Research plans include 'small satellite technologies'
In giving evidence to the UK's parliamentary committee on science and technology, the country's Ministry of Defence has stated that it is ready to debate a potential indigenous launcher capability.
The MoD says future space research plans include "small satellite technologies", space control and the exploitation of space-based resources, plus a requirement for "robust, secure telemetry, tracking, control, dynamic bandwidth allocation and high bandwidth optical links".
If the UK was to develop its own small military satellites, a logical step would be to develop its own launchers to provide an independent capability, although the MoD said it will not initiate such a move.
"We would like to explore a dialogue with industry and others to see how we could develop a low-cost launcher system," assistant chief of the air staff Air Vice Marshal Chris Moran told the committee. "We see the benefits to help support a low-cost small satellite."
Not being involved in launcher programmes has been a stated policy of the UK government for decades, with the only deployment of a UK satellite by a UK rocket made during 1971. However, the head of the British National Space Centre David Williams noted that the UK has a small role in Europe's Ariane 5 programme.
Source: Flight International