The Future of the UK in Space

I discuss what the UK currently has planned in space, and the need for radical change.

Most people go through their lives without thinking much at all about space or space policy. They have higher priorities both for themselves and for the country, and the lack of attention from voters means space receives little attention from politicians.

But a nation’s capabilities in space are becoming increasingly a defining characteristic of its power. All of the territories of Earth are, either by sovereignty or international treaty, pretty much accounted for. The international order is determined and attempts to change it are resisted. But space is a blank, unclaimed canvas of resources and energy, of a far larger scope than the entirety of Earth put together. The nations, alliances and international orders that utilise even a fraction of this will eclipse those that do not.

The relevant metric is mass; and the amount of mass being sent to orbit per year has been on an exponential trajectory for several years. SpaceX have largely driven this trend by making their Falcon 9 cheap …