A Commonweath Space Program

[tallthinkev]

So, how would a Commonweath space program fair againist the USA and USSR? By Commonweath in mean Britian, Canada, Aus, NZ and SA, maybe others. They would have the tech, the people, raw materials and penty of places to shoot stuff up in the air.

Over to you.

 

[mowque]

All the time and effort goes into keeping everyone happy/building consensus. Nothing is ever actually built.

 

[Riain]

It could have easily launched sattelites with the Black Prince rocket and probably space probes as well, but I doubt it could launch men.

 

[PMN1]

A few posts on the Secret Projects site about UK rocketry

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2946.0.html

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,5063.0.html

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6954.msg59512.html#msg59512


http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8119.0.html

 

[Emperor Norton I]

Wasn't Britain suffering a brain drain to the United States around the period of the space race.

 

[MasterSanders]

I would love to see a timeline in which Britain/Commonwealth is able to set up an effective space program. Perhaps if the nations were limited to Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand...

 

[bsmart111]

You are going to need a POD far enough back that the British empire isn't bankrupt when it needs to fund the project. If you can keep the UK from spending it's future on WWII you can do it.

 

[Delta Force]

With proper leadership Canada could have a major space program (perhaps launching larger rockets from a Caribbean island like it did with Project HARP) as it isn't broke. It also has the US nearby, so it might be able to gain US customers for civil launch if the US doesn't start a trade war or otherwise put up barriers to development. As for the government impetus to develop such a program, perhaps Canada decides to field its own early warning satellites or a satellite communications system to better develop the North for military and economic purposes.

 

[jeckl]

Australia had a space program in the outback, just ran out of interest and money.

 

[Ariosto]

They only need to find a Stargate...............
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[Simon]

What's the driver for it? Early on you didn't have the commercial space launch business, communications satellites, or nuclear missiles to justify it so it mainly got left to the superpowers who had the money to burn in a prestige/dick waving contest. Britain had a fairly advanced space programme - I've actually just started reading 'A Vertical Empire' by C.N. Hill about it the other day - but in the end it fell victim to that perenial British problem post-war, lack of money.

 

[tallthinkev]

As for money, this is why I asked the question about a Commonweath space program. Britian would not have to foot the whole bill.

 

[Michel Van]

As for money, this is why I asked the question about a Commonwealth space program. Britian would not have to foot the whole bill.

yeah if Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain had put there small-sized space budget together...
Canada had a Aerospace industry burst into bloom, until John Diefenbaker came to power and his "we don't need that million dollar monster" crap.
tallthinkev, if you wand a TL were Canada is part of Commonweath space program, get rid of John Diefenbaker. just crash his election campaign plane some were far north.

on Hardware,
in 1960 they GB had Blue Streak and Black Knight rockets and testing Lox/Lh2 engines
it's logical that first Commonwealth Launch rocket would be a Black Prince (Blue Streak/Black Knight/ solid stage) with Payload 600 kg in LEO
to demonstrate the possibly of launch rocket and bring Satellites in Earth orbit in 1960s.
Next phase would be put one Lox/Lh2 upper stage on Blue Streak. with payload of 2500 kg in LEO/ 300 kg to GEO
With two Lox/Lh2 upper stage on Blue Streak. we get 4000 kg in LEO and 600 kg to GEO
that version could start in early 1970s and could imply manned spaceflight.

 

[tallthinkev]

Another POD could be that we get more German's at the end of WWII and then not so many going to the US. Possible? As for a TL, I don't know enough about space stuff, even though I watch/read lots of Doctor Who. But if anybody want's to give it a go, I'll help if I can.

 

[Emperor Norton I]

Another POD could be that we get more German's at the end of WWII and then not so many going to the US. Possible? As for a TL, I don't know enough about space stuff, even though I watch/read lots of Doctor Who. But if anybody want's to give it a go, I'll help if I can.

Ministry of Space?

 

[Bahamut-255]

So, how would a Commonweath space program fair againist the USA and USSR? By Commonweath in mean Britian, Canada, Aus, NZ and SA, maybe others. They would have the tech, the people, raw materials and penty of places to shoot stuff up in the air.

Over to you.

Against the USA and USSR? They'd really be trailing. Even with the extra finances made available from other Commonwealth Nations, funding would be an issue. The UK having a Debt-GDP ratio of less than 240/100 by 1945 would help.

Best case? They could manage a Satellite-launching role and perhaps get a share of the commercial market when it develops. But don't expect much more than that.