Satellites May Spy For Minerals

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31836, 14 November 1968, Page 13

Satellites May Spy For Minerals

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 13. A British engineer claimed yesterday that the Americans were using satellites to find mineral-rich land in other countries, then buying it. The charge was made by Mr Michael O’Hagan, manager of space and military systems in the government contracts department of the Standard Telephone and Cables Company. Mr O’Hagan, addressing a Conservative Party-sponsored seminar on the problems of space and technology policy, criticised the British Government for falling behind in satellite programmes. Of the Americans, he said: “They are actually buying land with mineral rights because of what has been found. “Brazil, of all countries, is

aware of the danger and is going ahead with an earth resources programme, reducing dependence on the United States.” •

Another scientist, Mr K. C. C. Pardoe, of the British aircraft firm, Hawker Siddeley, said only 13 of the 8000 pictures taken by the Apollo astronauts had been released, and he understood that very few more would be released.

This, he said, was because of the details shown on them. Mr Pardoe said countries could use satellites as an aid to agriculture—by spying on rival nations’ crops. A country could then decide the best time for marketing. Satellites were also capable of detecting disease in crops and forests, and locating concentrations of fish and oil deposits.