Guadalcana[?]

US Changes Its Pla[?] Guadalcana[?] Won't Tra[?] Man Moon

Prom Ralph Craib, in San Frar America has cancelle plans to build a satellite

ing station on Guadalcan

the British Solomons, but

go ahead with its other ] stations. r[E stations will keep trs Project Mercury, the ] America expects will be t] effort to put a manned satelli orbit around the earth (P7M p. 61). The $3O million (up 5 n from an earlier estimate) wide system of stations w completed in 1961. Contrac them have just been signed the Western Electric Compar Guadalcanal was eliminate lowing further engineering according to the Press offic the US National Aeronautic Space Administration, Mr.

Haney.

Mr. L. A. McCarthy, of We house, said the difficulty wa: the Guadalcanal site could not value during the first passes a the earth of the man-in These passes would be the critical of the project.

"Retain Interest"

“Guadalcanal would have valuable on the third pass bi installations in Australia and I will give us sufficient cm then,” said Mr. McCarthy, hope, however, that people i: British Solomons will still reta interest in the project.”

The Pacific sites, now Guada: is out, will still include tv Australia —at Woomera an Muchea, near Perth —on C Island, on Kauai in the Hav chain, and at Pt. Mugu in Sou California.

Land has already been acc at Canton, which is a Britis Condominium, and notable a moment only as an aircraf fuelling stop between Fiji Honolulu.

Construction of the missile si there will begin in May, and i men are expected to be on the i until March next year, and the boffins will take over. Quartern rations for the newcomers Canton will be provided throug normal channels that provide

(Continued on page 149)

vices for the Americans who operate Canton’s radio station and main tain the landing strip.

Meanwhile first official announce ment of the Mercury tracking stations from the Australian end was made by Prime Minister Menzies in Canberra in late February.

Australian Plans

He said the Australian Depart ment of Supply would build the stations and help maintain and operate them. The sites would be made available to the US, who would supply and equip them. Australian scientists would receive valuable experience working with the Ameri cans on the project.

Australia would not charge for operational costs to an agreed amount.

Space tracking facilities were first operated for America in Australia as the result of co-operation during the International Geophysical Year.

Australia also operates a camera which can photograph satellites.