Space for science, enterprise and environment: the UK draft Space Strategy

For the UK, space is primarily a means to an end and not an end in itself. This approach has been described as utilitarian. The British National Space Centre describes it as user oriented: the purpose of going into space should be to provide cost-effective information or services to the users, whether these are the science community, commercial operators and customers, or public sector bodies. The new draft UK Space Strategy, published on 22 January 2003, provides the underpinning rationale for this approach, which derives in part from the very individual way in which the UK organises its interests in space.     

A forward plan for space in the UK

Below we present edited extracts from a Forward Plan recently prepared by the UK government which sets out aims and actions for the UK civil space programme. These have been developed during a process of consultation involving British National Space Centre (BNSC) partners, industry and academia which started with a forum held at Surrey University in September 1995, and culminated in the discussion of a draft Plan at the Second UK Space Policy Forum in June 1996. Crowm copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO.     

Taking space to the public

The UK space industry is an important part of the British economy and likely to become more so, but it needs well-educated graduates, government support and investment. Such an effort would be aided by an educated public. Education is an important part of a successful space industry policy. The Space Education Council, supported by the BNSC, is doing important work talking to the public about space. This article argues that there is a need for more space education work and reports on the Space Education Council's recent symposium.     

Making space for history

This report summarizes the presentations given at the third annual British Rocketry Oral-History Project, held in Surrey, UK in April 2001. A wide range of papers was given (to an equally diverse audience), covering past and present developments in air and space, both military and civilian. Many of the scientists and engineers who had worked on specific projects were present and their personal reminiscences enlivened proceedings. The importance of history in understanding not only the past but also the future of space efforts was emphasized.     

UK space policy — a problem of culture

According to the UK government, the announcement in July 1987 of a freeze on the British National Space Centre's (BNSC) budget was based solely on lack of money and the belief that private industry, rather than the state, should fund space activities. In challenging the validity of this view, the author suggests that it has also been used to conceal internal bureaucratic competition and a myopic, market-driven mind-set.     

No future for starship free enterprise

The author, whos is the British Labour Party's Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, condemns the failure of the British government to increase its funding of civil space research. He argues that government reliance on private funding for Britain's space programme will fail. Supporters of space research need to point to the long-term and high-risk nature of the commercial return from space but also argue that space research contributes in a general way to the advance of humankind.     

The UK parliamentary space committee: The emergence of a space lobby?

In the past few years the UK has become increasingly active as the financial conscience of the European Space Agency. This is not because the UK government has a wish to spend more on its national space effort; it is because it remains unconvinced of the benefits of certain European space activities, notably manned endeavours. In the absence of an effective UK space lobby, the government's policies have remained largely unchallenged. This article traces the growth of the Parliamentary Space Committee in the context of developments in recent European space policy and highlights the need for an active UK space lobby.     

Future UK space policy – Indications from the UK Space Conference 2011

The UK government appears to be taking space more seriously, even if funding for the sector remains limited. Speeches and attendees at the conference confirm this trend, with a particular emphasis on innovation and a general sense that prospects for the UK space industry are good. The various themes and highlights of the conference are discussed.     

Driving UK space policy forward: Time for an annual conference

Despite public enthusiasm, space in the UK is perceived as lacking support from the government and policy often seems incoherent. A knock-on effect is the low number of students pursuing study or careers in science and engineering. Lately, however, space activity has been receiving greater attention from official circles and, in an effort to capitalise on this, a group of individuals has come up with a plan to hold an annual conference on UK space policy. The aims and framework of the conference are described.     

The new UK civil space strategy, 2008–2012

The UK civil space strategy for the years 2008–2012 and beyond was published in February 2008. This paper describes the key features of the strategy and highlights those areas that are new or different from the aims set out in previous strategies. In particular, the strategy lays out a new five-part high-level vision for UK civil space.     

UK space policy

The UK is at an important crossroads in its approach to space. The next few years will determine whether it will capitalize on the opportunities provided by its outstanding record in scientific research, or whether space will join the long list of industries where the UK has failed to realize its potential.     

