Edward Makuka Nkoloso
 |
This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. (December 2007) |
Edward Makuka Nkoloso is a candidate for the mayoralty of Lusaka, Zambia, and former activist for the independence of Zambia.
Formerly a grade school science teacher, he became notorious at the time of independence when he established the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy, Zambia's first (unofficial) space program.[1][2]
Contents |
Space program [edit]
In the 1960s this programme sought to accomplish the launching of a rocket that would send twelve astronauts and ten cats to Mars.[citation needed] Nkoloso hoped to beat the United States and Soviet Union's respective space programs at the height of the Space Race.
To train the astronauts, Nkoloso set up a makeshift facility seven miles from Lusaka, where the trainees, dressed in drab overalls with British army helmets, would then take turns to climb into a 44 gallon oil drum which would be rolled down a hill, bouncing over rough ground; this, according to Nkoloso, would train the men in the feeling of weightlessness in both space travel and re-entry.
Nkoloso wrote an editorial for a newspaper describing his endeavors, in which he described how he had asked UNESCO for a (Zambian) £7,000,000 grant for his space program, and how he specifically instructed the missionary on board not to force Christianity onto the native Martian inhabitants if they didn't want it.[3]
He also noted[citation needed] that the rocket, a 10x6[vague] aluminium and copper vessel, would launch from the Independence Stadium on Independence Day, 1964.
Aftermath [edit]
Nkoloso's space program never took off the ground, particularly because of the lack of grants from UNESCO and the fact that the 17-year-old "spacegirl" who was to ride on the mission, Matha Mwambwa, had got pregnant and was taken away by her parents.[citation needed] Furthermore, the Zambian government distanced itself from Nkoloso's endeavor.[4]
He later served as president of the Ndola Ex-servicemen's Association.[citation needed]
References [edit]
- ^ "Tomorrow the Moon," Time, 30 October 1964. Behind paywall.
- ^ "Zambian astronauts train for Moon trip -- Interview with space academy director", ITN, 14 November 1964
- ^ Edward Makuka Nkoloso, "We're going to Mars! With a spacegirl, two cats and a missionary", article from an unidentified edition of an unidentified newspaper, reproduced here in "The Global Trip 2004" (a blog).
- ^ Reproduction in "Investigator Magazine" (tripod.com) of a letter from the Ministry of Power, Transport And Communications, Zambia.
Further reading [edit]
- Patrick Moore, (1972), Can you speak Venusian?: A guide to independent thinkers. David and Charles
External links [edit]
- Interview on YouTube
