Minutes of a meeting of the British National Committee on Space Research Present: Sir Harris Massey, Chairman; Professor H A Bruck; Dr A H Cook; Mr P D Greenall; Dr A W Lines; Mr R N Quirk; Mr M O Robins; Air Commodore W K Stewart Mr R Dalziel (RRS), Dr E B Dorkling (UCL), and Dr R Frith (MO) attended by invitation 1. Minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 1961 2. Matters arising from the Minutes 2a Minute 2 (b) - Reorganisation 2b Minute 2 (c) - US-UK Scout 2 2c Minute 2 (f) - Attitude Stabilization Apparatus 2d Minute 3 - Scout Satellite Report 2e Minute 5 - Future Relations with NASA 2f Miinute 7 - Design of Experiments Subcommittee Matters 2g Mminute 9 (b)(iii) - Dr R L F Boyd - FF/35(61) 2h Minute 9 (b)(vi) - Dr G V Groves - FF/14a(60) 2i Minute 9 (b)(viii) - Dr F G Smith - FF/13b(61) 2j Minute 9 (b)(ix) - Professor G W Hutchinson - FF/29a(60) 2k Minute 9 (b)(xiii) - Professor Z Kopao and Dr J Ring - FF/38(61) 3. Joint UK/US Projects A report on joint UK/US pr9ojects [NCSP/155 (61)] was considered 3a S-51 3b S-52 3c S-53 4. UK Satellite Data Reduction 4a. Reception of S-51 Data (i) Falkland Islands and Singapore (ii) Tristan da Cunha 4b. Cost of Acquiring and Handling UK Scout Satellite Data 1962-64 5. UK Scout 3 5a Proposals The following proposals from University Groups and Government Departments for the UK Scout payload were considered; (i) Radio Research Station and Cavendish Laboratory jointoy (NCSP/149 (61)) (ii) University of Sheffield (NCSP/151 (61)) (iii) Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories (NCSP/88 (61)) (iv) University College London (NCSP/152 (61)) (v) Meteorological Office proposal - "Setting on one side mere repeats of experiments being carried in Scouts 1 and 2, we would like to propose a 'broad band' experiment to measure the concentration of molecular oxygen. This should be fairly simple, once a suitable photocell was developed and we are confident that we could have a fully designed prototype ready by the end of 1962." 5b Payload 6. European Launcher Developmetn Organisation No report was available concerning recent ELDO negotiations 7. European Space Research Organisation The Scientific and Technical Working Group of the ESRO Preparatory Commission had now made its final report (to be circulated when available), and an extract giving the proposed ESRO immediate and long term projects (NCSP/157 (61)) was noted. The report gae details of the cost adn technical organisation required to conduct a programme of launching rockets and satellite payloads. The proposals included a plan for stting up a headquarters (staff approximately 100), a data handling centre with computers and tracking facilities (staff about 200) and a rocket range in the auroral region (eg Kiruna) in addition to the national ranges already in operation. The Programme would air at:- (i) firing the equivalent of 65 sounding rockets a year (ii) puttiong two small satellites per annum successfully into near-earth orbits by the fourth year (iii) launching about two space probes per annum by the sixth year (iv) injecting one large satellite (stabilized astronomical) per annum by the sixth year (v) launching one large space probe (lunar satellite) per annum by about the seventh year The Administrative Working Group were at present working on the detailed costs of the scientific programme. Sir Harris Massey reported that the final meeting of the Preparatory Commission would be held in January 1962 when outstanding issues would be settled and an agreement would then be drawn up for governmental consideration in March; no government had as yet officially agreed to support the proposed organisation. Owing to ratification procedure there would be about six months before any Treaty came into force. The details of the scientific programme to be undertaken would be planned throught the Council of the new organization, which would not be committed to the proposals of the preparatory Commission. It was expected that the planning and organization of large projects would rest wholly with the ESRO, but that small projects would be financed and planned by the national member concerned. It was expected that the UK national programme and the UK/US co-operative programme would continute separately from the ESRO programme. The Chairman reported that there was considerable enthusiasm in both the UK Astronomical Working Groups for the ESRO programme. The Lunar and Planetary Astronomy Working Group had suggested that astronomers from other countries should be invited to the UK for informal discussions on the ESRO programme, bu there was a danger that any lead given by the UK in this way might be viewed with suspicion. It was agreed that such meetings might be more opportune after the ESRO Treaty had been ratified; in any case the UK Astronomical Working Groups would first have to assess the UK contribution. 8. Finance 8a UPES 8b Grant Applications 8c Dr R C Jennison (FF/171 (61)) 8d Reorganization and Membership of the UPES 8e Summary of Recommendations 9. Annual Reports 10. Space Research Estimates 1962/1963 11. COSPAR 12. COSPAR Delegates 12a SPACEWARN Contact 12b Optical Tracking Correspondent 12c Radio Tracking Correspondent 13. The International Year of the Quiet Sun 1964-65 (IQSY) 14. Subcommittee and Working Group Meetings 15. British Commonwealth Consultative Space Research Committee 16. Skylark Programme The Committee agreed to send a telegram to WRE, Australia, congratulating them on 17 successfurl UK rocket firings in 1961. 17. Date of next meeting It was agreed to hold the next meeting in February 1962, prior to the Washington COSPAR Symposium 11 December 1961