History of UK contribution to astronautics: Politics and government

In all developed countries, once it emerged from the amateur era, Space (and especially rocketry) moved on the public agenda because of its potential significance for both the civil and military policies of governments (coupled with its appetite for new money). In the UK the policy treatment of Space broadly paralleled that in other countries until the post-Empire trauma, the burn-out of the White-Hot Technological revolution of Harold Wilson, and the financial crises of the 1970s exhausted the public appetite for large scale publicly funded projects in high technology. The culmination for Space of these pressures came in 1986–1987 when the UK rejected the emerging international consensus and, almost alone, stayed outside the manned space commitments which developed into the International Space Station. In this paper, Colin Hicks will review the UK political developments which led up to the 1986–1987 decision and how the politics and organisation of UK space activity have developed since then to the point where in 2008 a major government review of the UK involvement in manned space was commissioned.     

On the space trail

The future of the UK in space, and what could be done to support it, was the subject of Campaigning for Space, a conference organized by the Shephard Press and held in London, UK on 4 July 1988.     

Earth observation and UK science policy

This paper examines the way in which Earth observation is linked to UK science policy through the 1993 UK science White Paper and subsequent policy statements, and how the central theme of partnership has been developed in practice. An example of crop yield prediction is given to illustrate the strengths and the weaknesses of the approach. The UK science and space strategies are set in the context of the European Strategy for Space and links are made to the US global change research strategy.     

Economics of space and the role of government

The author was a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology which conducted and enquiry into UK space policy. He argues that the industrial and technological case for space put to the Committee was insufficiently underpinned by reasoned argument. The article first examines the economic case forgovernment involvement in space. The role of economic analysis is examined; it is concluded that, except in the case of space applications, quantified analysis is usually misleading. In the light of this discussion, the technological case for space and the problems of commercialization are examined.     

UK space policy

With an eye on the imminent ESA ministerial meeting, the rationale behind the UK government's often criticized assessment of the utility of space activities is explained. The structure of the country's space policy is described and details given of the UK's involvement in ESA programmes.     

Space, security and resilience: Reflections on the debate

The RUSI Space and UK National Security Conference was held in London, 14 June 2011. Alixe Buckerfield de la Roche reports on some of the key themes discussed, including the increasing merger of space and cyber, the growing urgency in calling for development of robust and effective regulatory frameworks for orbital management, and the challenges surrounding national resilience achieved through space situational awareness. At RUSI’s 12th Missile Defence Conference held the same week Secretary General Rasmussen gave an address on NATO’s missile policy—focusing on partnerships and collaboration. His comments intersect aptly with the Space and UK National Security conference themes and are therefore included here.     

Promoting UK involvement in the ISS: a space station lifeboat?

The Space Development Council, an organisation of UK space interest groups, is calling for Britain to become re-involved in manned spaceflight. NASA previously offered UK astronaut training in return for participation in the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle, now postponed. A one-person return vehicle might provide an effective and useful alternative. Two designs have been put forward based on Waverider, at one time proposed to be the man-carrying payload for Blue Streak. The more sophisticated of the two is a flex-wing Waverider carrying a one-person escape capsule, designed for long-term on-orbit storage.     

The changing face of the European space sector: the policies of Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom

The current international economic and technical climate has caused changes in the European space sector such that Italy is now struggling to maintain third place in the European hierarchy, the Franco-German relationship has become less dominant, while the UK is becoming more open towards European cooperation. This article analyses the current policies of Germany, the UK and Italy and examines their operating methods. The author speculates on the outlook for these countries in the next 10 years: neither the UK, nor Italy looks set to become a major player and German policy will depend on the success of its upcoming strategic plan. All these countries, and France, however, will need to engage in intensive bilateral consultations if they wish to compete in worldwide markets.     

New business opportunities in space

Outside the big space industry conglomerates, there are a number of much smaller firms, often with great specialist expertise, in existence. A concentration of such companies is found around the aerospace centre of Bristol in Southwest England; these companies are seeking to expand the UK space business and explore new opportunities, not only in traditional fields but also in up-and-coming areas such as exploration and space tourism. To this end their forum held a one-day conference in Exeter. One of their members reports on the proceedings.