FOR PRESS

1914.

SKÂ°'LAR C ROCKET REACHES 125 MILES

Statement by the Minister for Supply, Senator Denham Henty

A Skylark research rocket, fired from Woomera at 4.00 p.m.

C.S.T. on 14th March, reached a peak height of 125 miles.

The Minister for Supply, Senator Denham Henty said this

in Canberra today (15th March). He said: "This was the ninth

firing of Skylark rockets fitted with the attitude control unit,

desigi,ed to point the instruments in the payload accurately at the

sun while the payload is above the atmosphere.

"Thc rocket carried instruments for the U.K. Atomic

Energy Authority to investigate the spectrum of the sun in the

ultra—violet range.

"This investigation continues the study of the composition

and temperature of charged particles of the sun as an aid in the

understanding of nuclear reactions.

"Experimental equipment was also carried for the British

Meteorological Office to measure solar radiation and molecular

oxygen concentrations."

The Minister said that as similar equipment would be carried

by the U.K. 3 Satellite, to be launched later this year, this

experiment was carried out to test and calibrate the equipment

and to obtain an estimate of the molecular oxygen content at the

height of the satellite.

An X—ray experiment was also carried out for the

Leicester University.

The performance of the attitude control unit and the

results from the Meteorological Office experiment were telemetered

to the range head and recorded on magnetic tape.

The information obtained from the Atomic Energy Authority

and Leicester University experiments were recorded on film and

recovered by parachute.

Early information indicates that the experimental equipment

operated satisfactorily. The trial was sponsored by the Royal Society

and conducted by the Weapons Research Establishment of the Department

of Sj.ipply.

CANBERRA — 15th March, 1967.

