The Howard Hughes's Sputnik.

If in 1939 Howard Hughes had decided to put the first (small) artificial satellite in orbit before 1950 ("money are not a problem")...would be successful?
 
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Well, I guess if someone brought Goddard to his attention he could get started in that direction...assuming Goddard's willing (any thoughts?). More than likely once the US enters the war (no way they get to orbit before that) they end up working on military rocketry (I'd assume small tactical stuff). Once the V2 appears they get alot more attention and funding, or even recovered parts. Perhaps this distracts Hughes from other projects (no Goose?).

Once the war's over there might be enough of a basic rocket infastructure that (assuming they still round up Von Braun and company, which seriously complicates matters since Goddard IIRC considered Von Braun a war criminal) puts them at a head start, meaning they could beat Sputnik to orbit.
 
I'm more interested in the political and cultural ramifications. A private individual was the first into space:eek: - not literally but close enough.

Even if he did have significant government help the fact that pace was opened up by a private individual would very likely foster a much greater private space industry. I doubt there'll be any major private crewed launches but there could be a thriving small launch industry for satellites and the such. An earlier X-prize most likely.
 
One of the reasons there was a delay in the US satellite launch was that Eisenhower wasn't sure of the legalities of an orbiting body over foreign territory. So he hesitated to give his permission for an earlier launch, until after the Soviets set the precedent. Hughes might not worry about such things.

Torqumada
 
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