HL Deb 24 July 1969 vol 304 cc1170-1WA
THE EARL OF HARROWBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether research is being carried on into the possibility of using unmanned rockets for the transport of food and other materials, both over long and short distances, and if not whether they will instruct the relevant research body to investigate this long-term possibility.

LORD BESWICK

No research into the possibilities indicated by the noble Lord is being undertaken, nor is any planned. Research into rocket techniques has been directed towards the development of;

  1. (1) Sounding rockets, i.e. vehicles which probe the upper atmosphere and provide data of value to scientific programmes;
  2. (2) rockets launchers intended to put an unmanned satellite into orbit; and
  3. (3) rocket engines for guided weapon systems.

Whilst there are theoretical possibilities on the lines suggested in the noble Lord's Question, the need for their practical application has not been sufficiently pressing to justify research effort. Important considerations to be taken into account are the size, weight, and durability of the pay load, the cost of manufacture and launch of the rocket, and the cost and convenience of other methods of transporting the load.