The UK's limited budget for space programmes, compared with its European partners, means concentrating on quality rather than quantity. Lord Sainsbury, the UK Minister for Science, talks to Tim Furniss about the country's profile and prospects for the future.
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Q: What is the UK space budget and is there any likelihood that it will be increased, given the higher budgets of some other European countries, such as France, which have a higher profile in the European Space Agency (ESA)?
A: The current UK budget is about £180 million ($270 million) and is unlikely to increase in the short term. Of course we could do more in terms of quantity but restrictions have forced us to make a real assessment of the quality of what we do.
We can therefore focus very clearly on our three main space objectives: world-class science, commercial applications and environmental information. I don't agree that higher budgets necessarily equate with a higher profile within ESA. The UK participates selectively but still retains a strong and influential voice in ESA.
Q: Space science is clearly a strength of the UK space industry. Which projects excite you most in this area and how will the UK participate?
A: The UK is a leader for one of the key instruments to make a global surface and sub-surface study of the Comet Wirtanen during the Rosetta mission and for the instrument that will make the first global survey of lunar composition during the Smart 1 mission.
Then there is the Open University-led Beagle 2 lander project, which is to fly on the ESA Mars Express mission due for launch in 2003, to identify whether conditions for life exist or existed on Mars.
The UK has a key instrument on the ESA Huygens probe en route to Saturn. It will land on the Saturn moon Titan in 2005, which is thought to resemble the early Earth.
Q: Planetary exploration is a high profile area and the Beagle 2 mission has the makings of one of the most famous UK missions. What percentage of its budget is coming from the UK space budget and how much from UK companies and sponsorship?
A: The largest contributor to Beagle is ESA and the mission also has been awarded grants from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Including underwriting Beagle in advance of expected sponsorship, the project takes up 5% of the UK space budget in 2001-2003, matched by contributions from companies and university groups, including the Open University, which has been extremely successful in involving the public and potential sponsors.
The new National Space Science Centre at Leicester is to play a lead role in the operations phase and provide an immediate contact with the public.
Q: Although there are two British-born NASA astronauts (Mike Foale and Piers Sellars, who flies on the Shuttle later this year), apart from Helen Sharman, no UK ‘citizen' has flown into space. Given the interest that having an astronaut has been created in other countries, wouldn't it be a good idea to get the UK on board a bit more with human spaceflight?
A: The UK assesses carefully the most effective means for achieving its space priorities. So far, unmanned activities have been far more relevant.
A pro-rata share to ESA's contribution to the International Space Station (ISS) would take up, every year, about half the UK space budget. The short-term interest in the infrequent flight of a UK astronaut cannot justify that expenditure.
The UK keeps an open mind on this topic but will review ISS-related activities and science and commercial opportunities later, especially on whether the cost justifies the expenditure.
Q: Earth observation is clearly another UK strength and the Disaster Monitoring satellite project is a great example of the UK's leadership. Can you expand on this project and detail what may follow from the experience that the UK demonstrates in mini-satellite technology?
A: The Disaster Monitoring Constellation is the third successful project under the British National Space Centre's Mosaic small satellite programme, sponsored by Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL – based in Guildford).
Natural and man-made disasters cause loss of life, suffering and economic crisis. Most current Earth observation satellites offer infrequent images and often delivery of critical images may take weeks due to periodic cloud cover and conflicting priorities. The satellites are also not necessarily designed to suit disaster monitoring functions.
SSTL and its partners have proposed a network of affordable micro-satellites providing imaging on a daily basis, as an affordable solution to the problem.
The development of small satellite capability, competitive in commercial markets, is an innovative and visionary approach to satellite development. It is an example of government working with the market, to accelerate trends through customer and user involvement.
Spin-offs will include developing countries owning their own satellites individually and establishing international co-operation to share data. This represents a great achievement for an innovative UK company.
Q: Does space fire you up personally? Can you recall some of the great events such as the moon landing?
A: Of course I can remember the moon landing. Another particularly memorable event for me was the first transatlantic TV broadcast received at Goonhilly Down via Telstar on 23 July 1962.
So, the public imagination can be captured by the uses of space as well. In 1945, Arthur C Clarke proposed a vision of communications satellites that has moved from concept to reality, revolutionising global communications – so that today we can all watch events, such as the World Cup, as a shared global experience.
Q: What is the achievement of which you are most proud in terms of your personal ‘space' contribution?
A: There is now the increasing recognition across government that space can contribute to commercial and environmental objectives, as well as scientific ones.
During my chairmanship of the ESA Ministers Council there were great steps forward in a closer working relationship between ESA and the EU. The European Galileo (GPS) satellite project and Global Monitoring for Environment and Security projects have taken off as the first joint EU/ESA initiatives.
There is growing recognition of Beagle 2 as a key innovative mission. I have always believed that making science exciting and accessible to young people is one of the most important roles I have, and I am therefore delighted that the National Space Science Centre in Leicester has been so successful.
Source: Flight Daily News
