United Kingdom space policy, 1955-60
This is a policy history of the earliest period of Â·space' and the United Kingdom. tt is mainly concemed with the creation of the UK's first space policy, announced in 1959, but considers key precursor programmes as well as operational aspects of the policy itself. It treats both civil and military factors. Part I considers the precursors, i.e. the early upper atmosphere sounding rocket programme set up in 1955, and the early military interest in reconnaissance from satellites. Key to the former was the coincidence of civil and military interest in the upper atmosphere, the former for purely scientific reasons, the latter on account of the development of Blue Streak, the UK's medium range ballistic missile. The crucial development of the concept of using Blue Streak as the basis of a satellite launcher arose and is considered under the reconnaissance interest. Part II narrates developments between 1958 and 1959, when the UK's first policy was being developed in Whitehall. This process amounted to the fonnulation of a proposal for a civil scientific space programme based on Blue Streak, and the proposal's subsequent assessment. The roles of the key actors are analysed in detail - government departmentslbodies,
Whyte, Neil Edgar
History
United Kingdom space policy, 1955-60. This is a policy history of the earliest period of Â·space' and the United Kingdom. tt is mainly concemed with the creation of the UK's first space policy, announced in 1959, but considers key precursor programmes as well as operational aspects of the policy itself. It treats both civil and military factors. Part I considers the precursors, i.e. the early upper atmosphere sounding rocket programme set up in 1955, and the early military interest in reconnaissance from satellites. Key to the former was the coincidence of civil and military interest in the upper atmosphere, the former for purely scientific reasons, the latter on account of the development of Blue Streak, the UK's medium range ballistic missile. The crucial development of the concept of using Blue Streak as the basis of a satellite launcher arose and is considered under the reconnaissance interest. Part II narrates developments between 1958 and 1959, when the UK's first policy was being developed in Whitehall. This process amounted to the fonnulation of a proposal for a civil scientific space programme based on Blue Streak, and the proposal's subsequent assessment. The roles of the key actors are analysed in detail - government departmentslbodies,
united_kingdom space policy policy history early_period space united_kingdom mainly creation first space policy announce considers key precursor programme well operational aspect policy itself treat civil_military factor part_considers precursor early upper atmosphere sound programme set early military interest satellite key former coincidence civil_military interest upper atmosphere former purely scientific reason latter account development blue medium range crucial_development concept use blue basis satellite arise consider interest part narrate development first policy develop whitehall process amount proposal civil scientific space programme base blue proposal subsequent assessment role key actor analyse_detail government