“There is now not a moment to lose” if the UK is to realise the full potential of its space launch sector, a Parliamentary committee has warned.
In a report published by the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on Friday, a cross-party group of MPs criticised the UK’s “disjointed approach” to space policy.
The committee said the UK is on the cusp of establishing Europe’s first small satellite orbital launch capability, but the “insufficient coordination” among regulatory bodies is hampering launch potential.
Britain’s first attempt at satellite launch—the Virgin Orbit horizontal launch from Spaceport Cornwall at Newquay on Jan. 9, 2023—did not succeed. The LauncherOne rocket did not reach the required orbit and its payload of small satellites was lost.
Greg Clark MP, the committee’s Conservative chairman, said: “The UK has huge opportunities in the burgeoning space and satellite industry.
‘Time Is Running Out’
The MPs said a UK satellite launch sector can help strengthen the country’s position in the design and manufacture of small satellites, but the government needs to act fast.The report stated: “Time is running out in this Parliament for the government to translate high-level ambitions into practical plans.
“There is now not a moment to lose if the UK is to realise the full potential of this extraordinary sector, which is booming worldwide, and in which we have a world class capability and reputation.”
Last year, the space sector added £7 billion in value to the UK economy, while turnover from space organisations reached £17.5 billion.
‘Insufficient Coordination’
The report also expressed concern about the licensing delays that led to the Virgin Orbit launch being postponed.Virgin Orbit and some of its satellite customers were critical of the UK regulatory process, which was led by the Civil Aviation Authority.
But the committee concluded there was no evidence that the regulatory system contributed to the failure of Virgin Orbit.
The report did state, however, that there is “insufficient co-ordination between the large number of regulatory bodies involved in licensing launches, and this continues to place unnecessary burdens of complexity and administration on companies.”
‘Disjointed Approach’
The MPs also said the UK needs to publish its strategy on Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities—global navigation services needed for critical national infrastructure and defence purposes.The report said: “The government continues to delay key decisions that need to be made about the UK’s critical Position, Navigation, and Timing capabilities.
“It has long promised to update its PNT strategy but work on this topic has been passed between departments and teams and is yet to amount to any meaningful plan.
“This demonstrates how the disjointed approach to leadership of the UK’s space and satellite sector is hampering progress on important matters.
The MP said the government should not delay the publication of the strategy any further.
A government spokesperson said: “The government remains committed to supporting the development of a dynamic UK spaceflight sector.
“Our world-leading regulations are responsive to changing demands, and our £50 million investment is on track to deliver more orbital launches from next year.
“All this work is designed to make the UK the leading provider of commercial small satellite launch in Europe by 2030, generating more jobs and growth across the country.”
