Ministry of Aviation and successors: Interdependence, Exports and Electronics Industry...

This series contains files in the ZF series created and used by the Interdependence, Exports and Electronics Division and successors of the Ministry of Aviation from 1959 to 1967, and later files, dating from 1968, of the Space Administration Branch of the Research and General Division of the Ministry of Technology, and later the Research Administration Division, and Space Division of the Ministry of Technology, which subsequently used the ZF prefix.

Also included are files dating from 1970, when the Space Division was transferred to the new Ministry of Aviation Supply, which continued to use the ZF prefix.

The files in this series cover a variety of topics, such as administrative and financial responsibilities in the field of space technology, administrative responsibility for the European Space Conference, co-ordination of Ministry of Technology interests in UK space policy, and UK participation in the European Organisation for the Development and Construction of Space Vehicle Launchers (ELDO). Other files concern the administrative and financial aspects of such projects as 'Blue Streak' and its cancellation, the European Launcher Development Organisation, the establishment of the European Space Agency, the space laboratory programme (Spacelab), policy on 'Blue Arrow', military satellite communications, relations with Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Ltd on guided weapons projects, the remote sensing programme, space launchers (HOTOL) and 'Space Club' rules and draft convention.

Earlier files in this series have been re-registered from the GP series of the Electronics and Guided Weapons Division of the Ministry of Supply.

• Ministry of Aviation Supply, Space Division, 1970-1971
• Ministry of Aviation, Interdependence, Exports and Electronics Industry Division, 1959-1967
• Ministry of Supply, Electronics and Guided Weapons Division, 1955-1959
• Ministry of Technology, Research Administration Division, 1965-1970
• Ministry of Technology, Research and General Division, Space Administration Branch, 1968-1970
• Ministry of Technology, Space Division, 1968-1970

From 1994 Department of Trade and Industry

Topics

Trade and commerce

Air transport

Computing

Research

Weapons

Communications

In 1971, the Ministry of Aviation Supply (including the Ministry of Supply Space Division) was absorbed into the new Department of Trade and Industry.

In 1974, when the Department of Trade and Industry was divided, responsibility for space matters was transferred to the Department of Industry.