SPACE STATION BEING ASSEMBLED.




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Background: IN HAMPSHIRE, AN UNUSUAL NEW SPACE COMMUNICATION STATION HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED, THE FIRST OF THREE BRITAIN IS BUILDING IN CO-OPERATION WITH AMERICA.

IT WILL BE PART OF A SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM THAT WILL ENABLE AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO COMMUNICATE BY MEANS OF UP TO TWENTY SATELLITES.

THE HAMPSHIRE STATION WILL ALSO GIVE BRITISH FORCES FREE ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM.

BOTH THE AERIAL AND CONTROL ROOM AT THE STATION ARE HOUSED IN AN INFLATABLE PLASTIC RADOME.

THIS ADVANCED TECHNIQUE OF CONSTRUCTION IS ALMOST UNKNOWN IN BRITAIN.

USING THIS METHOD, THE GROUND STATION COULD BE COLLAPSED AND TRANSPORTED BY AIRCRAFT TO ANY FORT OF THE WORLD AND BE RE-ERECTED WITH FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OF LANDING.

INSIDE, THERE'S A FORTY-FEET WIDE DISH AERIAL WHICH REVOLVES FREELY ON A CIRCULAR TRACK.

LIKE THE RADOME ITSELF, THE EQUIPMENT IS PREFABRICATED, SO THAT IT COULD BE QUICKLY BROKEN DOWN FOR TRANSPORTATION.