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22 January 2003

P/2003/35

LORD SAINSBURY LAUNCHES THREE-YEAR STRATEGY FOR UK SPACE

Space for Science, enterprise and environment

Science Minister Lord Sainsbury today unveiled the Government's plans 
for the UK space industry for the next three years.

Lord Sainsbury said:

"The draft strategy is focused much more than before on the use of 
space systems throughout the economy. This will require the space 
community to work even more closely with commercial companies. 
Increasingly, space is opening up new commercial opportunities in 
areas such as telecommunications and global positioning systems and a 
key objective of the draft strategy is to provide a framework which 
will enable UK companies to take advantage of these opportunities."

The Government has set three key objectives for the Space industry. 
They are:

* Enhancing the UK's standing in astronomy, planetary and earth 
  sciences;

* Stimulating increased productivity by promoting the use of space in 
  government, science and commerce; and,

* Developing innovative space systems, to deliver sustainable 
  improvement in quality of life.

The strategy sets out how we plan to deliver these through
world-beating services and technologies and achieve greater use and 
market acceptance of all types of space services in the UK.

The UK will continue its policy of investing selectively in space and 
of focussing on achieving its objectives cost-effectively, and through 
international partnerships.  The strategy is primarily focussed on the 
years 2003-06, but for the first time it also sets out the necessary
long-term perspective to 2015.

The UK space industry is innovative, competitive and
export-orientated. A study last year into the size and health of the 
industry showed that turnover had increased by 17 per cent to £2.9 
billion with employment up 14 per cent. The UK has world-class 
expertise in many areas including telecommunications, small 
satellites, earth observation and radar technologies.

Worldwide, the market for Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) 
technology is forecast to grow by 85 per cent from 2001 to 2007. This 
will have a major impact on our every day lives as the technology is 
increasingly used in areas such as in-car navigation, aviation safety
and location-based personal navigation services.

The publication of the strategy also comes at a time when the UK is 
becoming increasingly involved in space exploration missions. This May 
sees the launch of the British-built Beagle 2 Mission to Mars. In 
addition, the UK is working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to 
send a satellite to the Moon to study the entire surface. There are 
also planetary missions to Venus and Saturn's moon Titan.

The draft strategy published today on the BNSC website begins a 
three-month consultation including a public meeting on March 11. The 
UK space community, users and potential users of space services are 
invited to submit their comments on any aspect of the draft. After a
three-month consultation period all comments will be analysed and will 
feed into the final document, which is due to be published later this 
year.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. On 24 July 2002 at Farnborough International Airshow Lord Sainsbury 
   set the BNSC partners and their advisory bodies the task of 
   producing the draft UK Space Strategy to deliver three key 
   objectives to maintain and enhance the UK as: an internationally 
   recognised centre for world-class space and environmental sciences; 
   a leading user of space services, stimulating increased 
   productivity in government, science and commerce; a foremost 
   developer of leading edge space-based systems delivering 
   sustainable improvements in quality of life.

2. Following this work, the draft UK Space Strategy has been published 
   today and is open to a three-month consultation period that will 
   include a public meeting on March 11.  The document is available on 
   the BNSC website http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/index.cfm?pid=854 and 
   comments, preferably no more than four pages in length, should be 
   sent to one of the following addresses no later than 30 April 2003:

   by email to
        ukspaceconsult{at}bnsc.gov.uk

   by post to
        Strategy Consultation
        British National Space Centre
        Bay 175
        151 Buckingham Palace Road
        London SW1W 9SS

   or by fax to
        Strategy Consultation, 020 7215 0936

   The final strategy will be published later this year and will cover 
   2003-6 and beyond. Those interested in attending the public meeting 
   should also apply to one of the above addresses.

3. BNSC is a partnership of Government Departments and Research 
   Councils with an interest in the development or exploitation of 
   space technologies. The British National Space Centre (BNSC) is the 
   UK Government body responsible for UK civil space policy, to help 
   gain the best possible scientific, economic and social benefits 
   from putting space to work.

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