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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0842.PDF
840 FLIGHT International, 24 May 1962 Missiles and Spaceflight BRIGHTON SPACE ASSEMBLY SPACE exploration was discussed last week in the anachronistic setting of the Metropole Hotel, Brighton, just across the promenade from the West Pier and the boats of Brighton Sailing Club. Sponsored jointly by the American Assembly of Columbia University and the Institute of Strategic Studies, the European-American Assembly was focusing its attention for three days on "Outer space; prospects for man and society." The conference had brought together some 75 eminent scientists, writers, lawyers, professors, administrators and politicians from Europe and the USA. Divided into three discussion groups, they had simultaneously attacked a wide-ranging agenda, attempting to answer SUCh questions as:— What priority should be assigned to the exploration of outer space in relation to other social, economic and political challenges that confront contemporary society? How can outer space be prevented from becoming a new battle ground between the major Powers? Can progress be made towards averting the militarization of space despite the cold war? What kind of international regime or rules are required to regulate national activity in space? What is the desirable place of non-governmental activity in space research and development ? What are the likely social, economic and industrial effects of space programmes ? What should the relationship be between the European space programme and that of the United States? As well as the main discussion sessions, three evening sessions were held at which the delegates were addressed by Mr John J. McCloy, chairman of the advisory committee to the US arms control and disarmament agency; Sir Bernard Lovell, FRS, profes sor of radio astronomy at Manchester University and director of the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories at Jodrell Bank; and Prof Pierre Auger, president of the French national centre for space studies and executive secretary of the European Space Research Organization's preparatory commission. Advance background reading for the Assembly had comprised two publications, one American and one European. These were the paperback Outer Space: prospects for man and society, edited by Lincoln P. Bloomfield and published by the American Assembly; and What space means to Europe, a report by Mr David Price MP based largely on Mr Price's earlier paper, Political and economic factors relating to European space co-operation (Flight, July 6, 1961). At the close of their discussions the participants reviewed as a group the following statement. Although there was general agree ment on the final report, no one was asked to sign it and it should not be assumed that every participant necessarily subscribes to every recommendation. The world is now rapidly advancing into the era of space explora tion. We welcome this development, for we believe that, on balance, the benefits to be derived from an increasing knowledge and mastery of space will justify the resources which the programmes for acquir ing such knowledge must absorb. The desire of the scientist to answer the innumerable questions that the relation of our planet to the universe beyond poses for him, is a wholly legitimate one which, in societies devoted to free enquiry, should not be restrained. At the same time, we record our conviction that this growing mastery of space will have far-reaching effects upon individual societies and upon international relations which will require a high order of political statesmanship. We must recognize that the wealth of resources now being de voted to space research in both East and West is intimately con nected with the intense political rivalry that divides them. In itself, this scientific rivalry raises no objection, and indeed such rivalry has often acted as a spur to discovery. But there are at least two grounds for caution: first, the advanced industrial nations should not merely for reasons of competitive prestige, concentrate, over a long period, vast resources upon space research to the exclusion of more pressing human needs; second, it is now possible for the physical sciences to change man's natural environment so pro foundly that the use of scientific knowledge must clearly be com patible with moral and political values. Scientific and Civil Space Activities We unanimously support the quest for further knowledge abou: our planet, its environment, and the cosmos. Already much of high intrinsic value has been learned. But in addition, all history tells of the incalculable benefits accruing to those societies venture some and far-sighted enough to give positive encouragement to the enquiring scientific mind. It is in the application of scientific principles to technology that developments are occurring which most require our attention. We anticipate profound benefits from satellite research to man and society, without regard for national boundaries, from the planned satellite systems for communications, for weather forecasting, navigation, and others. World-wide systems of communications satellites are close to practical achievement. These systems will enormously expand the channels available for telephone communication and transmission of news, cultural activities and other events by radio and television across the oceans. With the hope that it will be accompanied by an improvement in quality, we welcome this dramatic strengthening in the network of communications and we warmly endorse efforts to assist technically less developed nations to share in these benefits. The weather satellite system is also well on the way to being fully operational. We applaud the prospects of economic betterment, greater convenience and efficiency, and above all the saving of life and property already demonstrated by this new capacity to anti cipate major weather patterns. We are hopeful that the signs of Soviet interest in co-operation with the United States meteorological satellite programmes will mature into effective collaboration Similarly, it is proper that the practical benefits of the impending American navigation satellite system be available to all navigators. We urge full co-operation among the nations in the areas of weather, communications, navigation, and other constructive space programmes for the benefit and progress of all mankind. The Military Use of Space and its Control It is an illusion to suppose that space exploration can readily be insulated from political tensions. In the first place, it is impossible to draw a firm distinction between the uses made of the informa tion derived from space craft. In the second place, since the task of responsible governments is to help maintain peace on Earth, they are right to pursue applications of space activities which are likely to improve the stability of the strategic equation between East and West. In this category are:— (a) communications satellites, since in a delicate balance of power a failure of conventional communications can be extremely serious; (b) early-warning satellites, to decrease the need for over-rapie reaction in a period of tension; (c) surveillance and reconnaissance satellites, which make for an open world and therefore for stability. However, weapons of mass destruction stationed in space are in a different category. Apart from the question of whether the;. could perform more usefully or at a comparable cost the functions now performed by Earth-bound systems of strategic deterrence, their existence in orbit would have a psychologically deteriorating effect on international relations, and would prejudice co-operation between East and West. It is encouraging to note that there is some similarity in the United States and Soviet proposals to out law their use, in their respective disarmament plans at present under negotiation in Geneva. There is no time to be lost in pursuing such an agreement, safeguarded by an effective verification system either in the context of a programme for general and comprehensive
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