A DRAFT PLAN looking at future UK space policy, has confirmed a continued commitment to remote-sensing Earth-observation programmes, which could form the second fully commercialised space industry, after communications (Flight International, 10-16 April).
The plan was released by UK space minister, Ian Taylor at the second Space Policy Forum in London. After receiving comments on the policy document, Taylor plans to issue the final plan in August. His commitment to moving space science further into the commercial arena has been welcomed by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. Science spending represents about $77 million of the space budget.
The UK minister does not foresee an increase in the present 1997 $295 million UK space budget to 2000, but the commitment to remote-sensing technologies is indicated by the projected $155 million for it in the budget, rising to $172 million in 1999.
Taylor arrived at the Forum with news of a $10.9 million increase in the 1996 budget (Flight International, 3-9 July), in addition to the $4.3 million he had committed earlier, primarily for the enhanced Ariane 5 Mark 2 programme.
The additional funding increases the UK's support for the European Space Agency's satellite-navigation and technology and applications programmes. The European global-navigation satellite system receives extra UK spending of $5.5 million, while $3.04 million goes into applications and $3.08 million in general-technology support.
Source: Flight International