Blue Streak Research Articles

Detection of mycobacteria in aquarium fish in Slovenia by culture and molecular methods

Thirty-five aquarium fish were investigated for the presence of mycobacteria by culture and molecular methods. The following species were examined: goldfish Carassius auratus auratus, guppy Poecilia reticulata, 4 three-spot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus, dwarf gourami Colisa lalia, Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens, freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare, African cichlid fish Cichlidae spp., cichlid fish Microgeophagus altispinosus, cichlid fish Pseudotropheus lombardoi, blue streak hap Labidochromis caeruleus, sterlet Acipenser ruthenus, southern platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus, and catfish Corydoras spp. Isolates of mycobacteria were obtained in 29 cases (82.9%). Two specimens were positive using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, but the cultivation failed. Four specimens were both ZN- and culture-negative. On the basis of GenoType Mycobacterium assay (Hain Life-science) and restriction enzyme analysis of the amplified products (PCR-RFLP), 23 isolates (79.3%) were identified: 7 as Mycobacterium fortuitum, 6 as M. gordonae, 6 as M. marinum, 3 as M. chelonae, and 1 as M. peregrinum. Five isolates remained unidentified (Mycobacterium spp.). One case probably represented a mixed infection (M. marinum/M. fortuitum). Since M. marinum infections are also detected in humans, the significance of mycobacteria in aquarium fish should not be overlooked.

Hoganite and paceite, two new acetate minerals from the Potosi mine, Broken Hill, Australia

AbstractHoganite, copper(II) acetate monohydrate, and paceite (pronounced ‘pace-ite’), calcium(II) copper(II) tetraacetate hexahydrate, occur as isolated crystals embedded in ferruginous gossan from the Potosi Pit, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. They are associated with goethite, hematite, quartz, linarite, malachite, azurite, cerussite and cuprian smithsonite. Hoganite is bluish green with a pale blue streak and a Mohs hardness of 1½; it possesses perfect {001} and distinct {110} cleavages and has a conchoidal fracture. Chemical analysis of hoganite gave (wt.%) C 23.85; H 3.95; Cu 31.6; Fe 0.4; O (by difference) 40.2, yielding an empirical formula of C4H7.89O5.07Cu1.00Fe0.01. The simplified formula is C4H8O5Cu or Cu(CH3COO)2.H2O, the mineral being identical to the synthetic compound of the same formula. Single-crystal X-ray data for hoganite are: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 13.162(3), b = 8.555(2), c = 13.850(3)Å, β = 117.08(3)°, Z = 8. The density, calculated from single-crystal data, is 1.910 g cm−3. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder pattern are [dobs (Iobs) (hkl)] 6.921 (100) (011); 3.532 (28) (202); 6.176 (14) (200); 3.592 (11) (22); 5.382 (10) (11); 2.278 (10) (204); 5.872 (9) (002). Hoganite (orientation presently unknown) is biaxial positive with α = 1.533(2), β = 1.541(3), γ = 1.554(2), 2V(meas.) = 85(5)°, 2V(calc.) = 76.8°, dispersion is r < v, medium (white light); it is strongly pleochroic with X = blue, Y = pale bluish, Z = pale bluish green and absorption X > Y > Z. The mineral is named after Graham P. Hogan of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, a miner and well-known collector of Broken Hill minerals.Paceite is dark blue with a pale blue streak and a Mohs hardness of 1½; it possesses perfect {100} and {110} cleavages and has an uneven fracture. Chemical analysis of paceite gave (wt.%) C 21.25; H 5.3; Ca 9.0; Cu 14.1; O (by difference) 50.35, yielding an empirical formula of C8H23.77O14.23Ca1.02-Cu1.00. The simplified formula is C8H24O14CaCu or CaCu(CH3COO)4.6H2O, the mineral being identical to the synthetic compound of the same formula. Unit-cell data (refined from X-ray powder diffraction data) for paceite are: tetragonal, space group I4/m, a = 11.155(4), c = 16.236(17)Å, Z = 4. The density, calculated from refined cell data, is 1.472 g cm−3. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder pattern are [dobs (Iobs) (hkl)] 7.896 (100) (110); 3.530 (20) (310); 5.586 (15) (200); 8.132 (8) (002); 9.297 (6) (101); 2.497 (4) (420); 3.042 (3) (321). Paceite is uniaxial positive with ω = 1.439(2) and ɛ = 1.482(3) (white light); pleochroism is bluish with a greenish tint (O), pale bluish with a greyish tint (E), and absorption O ⩾ E. The mineral is named after Frank L. Pace of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, an ex-miner and well-known collector of Broken Hill minerals.

