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Britain boosts spending on space research

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Development of telecoms and weather satellites, Earth observation technology and missions to Mars all stand to benefit from agreement with the European Space Agency

A major boost in space spending by the UK has been agreed at a meeting of European Space Agency leaders.

Britain has pledged to contribute £1.2 billion to European space projects over the next five years.

The payments to the European Space Agency (ESA) are increasing from £170 million per year to £240 million.

Part will go into the general agency pot that all member states commit to. But about half the funding is to be shared between 10 “optional” programmes chosen to benefit the UK.

They include £161 million for research into satellite telecommunications, which is at the heart of the £9 billion a year UK space industry.

A further £166 million will be spent on Earth observation, £81 million on weather satellites, and £18 million on nuclear power sources for future robotic Mars missions.

Although Britain has consistently avoided manned space programmes, it is also making a one-off £16 million contribution to ESA's participation in the International Space Station. This will focus on telecommunications and propulsion technology for Nasa's new multi-purpose manned spacecraft, Orion.

The increased investment is expected to secure orders worth £1 billion a year for British businesses.

Science minister David Willetts, who finalised negotiations for the UK at the ESA ministerial council meeting in Naples, said: “Space is big business so it is important for us to make strategic investments that will continue the growth of this thriving industry.

“The programme of investment we've negotiated at ESA will not only allow us to get ahead in the global race by securing more major contracts for UK industry, but will also provide us with the tools to manage major challenges like disaster relief and climate change.”

ESA has committed to expanding its satellite communications centre in Harwell, Oxfordshire, creating more than 100 jobs.

Britain's space industry is growing at a rate of 8% a year. The government's ambition is to build a £30 billion industry by 2030.

Dr David Williams, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “With the majority of the UK's investment in space being spent through ESA programmes, a robust plan of investment for ESA is pivotal to the UK space industry.

“Thanks to the government's increased funding, we were able to enter the negotiations with the funds to match our vision and will now be able to continue programmes that will reinforce the growth in the sector.”

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