UK Space Agency

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, 4 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 e.g. the A2 Mach 5 Civilian Transport designed by the same company?

Andrew Weston

August 2010