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Aviation History
1968
1968 - 0063.PDF
IGH7• International, II January (968 65 ipaceflight Giant communications satellite (depicted in an artist's impression) which "could beam signals from point-to-point anywhere on earth by using a new gyrostat system invented by Hughes Aircraft Co, Culver City, Calif." The company adds that the "multi-spin" spacecraft "could aim antennae, laser beams or telescopes accurately in any direction, and the antennae could also relay signals from other satellites or be aimed at manned spaceships" A SPACE POLICY FOR BRITAIN The BIS proposals SALVO OF SUGGESTIONS for British space activity, both nationally and internationally, has been fired off at the UK Government by the British Interplanetary Society. Jnder the title A Space Policy for Britain, the BIS proposals [Flight, Sensor, January 4) are to be published next month in Society's magazine Spaceflight: they recommend, among )ther things, the establishment of a European Space Agency, support for a European communications satellite and the setting-up of a national space budget of £20-25 million p.a. In a preamble to its recommendations, the BIS criticises the 'arliamentary Estimates Committee Report on Space Research and Development, published on July 27 last year (Flight, August 17 and 24, 1967). "Despite the activities of ELDO, 10 and CETS (Conference Europeen des Telecommunica- tions par Satellites)," the Society says, "Europe has yet to play [an effective role in space technology. Lack of purpose at the political level, and a stubborn refusal to establish a viable luropean space programme, are root causes of the waste, frustration and general dissatisfaction that surrounds this increasingly important field of European co-operation. The "auncil of the British Interplanetary Society feels that an jrtant opportunity of placing these problems—as they feet Britain—before Parliament was missed when the Parlia- Hary Estimates Committee, in its 13th report, considered le topic of Space Research and Development." Main BIS criticism of the committee's findings is in the international sphere. "In this highly controversial report," the Society says, "cost-effective programmes bearing on ELDO and Europe's future in an age of rapid technical advance received a negative response (e.g., 'The United Kingdom should not take Part in the CETS programme for a television distribution satellite.') Once again the BIS—whose original recommenda- tions for a Euro-Commonwealth communication satellite pro- gramme were placed before the (then) Conservative Government in February 1960—urges the adoption of space Programmes which will guarantee an effective contribution by Britain and her European partners." The Society's recommendations for an international pro- gramme are as follows:— (1) Establish a European Space Agency as a central Planning and contractual authority with a separate budget, combining the interests of ELDO, ESRO, CETS, etc, and maintaining liaison with national programmes, NASA, Intelsat,e te A total budget of £80-100 million p.a. is assumed, of which the UK share would be 25 per cent. (2) Seek adoption of the Franco-German Symphonie comsat Project as the ESRO/CETS "first generation" experimental satellite. (3) Extend the ESRO/CETS proposal for a TV distribution satellite to a "second generation" concept for European com- mercial application in a (possible) Eurovision regional system, placing contracts with industry for design and preliminary development. (4) In the forthcoming Intelsat negotiations for a permanent world comsat organisation, ensure provision for the develop- ment of separate regional telecommunications systems (e.g., a system related to Eurovision under Intelsat management), but integrated with the overall Intelsat programme. (5) Establish a European Communications Satellite Corpora- tion (Eurosat), partly financed by governments and partly by private investment, to allow further development of satellites and to pay for ELDO launchings. (6) Develop a family of ELDO launchers according to pre- dicted European telecommunications requirements between 1970 and 1985 (i.e., progressive development of Europa launchers). Ultimately this will provide a powerful Earth orbital capability (i.e., several tons of payload in close orbit), from which to develop other space projects, such as recover- able launch systems serving both scientific and commercial purposes. (7) Undertake a new assessment of requirements and oppor- tunities for scientific satellites and space probes, relating these to available payload capability of ELDO launchers and smaller launchers derived from the British Black Arrow and French Diamant B. (8) Make a study of long-term techniques likely to reduce the overall cost of space activity—e.g., recovery and re-use of launch vehicles (including a cost/efficiency comparison between winged, lifting body and ballistic methods), and advanced propulsion systems. This should be backed up with the neces- sary technological development in all aspects. (9) Make a full assessment of future opportunities for collaboration with US and Soviet space programmes. (These would affect areas which, by their nature, have the widest international importance: e.g., Earth resources observation satellite (EROS) programme, affecting agriculture, water con- servation, oceanography, geology, etc; satellite techniques for navigation and sea/air traffic control; Apollo applications programme, affecting more penetrating man-monitored studies in astronomy, biology and physical sciences.) For a British space programme, the BIS makes four main recommendations:— (1) Establish a national space budget—excluding contribu- tions to ELDO, ESRO and CETS—of £20-£25 million p.a. (2) Continue development of small national launcher, Black Arrow, for the double purpose of achieving larger orbital
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