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The world of space exploration is an exciting one
and space is of increasing commercial importance. Earth observation from
space is also of great interest from an environmental point of view. Far
too many people, however, see space solely in terms of manned space, and
we need, therefore, to have many more MPs who are knowledgeable about
space and who can promote space to a wider audience.
The UK spends an incredibly small amount of
money on space - in total about 295 million Euros, compared to 1.9
billion Euros for France and 850 million Euros for Germany - but we get
incredible value for money, and we have world class space scientists and
many areas of strength in the space sector: satellite communication,
satellite navigation, space science and earth observation.
This Parliamentary year has seen many successes.
In November Smart-1 arrived at the Moon, using
its ‘ion engine’, a new propulsion technology that could widen the
possibilities for future space exploration.
Mars Express produced remarkable results, and in
January the Huygens probe landed on Titan, using UK-led instruments and
software, and sent back pictures of a world thought to resemble a young
planet Earth.
In Earth observation the Envisat satellite, much
of which was designed and built in the UK, continued to monitor
pollution, climate conditions and the ozone layer. Small British
satellites brought vital information to aid workers in the aftermath of
the Asian tsunami and in the Sudan Darfur crisis. Then March saw the
launch of the first in a new generation of sophisticated
telecommunications satellites: Inmarsat-4, built at EADS Astrium in
Stevenage for UK company Inmarsat.
We also have much to look forward to. The next
six months promise to be an important and exciting period for space.
This summer will see the launch of the Met Office’s MSG-2 satellite, to
provide improved speed and accuracy of weather forecasting, and the
Cryosat mission that will tell us with unprecedented accuracy how the
poles are responding to climate change.
Cryosat was first proposed by UK scientists only
six years ago and the data it produces will be used by British Earth
observation centres of excellence. This is another example of the UK’s
strong scientific lead. Information from the space sector is vitally
important to improving the efficiency of decision-making by governments.
The UK has led in this area, with a user-driven space policy that
encourages the use of data from space for informed policy on issues such
as climate change.
In our role as chair of the Committee on Earth
Observation Satellites, CEOS, we are promoting strongly this area of
space, and I hope to see many UK MPs at the CEOS London Plenary in
November, supporting our agenda on climate change and disaster
management, with particular focus on Africa, in line with the UK’s
priorities for the G8.
Space also has its part to play in increasing
the competitiveness of Europe. Inmarsat-4 provides access to broadband
across Europe – something which is important in improving the
competitiveness of European business under the Lisbon Agenda. In
addition, space activities require a high technology manufacturing and
skills base, which we must maintain in the UK. I recently visited the
Sacred Heart RC School in Camberwell, and I was very encouraged by the
way space was being used to inspire young people to take up careers in
science and technology.
Another key to competitive success is
innovation. Space research uses innovative new technology, which has so
far produced many spin-offs that have boosted the wider economy and
improved our quality of life. Researchers at the University of Leicester
are now using techniques developed for space research in the treatment
of cancer.
Commercial value-added services in
telecommunications, Earth observation and navigation generate over 55
billion euros worldwide in revenue per year. In the UK,
telecommunication and broadcasting accounts for 80% of all space
industry turnover, demonstrating that we are tapping into the growing
market for space services.
Satellite navigation is also a UK strength.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd has been successful in building the
test-bed satellite for the first civil positioning system, Galileo,
which could lead to safer and more efficient transport systems for EU
citizens. I hope some of you will join me in celebrating its launch this
December.
Those not familiar with the social and economic
benefits of space will surely be aware of the UK’s standing in planetary
science. I will be celebrating Huygens’ titanic achievement tomorrow at
the British Festival of Space. Then there is the planned October launch
of Venus Express, which involves UK scientists and a carries a
propulsion system built in Stevenage at EADS Astrium. And we will
continue to build on these successes with the UK involvement in Aurora,
the European Space Agency’s Mars exploration programme, giving our
world-class capability in robotics the opportunity to demonstrate what
it can do.
This year is a critical year for the space
sector in terms of planning for the longer term. In December the
European Space Agency will make financial decisions on future
programmes, including Aurora. As I mentioned earlier, the contribution
of space activities to a competitive Europe has led us towards the
development of a European Space Policy. The third Space Council in
November will focus on the space element of Global Monitoring for
Environment and Security (or GMES). The UK will be working closely with
the Commission during our EU Presidency to ensure good progress is made.
The amount we can spend on space will depend, of
course, mainly on decisions taken here at home. We need, therefore, to
explain within Government and to the public the benefits of using space
to achieve our goals. Over the next six months we must raise the profile
of UK space activities and create awareness of the benefits of space
throughout the country.
We have made good progress over the last few
years in conveying to people the excitement of space exploration, in
telling people about the commercial importance of space and in showing
people that manned space is not the only game in town.
But there is a lot to do, and I urge you to come
and help us develop an understanding of space across Government and our
society.
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