Conference 7.286::space

605.0. "Cape York Spaceport Australia" by SNOC01::MANSFIELD () Mon Apr 02 1990 00:40

    The Australian Space Port has received a major setback with the refusal
    by Pres. Bush to grant a technology export license to United
    Technology Corp (UTC) to be the launch site manager.
    
    Citing the risk of technology diversion to the USSR as the Cape York
    Space Agency planned to use USSR manufactured rockets. It is suspected
    that a strong protectionist arguements were given by US launch
    operators to veto the technology transfer license. Saying that USSR
    rockets were subsided by the USSR govt thus enabling them to offer an
    unfair low price. As one commentator pointed out - name one aspect
    of any nations space operations that have not received in the past and
    are continuing to receive govt money in some way.
    
    The legislation that Pres Bush used to veto UTC will also stop the Cape
    York Lanuch operators from launching any nations satellite that
    contains US manufactured components. 
    
    This will restrict the market from which the launch operators can draw 
    from, to basically European satellites. Which will make the venture    
    uneconomical as Australia has no government programs in place now or in
    the future that could help cross subsidize the space port - like NASA's
    Cape Kennedy spaceport.
    
    As has been said in the past about Australia's relationship with the US.
    First class allies - second class friends.  

    	See also Topic 331.