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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0371.PDF
FLIGHT International, 8 March 1962 371 Missiles and Spaceflight ESRO'S FUTURE ASSURED European space-research plans entered a new phase at last month's meeting of the Preparatory Commission for the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) in Paris. Agreement was there reached between the twelve member-nations on a draft convention bringing ESRO proper into existence. This is to be signed at an inter-governmental conference which will probably be held in Paris in about two months' time. As soon as this document has been ratified, the organization's operations can begin. But ratifica tion may take a year to complete, and so the preparatory commission has been voted a further twelve months of life (extending to Feb ruary 25,1963) so that there is no hiatus in the detailed planning work—a great deal of which still remains to be done—while the legal formalities are being completed. European space-research operations may therefore be expected to start at the beginning of March next year, if not before. An outline scheme of work covering the first eight years is contained in the convention, as well as the means for carrying this out. Member- nations will commit themselves to this eight-year programme (running from 1963 to 1971 inclusive) and all that it involves. The Move, souvenir medal struck in the Soviet Union to commemorate the first orbital fight, by Gagarin. Below, souvenir stamps issued in the USA to commemorate the first US orbital flight by Glenn o»y of XMM. wwatiag the e*fc*t. el Jfotai H, SI' suiut. its . 4 hts> _^$ ain? NS »ry 20th, 1962. feditor, Flight, Bos*et House, Stwifsml Street, juoadon, S, S. i, BagH"**. NASA's first orbiting solar observatory, designed to be launched into circular, near-Earth orbit, is checked out at Cape Canaveral. The launch was scheduled for last week, but was postponed financial commitment is approximately £100m (1,500m new francs) for the eight-year period. This represents a "ceiling" figure; less may be spent, but not more. A ceiling of £25m for the first three years' work has also been accepted, with a review of the situation to take place then. This corresponds to the build-up of activity proposed in the technical report prepared by the preparatory commission last year (Flight, November 2 and 9,1961). Research from sounding rockets of the Skylark and Veronique type launched from the proposed ESRO rocket range at Kiruna in Swedish Lappland will be the first project that can be implemented. A number of rockets could be fired during ESRO's first year (1963). Sixty-five rockets per year are planned from the third year of operations onwards. The first small Earth satellite is projected for the fourth year of operations (1966); possible launchers are the British Black Knight or the French rocket Diamant now under development. Two such satel lites per year are planned from the fourth year onwards. The first large satellite, or deep-space probe, requiring a heavy launcher is projected for the sixth year (1968) with launchings run ning at a level of two per year from then onwards. The European Launcher Development Organization (ELDO) vehicle based on the converted Blue Streak with two upper stages is a possible launcher for this. Several permanent establishments are required to carry out this programme. Besides the ESRO rocket range in Lappland, there will be a headquarters office (probably in Paris); a substantial space technology centre (ESTeQ with a staff of 800; a data computing centre (ESDaC) likely to be situated at the German computing institute at Munich; and several tracking and telemetry stations. Several countries (including Britain) are anxious to house ESTeC, which is likely to prove a valuable asset not only in money terms but as a pool of talent and advanced techniques. The siting of this centre is understood to be of such importance that the decision is being taken at Foreign Minister level. The relationship between ESRO and ELDO remains outwardly as ambiguous as ever. Technical contacts are being made between the provisional organizations of each, but no more-formal link is expected to be contained in the ESRO convention. ESRO reserves the right to obtain its launching vehicles where it will—though reaffirming its prime interest in the ELDO vehicle. A note from the budget committee of ESRO has pointed out that there would be "very serious repercussions" to ESRO's budget if the ELDO vehicle did not become available. It estimates that a heavy launcher obtained from the US would cost about double. The ELDO vehicle is quoted here at £700,000. Secret Satellite III A Reuter news report from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, dated February 21 stated: "A satellite carrying secret equipment was launched from here today, and there was speculation that the equipment might be of the type to be used by future Samos 'spy' satellites. The Air Force declined to give any details of what equipment was boosted into space by the Thor
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