ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the genesis of the institutions of European space collaboration and early development of national and European policy logics from the 1960s to early-1970s. It explains why a particular set of institutions were emerged and established instead of other models of European cooperation in high technology, with particular attention to the development of national and European policy logics. The chapter focuses on how these institutions were changed and transformed in response to the changes in external environment and national policy logics. Most observers of British space policy tend to find that the British decision to use the Blue Streak for satellite launchers began after the cancellation of its military use. When both scientists and British decision-makers gathered the momentum to go for the 'European option' in space science and launcher development, the institutional framework of European collaboration was under discussion. For the British Minister of Aviation, Peter Thorneycroft, the first task was to negotiate with the French.
