UK Space Agency
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| Established | 1 April 2010 |
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| Headquarters | Polaris House, North Star Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1UJ |
| Website | www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency |
The UK Space Agency is a United Kingdom government agency responsible for its civil space programme. It was established on 1 April 2010 to replace the British National Space Centre and took over responsibility for government policy and key budgets for space[1] and represents the UK in all negotiations on space matters.[2][3] It "[brings] together all UK civil space activities under one single management".[1] It is initially operating from the existing BNSC headquarters in Swindon, Wiltshire.[2][4][5][6]
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[edit] Creation and aims
The UK Space Agency was announced by Lord Mandelson, Lord Drayson and astronaut Major Timothy Peake at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on 23 March 2010.
Around £230 million of funding and management functions was merged into the UK Space Agency from other organisations.[2] It cost US$60 million to create.[7] "Improving coordination of UK efforts in fields such as Earth science, telecoms and space exploration" will form part of its remit, according to Lord Drayson.[8]
Prior to the creation of the UK Space Agency, the space and satellite industry in the UK was valued at £6 billion and supported 68,000 jobs. The 20-year aim of the UK Space Agency is to increase the industry to £40 billion and 100,000 jobs,[1] and to represent 10% of worldwide space products and services (increasing from the current 6%). This plan arises from the "Space Innovation and Growth Strategy" (Space-IGS).[2]
Although Space-IGS called for the UK to double European Space Agency (ESA) contributions and to initiate and lead at least three missions between now and 2030, this has not been committed to, with Lord Drayson stating that "We will require a compelling business case for each proposal or mission".[2]
[edit] International Space Innovation Centre
Alongside the UK Space Agency, a £40 million "International Space Innovation Centre" (ISIC) (http://www.isic-space.com) has been created at Harwell, Oxfordshire,[1] alongside the research facility for the ESA. Some of its tasks will be to investigate climate change, and the security of space systems. £24 million of the cost of the centre will be funded by the government, with the remainder from industry, and it will lead to the creation of 700 jobs over five years.[9]
[edit] Transfer of authority
The UK Space Agency took over the following responsibilities from other government organisations:
- All responsibilities, personnel, and assets of the British National Space Centre
- ESA subscriptions from Natural Environment Research Council, Science and Technology Facilities Council and Technology Strategy Board,[1] including project grants and post-launch support.[10]
- UK elements of the space components of Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, and the Galileo satellite navigation system[1]
- The financial interest in the European Union Satellite Centre (agreed in principle)[1]
- Space technology and instrumentation funding from the Research Councils UK and Technology Strategy Board[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "New space agency and new international space centre for UK". BNSC. 23 March 2010. http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/17628.aspx.
- ^ a b c d e Amos, Jonathan (23 March 2010). "'Muscular' UK Space Agency launched". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8579270.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ UK Space Agency announced
- ^ "The Press Association: UK's space agency to be revealed". UKPA, via Google.com. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hM2PmbLlMDxcQd4AAQ0r3y_9KjZQ. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ David Derbyshire (24 March 2010). "British space centre to be revealed ... but will it be called Her Majesty's Space Agency (MASA) | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1259990/British-space-centre-revealed--called-Her-Majestys-Space-Agency-MASA.html. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "UK Space Agency launched in London". Telegraph. 23 March 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7505184/UK-Space-Agency-launched-in-London.html. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "Quest Means Business: Blog Archive – Should we bother exploring space? « – Blogs from CNN.com". Questmeansbusiness.blogs.cnn.com. 19 March 2010. http://questmeansbusiness.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/23/should-we-bother-exploring-space/. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "Science Minister launches the UK Space Agency". Wired.co.uk. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-03/23/science-minister-launches-the-uk-space-agency.aspx. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ "Oxfordshire to get £40m space centre". BBC. 23 March 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8582985.stm.
- ^ "News from Council – March 2010". STFC. 26 March 2010. http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About/Struc/Council/CouncilNewsMarch2010.aspx.
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Lord Drayson (23 March 2010). "UK Space Agency Launch – News and Speeches". http://www.bis.gov.uk/News/Speeches/uk-space-agency-launch. (video version)
[edit] Video clips
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- British space programme
- Science and technology in the United Kingdom
- Astronomy in the United Kingdom
- Space centres
- Space agencies
- Space organizations
- Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
- Government agencies established in 2010
- 2010 establishments in the United Kingdom
- Science and technology in Europe
- Organisations based in Swindon
- Executive agencies of the United Kingdom government
