• UK should have a proper national space programme, report says - government says it's a cool idea and
    54 replies, posted
[quote][B]IGS targets for UK space sector[/B] • To grow UK share of world space economy to 8% by 2020 and 10% by 2030 • To raise value of exports from £2.5bn to £25bn per annum by 2030 • Success depends on exploiting new high growth areas beyond traditional markets • Government can help with coherent and well funded National Space Programme • It will need a competitive and permissive regulatory environment • UK Space Agency should champion and seek to establish a spaceport by 2018[/quote] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24931002[/url] [quote]If the UK space sector is to build on the progress of recent years, it needs a defined and properly funded national space programme. This is one of the key messages to come out of a review of an industry that has been growing by an average of more than 7% a year, even through the recession. The Space Innovation & Growth Strategy (IGS) sets out a plan to boost exports from £2bn to £25bn per annum by 2030. ... The IGS wants the government to champion the absolute best regulatory and licensing arrangements, to ensure both that indigenous companies flourish but also that foreign concerns are persuaded they need to invest more in Britain. One way the IGS believes this could be done is by government backing the necessary legal framework to permit a spaceport to be set up in the UK. This might entice the new breed of launcher companies now offering lower-cost access to space to start operating services in Britain to the benefit of the home industry. The report sets a target of 2018 for the spaceport to be established. ... David Willetts is the minister responsible for space. He said the coalition would produce a formal response in the new year, but added there was much to admire in the new document. "What I like about this report is that it is optimistic, forward-looking and ambitious," Mr Willetts told BBC News. "It is right to pick up that there are lots of sectors out there - both private and public - who don't realise just how dependent they already are on space services and how much more use they could be making of satellite applications in the future. That's a really important theme."[/quote]
If you're going to be serious about this, it would be amazing what stuff Britain could do with a good partnership from the rest of the EU. Also, please help Poland. :v:
sure it's not like we're in debt or anything shouldn't we try to sort out everything here first BEFORE we start spending lots of money to boost another sector/
[QUOTE=lintz;42859866]sure it's not like we're in debt or anything shouldn't we try to sort out everything here first BEFORE we start spending lots of money to boost another sector/[/QUOTE] But wouldn't something like this also help create highly skilled jobs and boost other sectors too, apart from attracting loads of investors?
Awesome, I like seeing the global community's increasing interest in space programs.
[QUOTE=lintz;42859866]sure it's not like we're in debt or anything shouldn't we try to sort out everything here first BEFORE we start spending lots of money to boost another sector/[/QUOTE] we'll never ever be able to pay back the debt we have right now anyway might as well add to it
[QUOTE=lintz;42859866]sure it's not like we're in debt or anything shouldn't we try to sort out everything here first BEFORE we start spending lots of money to boost another sector/[/QUOTE] Well seeing how one of the targets is "To raise value of exports from £2.5bn to £25bn per annum by 2030" I think the plan is to bring money in as well.
[QUOTE=An Actual Bear;42859955]Awesome, I like seeing the global community's increasing interest in space programs.[/QUOTE] I'm all for space programs, but at the same time I really feel like there's a lot of earth that's still left unexplored, like deep sea explorations and thing. Gotta complete the main storyline before we go to the side quests, right? There's plenty about earth we're still finding put each day. Maybe all this space tech the world develops can probably be used to see what's down there.
But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42860016]But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.[/QUOTE] Good thing we're working on a single stage to orbit plane then right? [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylon_(spacecraft)[/url]
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42860016]But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.[/QUOTE] A controversial thought, but what if they used the Falklands for something like this?
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42860016]But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.[/QUOTE]One of their few remaining foreign possessions might have, or one of the Commonwealth countries might lease them a good place.
[QUOTE=snookypookums;42859863]If you're going to be serious about this, it would be amazing what stuff Britain could do with a good partnership from the rest of the EU. Also, please help Poland. :v:[/QUOTE] NASA having an actual funding and then EU and Britain all joining together maybe even most of asia is a dream and wont happen any time soon unless a miracle happens but at least we can hope for the Brits and some of EU
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42860016]But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.[/QUOTE] Gives them an incentive not to fail. Otherwise, they get a free ICBM. It sucks that Australia's not getting into this, though. We have a perfect launching area (Cape York) because it's quite close to the equator. Satellites can help us deal with climate prediction and providing other services for smaller countries near us. However, the only thing Dr. No wants Australia to be the forefront of is coal exports, it seems.
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42860016]But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.[/QUOTE] Who says they have to launch from the UK? They could make some sort of deal with the US and use their launch pads. Makes money for both parties.
[QUOTE=J!NX;42860050]NASA having an actual funding and then EU and Britain all joining together is a dream and wont happen any time soon unless a miracle happens if only[/QUOTE] Well, maybe not Nasa for now - that's entirely upto the electorate of America to fix. Our cheapass program has managed to pull of some amazing stuff on a shoestring budget so maybe NASA can do the same, ride it out until they can have an administration that is willing to give them the dosh to pull off their usual epic stuff. Considering the current political scenario of America right now, it might happen only during future presidencies. But for the UK and the EU, this would be an excellent time to bolster ties with the ESA and lay the groundwork for a revamped program. If it can be established on the outset that space as an achievable goal is meant to benefit everyone, it stands to reason that it could be an effective way to build economic ties.
