Drei, Deux, One . . . Help!

The only thing the European Launcher Development Organization (ELDO) has managed to put into orbit in the four years of its existence has been its own budget. The cost of an initial set of experiments has risen from a 1962 estimate of $196 million to the present estimate of $400 million, and tests are two years behind schedule.

Two Dummies. ELDO is meant to give Europe a space capability of its own and not leave all the glory to the U.S. and Russia. The trouble with ELDO, aside from the shortage of capital and technological resources in Europe, is that its Europa-I vehicle has the feel of a Rube Goldberg totem pole. The British are to pay for 38.79% of the costs and provide the first stage; the French, 23.93% and the second stage; the Germans, 22.01% and the third stage; the Italians, 9.78% and the payload; the Belgians 2.85% and the downrange guidance station; the Dutch, 2.64% and the telemetry, and Australia makes available the Woomera range. The three stages have yet to be launched together, and the test vehicle now standing on a pad at Woomera carries dummy second and third stages.

Last week the members of ELDO met in Paris at Cabinet-minister level to try to decide whether to call the whole thing off or make a real effort to get into space. The British, who had first proposed ELDO as a means of finding work for the Blue Streak missile when it was canceled as a military project, were threatening to pull out unless the project can be proved worthwhile. The French were sensibly proposing that instead of putting up purely experimental satellites, ELDO should orbit a paying payload, namely a communications satellite, which would require a bigger and more expensive vehicle. The French seem to be successfully playing on the fear of Europeans that eventually there will be only American and Russian satellites in orbit, broadcasting direct to TV receivers, without going through national broadcasting stations. Says Jean Delorme, president of the French chemical and gas concern, Air Liquide, "The future of Europe, its independence and its economic, cultural and political presence in the world of tomorrow are at stake."

Unmade Mind. Confronted with a clear, put-up or shut-up choice, the ELDO people briskly decided to keep their collective mind unmade up--at least until June 9, when the group will meet again. The June decision probably will be to go ahead with the program, but it may not matter much, since the Europeans have already been left at the starting post in the communications-satellite race.

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