§ 32. Mr. David Priceasked the Minister of Aviation what support his Department is giving to the further development of rocket engines for satellite launchers.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe United Kingdom, through contracts placed by my Department, is developing engines for the first stage of the E.L.D.O. launcher and is participating in studies for further E.L.D.O. programmes involving the development of more powerful engines using advanced propulsion techniques. We have also placed contracts on national account for preliminary work on engines suitable for a small satellite launcher. All of this is supported as necessary by work in our research establishments.
§ Mr. PriceI am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Do I take him to mean that most of the work is going on on the successor marks to the Gamma 304 engine? As to the second part of his reply, do I take it that work is taking place on high energy fuels producing better results than the traditional HTP that has been used in the Gamma engine?
§ Mr. JenkinsI think that the answer to both of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary questions is "Yes", but as I move, as he will be aware, with a certain caution in these highly technical fields, perhaps I might write to him to confirm that.