I hate to rain on their parade, but I dunno if the UK is the best place to have a launchpad. Don't get me wrong, getting Britain into space on it's own two feet would be great, but I can't think of any places in Britain that have a stable enough climate to open up enough launch windows. Then again that's one of the problems with current space travel tech; we have to wait until the conditions are just right before launching a rocket, whereas we should have ships that can leave the starport in all but the direst of weathers without fear of going nose-down or drifting massively.
[QUOTE=ironman17;42860121]I hate to rain on their parade, but I dunno if the UK is the best place to have a launchpad. Don't get me wrong, getting Britain into space on it's own two feet would be great, but I can't think of any places in Britain that have a stable enough climate to open up enough launch windows. Then again that's one of the problems with current space travel tech; we have to wait until the conditions are just right before launching a rocket, whereas we should have ships that can leave the starport in all but the direst of weathers without fear of going nose-down or drifting massively.[/QUOTE] launch from st helena or something
[QUOTE=bravehat;42860028]Good thing we're working on a single stage to orbit plane then right? [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylon_(spacecraft)[/url][/QUOTE] That's wonderful! Last SSTO I heard of was for NASA's X-Prize back in the late 90s with VentureStar. And that was scrapped.
[QUOTE=snookypookums;42860029]A controversial thought, but what if they used the Falklands for something like this?[/QUOTE] Falklands would have to decide that themselves. As people seem to keep forgetting, they're an independently governed body with their own government. That's why Britain can't "Give" Argentina the Falklands, they're not ours to give. [editline]14th November 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=ironman17;42860121]I hate to rain on their parade, but I dunno if the UK is the best place to have a launchpad. Don't get me wrong, getting Britain into space on it's own two feet would be great, but I can't think of any places in Britain that have a stable enough climate to open up enough launch windows. Then again that's one of the problems with current space travel tech; we have to wait until the conditions are just right before launching a rocket, whereas we should have ships that can leave the starport in all but the direst of weathers without fear of going nose-down or drifting massively.[/QUOTE] I think Lossiemouth (or possibly Kinloss) has been earmarked as one of the potential sites for a Spaceport by the new wave of Independent Space Companies, and I'd hazard a guess they're aware of the climate issues. If they think it's viable then the government should really work to make it a reality, because it'd bring the UK a much needed economic boost.
[QUOTE=ironman17;42860121]I hate to rain on their parade, but I dunno if the UK is the best place to have a launchpad. Don't get me wrong, getting Britain into space on it's own two feet would be great, but I can't think of any places in Britain that have a stable enough climate to open up enough launch windows. Then again that's one of the problems with current space travel tech; we have to wait until the conditions are just right before launching a rocket, whereas we should have ships that can leave the starport in all but the direst of weathers without fear of going nose-down or drifting massively.[/QUOTE] Go piss off Argentina more and launch your rockets from the Falklands?
[QUOTE=Craigewan;42860685]I think Lossiemouth (or possibly Kinloss) has been earmarked as one of the potential sites for a Spaceport by the new wave of Independent Space Companies, and I'd hazard a guess they're aware of the climate issues. If they think it's viable then the government should really work to make it a reality, because it'd bring the UK a much needed economic boost.[/QUOTE] Indeed; never thought that Scotland would have the best launchpad/starport locations. Still, a British Space Program would definitely require more IT and engineering specialists, and would give a big aerospace boost.
[QUOTE=Craigewan;42860685]Falklands would have to decide that themselves. As people seem to keep forgetting, they're an independently governed body with their own government. That's why Britain can't "Give" Argentina the Falklands, they're not ours to give.[/QUOTE] But if Argentina were to attack Falklands, the British would defend them, right? So how does that work, military agreement like the British had with the Trucial States (now the UAE)?
[QUOTE=snookypookums;42859863] Also, please help Poland. :v:[/QUOTE] i herd u were talkin shit
[QUOTE=snookypookums;42860818]But if Argentina were to attack Falklands, the British would defend them, right? So how does that work, military agreement like the British had with the Trucial States (now the UAE)?[/QUOTE] If the Argentinians attacked the Falklands they'd immediately be hammered. The Falklanders have voted to stay British and we'll defend them until such time they decide otherwise.
Good. Every western nation needs a proper space program. We can't be relying on *just* NASA and Russia for everything. Space travel should be a global effort undertaken by every nation that can afford it.
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42860016]But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.[/QUOTE] There is always Ascension Island in the middle of nowhere.
Why not use Rockall? [img]http://imgkk.com/i/on3y.jpg[/img]
For someone who wants to go into the space industry, this excites me.
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42860016]But the UK doesn't have an east-facing ocean that's big enough for eventual rocket debris to fall into.[/QUOTE] We'll launch in the direction of the Channel, anything that doesnt land in the channel hits france, and nothing of value is lost.
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