Saturn I proposal accepted in 1947 instead of 1957

The Hermes C launch vehicle, which eventually became the Redstone rocket, was proposed in 1946. Not long afterwards, a clustered 2-stage design of the same engine was proposed but got shelved. In 1957 it was the basis for what later became the Saturn I rocket. Now, what would happen if the US decides to develop the Saturn I in 1947 instead of 1957? Does it fail disasterously or does the US suddenly have the ability to launch satellites in the early 50s with manned missions before OTL Sputnik?

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/hermesc1.htm
 
Didn't the US put a stop to all rocket research in 1947 to put more effort into aircraft for delivery of nukes?
 
Dammit! you mean the US space programme could have been at the Mercury level right after WWII?

I'm not sure it would be pursued that early though. You need to look at why the Hermes C1 was downgraded in the first place. A reluctance to part with strategic bombers, or something else? Maybe a feeling that "we know what aircraft can do, who knows if these rocket things are reliable."
 

Thande

Donor
Dammit! you mean the US space programme could have been at the Mercury level right after WWII?

I'm not sure it would be pursued that early though. You need to look at why the Hermes C1 was downgraded in the first place. A reluctance to part with strategic bombers, or something else? Maybe a feeling that "we know what aircraft can do, who knows if these rocket things are reliable."

Maybe if the effects of the V2 were more successful?

A bit macabre, but in OTL we managed to use Ultra intercepts to make the Germans think their V2s were overshooting London, and so they 'corrected' them to fire short - thus mostly hitting the far less populous southern home counties rather than central London. What if the Germans don't fall for it and the V2 wreaks far greater damage on London, perhaps destroying cinematic landmarks or killing Churchill? That might make the Americans think 'geez, pardner, we gotta get us some of that' ( ;) ) and thus invest more heavily in rocketry...
 
this might actually have bad consequences for the space program, if the US gets into space so much more in advance it might cause the Russians to throw in the towel that much earlier, without the russians to compete with there may not be any mission to the moon
 
Didn't the US put a stop to all rocket research in 1947 to put more effort into aircraft for delivery of nukes?

they kill
Hermes C
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/hermes.htm
MX-774 and First version of Atlas ICBM (5 engine)
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/atlas.htm
oxygen/hydrogen rocket engine research !


and wat if they develop all this ?

MX-774 evolved into 5 engine Atlas first launch in 1953
so US had beat the Sovjet by four year, with first U.S. Sat in Orbit !
1955 mabye Atlas or Hermes C with oxygen/hydrogen upper stage
and first U.S. astronaut in Orbit ?

1957 Project HORIZON a Army outpost on Moon ?
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hortpost.htm
 
Maybe if the effects of the V2 were more successful?

A bit macabre, but in OTL we managed to use Ultra intercepts to make the Germans think their V2s were overshooting London, and so they 'corrected' them to fire short (snip)

Actually it was the turned German spies who were used to convey the 'intelligence'. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Cross_System#V-weapons_deception

Interestingly, IIRC the Germans could see from radio telemetry that the V1/V2s weren't overshooting, but believed the spies over their telemetry. Come to think of it, that could be your PoD.
 
1) Speed up the H-bomb. Redstone only got the OK when it was clear that a Fusion Bomb was both plausible and heavy. If Teller got his way earlier than OTL, and serious work on a "Super" started right after the war, the Hermes C might get some traction.

OR

2) Have some trigger that causes a demand for "rocket marines". The original proposed military use of Juno V/Saturn I was a quick-reaction troop transport (I'm not making this up!). So, have some important incident far away from any US base, and then some General(s) becomes enamored with the idea of shooting shock troops/special forces on rockets.

Also, Hermes C wasn't quite Saturn I; it had six V-2 derived engines to Saturn I's eight...

Simon ;)
 
Considering how long it takes to prep a rocket for launch wouldn't it be quicker to fly troops by jet aircraft?
 
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