What is the British National Space Centre?
BNSC acts as Britain’s own ‘Space Agency’ established in 1985 with the specific purpose of helping Britain get the best scientific and economic value out of national and international activities in space. It is a partnership between 11 Government departments and Research Councils with an interest in the development or exploitation of space technologies.
In the same period employment had also increased by 14 per cent to around 16,000 people. The UK space systems industry has a turnover some three times government expenditure, a ratio that compares favourably with the US.
What are BNSC’s principal objectives?
To encourage innovative technology, its commercial exploitation and its application in research. It also seeks maximise business opportunities for the UK space industry, It supports the highest-quality astronomy, space and earth science and strives to improve our understanding of the Earth’s environment and natural resources.
What is the UK’s civil space policy?
It focuses strongly on cost-effectiveness in space programmes and investment is largely in areas with the greatest scientific, institutional and commercial potential, such as Earth observation, satellite communication and navigation.
What is Earth Observation?
Earth observation satellites are able to view our planet from a unique vantage point, providing us with a truly global view. They provide global, regional and local information on all aspects of Planet Earth – the land surface, oceans, atmosphere and ice caps, in often near real time. They also allow researchers to observe and understand the influence of mankind on the environment, to see crops growing, to detect pollution, volcanic activity and to spot and analyse disasters caused by fire flooding or landslides.
What is Satellite Navigation?
Satellite navigation establishes a user’s position, movement and time by measuring the distance to at least four satellites. Europe is now committed to developing a new European civilian global navigation system called Galileo. It will herald the arrival of many exciting services for business and consumers including transport, telecommunication, fisheries and agriculture, oil prospecting and building and public works sectors.
What is Satellite Communication?
One of the most vibrant of the 21st Century industries, the satellite communications sector continues to thrive and enable the high speed transfer of information of information to computers, mobile phones, televisions etc. More and more applications for these exciting new technologies are constantly being developed. BNSC plays a big part in encouraging this growth within the UK, which leads the world in innovations in mobile communications by satellite.
What is Space Science?
Space science through the exploration and observation of our solar system and beyond furthers our knowledge of the universe. In order to care for our own planet, we must first discover why it is so different from other planets in its geology, oceans, atmosphere and life forms. It also helps us understand space weather and the potential harm it could do to our telecommunications, power supplies and computers.
What does BNSC do?
It facilitates co-operation within the space sector at a national and international level. By representing both academic, institutional and industrial interests, BNSC provides the UK space community with a strong voice in international negotiations.
It supports a widespread national programme of research and development as well as forging international partnerships, through the European Space Agency (ESA) and bilateral agreements.
What does it cost?
Together the partners in BNSC spend around £180 million a year on civil space. Approximately 60 per cent of UK civil space expenditure is channelled through the European Space Agency (ESA) to finance projects such as Envisat, Galileo and Mars Express. The UK was a founder member of ESA, which provides co-operation in space science, technology and applications among European states. The UK is ranked fourth of the 15 ESA member countries in terms of budget allocations, accounting for about 5.4 per cent of its total budget in 2002.
After a recent review the Government re-organised the way space policy in the UK is managed, giving the Research Councils a bigger role in developing and implementing the UK’s space policies.
Useful websites
- DTI (external link)
- British National Space Centre Website (external link)
- European Space Agency (external link)
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