British Human Space Flight Campaign
Welcome to the British Human Space Flight Campaign
The British Interplanetary Society have started a campaign to promote the idea of getting another Briton into space. The information below is taken from their website:
“In half a century, space exploration has achieved goals that matched the dreams and speculations of us BIS space cadets in the 1930’s! We must rekindle that spirit in a new generation of 21st century astronauts, to seize the opportunities that are now opening up for low cost access to space”. - Sir Arthur C. Clarke (Sept 2007).
As the world’s longest established space exploration society, being formed by British visionaries like Arthur C. Clarke in the 1930’s, the BIS is committed to ensuring that the UK joins with the rest of the industrialised world and takes part in manned space activities.
This webpage provides information regarding the current British human space flight campaign. It explains what can be done in terms of lobbying approaches to government, national space policy makers and relevant organisations in the UK. It also provides information about a possible low-cost approach to getting “Britons in Space”, via access to the International Space Station (ISS).
The campaign is supported by a host of celebrities and scientists, including Brian Blessed, Myleene Klass, Harriet Scott, Sir Patrick Moore, Dr. Michael Foale, Prof Colin Pillinger and Heather Couper.
Background
Despite being the world’s fifth largest economy, the UK currently has no manned space presence or interest in human space industry activities. Although the UK does manufacture some unmanned satellites (via companies such as EADS Astrium and SSTL), there is no link to manned research or its related space infrastructure.
Whilst the rest of Europe, the US, Russia, China, Japan and many emerging industrialised nations (for example Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea and India) all explore space through human approaches, the UK has missed out and British scientists and industry are currently excluded from important research and technology work - this is against the national good.
Following a 2006 revue of the perceived scientific and educational value of manned spaceflight, The British Interplanetary Society (BIS) resolved that the UK would strongly benefit from a modest astronaut presence. This view follows the independent report of the Royal Astronomical Society in October 2005, where Prof Frank Close and his team drew attention to the wide ranging scientific and cultural benefits of human space flight - they recommended that the UK committed more money to the human exploration of space, at least to a figure in line with the UK’s partners in the European Space Agency (ESA).
Other recent scientific studies have also recognised potential human space benefits for the UK. In 2003, the independent Microgravity Review Panel recommended the UK join microgravity research on the International Space Station (ISS). In May 2004, the Cross Research Council Report called for the UK to join the manned aspects of the ESA’s Aurora programme, one day leading to the human exploration of the Moon, Mars and the solar system.
Recent expert recommendations to government
Following representations by many in the space community, in July 2007 the Commons Select Committee recommended that the UK government abandon its ‘in-principle’ block on UK human spaceflight missions.
In September 2007, the UK Space Exploration Working group (SEWG) issued its wide-ranging report on space policy and firmly endorsed the “pro-UK astronaut” case. It effectively endorsed the BIS low-cost campaign proposals (see below) by advising the BNSC and the Space Minister that a modest UK astronaut corps could be established and that flights to the ISS could begin by 2010-12 via Soyuz spacecraft.
In his 4 October 2007 “Sputnik anniversary” speech at Jodrell Bank, Minister Ian Pearson announced that he had asked the BNSC to assess the benefits of participating in future manned activity in the mid-term.
This UK HSF review is now built into the UK Space Strategy 2008-2012. The BNSC will be undertaking a science cost/benefit study of HSF via a specialist panel and report back to the Minister and the Secretary of State John Denham, with recommendations, possibly by the end of 2008
Key facts
The UK government’s investment in space is about one quarter of that of equivalent European nations.
The UK has the second largest aerospace industry, but only 3% is space-related (Europe is 10-15% and the US is 25%).
Space biomedicine and planetary science are strong research areas in the UK, but currently we cannot join the rest of Europe by carrying this into manned missions for the future.
The only UK astronaut, Helen Sharman, flew into space in 1991 with no government backing - the mission was paid for by the then Soviet Union.
NASA astronauts Michael Foale, Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick were British born. Michael Foale has joint nationality but Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick had to become American citizens to fly into space.
Drug research on the ISS could potentially lead to bone and muscle necrosis treatments for older people on Earth.
UK science and technology education desperately needs boosting - physics graduate courses have dropped by 17% in ten years. Manned space flight is very inspirational for young people.
Low cost British manned project
The modest BIS/SEWG programme involves a £50-75 million “precursor” programme over 5 years .It would establish a small but viable UK astronaut corps of 3-4 scientist-astronauts. Two science-education 10-day missions could then visit the ISS as part of a microgravity research programme, via Soyuz spacecraft. Important science research, perhaps including biomedical, climate change monitoring and materials experiments linked to schools and Universities activities, could then occur.
After the flights, the UK scientist astronauts could undertake inspirational schools education outreach work, helping to reverse the trend of declining science and technology course take-up. The cost involved would only require an increase of the UK space budget, currently about £220 million, by about 5% a year.
This low cost astronaut programme could be expanded for the future, eventually leading to committed British manned involvement with the return to the Moon plans of ESA, NASA and the international exploration of Mars and the Solar System.
Campaign action
The following can be done to help change current UK policy:
Contact the BNSC ( mailto:azara.bibi@bnsc.gsi.gov.uk) and the Space Minister, Ian Pearson ( mailto:pearsoni@parliament.uk, plus mailto:dominic.lyons@berr.gsi.gov.uk) and ask that the current UK Space Strategy HSF Study takes the advice of the BIS, the Select Committee and the SEWG report and reverses the current ban on UK manned space.
Write to the Chair of the “UK Space Board”, Prof Keith Mason and tell him of your enthusiasm for UK manned space flight (email: mailto:keith.mason@stfc.ac.uk)
Ask your MP to lobby on your behalf to the Space Minister, Ian Pearson and in Parliament. Tell them of your firm support for manned space exploration in the UK and about the relatively low-cost BIS/SEWG approach (see above). Emphasise the urgency of the UK joining the rest of the world with manned spaceflight plans.
Speak to the media (press, radio and TV), saying how important a modest UK astronaut presence would be. Point out that the UK is hosting the prestigious International Astronautical Federation (IAF) congress in 2008, yet Britain has no astronaut.
Tell friends of the BIS campaign and join the Society, to give support to the UK and international space activities.
Useful links
BIS: http://www.bis-spaceflight.com/, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1SZ UK Space Exploration Working Group (SEWG) report: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/uksewgRAS: http://www.ras.org.uk/, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BQ BNSC: http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/, FAO: Azara Bibi, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SS STFC: http://www.scitech.ac.uk/ESA: http://www.esa.int/NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/“The Scientific and Cultural Case for UK Participation in Human Space Exploration” - maintained by Dr Ian Crawford and Dr Kevin Fong: http://zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~iac/case_for_space.html
The Society has also produced a small badge, this is available from the BIS office in London. To get your badge for £1.00 (to cover postage and packing) Click here .
Nick
SPACEBOOSTERS
Wear the badge to show your support
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