Decrespignyite-(Y), a new copper yttrium rare earth carbonate chloride hydrate from Paratoo, South Australia

AbstractDecrespignyite-(Y) is a new copper yttrium rare earth carbonate chloride hydrate from the Paratoo copper mine, near Yunta, Olary district, South Australia. Decrespignyite-(Y) occurs as blue crusts, coatings and fillings in thin fissures on the slatey country rock. Individual pseudohexagonal platelets are typically 10–50 µm in maximum dimension and are often curved. Associated minerals include caysichite-(Y), donnayite-(Y), malachite and kamphaugite-(Y). Electron microprobe and CHN analyses gave: Y2O3 42.2; La2O3 0.1; Pr2O3 0.1; Nd2O3 1.3; Sm2O3 1.0; Gd2O3 4; Tb2O3 0.4; Dy2O3 3.7; Ho2O3 2.6; Er2O3 2.5; CaO 0.5; CuO 10.9; Cl 3.0; CO2 19.8; H2O 10.8, yielding an empirical formula of (Y3.08Gd0.22Dy0.16Ho0.11Er0.10Nd0.06Sm0.05Tb0.02La0.02Pr0.01Ca0.08)∑3.91Cu1.12(CO3)3.70-Cl0.7(OH)5.79·2.4H2O. The simplified formula is (Y,REE)4Cu(CO3)4Cl(OH)5·2H2O. The mineral is royal blue to turquoise-blue in colour, transparent, with a pearly to vitreous lustre and a pale blue streak. No cleavage was observed but the morphology suggests that cleavage would be on [010]. The Mohs' hardness is estimated to be 4. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder pattern are {dobs (Iobs) (hkl)} 22.79 (30) (010); 7.463 (30) (001); 7.086 (50) (011); 6.241 (100) (021); 4.216 (30) (12); 3.530 (40) (022); 3.336 (30) (032); 2.143 (30) (222, 01). The powder diffraction pattern was indexed on a monoclinic cell with a = 8.899(6), b = 22.77(2), c = 8.589(6)Å, β = 120.06(5)°, V = 1506.3(7) Å3 and Z = 4. The structure of the new mineral could not be determined but powder diffraction data indicate the space group is P2, Pm or P2/m. The measured density is 3.64(2) g/cm3 and the calculated density is 3.645 g/cm3. Decrespignyite-(Y) is biaxial negative with α = 1.604(4) and γ = 1.638(3) with β very close to γ pleochroism is medium strong; X very pale bluish, Y and Z bluish (with greenish tint). Decrespignyite-(Y) is a supergene mineral which precipitated from mildly basic carbonated ground waters. The mineral is named after Robert Champion de Crespigny, a prominent figure in the Australian mining industry and chancellor of the University of Adelaide.

Promoting UK involvement in the ISS: a space station lifeboat?

The Space Development Council, an organisation of UK space interest groups, is calling for Britain to become re-involved in manned spaceflight. NASA previously offered UK astronaut training in return for participation in the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle, now postponed. A one-person return vehicle might provide an effective and useful alternative. Two designs have been put forward based on Waverider, at one time proposed to be the man-carrying payload for Blue Streak. The more sophisticated of the two is a flex-wing Waverider carrying a one-person escape capsule, designed for long-term on-orbit storage.

ORTHOMINASRAGRITE, V4+O (SO4) (H2O)5, A NEW MINERAL SPECIES FROM TEMPLE MOUNTAIN, EMERY COUNTY, UTAH, U.S.A.

