ASKS 250,000 DOLLARS FOR TRIP TO MARS IN 1954 - DUNCAN (B.C.), Sun. - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 21 Jul 1952 (original) (raw)

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Mon 21 Jul 1952 - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)
Page 1 - ASKS 250,000 DOLLARS FOR TRIP TO MARS IN 1954

Strathosphere explorer, Dr.

Jean Felix Picard, to-day guar-

anteed a trip to Mars by 1954 to

anyone willing to pay 250,000

The scientist said that his

flight had been set for 1954 be-

cause he believed Mars would be

in a most favourable position then

for the observations he wanted to

"If there is oxygen on Mars,

there must be vegetable life, and

where there is vegetable life,

there can be animal life, even a

race of human beings," he said.

Dr. Picard and his wife, Dr.

Jeanette Picard, are working on

plans for the projected flight.

He said that he would go to

Mars in free balloons which had

been "tested and proven."

An ultra-modern gondola for

the balloons is in the "mock-up"

stage in a laboratory in Minne-

All that was needed was a

sponsor with a minimum of 250,

000 dollars to devote to the ad-

vancement of science, Dr. Picard