U.S. Air Force To Man New Station

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31723, 5 July 1968, Page 1

U.S. Air Force To Man New Station

The satellite-track-ing station to be established in the foothills of the Mackenzie Country will be manned entirely by the United States Air Force.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (Professor N. C. Phillips) said in Christchurch yesterday that no university staff would be employed in the research. Observations would be made available to university astronomers working at the nearby Mount John astronomical observatory and to bona fide students of the science.

Professor Phillips said that the proximity of the station to the observatory would enhance toe university’s scientific potential. The tracking station will be

built on two acres of land sub-leased to the United States Air Defence Command by the University of Canterbury. The university itself already leases 57 acres of Crown land for the Mount John Observatory, which is maintained and financed by the university and University of Pennsylvania. Professor Phillips said the University Council had already approved plans for the station building. He was not sure, but thought one or two buildings were involved. A request to the university to make the land available was made by the Government in May, 1967, said Professor Phillips. The original approach to the university had come from the University of Pennsylvania in September, 1966. Before the University of Canterbury agreed to the Government’s request it made detailed inquiries about the camera-tracking station to be

satisfied that there was nothing about it which might be inimical to the academic purposes of the university, said Professor Phillips. It is understood that about 30 men of the United States Air Force will man the station. They will work 12 at a time in six-day shifts. It is expected that the men at first will be quartered in Christchurch. Later they may move to Timaru to be closer to the station. The satellite-tracking camera will be able to catalogue and assist in the indentification of all satellite and space objects orbiting the earth. Work on the station is believed to be ready to begin once the formal agreement between the United States Government and the New Zealand Government has been signed. Tenders for the construction of the station will be let by the United States Navy in Christchurch.

Once formal approval Is given the station could be in use within 12 months. The Canterbury University Students’ Association committee formed to organise and support a protest against the Omega navigation project is now interesting itself in the station.

The committee last evening issued the following statement over the name of the association's president (Mr P. G. Nathan): “We note that neither the text nor the details about the Mount John proposal will be made, public until after the agreement has been signed.

“We affirm that any proposal for the installation of important scientific equipment in this country, especially if connected with the military organisations of any foreign Power, must be considered with great caution, and that no agreements should be made without positive provision for New Zea- )

land to retain sovereign control and right of inspection of such installations at all times, most particularly in international emergencies and war. “At no time must the scientific activities undertaken by such stations be secret, or classified, nor should ultimate control pass out of our hands. The right of the press and the public to have reasonable access must be preserved if we are expected to believe that projects are unclassified and their activities connected solely with civilian and scientific programmes. “We once again draw the attention of the public to the facts pertaining to the American installation at Woodbourne, near Blenheim. The Government has continued to maintain this project at a top security rating. All applications for journalists to inspect the installation have been refused.”