Orthominasragrite, V 4+ O (SO 4 ) (H 2 O) 5 , is a new mineral species from Temple Mountain, Emery County, Utah. It occurs as rounded aggregates (up to ~200 μm across) of irregular grains that are pale blue to bright blue, depending on size. Orthominasragrite has a pale blue streak, a vitreous luster, and no observable fluorescence under ultraviolet light. It has no cleavage or parting. The Mohs hardness is ~1, and the calculated density is 2.00 g/cm 3 . Orthominasragrite is biaxial negative (pseudo-uniaxial) with α 1.529(2), β 1.534(2), γ 1.534(2), 2 V obs = 2(4)°, 2 V calc = 0°, non-pleochroic, X = b , Y = c, Z = a . Orthominasragrite is orthorhombic, space group Pmn 2 1 , a 7.246(4), b 9.333(6), c 6.210(4) A, V 420.0(3) A 3 , Z = 2. The strongest seven lines in the X-ray powder-diffraction pattern [ d in A( I )( hkl )] are as follows: 4.699(10)(101,020), 3.322(5)(121), 2.865(4)(220), 2.602(3)(221,131,022), 3.734(2)(021), 3.622(2)(200), and 3.108(2)(002). Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave VO 2 33.88, SO 3 31.97, H 2 O (calc.) 36.30, sum 102.15 wt.%; the proportion of H 2 O was determined by crystal-structure analysis. The resulting empirical formula on the basis of 10 anions (including 5 H 2 O) is V 1.014 S 0.991 O 5 (H 2 O) 5 ; the end-member formula is VO (SO 4 ) (H 2 O) 5 . Orthominasragrite is the orthorhombic form of (monoclinic) minasragrite. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R index of 4.4% for 1007 observed (| F o | > 5σ F ) reflections measured with an automated four-circle X-ray diffractometer using Mo K α X-radiation. There is one V site occupied by V 4+ and surrounded by one O atom and 5 (H 2 O) groups in an octahedral arrangement, with one short apical vanadyl bond (1.580 A), four similar equatorial bonds ( ), and one longer V–O bond (2.231 A) trans to the vanadyl bond. The structure consists of isolated (V 4+ ϕ 6 ) octahedra (ϕ: unspecified anion) and (SO 4 ) tetrahedra linked by hydrogen bonds.

British technical intelligence and the Soviet intermediate range ballistic missile threat, 1952–60

This article looks at the shifting intricacies of British assessments of the Soviet IRBM threat to the United Kingdom during the 1950s. Based on JIC, Cabinet and Air Ministry records of the period, as well as political memoirs, it looks at the assessments in parallel with the development of the British Blue Streak nuclear ballistic missile programme. This land‐based weapon was eventually cancelled in April 1960 on strategic not cost grounds, too early in this author's opinion.

Wesselsite, SrCu[Si4O10], a further new gillespite-group mineral from the Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa

AbstractWesselsite, SrCu[Si4O10], is a new mineral species from the Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa, and it belongs to the gillespite group. Wesselsite is tetragonal, space group P4/ncc; the unit cell parameters, refined from Gandolfi film data, are a = 7.366(1), c = 15.574(3) Å V = 845.01 Å3. The strongest lines are (dobs/lobs/hkl) (7.79/35/002), (4.33/20/112), (3.89/20/004), (3.44/40/104), (3.33/100/202), (3.12/55/114), (3.03/50/212), (2.68/25/204), (2.61/30/220) and (2.32/30/116). Wesselsite is associated with hennomartinite, embedded in a matrix of sugilite, xonotlite, quartz and pectolite. Microprobe analyses of 111 samples show that it is the end-member of a solid solution series with effenbergerite, BaCu[Si4O10], with substitutions of Sr by Ba up to 50 mol.%. Wesselsite forms tiny subhedral plates in sizes not exceeding 50 × 50 × 5 µm, arranged in clusters of up to 200 µm. It shows a perfect cleavage parallel to {001}, has blue colour, white to light blue streak, and is uniaxial negative with ω = 1.630(2), ε = 1.590(5), strongly pleochroic from blue (ω) to pale blue (ε). The calculated density is 3.32 g cm−3, the measured density is 3.2(1) g cm−3.

The afterlife of blue streak: Britain's American answer to Europe

(1995). The afterlife of blue streak: Britain's American answer to Europe. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 1-24.

