Europe in Space, 1960–1973 by John Krige, Arturo Russo

Abstract

792 Book Reviews TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE Europe in Space, 1960-1973. ByJohn Krige and Arturo Russo. Noordwjik , the Netherlands: European Space Agency, 1994. Pp. viii+142; illustrations, appendices, index. The combined European space effort began with modest aims and no intentions of competing with the superpower programs of the United States and the then-USSR. It was little more than a response plan aimed at coordinating and streamlining Europe’s underfunded independent national space programs, with the intent of keeping European industry up-to-date in cutting edge scientific develop­ ments and preventing an unsurmountable “technology gap.” The success ofthose fledgling efforts, which evolved into the Euro­ pean Space Agency (ESA), has been nothing less than spectacular. Today, ESA is arguably the world’s second-ranking space program. Its robust launch capacity is the world leader in commercial con­ tracts. Its telecommunications, meteorological, and scientific space programs are technology leaders. Having achieved unexpected par­ ity with the rest of the world’s major space programs, a reflective ESA commissioned this report, the first of a planned two-volume history. The handsome, clearly presented, lavishly illustrated book describes the institutional organizing and planning that by 1973 pro­ vided Europe with a coherent and coordinated action plan and thereby laid the structural foundation for its modern prominence. Europeans recognized early on the vast potential of space—the potential for telecommunications and scientific exploration to lead to technology spin-offs and ultimately to multiply military force— but were individually ill-equipped to exploit the new frontier. Krige and Russo efficiently describe the move to European unity, empha­ sizing four critical and confounding themes. The first was an extant institutional framework that encompassed separate coordinating in­ stitutions for satellite communications, scientific research, and an independent European space launch capability. Integrating these disparate programs was the initial difficult task. The second con­ cerned the distribution of space contracts and subsequent technol­ ogy, generally pitting the four countries with established national space programs (Britain, France, Italy, and Germany) against the smaller states, which relied completely on the combined effort as their high-tech conduit. Third, the former group felt the European effort should be subordinate to and complement their national ef­ forts, helping to provide a sunk-cost return, while the latter felt their interests were best protected by a separate and fully independent European space organization. The issue was and is linked to the pur­ suit of national interests and perceived state autonomy, highlighted by the “technological balance of power” (p. 83). Embedded within early negotiations was the continuing issue of an independent space launch capacity. This fourth major theme per­ vades the rest and is most evident in the ongoing Franco-British ri­ TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE Book Reviews 793 valry regarding reliance on the Americans. This clash, characteristic of much of European integration efforts of the time, began with the British (pro-U.S.) view dominant and ended with the clear victory of the opposing French position. Analysis ofthe space launcher deci­ sion, emphasized in chapters six and seven, is the highlight of the story, demonstrating the authors’ keen insight and understanding of European integration concerns. The ESA opted to chronicle this story in-house, in a format that would promote the broadest possible appeal. Though Krige and Russo are European space’s foremost historians, Europe in Space is a nontechnical, wholly accessible introduction to the European space endeavor. The authors ably guide the reader through labyrinthine political negotiations and esoteric development programs with nary a footnote, and only the most abstract final references (appendix three, pp. 135-37). It is not, and in its defense was never intended to be, an academic space history of the rank of Walter McDougall’s unsurpassed . . . the Heavens and the Earth (New York: Basic Books, 1986). It is more properly a general introduction, comparing favor­ ably to William Walter’s attractive and approachable popular space history, Space Age (New York: Random House, 1992). Still, there is enough detail to satisfy the most demanding space enthusiasts. Read­ ers familiar with Interavia’s (formerly Jane’s) venerable Spaceflight Directory (published annually) will be comfortable with the level and comprehension of this book and will find it makes an excellent...