Jan 11 1976
From The Space Library
The French government halted operations of sounding-rocket and scientific satellite launchings from its base at Kourou, French Guiana, after 7 yr of activity that included launches of 275 rockets or balloons, many of them under U.S. government or National Science Foundation programs. The base had become a victim of European economic problems that had led to the abandonment of ELDO-the European Launcher Development Organization formed by several countries in July 1966-when the first launching in 1971 failed. The head of the operations division at Kourou said there was a complete lack of coordination among the countries, although France and its partners had spent about $500 million on the site and support facilities at Kourou. Space research would resume in about 4 yr with the launch of a 3/4-ton telecommunications satellite sponsored by the French government, under a new system in which each project would be under the management of one country. Ten European governments would contribute money, and the funds would be allocated in the form of contracts for each project. (W Post, 11 Jan 76, E 7)
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