Technoscience and Warfare From "Planet Dora" to the moon Flashcards
What was Planet Dora? Who named it so?
A concentration camp for making rocket parts. Named by one of its survivors.
When did the greatest technological progress happen?
During WWII, the greatest human suffering in history.
What was the German leadership approach to technology/science?
They wanted to use knowledge to destroy inferiors, not to benefit.
Who was Albert Speer?
A German architect of buildings and furniture who designed everything, including concentration camps.
Mastermind behind the scenes of the Third Reich.
What was unique about Albert Speer as a Nazi?
Only one who ever admitted guilt.
What is Technoscience?
“Big science” integration of science, technology, government, universities, private companies into one giant project.
What was the fundamental shift from technology to Technoscience?
Technology: to cope with the environment
Technoscience: to destroy/control
What are the 5 biggest examples of Technoscience at work?
- Atomic Energy
- Modern computers
- Television
- First guided missiles
- Modern design, such as furniture
What were the first modern computers?
- Z3, memory of 60 words
- Z4, first commercial
What was the name of the first guided missile?
V1.
What war machine was Hitler obsessed with? What were some examples of these that were made under his instruction and ambition?
Tanks.
- Mouse Porsche
- Rat
- Gott
^All in ascending order of size
What was the world’s fastest plane at the time of WWII? What was an issue with it?
Me 163.
Too dangerous to fly, pilots would die.
What was the Ju 287?
Jet bomber.
Had 4 jet and 4 rocket engines.
What was the Silver Bird?
A space shuttle introduced by Germans at the late stages of WWII.
What was the US designed fastest and most advanced jet introduced after WWII called? What was this believed to achieve?
F-86.
Believed that it would beat the Russians almost instantly.
What was the Russian designed fastest and most advanced jet introduced after WWII called? What was this believed to achieve?
Mig-15.
Believed that it would beat the US almost instantly.
What is noticed when comparing the Russian flagship jet and the US flagship jet? Why is this so? Where did they first meet?
They looked almost identical. Both designed by Messerschmidt, a German.
Met in Korean war.
Who was Kazimierz Siemienowicz?
Polish guy who wrote the first book on rocketry, multi-stage rockets.
Who was Konstantin Zilkowski? What are two things he conceptualized?
Polish guy who wrote the first book on space travel and use of rockets for space travel.
Conceptualized Space stations and rocket boosters.
Who was Robert Goddard?
Wrote a book on mathematical theory and the moon. “Method for reaching extreme altitudes”
Who was Hermann Oberth?
Wrote his PhD thesis “By Rocket into Planetary Space”
Who was Wenher Magnus Maximillian von Braun? Give 6 facts.
- Oberth’s student
- Part of German and US rocket program
- SS officer
- Involved in concentration camps
- has all Nazi records wiped out
- At time of war was leading scientist of German rocket program.
What was the world’s first man-made object in space? What happened to it?
A4 (V2) rocket, German. Did not remain in orbit, did not go high enough into space.
How many advanced rockets did von Braun build for Hitler? How many did he design? What were they called?
Built 10, designed 12. A1-A12
What is significant about A10?
It was an intercontinental ballistic missile which became the US Redstone rocket after WWII.
What is significant about A12?
The 1969 Saturn rocket moon, most advanced, unstoppable, went 4 times the speed of sound.
What did von Braun argue for in terms of engineers and scientists and their designs?
Engineers and scientists are not responsible for what is done with their designs.
What technology signified start of the space race?
“Vostok” (R7) rocket, USSR.
What was Sputnik I? What was it an experiment for?
A metal sphere with a radio transmitter in it. Sent up into space by USSR and stayed in orbit.
Experiment to see how warheads would reach the USA via space.
Why was NASA formed? Who became the director of NASA?
Formed in direct response to Sputnik. von Braun became director.
What was significant about Sputnik 2?
Carried Laika the dog, first animal in space.
What was significant about Vostok 1?
Carried first human into space, Yuri Gagarin.
What was significant about Luna 9?
It was a manmade object/capsule that landed on the moon.
What was significant about Venera 3?
First manmade object to reach another planet (Venus).
What was significant about Zond 5?
First to orbit the moon and return to earth.
What was Neil Armstrong’s rocket called?
Apollo 11.
What was a controversial quote of Albert Speer’s?
That “in the end my feelings about it are highly skeptical”, it being the technology he created.
What was unique about Speer at Nuremburg?
He was one of only 3 major Nazis that did not get executed.
