User login
Navigation
UK Space Links
- Airborne Engineering
- AspireSpace
- ASTRA
- AstroEngine.com
- BNSC
- Bristol Spaceplanes
- British Interplanetary Society
- Cambridge University Spaceflight
- ESERO-UK
- Excalibur Almaz Observer
- International Space Propulsion (ISP) Group
- LESEDS
- National Space Centre
- Orbiting Frog
- OurSpace new
- Project Icarus
- Purley Amateur Rocketry Society
- RAeS Space Links
- Reaction Engines Ltd.
- Rocket Corner
- Space.co.uk
- Spaceboosters.co.uk
- Space Newsfeed (Microcom Systems)
- Space Now
- SpacePod (RAL)
- Space Research Centre, Leicester
- SSTL Space Blog
- Starchaser Ltd.
- Stuart Clark
- UK Astronomers
- UK High Altitude Society
- United Kingdom Rocketry Association
- UK Rocket Man
- UKSEDS
- UK Space Directory
- Virgin Galactic
- Worldview Spaceflight
britishblogs.co.uk
The Space Review: The Past and Future of British Spaceflight
Rocketeer — Wed, 15/07/2009 - 7:49am
Jeff Foust posts an article on the UK astronaut awards ceremony at the British Interplanetary Society:
- The past and future of British human spaceflight -- The Space Review
These comments by Richard Garriott are particularly telling:-
Garriott added that, despite a long neglect of human spaceflight, the UK is not necessarily in a bad position vis-à-vis other nations. “While I believe that the UK has missed out on an era, I still believe that you’re not in a very bad position today to step back in,” he said, noting the relative lack of progress in human spaceflight in recent decades. “There’s a moment in history that’s coming right now that includes both government space as well as private space where I think the science and technology leadership that the UK has had… still leaves the UK in quite a strong position if there is the political will to decide to double-down, so to speak, on a human spaceflight program.”
Later, when asked whether the UK should pursue a human spaceflight effort with ESA or, like Canada and Japan, work more closely with NASA, Garriott offered a third option. “My honest advice might be, go build your own,” he said. “Private industry can move faster, move more safely, and most importantly, move more cost effectively.”
“Where we’re at today, I believe the rules have really changed,” he continued. Advances in computers, materials, and other technology have made it possible for private ventures to develop space systems for a fraction of the cost of government programs. “I am very bullish that the next 10 or 20 years are going to demonstrate that the cost of human access to space is going to radically drop.”
Search

Subscribe to the Rocketeers Twitter feed for instant updates!
BNSC Review comments
My comments on the BNSC Space Exploration Review (31 Jan 2009)
New British Space Age
Alt.Space News
- Firday break in the action...
- Russian cosmonauts long for hot showers on ISS
- Station Crew Conducts Inspections, Performs Maintenance
- NASA Selects Investigations for First Sun Encounter Mission
- Spitzer Finds a Flavorful Mix of Asteroids
- Recipe for water: just add starlight
- CSA Announces the First Canadian Commander of the ISS
- Mary Roach and dealing with death in space
- NASA flagship tech plan and hopes
- Briefs: Indian lunar orbiter & Russian lander; AEHF failure probe
- Google Lunar X PRIZE summit
- Briefs: Japanese tether test; Airbag landings; Lasermotive powers UAVs
- Briefs" Garver speech; AIAA space policy panel; Nowhere SRB
- Armadillo/Project M lander flight video
- Armadillo to launch from Spaceport America








Recent comments
3 days 11 hours ago
3 days 11 hours ago
1 week 6 days ago
1 week 6 days ago
3 weeks 3 days ago
3 weeks 3 days ago
4 weeks 47 min ago
9 weeks 2 days ago
12 weeks 13 hours ago
12 weeks 4 days ago