Memorandum submitted by Andrew Weston
(UKSA 17)
What progress has been made in setting up the
UK Space Agency?
The Minister of State for Universities and Science,
David Willets, stated in July that UKSA did not yet have control
of the funding allocated previously to individual departments
and research councils for space. Is UKSA therefore currently a
place holder for the disparate bodies that comprised the BNSC?
A time-limited goal could be set to ensure that funding is allocated
commensurate with a growing domestic sector and the reported spending
figures published by the Agency this year.
How does the UK Space Agency work with other bodies
(national and international) on space issues?
Agreements to cooperate have been signed or made
with agencies such as NASA or with representatives from countries
such as India. However, more attention could be paid to ensuring
the UK's contribution to any collaborations is recognised and
promoted nationally to inspire scientists and engineers to train,
work or move to this country to further improve and expand the
space sector.
For example, the UK had the highest research relative
impact factor in the world in 2008 in space science according
to Thomson Reuters. For a country that falls below most major
European countries and India on total space spending metrics,
this is significantly striking to any stakeholder in national
economic or scientific success. Structures such as UKSA could
lead in consolidate and build upon successes like this (for example
forums, public outreach, business and diplomatic delegations).
Is the UK Space Agency more effective at coordinating
space policy than its predecessor, the British National Space
Centre?
It seems likely that the efficacy of UKSA is
yet to be tested. To the layman there appear to be contentious
areas such as defence where other governmental bodies such as
the Cabinet Office and the MOD are conducting reviews on the strategic
importance of space. Is the voice and importance of UKSA central
to this and if not how can it be recognised and realised?
What should the UK Space Agency's priorities be
for the next five years?
Ensuring launch capabilities exist in Britain
Four years ago, Virgin Galactic submitted evidence
to the Science and Technology Committee encouraging the UK to
incentivise private sector investment in space, to facilitate
regulation for "emerging space markets" and promote
public-private technological partnership. In 2010, Virgin Galactic,
arguably the most prominent internationally-recognised space tourism
venture, cannot launch from the UK mainly because of export controls
of US-based technology. Virgin Galactic have stated they want
to operate from the UK but this restriction and the ongoing lack
of a sufficient regulatory structure for commercial launches.
Thus a priority would be a step-by-step plan of action
to ensure Virgin Galactic could operate here and other commercial
space tourism or private launch companies (of which there are
several UK-based and US-based) could similarly operate. Does UKSA,
four years on from the last space review by Parliament, have a
detailed strategy for enabling space tourism and launches in the
UK?
For commercial rocket launches, can arrangements
be re-established with Commonwealth countries (through the FCO
which is represented on the Space Leadership Council) or overseas
territories (for example Ascension Island, South Georgia etc)
to find suitable sites if sites in mainland or off-mainland Britain
still cannot be rendered and deemed safe?
Is the UK Space Agency adequately funded?
The Space Innovation and Growth Team this year
recommended increasing space spending. Is attention being paid
to the previous government's response to the IGT report? Will
UKSA be held accountable to adhering to this response? Will the
vast experience and range of talent in the Space Leadership Council
be exploited and such a system be retained to ensure advanced
research projects are made to work in the interests of the UK
and ultimately wider world? Furthermore has the expert panel on
defence been set up or the National Space Technology Strategy
and Steering Group?
A potentially revolutionary engine is being developed
by Reaction Engines Ltd that in an earlier guise, the UK government
partially funded then abandoned. Reaction Engines have received
limited funding through the EU. Are, for example, the MOD or Business
Secretary aware of this technology as a strategic asset? If so,
is it not deserving of UK funding, particularly in view of the
wider economic potential that is likely to spin out in the form
of commercial launches and hypersonic travel eg the A2 Mach 5
Civilian Transport designed by the same company?
Andrew Weston
August 2010
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