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Aviation History
1971
1971 - 0037.PDF
ESRO DISCORD: ROUND TWO Drama seems to have become the keynote of European ' space, following the December 22 meeting of the Esro , council. Once again France played the lead role when, supported by Germany and Belgium, it reversed the ' decision taken by the three countries last November to 7 withdraw almost entirely from Esro's applications satellite programme. However, this retraction was conditional upon ' a shift of emphasis from general scientific research to practical work towards commercial application satellites. Moreover, a major reorganisation in Esro was demanded which would provide each member country with the option of selecting its own area and extent of participation. The initial outcome of this is a complete reprieve for i the 1971 budget, of which more than 70 per cent was to have been released in stages and only after periodic debate (Flight, December 10). The approach is such that the pro- , posals may well be carried through in an emergency meeting late this month. The force behind France's pro- ' posals was a threat of resignation. The Esro constitution is due for renewal at the end of this year. Resignation by France would probably be followed by that of Belgium • and of Germany, leaving the organisation too weak to continue. Furthermore, France said that it would with draw shortly before the review date, shouldering the re maining countries with the entire winding-up costs. Britain is strongly opposed to selective participation, ' the result of which would be a melee of independent, bilateral and multilateral projects operating under the auspices of Esro. This would, in effect, render the organisa- ' ' tion subservient to the whims of its members, a situation which would distort the whole concept of Esro as a Euro pean authority. ' However, this proposal is remarkably advantageous to , France. With a budget of Fr473 million (£35.5 million), heavily cut from the previous year, it has been attempting to participate in every aspect of European space. Apart • from national launcher and satellite programmes and cer tain Franco-German projects, full committal to the Europa launcher programme, to Esro and, speculatively, to the *post-Apollo programme is endeavoured. Little wonder, " therefore, that something must* be curtailed. One aspect that France will not yield up is Europa. Four days prior to the Esro meeting, Eldo voted through its 1971 budget of $71 million (£29.5 million) as well as $88 million (£36.5 1 million) in commitments. A substantial share must come s from France, which, to this end, is prepared to reduce its contribution to Esro. By suggesting the switch in priorities, France is drawing the financial emphasis on to a limited range of large, clearly divisible, sectors, and away from the nebulous distribution of scientific research work. If s optional participation is established, France will be in a position to tailor its part in Esro to suit its own pocket. SECOND SPACE CONSORTIUM The formation of a second European space consortium was officially announced last week by the British Aircraft Cor- , poration. The consortium, to be called Star (Satellites for Telecommunications, Applications and Research), joins BAG with companies from seven of the nine other Esro member nations, namely Contraves (Switzerland), CGF-Fiar ^ and Montedel (Italy), Sabca (Belgium), Ericcson (Sweden), I Fokker VFW (Netherlands), Dornier Systems (Germany) I and Thomson CSF of France. The Soviet laser projector at the Crimean observatory which was used in conjunction with the reflector mounted on Lunokhod I. It was described as producing "800 photons" [per pulse?—Ed] Star is to compete with the Cosmos consortium for con tracts primarily from Esro's applications satellite pro gramme and will be joined by AEG-Telef unken of Germany for telecommunications satellite work should the consor tium gain responsibility for Esro's planned comsat. No project leaders have yet been announced or forecast but BAC's Intelsat 4 experience puts the British company in a good position to head work on a comsat. The creation of Star has been in the air since the emer gence of Cosmos last November. The uncertain political climate in European space appears to have favoured post poning its announcement for as long as possible. However, successful operation of such consortia might well be com promised if Esro goes through with the plans, reported above, for selective participation. Moreover, the threatened disintegration of the organisation jeopardises the very existence of the groups by its risk of depriving them of their primary objectives. The consortia were originally organised to encompass the potential global market, a concept that could well be thoroughly tested under the circumstances. LUNOKHOD PROGRESS REPORT The Soviet lunar vehicle, Lunokhod 1, has been shut down once more to sit out the second lunar night since its arri val on November 17. Due to be reactivated today. January 7, it has meanwhile provided a second series of laser measure ments using the French-built reflector carried aboard. After being first re-awakened on December 8, Lunokhod began a more adventurous series of manoeuvres than those immediately following its arrival. On one occasion, it en countered a crater 52ft, 16m in diameter and 6ft, 2m deep and accideiitly slipped partly over the rim. The controllers then decided to take Lunokhod on into the crater and out again, during which operation the vehicle overcame a list of 27° and a backward tilt of 17°. Travelling in a southerly direction, the vehicle covered 1,300ft, 400m from its "over-
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