successfully for a powerful fuel. A fascinating writer and speaker, Ehricke has long foreseen the use of atomic power and ion propulsion for space travel. One of our foremost physicists from the University of lowa, James A. Van Allen, is a leader in the field of miniaturizing in struments for space travel. He also de vised the “rockoon" method of firing a rocket from a balloon to save the fuel needed to lift it through the lower atmos. phere. Dr. Van Allen designed and built the scientific payload of Explorer 1, and the radiation belt found by this vehicle in 1958 was named after him. Bernard A. Schriever, the top American military spaceman, is a four-star general in the Air Force. He is also an engineer and scientist, has an infinite capacity for hard work, and the ability to lead and in spire others. Heading up the Air Force missile program, Schriever and his team accomplished an industrial miracle in finishing the Atlas ICBM two years ahead of schedule! He firmly believes this nation must defend its rights in space as well as on land and sea.PU ea aN Tea NATIONALLY ADVERTISED 1966 MODELS PEST es 3 EXPERTLY BALANCED RODS AND REELS ARGOSY DIRECT DRIVE