FOR PRESS 202

FIRST OF TWO SKYLARKS IN SUCCESSFUL UPPER ATMOSPHERE TEST,

Statement "by the Minister for  Supply (Hon. Allen Fairhall).

at 11.10 a. m. e, s. t.

A Skylark rocket fired at Woomera/today was the first

of two similar Skylarks designed and "built primarily to measure

electron densities in the upper atmosphere.

The Minister for Supply (Mr. Allen Fairhall) said

today that the two rockets were part of the United Kingdom

Royal Society’s upper atmosphere research programme.

The one fired today had reached a height of 123 miles.

A preliminary examination of the telemetry data

shov/ed that the equipment carried in the rocket had performed

satisfactorily and that the desired data would he obtained.

Mr. Fairhall said that in addition to the direct

measurement of electron concentrations using two different

techniques, the distribution of positive ions was also measured.

"Further equipment was carried to record firstly the

X-ray spectrum of the sun, and. secondly the distribution of

atomic hydrogen in the upper atmosphere," he said. .

"This latter experiment depends on the ability of

atomic hydrogen to scatter ultra violet light."

Mr. Fairhall said that the second rocket would be

fired shortly, after the results from today's trial had been

examined in more detail.

Canberra  March- T 9 1963

