Apr 5 1938

From The Space Library

Arthur C. Clarke and A. Janser debate in front of the BIS membership in London. The point in question, "Space Conquest Can be Made to Pay." Edward John Carnell who chaired the debate stated that no one had considered the possibility of revenue from passengers. The conclusion of the debate was that space flight could not be made to pay for an individual but could successfully earn revenue for a government.

Clarke's speech contains many ideas which would later be adopted including making fuel on the moon, mining the moon for platinum group metals, and using solar power to drive lunar industry.