v2

[Eric Rosenbloom]

As a new member of this list (not new to Pynchon, however), I ask your
forgiveness if I am rehashing material already posted. I did search the
archives, so I hope I am alright.

I noticed that this site, v2rocket.com, has been mentioned, but I
thought I'd just say what a great resource it is. the following link
goes through the whole setting up and launching procedure, with lots of
pictures. At the very bottom left of the page is a picture of The Thumb
on the hauptstufe button. That feuerleitpanzer looks a lot like that
lunar landing module the USA put on the Moon . . .

<http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/proceedure.html>

'Meillerwagen heads away from the area. The members of the Firing Troop
take cover in slip-trenches prepared earlier. The Feuerleitpanzer
(Sd.Kfz.7/3) firing control vehicle is located about 100-150 meters away
from the rocket, usually down in a protective trench that was dug when
the site was prepared. The launch control officer and crew enter the
Feuerleitpanzer. Inside, the launch control officer asks the man on the
'steeringtable', "Steuerung klar?" - "Steuerung klar!" is the answer.
Everything is quiet. The soldiers are only whispering. The launch
officer calls, "X1" (t-minus one minute).

'The officer steps on a small perch in the Feuerleitpanzer. He is able to
see the launch site, "Schlüssel auf Schießen!," he orders. "Ist auf
Schießen, Klarlampe leuchtet!," says the man behind the propulsion
controls. The fuel ignites, flowing under gravity, burning at 8-tons of thrust.

'After a precisely established sequence of commands, the last order of
the officer is barely heard over the roar of the engine - ". . .
Hauptstufe!" After that, the man at the propulsion controls pushes the
button and the fuel pumps and steam turbine begin to scream. The earth
is shaking and vibrating under the pressure of 25-tons of thrust. The
rocket goes straight up and turns itself slow to the target. A man at
the propulsion table jumps to the table and turns the spanner of the
high pressure bottles down. The soldiers slowly go to the launch site,
that ironically, . . . looks very empty.