1. The ESRO SYSTEM Available to Purchase

First of all, I would like to say how delighted I am that Aslib should have chosen Darmstadt this year as its Conference Centre. There are three reasons for this which are equally important to me. For one thing, it gives me the opportunity to renew acquaintances which were made several years ago when I first had anything to do with any of the Aslib activities. In those days my main interest was with the Electronics Group although, somewhat later, this was also extended to Aslib Council activities. As I have now been with the European Space Research Organization for almost exactly seven years, my opportunities for Aslib contacts have been fairly limited. Secondly, ESRO has its European Space Operations Centre here in Darmstadt and, as you will see from your visit, the ESRO/ELDO Space Documentation Service is based on the computer installation in this Centre. Finally, it gives me the opportunity to demonstrate the NASA/RECON on‐line system in operation.