a litte story about UK part in ELDO and ESA
the 1961 Budget of ELDO Europa 1 Rocket was:
UK 38,79%, France 23,93%, Germany 18,92%, Italy 9,78%, Belgium 2,85%, Netherlands 2,64%
in 1966 new UK Labor goverment start to make Problem
declare to leave ELDO and stop production of Blue Streak
(France and Germany start emergency project L-95 wat became EUROPA III and later Ariane 1)
this crisis is end diplomatically and Budget is change to:
UK 27%, France 27%, Germany 25%, Italy 12%, Belgium 4,5%, Netherlands 4,5%
1968 new UK minister Wedgwood Benn (Labour) refuse to pay there part of Budget
again ELDO budget is cut.
victim is France how spend 540 mio french Franc in now chanceld ELDO program CORA, VEMPA.
1969 UK minister Wedgwood Benn (Labour) declare to leave ELDO in 1971
and only will sell Blue Streak stage to ELDO and nothing more !
1970 new UK minister Frederick Corfield (Tory) goes unprepared to a ELDO meeting
his harsh comments there were the dead blow for ELDO
(had he read the ELDO File before to go ELDO meeting, had change history)
1971 UK leave ELDO, follow by Italy
1972 France and Germany leave ELDO
1973 ELDO stop working.
during 1961-1971 UK had 14 goverment, so who to blame ?
Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn
he think that UK can not afford a space Program (and also no joinventure program like ELDO)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Benn
Frederick Corfield,
he chanceld the Black Arrow program and Kill ELDO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Corfield
ESA start up in 1975 with fusion of ELDO and ESRO
ESA give French CNES the Order to build the L3S (modifde "Europa III"), later called Ariane 1
Ariane 1 rocket Budget:
UK 2,5%, France 63,5%, Germany 20,4%, Italy 1,8%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 2% and Others
Again Europa 1 rocket Budget:
UK 38,79%, France 23,93%, Germany 18,92%, Italy 9,78%, Belgium 2,85%, Netherlands 2,64%
from 38,79 to 2,5% sounds like Punishment...
Source:
in German
"Die Grenzenlose Dimension Raumfahrt" Band 1 by Harry O. Ruppe Isbn 3430178847
http://www.bernd-leitenberger.de/europa.shtml
in french but in dept history of ELDO and ESA
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/index.htm