Britain 'should consider own manned space missions', say MPs

A report from the Science and Technology Select Committee criticised the Government for refusing to consider the idea of future manned British space missions.

Historically Britain has always rejected the notion of manned space flights because of the enormous costs involved.

Although Britons have flown on the US space shuttle, the only astronauts to be launched on a British mission have been fictional, such as the comic book hero Dan Dare.

But the MPs believe a blanket ban on manned missions is wrong.

In their report they said the option to launch such missions should be left open, and judged according to whether they are scientifically worthwhile.

The MPs also said there should be no "in principle" block on funding the development of rockets or space planes which can be used to carry satellites or people into space.

The report, entitled 2007: A Space Policy, pointed out that space was becoming an increasingly important sector of science and technology.

It said Britain had world-leading scientists and a space industry that was ambitious and focused.

But the MPs warned that without a coherent space strategy, the UK risked being left behind by other countries. They said the Government needed to do more to ensure Britain fulfilled its potential in a number of key areas, including exploration, satellite navigation and Earth observation.

Committee chairman Phil Willis said: "Space should be an arena in which today's fantastic ideas are assessed seriously because they could be tomorrow's reality. It is crucial that the Government increases funding for space programmes now in order to benefit future generations.

"The space sector should not have to survive solely on the fruits of past investments in space. There are opportunities for the UK to lead developments in many emerging areas as long as the Government shows the political lead essential for the UK research and industrial sectors."

In the year 2005-06, Britain spent £207.61 million on space. Such expenditure was not enough to enable the Government to establish Britain's own space agency, as a number of other countries had done, said the report.

Instead the MPs suggested a strengthening of the role of the British National Space Centre, which co-ordinates Britain's public and private space activities.

Space tourism ventures, such as Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic programme, should be encouraged with appropriate regulation, said the report. However the MPs did not believe it should be the Government's responsibility to fund space tourism projects.

Lord Rees, president of the Royal Society, Britain's leading academic institution, said: "The UK's profile in space lags behind France and Germany and to change this, we need an expanded effort, and a UK space agency.

"Moreover, the report rightly emphasises that the UK's existing efforts, which are modest but highly cost-effective, deserve greater 'visibility' and coherence. Everyone has heard of Nasa - hardly any have heard of the BNSC.

"Human space flight captures our imaginations and the UK should never completely close the door on this. However the UK and Europe could lead the world in space science and technology if they were to focus on robotic projects."