The problem of escape from the Earth by rocket. Offprint

Malina, Frank (1912-81) and Martin Summerfield (1916-96). The problem of escape from the Earth by rocket. Offprint from Journal of the Aeronautical Sciences 14 (1947). 471-480pp. Text diagrams. 287 x 210 mm. Original printed wrappers, unobtrusive stain on front wrapper. Very good. From the library of aeronautics and aerospace pioneer Theodore von Kármán (1881-1963), with his ownership stamp on the inside front wrapper and his characteristic docketing on the front wrapper.

First Edition, Offprint Issue. "Malina's paper, co-authored by Summerfield, laid out for the first time the theoretical criteria for ‘staged rockets'—the standard means of orbital access for over half a century" (MacDonald). Malina, one of the pioneers of modern astronautics, co-founded the Aerojet Corporation with Summerfield, Theodore von Kármán (his professor and mentor at Cal Tech) and two other Cal Tech students; he also led the team that developed the WAC Corporal, America's first high-altitude rocket and the first vehicle to achieve hypersonic speeds. This copy of Malina's paper is from von Kármán's library.