In looking through some aerospace artifacts that were auctioned off (or at least attempted to be auctioned off) back in 2004, one was a memo written by Werner von Braun while he was director of NASA-MSFC in March 1964. You’d expect there to be a bagrillion of these sort of things, mostly pretty bland stuff like scheduling appointments and the like. But this one… something seems to have happened that I’d like to know more about.
801: Dr. Wernher von Braun Autograph
Dr. Wernher von Braun Autograph on a 3/11/64 pencil memo on a red/white printed “Office of Director – MSFC” note paper addressed to Dr. von Braun that reads: “There was no letter from Dr. Welsh. He requested this information from Dr. Stuhlinger on Jan. 16th at a luncheon meeting in Washington. He asked for a written reply”. Dr. von Braun has written an extensive reply in pencil on both sides of the notepaper. He has marked this “URGENT”. The reply reads, in part: “Frank – Attached letter (not included) is a rather disastrous critique of Max Hunter’s proposal (likewise attached) (not included). I’ve known Max for many years. He is a super ? with boundless imagination and little constraint. That’s why he left Douglas and became a member of the Professional Staff of the Nat. Space Council. He hoped to “get Washington into high gear”. I hate to antagonize him and turn him into an enemy of Marshall. But Welsh apparently wants a reply. Please explore ALL political aspects of this (incl. advice from key Washington men familiar with Nat. Space Council affairs) and get the best top-level advice as to how to react to Welsh’s inquiry. (I wish we didn’t have to comment on Max’s letter at all!!). Unless you are urged to do so, don’t mail reply until I’m back from my vacation. This thing is political dynamite. So it might as well smolder a little longer. PS. The trouble is, our appraisal is properly quite right.”. He has signed this with his characteristic “B” and the date “3-11”. Fascinating.
I’d sure like to know what this “disastrous” proposal from Max Hunter was. My hand-wavy guess is that it’d be something to do with nuclear propulsion, perhaps an evolvement of his RITA concept for a nuclear SSTO.