Effenbergerite, BaCu[Si4O10], a new mineral from the Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa: description and crystal structure

AbstractEffenbergerite, ideally BaCu[Si4O10], structure determined by single crystal X-ray methods in space group P4/ncc, a = 7.442(2)Å, c = 16.133(5)Å, V = 893.50 Å3 Z = 4, is a new mineral from the Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa. It is associated with native copper, calcite, quartz and clinozoisite within pectolite veinlets, embedded in a matrix of braunite, sugilite and hausmannite. Effenbergerite occurs as transparent blue platelets with perfect cleavage parallel to {001} in sizes up to 8.0 × 8.0 × 0.1mm. It has a pale blue streak, subconchoidal fracture, a calculated density of 3.52gcm−3 and an estimated Mohs' hardness of 4–5. Effenbergerite is uniaxial negative with ω = 1.633(2), ε = 1.593(2), strongly pleochroic from intense blue (ω) to nearly colourless (ε). The strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern (with refined lattice parameters a = 7.440(1)Å, c = 16.133(2)Å) are: (dobs/Iobs/hkl) (8.0624/100/002), (4.0325/39/004), (3.5443/29/104), (3.1998/44/114), (2.6892/21/006), (2.3943/41/116), (2.0169/34/008), (1.9466/22/108) and (1.4802/21/2.0.70).Effenbergerite is the natural analogue to synthetic BaCu[Si4O10], isotypic with SrCu[Si4O10] and CaCr[Si4O10] as well as with the minerals cuprorivaite, CaCu[Si4O10] and gillespite, BaFe[Si4O10]. The structure consists of silicate sheets [Si8O20]8− parallel (001) formed by corner-linkage of silicate 4-membered rings. The copper(II) atom is nearly planar 4-coordinated; the barium atom has a distorted cubelike environment of oxygen atoms. The mineral is named for Dr. Herta S. Effenberger of the University of Vienna, Austria.

Physics and roller coasters—The Blue Streak at Cedar Point

The use of a roller coaster for external classroom studies of kinematics, forces, dynamics, and energy conservation is discussed. Experimental accelerometer measurements of the vertical forces acting on riders of the Blue Streak at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio are presented. Theoretically, the track profile is used to calculate/predict the vertical forces acting on a rider at the hilltops, valley bottoms, and several other points of interest along the track. Finally the experimental results and theoretical predictions are compared in the context of a rider’s experiences.

Sieleckiite, a New Copper Aluminium Phosphate from Mt Oxide, Queensland, Australia

AbstractSieleckiite is a new copper aluminium phosphate discovered at the Mt Oxide Copper Mine, 150 km north of Mt Isa, Queensland, Australia. It occurs with variscite, turquoise, libethenite and minor pseudomalachite in a fracture in a boulder of quartzite and shale. Sieleckiite forms deep sky blue to royal blue spheres up to 0.5 mm in diameter, made up of fibrous radiating crystals between 20 and 100 µm long and 1 to 2 µm wide. The mineral has a very pale blue streak and a pearly lustre on uneven fracture surfaces. Hardness is about 3 and the measured density is 3.02 g cm−3. The average of nine electron microprobe analyses gave CuO 32.39, Al2O3 26.57, P2O5 19.42%. Separate analyses gave H2O 18.1, CO2 1.6% (carbonate impurity). These data gave an empirical formula of Cu3.1Al4.0(PO4)2.1(OH)12.1.7H2O, calculated on the basis of 22 oxygen atoms. The simplified formula is Cu3Al4.0(PO4)2.1(OH)12.2H2O. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are {d(I)(hkl)}; 9.12(50)(100), 5.06(100)(101), 3.852(100)(111), 3.276(30)(2¯20), 2.827(50)(1¯02,102), 2.460(50)(3¯21). These data were indexed on a triclinic cell with a 9.41(8), b 7.56(5), c 5.95(6) Å, α 90.25(12)° β 91.27(12)° γ 104.02(7)° and a volume of 410.8(5) Å3. For Z = 1, the calculated density is 2.94 g cm−3. Optical properties could not be determined in full; the refractive indices are between 1.63 and 1.66, pleochroism is very weak from colourless to very pale blue.The mineral is named for the discoverer, Robert Sielecki (1958- ). Type specimens are preserved at the Museum of Victoria and the South Australian Museum. Sieleckiite was approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names prior to publication.

