UK urged to put pace into space technology

The cross-party House of Lords UK Engagement with Space Committee says that space is transforming our lives, and dramatic falls in launch costs – coupled with rapid innovation in satellite design – have opened a new frontier which promises economic, scientific and security benefits for the UK.

The UK’s space industry is a success story, the committee says, and with a clearer strategy, strong leadership and smart investment, can build on its world-class expertise to be a lead player in the new, global space economy. The Cambridge-Oxford Corridor and East of England region generally have several leaders in different areas of spaceTech.

Among right report's recommendations to the Government are:

• Provide clear strategic direction by publishing detailed, funded delivery plans for national space capabilities.

• Prioritise multi-use technologies by investing in systems that serve both national security and commercial growth.

• Appoint a dedicated Space Minister and Space Champion to drive cross-Government co-ordination and industry engagement.

• Reform funding by moving from small grants to long-term procurement that attracts private investment.

• Lead in future space regulation by developing agile, forward-looking rules to keep the UK competitive and trusted globally.

• Address the space skills gap and establish a Space Skills Taskforce to train the next generation of talent.

• Strengthen international partnerships to ensure UK space co-operation is part of foreign policy development.

• Champion sustainability and safety by leading global efforts to tackle space debris and protect orbital environments.

The report is – if you will pardon the pun – down to earth! It says that far from being the preserve of astronauts and rockets, space technology underpins daily life on Earth – from GPS satellites guiding transport networks and smartphones, to banking systems relying on satellite timing to secure global transactions, to weather satellites supporting farmers. Climate scientists and urban planners use space data to track emissions and design sustainable cities.

In the years ahead, the importance of space will only grow, it says; from manufacturing medicines in microgravity, to developing solar power stations in orbit, the next generation of innovation will depend on access to space.

The UK’s 2021 National Space Strategy set out an ambition to make Britain a leading space power. But the report concludes that progress has been uneven, and the Government must move decisively now to turn ambition into action.

It adds that while the market opportunities for a UK-based launcher and UK-based spaceports remain unclear, “the question of launch requires serious consideration. The Government needs to provide clear answers about the commercial opportunities available for a UK-based launcher, what kind of launch capability is needed … the military and civil need for sovereign launch capability, and whether there is a case for building more than one spaceport”.

It also says the Government should clarify its position in regards to programmes such as Galileo, the EU’s global navigation satellite system.

Committee Chair, Baroness (Cathy) Ashton says: “Only the most strategic and forward-looking nations will capture the economic and scientific rewards of this new space age. With the right leadership, co-ordination, and investment, the UK can be there. Space is transforming the world, and our report found much to be positive about. Britain should play a role in leading that transformation or risk being left behind.”