'FOR PRESS: 753

SOLAR PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS BY SKYLARK ROCKET

The Minister for Supply (MrÃ¢ÂÂ  Allen Fairhall) said in   Canberra to-day that scientists were busily engaged in   analysing the results of 8, Skylark research rocket   which was fired at Woomera on Tuesday, 11th August, 1964,

The rocket was to flight test the prototype of a new   device which is designed to point instruments in the   payload at the sun whilst the vehicle is outside the   earth's atmosphere.

The payload contained the first of a series of solar   physics experiments by the Culhara Laboratories of the   United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to measure the   spectrum of the sun in the ultra violet range.

The information gathered by these experiments was recorded   on film and recovered by parachute.  Information on the   performance of the pointing device was telemctred back   to Woomera and recorded on magnetic tape.

Mr. Fairhall said "The payload, which also contained   X-ray experiments by Leicester University, reached a   peak height of 90 miles -and early information indicates   that the equipment operated satisfactorily".

The trial was sponsored by the Royal Society and organÂ­ ised by the Weapons Research Establishment of the   Department of Supply.

CANBERRA

August 13, 1964.

