N.Z. Research Work In Space Outlined

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29749, 16 February 1962, Page 11

N.Z. Research Work In Space Outlined

Dr. F. J. Llewellyn, chairman of the New Zealand University Grants Committee, was appointed chairman of the National Space Research committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand at its meeting in Wellington this week.

Although no direct satellite or rocket work is yet being carried out in New Zealand, and probably will not be on other than a minor scale for a long time, it was reported that New Zealand scientists are now actively observing satellite behaviour. For example, Auckland University, at the Seagrove fleld site run by the physics department some 40 miles from the city, has for some years been measuring the angles of arrival by longdistance radio signals using a 60ft diameter rotating aerial system. It was, therefore, a comparatively simple matter to switch over to the measurement of the angles of arrival of radio signals transmitted from satellites, the meeting was told. Information on the variations of the ionosphere, or upper atmosphere, through which the signals have to pass is being obtained.

This work is now supported by a contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in America.

The University of Canterbury is also contract supported from America in its work on the outer atmosphere, including radar studies of fine meteoric dust coming into the atmosphere from outer space. The mathematics department is well known overseas for its research on the most efficient paths for satellite passages deep into the solar system. The Dominion Physical

Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lower Hutt has now commenced an active programme of measuring the fluctuations in strength or “scintillation” of signals from satellites passing over or near New Zealand. and by this means is finding irregularities in the outer atmosphere at high latitude. This work is also being extended. Other university and D.S.I.R. work on rockets is just getting under way. This New Zealand work was outlined to the committee and it was stated that England had offered New Zealand facilities for installing scientific equipment in Skylark rockets to be fired at Woomera in Australia. The possibility of carrying out at least one such experiment is now being investigated by the D5.1.R.