A New Subspecies of the Painted Parakeet (Pyrrhura picta) from Panama

Pyrrhura picta eisenmanni, a new subspecies, is described from a series of 1 1 specimens taken in the southern corner of the Azuero Peninsula, Los Santos Province, Panama. It resembles most closely P. picta subandina of northern Colombia and represents an extension of this mainly South American species to these mountains of Panama. RESUMEN. Una nueva subespecie, Pyrrhura picta eisenmanni se describe en base a 1 1 especimenes coleccionados en el extremo sur de la Peninsula de Azuero, en la provincia de los Santos, Panama. Ella se asemeja mas a la subespecie P. picta subandina del norte de Colombia y el hallazgo de estos ejemplares representa una extensi6n en el rango de distribution de esta especie primeramente sudamericana hasta esas montanas panamenas. In 1979 I collected a parakeet in the southwest portion of the Azuero Peninsula (7°18'N, 80°43'W), in an area whose avifauna is, perhaps, the least known in Panama. I tentatively identified the specimen as Pyrrhura picta, the Painted Parakeet, a South American species that had not been previously recorded from Panama. I sent that and additional specimens to Eugene Eisenmann who confirmed the identification and also agreed with me that they differed in plumage coloration from the South American forms. Here I provide some behavioral and morphological data on this population, which I name: Pyrrhura picta eisenmanni, new subspecies Holotype.American Museum of Natural History No. 824181, adult male from Los Piraguales, El Cortezo de Tonosi, Los Santos Province, Azuero Peninsula, Republic of Panama, elevation 1050 m, 26 February 1979; collected by Francisco Delgado, original number 4. Diagnosis.A typical Pyrrhura parakeet of the pictaleucotis complex (Plate I). Closest in appearance to P. picta subandina of the Rio Sinu in northern Colombia, the geographically nearest population (Todd 1947), but differing most obviously in its mainly sooty (not blue) crown, and in having less red on the forecrown, lores, and orbital area. Pyrrhura picta eisenmanni is also generally duller than P. picta subandina, has less maroon on the sides of the throat, and has a notably larger culmen and longer tail. Differs from P. picta caeruleiceps of northern Colombia also in lacking the blue crown, and in having only a vestige of red on the shoulders. The recently described subspecies pantchenkoi from Sierra de Perija in Venezuela and Colombia (Phelps 1977) resembles caeruleiceps but is darker on the breast and crown (more dusky, less blue), and resembles eisenmanni in the relatively large culmen. Description of the holotype.Upperparts generally dull green. Forehead, crown, and nape dull sooty, slightly suffused with indistinct blue on the forecrown, and with a narrow blue streak on the side of the forehead. Narrow red frontal band extending to the lores and ocular region, becoming duskier red on the cheeks. Ear-coverts buffy-white. Chin white, the feathers of the throat and chest dull blackish, broadly edged with white. Breast dark greenish-blue, the feathers also broadly edged white, and with narrow lateral yellow tipping, giving a scalloped appearance. Patch of the center of the belly dull red, remainder of the lower underparts pale green. Lower back to upper tail coverts dull red. Shoulder very narrowly fringed red. Tail above dull red, becoming green toward its base; below dull brownish-red. Soft part colors (in life): iris pale ochre, tarsi grayish-black, bill dull black, bare orbital skin dull sooty. Measurements of the holotype.Wing (chord) 1 15.5 mm; tail 112 mm; culmen from cere 15.6 mm; exposed culmen 17.7 mm; tarsus 13.6 mm. Variation.Inspection of 1 1 specimens demonstrated that they are all much alike in color, pattern on the head, cheeks, breast, belly, and tail. All differ in the amount of red feathering on the shoulders and have some feathers with red color on only one side of the rachis. This

