Memorandum 107
Supplementary evidence from the British
National Space Centre (BNSC)
BNSC RESPONSES TO FINAL FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS
(15 MAY) FROM S&T COMMITTEE ON UK SPACE POLICY
1. What will the UK subscriptions be to ARTES
1, ARTES 3, ARTES 4 and ARTES 8 respectively in 2007, 2008, 2009
and 2010?
ESA forward plans forecast the following cash
amounts being called up by the Agency to cover existing UK contributions
on ARTES.
|
| (Figures in €M) | 2007
| 2008 | 2009
| 2010 |
|
| ARTES 1 | 2.8
| 2.0 | 1.1
| 0 |
| ARTES 3 | 17.7
| 9.9 | 10.1
| 9.8 |
| ARTES 4 | 7.7
| 7.5 | 7.6
| 7.4 |
| ARTES 8* | 1.4
| 0.9 | 1.0
| 0.6 |
|
* A further €45 million from RDAs has been subscribed
to ARTES 8 (sub-element 2) to cover Alphasat funding. It is not
yet clear how, and in which years these funds will be called up
by ESA.
2. In oral evidence David Williams mentioned a BNSC communications
programme (Q109). What are the key features of this communications
programme?
The current BNSC Communications Strategy is enclosed. It
is intended to raise awareness of the benefits of UK space activity
and UK expertise in the area. It seeks to do this by undertaking
key communications and outreach activity and by effective co-ordination
of the space related communications activity of individual BNSC
Partners.
3. How has BNSC tracked its performance against the performance
indicators provided in the UK Space Strategy 2003-06?
A mid term review of the current Strategy was carried out
some two years ago. This recognised that the strategy followed
best practice in terms of the level of stakeholder consultation
and structure in terms of the vision, objectives and actions.
The user driven approach was seen as appropriate. It highlighted
evidence of UK achieving one of the best "returns" (in
Europe) on public investments in space. It also identified a few
"gaps" in the current practice at the time. It recommended
further effort in linking BNSC strategy with those of BNSC Partners,
more involvement in tackling developments in EU, and action on
ensuring key UK technological capabilities. BNSC responded to
these: the reorganisation of the BNSC steering/advisory group
structure with the UK Space Board, Space Advisory Council and
the BNSC Operations Board is proving effective on the first issue.
BNSC has also dedicated greater resources (including at Director
level) to co-ordinating our inputs on European space policy matters.
The proposed National Space Technology Programme is intended to
address common underpinning space technology needs. BNSC has also,
in partnership with industry, undertaken market and economic studies
which have provided estimates of the economic benefits from UK
space activities.
4. Who sits on the BNSC Earth Observation Programme Board
and how often does it meet?
The BNSC Earth Observation Programme Board (EOPB) is convened
four times per year. Provisional dates are set at the start of
each year to facilitate forward planning by members and maximise
attendance.
Chair
Zof Stott (Assimila Ltd)
Members
| David Matthews | (EADS Astrium Ltd and Chair of UKspace EO sub-group)
|
| Peter Truss | (QinetiQ)
|
| Barry Wyatt | (Independent Consultant, ex-NERC CEH)
|
| Jim Aiken | (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
|
| Nick Veck | (Infoterra-Global)
|
| Graham Deane | (Infoterra Ltd and Chairman of BARSC)
|
| Ian Downey | (SciSys) |
BNSC Partners attending
|
|
Defra, DTI, NERC, MOD, RAL, Met Office
Ofcom are invited as observers when radio-spectrum issues
are on the agenda.
5. The BNSC provided a note on international activities
following the evidence session on 10 January 2007. We would be
grateful to know if the following activities have taken place
as planned:
(a) March 2007 UK-China Space Science and Technology Working
Group meet in Shanghai
Yes; a 17 strong UK delegation attended, composed of members
from academia, industry and BNSC partnership
(b) March 2007 BNSC attend conference in New Delhi hosted
by ISRO
The Space Security Conference has been postponed to mid-November
by the organisers. Also a bi-lateral with BNSC / ISRO is being
organised in Hyderabad during the International Astronautical
Congress 2007 in September.
(c) May 2007 Space technology workshop with Japan
This event is being organised by the British Embassy in Tokyo
as part of a wider promotion of the UK Aerospace industrial and
academic capabilities and runs from 30 May to 1 June.
6. We have been told that there was not a representative
from BNSC at the COSPAR meeting in Beijing in July 2006. Why was
a representative not present?
BNSC Partnership was represented at the Beijing Symposium
by Prof Richard Crowther from BNSC Partner, Science and Technology
Facilities Council. Our attendance was low because it coincided
with the Farnborough Airshow. Richard is well known in the field
and co-chaired the COSPAR Panel which addresses Environmentally
Detrimental Activities in Space.
7. We would be grateful if you could complete the following
table regarding expenditure by BNSC partners on optional ESA programmes
in 2006-2007. If an alternative mode of presentation is more suitable
please do not hesitate to contact us.
Notes: Figures in the table are those for ESA FY 2006
(1 Jan—31 Dec). ESA budgets for any one year may vary from
the overall UK contribution to a programme. We therefore include
an additional column setting out the UK % share of the overall
financial envelope of each of the programmes listed.
Additional Question: How much has the Technology Programme
spent on space-based r&d since October 2004?
There have been no projects with space as the primary exploitation
route in the Technology Calls managed by the DTI Technology Programme
since October 2004. Space technology R&D is represented in
the Pinpoint Faraday and, in both, the Sensors and the "Location
and Timing" KTNs (Knowledge Transfer Networks). The value
to the space industry from these three programmes is estimated
to be £0.5 million between October 2004 and April 2007.
May 2007
| 
