Mosquitoes Upset Space Plans

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 13

Mosquitoes Upset Space Plans

P A.-Reuter) < SEKKUJOKKI (Swedish Lapland). Swarms of mosquitoes are causing concern at Space City, a rocket launching pad being constructed at Sekkujokki by the European Space Research Organisation.

Officials fear that the proposed staff of between 80 and 80 scientists, technicians and other research workers who will live on the site next year may leave in frustration if the problem cannot be solved. A question which will be raised at forthcoming talks at the organisation’s headquarters is who will pav for anti-mosquito creams ' and sprays—an essential item which would cost each man on the site about four crowns (5s 6d) a day. “Obviously,' we cannot expect the staff to pay,” said Mr Botolf Hemre.

the 36-year-old Norwegian chief engineer at the site. “And with most European nations members of the Organisation, it may be difficult to reach a decision on the distribution of the cost.” The site is in the heart of Laplandia, where several thousand nomads still tend their herds of reindeer. From it, 50 French Centaur and British Skylark rockets will be fired about 180 miles into the ionosphere every year for eight years. It is hoped that the site, which is expected to cost £1,000,000 sterling, will provide the answer to many of the secrets of the Northern Lights—the phenomonen which illuminates the Arctic winter with a multi-coloured blaze of crystallised light.

LARGEST TOWN The base, 100 miles northeast of Kiruna, a town of only 27,000 inhabitants but in area the largest in the world, will 1 consist of two-storey adminis- [ tration blocs, radar station 1 buildings, modern living , quarters, observation towns, ■ bunkers and a helicopter

landing ground. More than £28,000,000 will be poured into the project during the first three years. Of this, Britain will contribute about one quarter. Other countries participating include Belgium, Denmark, France, Holland, Italy, Spain, West Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

At present, Space City Is little more than a few muddy roads with a border of electric cables , the shells of buildings and the dense pine forests to the south. To the north, is barren tundra stretching for hundreds of miles—the area of the down range shots. Next June Space City will be a modern community with every amenity. There will even be deep water wells because the sub-zero temperatures of the Arctic winter often freeze the fastflowing Torne river, on which the base stands. “It has been hard work,” Mr Hemre said. “Construction has ofter been delayed. We have to spend considerable time every morning before starting work chasing

off stray reindeer who shelter in the shell of the buildings.” ANGRY LAPPS

Under an agreement between Sweden and the European Space Research Organisation, the site is to be used only for peaceful purposes. But relations have not always been peaceful. Officials at the base have had to soothe the anger of some Lapps who are afraid that they may be hit by the rockets as they land in the target area. It has been agreed that compensation for “damage to property, reindeer casualties and personal inconvenience” will be paid to the Lapps for each rocket fired—a promise which will considerably increase costs, although the refund will take the form of road construction.

Mr Bengt-Olof Eidval, who designed the site, declares that the chance of hitting a Lapp or his reindeer is about one in 2,000,000. Nevertheless elaborate precautions are being taken. Shelters to house between 10 and 30 people are being erected at various parts in the wasteland and the Lapps will be issued with free transistor radio receivers so that they can hear broadcast warnings of a launching.

Radar will track the rockets as they zip through the ionosphere, and helicopters will retrieve them within an hour of landing, passing on information gained from them to base and all interested parties, whether they are members of the organisation or not.