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.     

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.     

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.     

Creating a UK human spaceflight capability: A modest proposal

Since the beginning of international manned activity in the early 1960s, UK governments have consistently avoided participation in human spaceflight, with its high cost and doubts over the resulting scientific gains generally cited as the reasons for opting out. This has resulted in the UK scientific community having no direct access to microgravity science experiments, while the education establishment has missed out on the gains to be had from scientific and technology inspiration for young people. It also makes realistic involvement in the future international manned exploration of the Moon and the solar system unlikely. A viable, low-cost programme could be implemented in the near future to allow for a modest UK manned access to the International Space Station. This need only cost around £50 million over five years, representing about a 5% increase in the current annual UK civil space budget, with funding sought from government departments, research councils and private industry. Making use of Soyuz commercial flights, the project would allow for two separate 10-day science missions. The small corps of three UK astronauts established for the project would form a modest ‘seed-corn’ for future international orbital, lunar and solar system manned exploration involvement for the UK. The benefits of this project would cover science research, education outreach, industrial employment and involvement in international cooperation in manned exploration of the cosmos, as well as in the microgravity research being undertaken by NASA and others.     

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.     

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.     

The UK''s future in space

The UK government's recent announcement that the British National Space Centre could not expect a budget increase has prompted much reaction in the press. The Chief Executive of British Aerospace, a leading company in the UK space industry, here offers his views on the country's future role in 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.     

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.     

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.     

Near Earth objects: UK Task Force Report

The UK Task Force on Potentially Hazardous Near Earth Objects set up in January 2000 to advise the government on how the UK should best contribute to an international effort on near Earth objects has produced its report. Below we present a slightly edited version of its executive summary, identifying the nature of the hazard and presenting recommendations for government and international action.     

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.     

PFI in the sky, or pie in the sky? — Privatising military space

The UK has made use of dedicated, national military satellites for communications since November 1969. The replacement of the current system, Skynet 4, which will reach the end of its design lifetime early in the next century, is currently under consideration. Possible options which have been mooted to date include a new generation of a national satellite system (Skynet 5), or one of several international collaborative projects. However, these appear to have been superseded by a new possibility — a privately, commercially funded national system under the government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI). This paper examines the historical reliance of the UK on military satellite communications, the options for the next generation of such systems, and, drawing on the UK example, raises a number of questions concerning the potential significance of reliance on commercial enterprise to provide a key element of defence capability.     

The paradoxes of space

‘Space — the commercial opportunities’, an international business strategy conference, London, UK, 31 October–1 November 1984, organized by Online Conferences Ltd, Pinner Green House, Ash Hill Drive, Pinner HA5 2AE, Middlesex, UK.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

城市更新中的遗产保护

在城市快速发展过程中,城市更新作为城市改造、再生和复兴的重要手段,逐渐受到地方政府和专业技术人员的关注。当前城市更新过程中普遍存在简单化清除的现象,居民需求和城市历史文脉的延续之间存在明显的矛盾,遗产保护在城市更新中受到很大的负面影响。本文通过对英国和台湾城市更新中遗产保护经验的总结和归纳,为我国发展遗产保护引导型的城市更新提供有效适用的参考和借鉴。     

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.     

The regulatory challenges of ensuring commercial human spaceflight safety

Space tourism is the term commonly used to refer to ordinary members of the public buying tickets to travel to space and back, but has recently become more broadly associated with “any commercial activity offering customers direct or indirect experience with space travel”. The nascent commercial human spaceflight market presents a challenge to regulators with regard to the potential certification and licensing of the flight vehicles and their use (both within and outside the atmosphere), from the perspective of the operator, the flight participants, and third parties who might be affected by the operations. The UK is currently reviewing the issues posed by this emerging sector and its licensing/certification authorities are considering how best to balance their statutory responsibilities with the need to facilitate the development of this new industry and the favour positioning of UK players, eliminating unnecessary regulatory barriers to participation.