Cone, Fairfax M.The Blue Streak. Chicago: Crain Communication, 1976

Cone, Fairfax M.<i>The Blue Streak</i>. Chicago: Crain Communication, 1976

Zapatalite, a new mineral from Sonora, Mexico

SummaryZapatalite, Cu3Al4(PO4)3(OH)9·4H2O, was first found at a small prospect north-west of Cerro Morita, 27 kilometers south-west of Agua Prieta, Sonora. It occurs in silicified and brecciated limestone with libethenite, chenevixite, beaverite, alunite, and pseudomalachite.Zapatalite is pale (faience) blue with pale blue streak; H = 1½, G = 3·016±0·026. It is soluble in cold dilute acids and decomposed by 20% KOH. Duplicate analyses on samples of about 9 and 15 mg gave CuO 27·92, 25·77%; Al2O3 20·16, 20·26%; P2O5 20·69, 22·51%; H2O 15·46, 15·79%; insol. (baryte and quartz), 15·46, 15·79%. This leads to the formula Cu3Al4(PO4)3(OH)9·4H2O.The cell can be indexed as tetragonal with a 15·22Å, c 11·52Å, and a volume of 2669Å3. If Z = 6, empirical cell contents are Cu19·4Al22·8(PO4)17·6(OH)55·422·2H2O, and the calculated G = 3·017. Strongest lines of the powder pattern are 7·62 (10), 11·60 (10), 5·75 (7), 6·82 (7), 3·04 (5), 2·53 (5), 2·95 (4), and 2·88 (4).Pale green in thin section with feeble dichroism in green, with ε &gt; ω. The good basal cleavage is a length slow direction. Indices for Na-D are ε = 1·635, ω = 1·646. Usually uniaxial (—), but may be biaxial (—) with variable 2 V.Named for Emiliano Zapata (1879–1919), a popular hero of the Mexican revolution. Type specimens to be left with British Museum (Natural History) and the University of Arizona.

Blue Streak's Record

Blue Streak's Record

Some Technical and Management Considerations in European Space Programmes

In 1957 the successful launching of the first artificial earth satellite had little immediate effect on the technical activities of the Aerospace Industry of the European countries. It was some years before various countries in Europe either singly or collectively allocated significant funds from their national budgets to allow any real research and development work to begin. In Britain, for example, it was only with the cancellation of Blue Streak in 1960 that the question of determining some sort of national policy in space activity was really brought into focus.

Convective Heating at the Deflecting Surface of a Rocket Launch-Pad

Summary:When a large rocket or missile is fired, the hot exhaust gases must be allowed to escape without damaging structures or equipment in the vicinity of the firing area. Generally, the exhaust gases are directed harmlessly away from the launching installation by water-cooled deflecting surfaces fabricated in steel. In arid areas such as Woomera, where water is not available in large quantities, there is the possible danger that a steel efflux deflector will melt, and other materials such as refractories may be more suitable for the deflecting surface.To provide data for the design of uncooled efflux deflectors, a heating rate investigation of the Blue Streak installation at Woomera has been carried out theoretically and experimentally. The heat transfer coefficient and stagnation temperature at the efflux deflecting surface are calculated theoretically with the aid of model test results. Heat transfer coefficients derived from temperature measurements on steel plates embedded in the deflecting surface are compared with the theoretical results. It is concluded that simple aerodynamic heat transfer theory can provide an effective engineering estimate of the temperature rise of an efflux deflecting surface.

Analysis and Interpretation of Telemetred Results of Blue Streak Flight Trials

SummaryThe technical features of the data acquisition system used in Blue Streak flight trials are summarised briefly. The results obtained from this system, and the design modifications to which they have led, are then discussed under the heading of performance, control, structure and environment and propulsion and pressurisation.

The Activation of The Blue Streak Launching Site at Woomera and the First Blue Streak Flight Trial

The activity at Woomera leading to the first flight trial of Blue Streak had two distinct phases. First, the activation of the Blue Streak site and second the preparation, static firing and launching of Blue Streak F1. These events are described in two parts, Part I dealing with the site preparation and Part II with the F1 trial.

Research and Testing

Equipment, Programmes, Techniques and Projects. Lake Hart, a dry saltpan approximately 25 miles from the rocket town of Woomera in South Australia, was on December 10, 1963, the scene of a successful static firing of a Blue Streak rocket vehicle similar to that which is to be used as the first stage of the three stage satellite launching vehicle being developed by the European Launcher Development Organization. That test firing, which lasted for 20 seconds, as intended, marked the successful completion of tests at Lake Hart to confirm the compatibility of the complex ground installations with the Blue Streak Vehicle shipped from Great Britain to Australia in June last year. This particular Blue Streak rocket was developed specifically as a non‐flight vehicle to ensure its early availability in Australia to perform these essential ground proving trials. The successful firing is an important milestone in the initial 5 year programme of ELDO: it is particularly significant that this test firing has taken place within a few days of the date originally scheduled for the event more than a year ago.