§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make about the recent visit of Professor Massey's team on Space Research to the United States of America.]
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMYes, my Lords. In accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement on May 12, 1959, Professor Massey and a small team of experts visited the United States recently to discuss co-operation with the United States in the field of scientific research in space using earth satellites. I am glad to report to your Lordships that Professor Massey's team had most valuable and fruitful discussions with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
As a result, it is proposed that British scientists will prepare instruments, for satellites to be placed in orbit by the use of the "Scout" vehicle, which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are developing for use in connection with civil scientific research. Thus, British science will be able to play its own part in the advancement of scientific knowledge of our planet and its environment. Several vehicles might be involved over a period of three to four years. Her Majesty's Government have considered and approved these proposals, subject to the conclusion of formal arrangements.
Information concerning these programmes and their results will be made available to the international scientific community. Both the British and the American groups regard this project as a valuable development in scientific cooperation, and in endorsing this view on behalf of Her Majesty's Government I should like to congratulate both sides on the successful outcome of their discussions. Meantime, the arrangements for design studies of British launchers, which were announced in the Prime Minister's statement, remain unaffected.