American Satellite Launchers (Cost)

HC Deb 06 May 1968 vol 764 cc7-8W

Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Technology what he estimates to be the estimated cost of the purchase of an American Atlas-Agena or Atlas-Centaur launcher, on the basis that it was available for launching a British commercial satellite.

Mr. Benn

In the absense of a United Kingdom national requirement for launchers of these types, no such discussions have been held with the United States authorities on this. However, estimates that have been made suggest the following:—

• Atlas/Agena—9–10 million dollars a launch.
• Atlas/Centaur—14–15 million dollars.

More appropriate vehicles for launching commercial satellites into geo-stationary orbit would be the Thor Delta, at approximately 5 million dollars and Titan III B/Agena, at approximately 10 million dollars.