National strategy: space environments and human spaceflight
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
In August-October 2014 the UK Space Agency held a public consultation on the contents of a new National Strategy for Space Environments and Human Spaceflight.
The draft strategy set a national vision for work in this area; defined goals which will deliver this vision; set out different routes to achieving these goals; and highlighted key areas of UK research which would support and benefit from this strategy.
The top-level goals were:
- to deliver excellent science and technology in line with UK priorities
- to exploit the public fascination and enthusiasm for human spaceflight to deliver education
- to use the interdisciplinary nature of these platforms to foster new collaborations
- to win contracts for UK industry and attract new investment in the UK
- to help prepare the UK for possible future commercial human spaceflight endeavours
18 responses were received. All were broadly supportive of the initiative and of most of the draft strategy’s contents. Most respondents made suggestions for additions or amendments to the strategy. A comprehensive summary of responses, questions and government action in response to these is contained in the Government Response document. The strategy has been slightly modified in response to the comments received and a finalised version will be published soon.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The UK Space Agency is consulting on the contents of a new National Strategy for Space Environments and Human Spaceflight. ‘Space environments’ refers to all research conducted in space, utilising one or more condition of the space environment – for example, microgravity, radiation, extreme vacuum – or in ground-based facilities which mimic these conditions, such as drop towers simulating microgravity or Antarctic stations providing isolation. ‘Human spaceflight’ here describes all human presence in space.
The draft strategy sets a national vision for work in this area; defines goals which will deliver this vision; sets out different routes to achieving these goals; and highlights key areas of UK research which will support and benefit from this strategy.
The top-level goals are:
- to deliver excellent science and technology in line with UK priorities
- to exploit the public fascination and enthusiasm for human spaceflight to deliver education
- to use the interdisciplinary nature of these platforms to foster new collaborations
- to win contracts for UK industry and attract new investment in the UK
- to help prepare the UK for possible future commercial human spaceflight endeavours
Documents
Updates to this page
Last updated 16 February 2015 + show all updates
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Government response to the consultation uploaded.
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First published.