Space Agency… for the UK

It may have been over 40 years since America landed a man on the moon and the interest space might have died down somewhat in the last decade due to the cost of such projects, but the government has announced that Britain is to set up a dedicated space agency to direct space policy.

The agency will represent the UK and co-ordinate the UK with other, international efforts. The agency will have its own budget and its conception has been the results of a 12 week consultation between industry, academic and government departments headed by Science Minister Lord Drayson.

Most of Britain’s previous work off the planet has been conducted via the European Space Agency (ESA) and currently accounts for around £270 million a year. It does however also stimulate the economy, bringing in around £6.5bn a year.

The name and logo of the agency has yet to be determined although a competition will shortly begin to determine these factors. The agency will be run by a group of ‘users’ that will comprise of research councils and government departments.

Critics have attacked the cost of the project and have also called into question its ability to effectively liaise with larger international projects where most space activity currently takes place. Currently there is no information to exactly how the agency will receive its funding although the BBC believes it has discovered two potential ideas.

The first would see money being allocated to the ‘users’ instead being funnelled into the agency and the second would offer the ‘users’ an ability to subscribe to programmes from the agency. This is how the ESA works, although the ESA also has a separate budget itself.

Lord Drayson said:

“People will notice a much higher profile for space. It follows things that have happened this year, such as the appointment of the first British astronaut, the launches we have seen [of the Herschel and Planck telescopes]; and it will enable us to speed up great ideas like for example Virgin Galactic looking to put a launch site here in Britain.”

Major Tim Peake became the first UK citizen to join the ESA as an astronaut in May this year, and 2009 has also seen an ESA technical centre open in Britain for the first time in June.