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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0525.PDF
FLIGHT International, 5 April 1962 523 Missiles and Spaceflight ELDO CONVENTION SljGNED The intergovernmental Convention to establish a European Laun cher Development Organization was signed by representatives of four of the seven member States at the Foreign Office, London, last week. Britain, Italy and West Germany signed on March 29, France the following day, and the Convention was "open for signature" by Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands up to the end of this month. Arguments for and against the ELDO programme are put for ward in "ELDO—the Official View" and "Is ELDO Realistic?" on pages 524-525. Articles outlining the proposals in detail were given in our issues of February 17, July 13, August 17 and November 9, 1961. Headquarters of the organization will be set up in Paris. COMMONWEALTH COMSAT CAUTION — A cautious view of communication satellite prospects was expressed by the Postmaster General, Mr Reginald Bevins, in London on March 28. Speaking at the opening session of the Commonwealth Conference on Satellite Communications, he said that it would be unrealistic to think of satellite communications as being just around the corner, or that they would oust submarine cables before long. He continued: "We have a long way to go. Satellite communica tions have not yet been tested in practice. The first experiments across the Atlantic will be made this year in co-operation with the Americans, using satellites of American design and launched in the United States. I hope that we shall learn a great deal from these experiments, but they clearly cannot determine the design of a commercial satellite system." One design of a commercial satellite system which has already been studied by the GPO in conjunction with the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, involves twelve satellites in equa torial orbit at a height of 7,500 n.m., corresponding to a "sub- synchronous" apparent period of 12hr. On the subject of the GPO ground station at Goonhilly Downs, Cornwall, which is to be used for the forthcoming Telstar and Relay experiments, a Post Office delegate said that the station would be operating by the end of May or the beginning of June. —AND ENTHUSIASM The first-year progress report of the British Space Development Company, given by Sir Robert Renwick on March 20 and noted briefly in last week's issue, strongly urged the establishment of a Commonwealth communication satellite system as being "essential to the further development of Commonwealth trade." The com pany's technical commmittee under Mr Geoffrey Pardoe had examined the technical possibility of such a system, estimated the probable revenue involved, and compiled a report on costs which had been passed to the British Government. The conclusions of the report, Sir Robert said, were that (1) communication by active satellites between the countries of the Commonwealth was entirely practical and could be achieved by The Lord Privy Seal, Mr Edward Heath (second from right) signs the ELDO Convention in London on March 29. Also seated, from the left: Italian Ambassador Pietro Quaroni, Minister of Aviation Peter Thorney- croft, and West German Chargi d'Affaires Rudolf Thierfelder. The French Ambassador signed the Convention the following day 1968-70, (2) such a system was the most economic method of pro viding high-quality telephone channels throughout the Common wealth, (3) the revenue from such a system would fully justify the substantial investments in research and development and in the necessary ground stations and satellites, and (4) the establish ment of such a system would be essential to the further development of Commonwealth trade. Details of the type of system envisaged by the company were given by Sir Robert as follows:— "We visualize a system employing eight to ten satellites established in an equetorial circular orbit which will be chosen within the bracket 6,000 to 9,000 nautical miles. The precise number of satel lites and the height of their orbit will be determined only after decisions are taken on such factors as circuit requirements between key places in the world, launcher performance available at various stages in the programme, etc. "The particular example currently chosen for study by BSDC demonstrates that the requirements could be made by nine satellites established in an equatorial circular orbit of height 7,480 n.m. Linked with these satellites would be at least 16 major ground stations disposed through the Commonwealth, and there would also be secondary stations. To begin with, the capacity of each satellite would be 500 two-way high-quality telephone circuits but this would increase as development took place to 2,000 two-way cir cuits plus television links. "There would be a global service, 24 hours a day. "The system would be in operation between 1968 and 1970. "At an assumed charge of £1 per minute, we estimate the revenue to be £18m per annum by 1970, rising to £30m per annum by 1975, £50m per annum by 1960 and £77m per annum by 1985. These revenues are after due allowance for that part of the income which must be paid out for normal landline connections to the system, and include revenue from television and other services. "Over the 18 years, 1968 to 1985, we expect the total revenue to be approximately £700m. "In all these calculations we have allowed for the existence of an American system and of an extended submarine telephone cable network . .. "Over the 18-year period when we expect a total revenue of £700m, we estimate a total cost, both capital and operating, after making adequate provision for development and satellite replacement, of £200m. An excess, therefore, of revenue over total capital and operating cost of £500m. This figure would be reduced to £400m after due allowance for depreciation. "As a business man, I say this is good business."
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