285. Information Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Scientific and Technological Affairs (Pollack) to Secretary of State Rogers1 2
Breakthrough on Post-Apollo Cooperation with Europe
As you know, for over two years we have been seeking European participation in the Post-Apollo program. Since June of this year we have concentrated on European study and development (Phases B and C) of the Sortie Module an important $250 million component of the Post-Apollo system.
Last week the European Space Conference (ESC Ministers) voted unanimously to permit interested European governments to proceed on Phase B (project definition) studies of the Sortie Module. Although no commitment has yet been made with respect to the actual hardware development of the Sortie Module (Phase C), the actions taken last week implicitly assumed that at an appropriate time such a commitment will also be made.
Last week actions by the ESC Ministers seems to mark the end of an impasse between the Germans, advocates of cooperation with the U.S. on the Sortie Module; the French, advocates of Europe proceeding with the development of an independent launcher; and the British who have been arguing for the development of a comprehensive European space policy and the establishment of a single European Space Agency.
While it will take another eight to ten months to learn whether Europe will undertake the full task of developing the Sortie Module, last week’s action by the European Space Conference was a long first step toward realization of what could become one of the most significant space cooperation projects of the decade.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SP 10 US. Unclassified. Drafted by Pollack. Copies were sent to U. Alexis Johnson and Stoessel.↩
- Pollack reported that the impasse between the Germans and the French had been broken, and an agreement within the European Space Conference on participation in the post-Apollo program was a real possibility.↩