§ 32. Mr. Masonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if the programme of space research, specifically dealing with scientific experiments using sounding rockets, is to be conducted by the United Kingdom alone; and at what estimated cost.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary for Science (Mr. Denzil Freeth)The experiments in the present sounding rocket programme are devised by United Kingdom scientists and carried in Skylark rockets fired at Woomera under joint Anglo-Australian arrangements. The main element in the cost is that of providing the rockets, which is estimated as of the order of £225,000 in the current year. The possibility of enlarging this porgramme in co-operation with the Commonwealth and Europe is under consideration, and a co-operative sounding rocket programme is one of the first questions which are being explored by the Preparatory Commission set up to plan a possible European organisation for space research.
§ 33. Mr. Masonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will state the total cost in the first year of the United Kingdom's overseas plans to develop a varied programme for space research.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe cost cannot be assessed pending the outcome of the international discussions now in progress on the co-operative development of a satellite launcher, and on the scale of activities to be carried on by the proposed European Space Research Organisation.