TALKING TO MARS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 466, 12 August 1909, Page 2

TALKING TO MARS.

Thk most direct plans for taking with Mars have been p ut forth by I,eo Stevens, a distinguished American aeronaut, who 18 planning a voyage beyond th e clouds with Professor David BTodd, of Amherst College, writes a New York correspondent. Mr Stevens says that Professor Todd and himself will ascend ten miles in the largest balloon ever built and from far beyond the clouds will endeavour to send wireless messages *to the unknown planet. The balloon has already been completed. Within a fortnight it asj cended with Mr Stevens and Professor Todd to an altitude of nearly 9,000 ft, a record-breaking achievement in America, Of ' course to ascend ten miles will be afar different matter- from two. Remarkable paraphernalia for the great ascent is now under con B struction. It includes two hermetically sealed aluminium cases, with tanks of oxygen attached, to be used for breathing in the outer peripheries. The men will step within these tanks which are connected by a speaking tube, and live within them as they pass out of the breathable atmosphere. There will also be a powerful wireless plant with ten miles of wire

trailing down to the earth, specially made clothing of tremendous thickness, and all manner of navigating instruments. Even if the expedition fails to talk to Mars it win be a most interesting aerial event.