Britain Assesses Involvement in Future Space Exploration
A status published report released on Friday, September 14, 2007, stated that the UK Space Exploration Working Group has released findings of the UK’s involvement in future space exploration. The BNSC, British National Space Center Director General and the UK Space Board, originally established the Working Group in January 2007. According to the report, this was in response to a development of the Global Space Exploration Strategy by space agencies of 14 different countries—including the UK’s BNSC.
The things the group looked at and reviewed were:
*Space Exploration
*Assessed opportunities and benefits for UK participation
*Recommended suitable focus for UK activities
The Working Group feels that the UK’s current involvement with ESA has provided excellent returns on the scientific aspects of the robotic planetary science, while building capable skills and technology—in universities, national laboratories, and industries. It is with hope that future benefits will yield an increase to the country through “targeted, near term involvement in lunar exploration” which seems to be emphasized through UK science interests, along with expertise in small satellites and robotics. But other than that, there seems to be nothing absolutely compelling for immediate membership to the current ESA human spaceflight program. Yet, as Britain looks at things in a different light, there does appear to be excellent scientific opportunities beyond the year 2020, when a permanent lunar base is to be built. Therefore, they are planning on establishing a plan involving the UK in human space flight beginning 2010.
ESA, or the European Space Agency, is Europe’s gateway to space, the same as NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the United State’s gateway to space. Working together on many space projects, the mission of the ESA is to shape Europe’s space development for the citizens of Europe. With 17 member states, the ESA coordinates all of the financial and intellectual resources of its members. The benefit of working with ESA, is that this large of an agency has the ability to undertake programs and activities further than any single European country.
The ESA registered members are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greecy, Ireland, Italy, Luxebourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Swede, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Occasionally, Canada, Hungary, and the Czech Republich participate in some projects but are not considered regular members.
Source: Space.Ref “New report on UK space exploration published”. Friday, September 14, 2007 and “ESA” figures.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 17th, 2007 at 8:53 am and is filed under Space Agency News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
