Bonn Increases Space Budget

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31582, 20 January 1968, Page 20

Bonn Increases Space Budget

(N.Z.P.A.-ReM»r) BONN. West Germany’s new space programme provides for spending SNZSO annually on national projects by 1971, compared with this year’s budget of SNZ22m.

The programme will be spearheaded by research and experimental communications satellites, to be launched in co-operation with the United States and France. There will be no heavy outlay on space launchers. Contributions to the European organisations—for space research (E.5.R.0.), launcher development (E.L.D.0.) and telecommunications satellites (C.E.T.S.) will remain roughly at the present level of SN.Z.2B million. This means that West Germany will still be contributing a 25 per eent share to the Euro-

pean organisations to which she has already contributed nearly SN.Z.6O million. Experts say that for international commitments and internal development to complement one another most efficiently, national expenditure must be greatly increased.

“If we have not got our own programme, we cannot give our best internationally, and we get little concrete return for the money we spend,” says a Science Ministry spokesman. The bigger budget for natural space projects is officially described as “an investment within the framework of West German plans for economic stability and growth”—an essential for any Ministry wanting increased Government grants at a time when slack demand has led to tax shortages and a tightening of the budgetary belt. Where West Germany will save is in her decision not to build space launcher rockets. These drain funds in Britain and France without

giving an immediate compensatory technological return. Launcher can be regarded as vital for defence purposes, and funds for them need not be counted as expenditure on space, though they can also be used for space research. But West Germany saves whichever way the question is examined. She has renounced nuclear weapons and therefore the development of her own delivery system. To fulfil her North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commitments, she has bought United States rockets. But the warheads are under United States control. Furthermore, West Germany is anxious to avoid any semblance of aggressive tendencies, especially during the present drive for improved relations with Eastern Europe, and the development of such rockets demands enormous ranges which are not available.

Instead, West Germany will concentrate on satellites. First aloft will be an Azur experimental satellite, to be launch-

ed in 1969 by a United States Scout rocket. Two other Azurs and a sun probe will follow, all launched by the United States, but all providing valuable experience for German technology. Next will come Symphonie, a telecommunications satellite in co-operation with France. The West German Minister of Science, Herr Gerhard Stoltenberg, has suggested that Symphonie could be used to relay the 1972 Olympic Games from Munich. Other projects include a continuation of high atmosphere probes, most of which have so far been launched from Kiruna, in northern Sweden. A mobile launching pad, already built, will give an opportunity for greater flexibility in launching areas. The development of the third stage of the Eldo rocket is already well under way. Politics, geography and finance combine to ensure that West Germany will not overspend on space. The United States budget alone is some 50 timet bigger.