Reply to the 4th annual report of the European Space Vehicle Launcher Organisation (ELDO)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 3 October 1969 (15th Sitting) (see Doc. 2643, report of the Committee on Science and Technology). Text adopted by the Assembly on 3 October 1969 (15th Sitting).
The Assembly,
Execution of the launcher programme
1. Noting that the launching in November 1968 of F 7 was the most significant development in ELDO's seven-year history insofar as it included for the first time all three stages of the launcher as well as the satellite test vehicle ; regrets that, although important progress was made, not all the aims of the trial were achieved ;
2. . Regretting that the complete mission of the second launching of all three stages and the satellite test vehicle in July 1969 was not fulfilled because of failure of the third stage, hopes that the next launching (F 9) will be successfully completed ;
3. Considering that the introduction of new technological changes resulting in higher costs is not an abnormal occurrence in the construction and development of complicated technological equipment, regrets that governments were not ready to finance the new target plan T 8 nor the revised target plan T 8 A, and notes that a new provisional target plan T 9 has been agreed ;
Future programming and the market for launchers
4. Noting that while the objective of the space programme as laid down in 1966 was the construction of a launcher with the capacity of a 170 kilo pay-load, and that studies and experimental work had as final objective the launching of a geostationary satellite of about 2 tons with an intermediary step of a satellite of about 500 kilos, regrets that these planned aims have now been replaced by a small satellite of a mass of 500 to 700 kilos ;
5. While regretting that, because of the uncertainties concerning ELDO's future, no attention was paid in 1968 to the question of finding a market for launchers, welcomes the indications of the 3rd European Space Conference (ESC) to the effect that between 1972 and 1976 European countries would undertake an average of two launchings per year of applications satellites and that by 1976 at least one and at the most two European launchers would be used for scientific satellites ;
6. Noting with satisfaction that the prospects for a market improved a little in 1968 as compared with 1967 insofar as France and Germany agreed to authorise the Secretary General to enter into commitments for the production of two vehicles, hopes the new Working Group on Launcher Production set up in April 1969 will pay particular attention to the question of finding markets in Europe and elsewhere ;
7. Noting with satisfaction the agreement of January 1968 between ELDO and the Company for the Study and Integration of Space Systems (CETIS) ; hopes that this inaugurates a period of closer co-operation between ELDO and European industry since the latter's co-operation and financial commitment is indispensable forany successful European space programme ;
Finance, investment, management
8. Considering that the increased cost of the Europa I and II programme is a direct consequence of ELDO's twofold aims, namely the development of a launcher at the cheapest price, and the advancement of member countries' technological know-how, considers that the "fair return" rule adopted by the Ministerial Conference in 1966 should be altered ;
9. Believing that one essential condition for keeping costs under constant control is the existence of a management system integrating in the most effective manner national authorities and industry, and making the best use of them, under the authority of the Secretariat, believes that much remains to be done in this field and that the main fault for this lies with the governments ;
10. Deploring that the history of ELDO was once more in 1968 one of a crisis whose real causes were not financial but far more profound, and while welcoming the solution to the crisis found in April 1969, regrets that this was only secured at the cost of destroying the European solidarity between the founding states and by increasing the financial burden falling on the four remaining states,
11. Resolves to invite the ELDO Council :
11.1 to do everything in their power to see to it that the F 9 launching is a complete success ;
11.2 to elaborate an industrial policy which should aim at the balanced development of technologies in member countries and not be solely based on considerations of "fair return" ;
11.3 to create a management system integrating, under the responsibility and authority of the Secretariat, the national authorities and industry ;
11.4 to work towards a common European space policy in which scientific and applications work is harmoniously balanced and which includes the earliest and most frequent possible use of a European launcher.
