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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1841.PDF
FLIGHT, 21 December 1961 955 MOST SOPHISTICATED SATELLITE Britain's Lead Described by Minister for Science SPEAKING in the House of Lords onDecember 6, the Minister for Science said "My Lords, I should now like to turn, if I may, to the first British satellite experi- ments, which were authorized by the Cabinet only 25 years ago and which I am now hoping will shortly come to fruition . . . "It is flattering to be told by the Americans that they regard the payload of our first joint Scout satellite as perhaps one of the most sophisticated of first joint satellites of this name ever to come from this country.'" HERM HAILS BRITISH BOOST FOR SOVIET SPACE SUCCESS A GENEROUS tribute to Britain's role in the recent Soviet manned spacecraft event was paid in Moscow yesterday by Lt Herman Yuri Gagarov—Herm to all his British fans—at a mammoth press con- ference. After the mammoths had finished answering questions it was the smiling Henri's turn. The "effort and valorous exploits" of millions of Britons (and assistance from other countries of the world) was specific- ally acknowledged by the smiling, handsorre hero. Pressed to give further details of the British contribution, he smilingly, hand- somely declined. BRITAIN'S SPACE LEAD CONFIRMED BY SOVIET UNION A BRITISH delegation of observers to the 27th Congress of the Soviet Academy of Cosmonauts in Moscow returned to this country on December 21. The leader of the delegation, Sir Erptitious Waffle, said at London Airport; "It was a most interest- ing conference, though not as well-organized as the first meeting last week of the new Provisional Joint Interim Steering Com- mittee in London. F am sure that, by and large, our meetings on space affairs are superior to those of any other country." EUROPE'S LEAD in female astronauts: Left, elegant Brenda Horsfield models leopard-skin wind- cheater and purple ski trousers prior to Tiger-boosted launch in manoeuvrable space glider; right, unidentified French astronette prepares for take-off in Nord Cl.20 woman-carrying spacecraft Leading Booster for British Payload THE National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced last week that the massive five-stage Nova rocket would be used to place the first joint Anglo-American satellite in orbit. Originally planned to be launched by the somewhat smaller Scout rocket, then by the medium-sized Delta, then by Atlas- Centaur, then by two-stage Saturn, then by three-stage Saturn, the sophisticated British satellite is expected to reveal important new information on the first quarter-mile of the D layer of the ionosphere. The Nova vehicle employs five 1.5mlb thrust F-l engines as first stage, two 1.5mlb thrust F-I engines as second stage, and upper stages developing a total thrust of 920,0001b. Total thrust of Scout was 182,0001b. Weight of the British scientists' instruments was originally 1501b. but it is believed that this payload weight has perhaps increased slightly during the 25-year development period. An orbit of 100-200 miles is planned. "As my father said when he made the change from Scout to Delta rocket," a NASA official stated, "—and on all those other occasions, too—we are convinced of the mutual benefits to be obtained by means of co-operative efforts on an international basis." IN BRIEF ALL QUARTERS FROM MOMENTOUS MATTERS NEWS New Committee Formed. A new Joint Steering Space Advisory Committee is to be formed to co-ordinate the work of the 73 existing space committees in the United Kingdom. This heartening news was given at the opening session of the 25th annual Conference of United Kingdom Space Committees and Associated Advisory and Non-regulatory Astronautical Bodies, in London last week. * * * Britain Might Lose Lead. Speaking before the aeronautical group of the Loyal Astronautical Society on Tuesday of last week, the Minister of Aviation stated that, if this country did not pay attention to "certain factors," Britain might very nearly almost reach the position where she might conceivably seem to be in possible danger of perhaps losing her world lead in space. * * * European Space Milestone. The first Provisional Draft Interim Agreement for the possible formation of a European Space Launch Vehicle Development Organization reached a milestone in its history on Dec- ember 15. when the agenda for a new phase of preliminary negotiations was agreed in principle by delegates from 28 of the 59 member countries. It is now considered almost probable that Monaco will build the twelfth stage of the vehicle. As for the upper stages, these are still in doubt. * * * US Cruelty to Soviet Dog. The Foreign Secretary is to be asked at Question Time in the Commons today "Whether Her Majesty's Government is aware that the needles launched into space by the Ameri- cans are causing unnecessary cruelty to the most recent dog launched into space by the Russians; whether this is not a suitable occasion for the traditional British spirit of compromise and fair play to assert itself; and. if not. what Her Majesty's Government plans to do about the situa- tion, bearing in mind the implications of the impact of the European Common Market on the Chorley needle-holing industry. • * * Celtospace Formed. Wales. Scotland and Ireland are to combine in a joint space endeavour which will have as its first main objective the organization of a five- stage Eisteddfod yr Space Mawr at Llan- gollen. A spokesman for the planning group stated "This is a truly international effort if we exclude, as we most certainly shall, isn't it. those ignorant natives from England. We seek to combine the best elements of an Irish tenor, Welsh harp and Scots bagpipes, and to place the whole lot in orbit. There's genius for you, man, och aye. begorrah." * * * Britain in Space? The British Interplanet- ary Association has called for an all-out effort to place the Minister of Aviation in orbit.
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