UK must end launcher opt-out say lawmakers

[nuaetius]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/18/215548/uk-must-end-launcher-opt-out-say-lawmakers.html<br /><br />The UK government should consider offering seed-corn funding or a prize to encourage launcher development, according to a UK parliamentary committee report published on 17 July.<br /><br />The UK ended its involvement in launchers in 1971 with the nation's first and last satellite launch.<br /><br />However, the House of Commons science and technology committee's report 2007: A Space Policy recommends that a launcher for small, low-cost satellites be considered by the UK Ministry of Defence and the government's department for innovation, universities and skills.<br /><br />During the committee's evidence sessions, the MoD expressed an interest in such a vehicle (Flight International, 6-12 February).<br /><br />The report also recommends the "establishment of a regulatory framework and responsible body with the relevant authorities" for space tourism.<br /><br />In fact, the UK government may have to get involved because of a series of Cold War-era international treaties concerning space launches if Virgin Galactic's plans to offer flights from 2009 come to fruition.<br /><br />Historically, the UK has avoided manned spaceflight, but in this first parliamentary review of policy for over a decade, it says: "The government currently objects to manned spaceflight on principle...this is unjustifiable."<br /><br />The UK government's civil space activity co-ordinator, the British National Space Centre, is to produce a report on the country's potential involvement in future international exploration projects, which could include human spaceflight.<br /><br />Despite the UK regularly renewing its space policy - most recently for 2003-2006, with 2007-2010 to follow - space has received little attention from select committees of the Commons or House of