British National Committee for Space Research facts for kids
| Abbreviation | BNCSR |
|---|---|
| Formation | 18 December 1958 |
| Purpose | Space exploration research in the UK |
|
Region served
|
UK |
|
Membership
|
Space scientists, physicists |
|
Chairman
|
Sir Harrie Massey |
|
Parent organization
|
Royal Society |
| Affiliations | Committee on Space Research |
The British National Committee for Space Research (BNCSR) was a special group set up by the Royal Society in December 1958. Its main job was to connect Britain with a new international group called the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).
How the BNCSR Started
In October 1958, a big international science group suggested creating a committee for space research. This led to the formation of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). COSPAR had its first meeting in November 1958.
Britain wanted a new committee to work with COSPAR. They also wanted to organize Britain's space activities after a big science project called the International Geophysical Year (IGY). The IGY was a worldwide effort to study Earth and space.
The Royal Society brought together two smaller groups. One was about rockets, and the other was about artificial satellites. These groups became part of the new British National Committee for Space Research (BNCSR).
The BNCSR was officially formed on December 18, 1958. Its 28 members were chosen on February 12, 1959. Harrie Massey was the chairman of this new committee. The older groups officially closed down at the BNCSR's first meeting on March 4, 1959.
Special Teams (Subcommittees)
The BNCSR created three smaller teams, called subcommittees, to help with its work:
- Tracking Analysis and Data Recovery (TADREC): This team was led by J. A. Ratcliffe. It took over the work of tracking satellites and collecting data from them.
- Design for Experiments (DOE): This team was led by Harrie Massey. It continued the work of designing experiments for space.
- World Data Centre Coordination: This team, led by E. Bullard, helped connect with the World Data Centre at the Radio Research Station in Slough. This center collected and shared scientific data from around the world.
The DOE team had two main tasks. First, they needed to find suitable artificial satellites that Britain could use for launches. Second, they looked into whether it was a good idea to add special controls to the Skylark rocket. These controls would help the rocket stay steady for better scientific results.
See also
- List of astronomical societies
