Will the UK boldly go?

As the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asks – should we have a British Space Agency?

The BIS is beginning a consultation which aims to thrust the UK space sector forward for the next 40 years and beyond.

The consultation will seek views on whether the current organisation which oversees space in the UK, the British National Space Centre (BNSC), is the best funding structure to meet the challenges of the future and deliver the greatest benefit to the country.  The BNSC has helped the UK to build a hugely successful sector which is second only to the USA in space science, contributes £6.5bn a year to the UK economy and supports 68,000 jobs. However, as the world becomes increasingly dependent on advances in space science and in order to safeguard the UK’s “critical mass” of skills and expertise, the BIS is seeking views on the appetite for a single agency to better co-ordinate the UK’s civil space strategy.  

The Minister for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson said: “Space is so important to our future. The UK space industry has thrived under the BNSC, but the Apollo 11 anniversary demonstrates the need for ambition, purpose and a clear sense of commitment. 

“We now have to look ahead to the next 40 years. I want this consultation to be inspired and influenced by this idea. So we can provide the best support to our world-leading space sector. So it can continue to flourish and when the economic growth takes hold, make an even bigger impact on the UK economy and our lives.”

The 12-week consultation began last week when the European Space Agency (ESA) landed in Harwell, Oxfordshire – opening its first facility in the UK. To participate go to www.BNSC.gov.uk from Wednesday afternoon for further information.