Reported U.K. Plan

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28728, 28 October 1958, Page 11

Reported U.K. Plan

LONDON, October 26. A British programme of satellite launchings and space rockets costing up to £15,000,000 is to be recommended by the Royal Society in a confidential report to the Government. The “Daily Express” science correspondent, Chapman Pincher, said it was planned as a Commonwealth venture with possible North Atlantic Treaty Organisation participation. The rockets would be fired from the Woomera range in Australia. He said the Government which had been opposed to spending money on satellites, was now likely to implement the Royal Society’s advice for four reasons: The British Blue Streak rocket which could put big satellites into space was certain to be produced to replace the United States Thor missiles. The Australian Government was pressing for satellite launchings to ensure fuller use of the Woomera range, in which it had invested huge sums. The Americans were anxious that British brains should be geared to satellite research to help compete with the Russian sputnik challenge. The Government’s scientific advisers, who previously opposed investing money in satellites, had swung around to the view that Britain must enter the space business.