Memorandum 72
Submission from Simon Pearce
1. I am a practising junior surgeon with
an interest in trauma. I have long held an interest in aerospace
medicine and have been fortunate enough to carry out a four-week
rotation at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and I am one of the founding
members of the UK Space Medicine Association.
2. As I understand it there is currently
no UK involvement in manned spaceflight. There is also no support
for space biomedical research in the UK. Furthermore I understand
that there have been three recent reports concluding that it would
be advantageous for the UK in human space activities.
3. Historically the UK has been at the forefront
of exploration and discovery and this small island's history is
felt throughout the world and beyond. I wonder if the committee
appreciates that the artificial light/dark cycle of the international
space station is set to GMT (despite being predominantly staffed
by astronauts and ground crew from the US and Russia).
4. The UK also has an internationally respected
reputation for scientific research endeavour although we seem
to be ignoring the field of space medicine.
5. By not supporting manned spaceflight
the UK is losing a large skillbase of professionals abroad. I
wonder if the committee appreciates that the "Advanced project
leads" for NASA and ESA are both British citizens (ex in
the case of the former).
6. By not supporting manned spaceflight
the UK is denying the future of today's youth many inspirational
careers. I wonder if the committee appreciates the number of children
who want to be astronauts when they grow up.
7. It is known that NASA has submitted several
thousands of patents and serendipitous income revenues from their
projects so far as well as the advantages gained in healthcare
as a direct and indirect result of their research.
8. The company at the forefront of the new
space tourism also originated in Britain.
9. There is a wide interest base in the
field of manned spaceflight and the UK should not deny its citizens
the right to participate.
November 2006
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