Space Research Programmes (Hansard, 15 February 1999)

§ Mr. Battle

The UK pursues its space programme primarily in collaboration with the member states of the European Space Agency (ESA). In addition, researchers collaborate extensively, both directly and through ESA, with the United States and the EU.

Collaboration with the European Union focuses on the Framework research programme into which Member States contribute. The four year Framework IV concluded in 1998. UK firms won some 16–17 per cent. of the available funding with a major part played by our strong academic community; small and medium-sized enterprises have been particularly successful. The UK space sector has especially benefited from the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) and environment and climate programmes. For example, British firms took part in a project to determine how satellite technology can be used to complement Earth Observation and other sources of information on agriculture and forestry. There will be considerable opportunities under the Framework V programme and my officials are working to ensure that British companies are fully involved.

Collaboration with the United States takes place in fields such as environmental science, space-based astronomy and planetary science.

The UK also collaborates with the US through ESA programmes and through EUMETSAT, which provides operational weather systems. There is also strong collaboration between British and American scientists in the global change programme and participation in major NASA field experiments. The UK has provided instruments for several missions carried out as a partnership between ESA and NASA. Missions active at the moment are Ulysses, Cassini-Huygens and SOHO. The UK is also a strong contributor to the future missions FIRST, Planck Surveyor and the Next Generation Space Telescope, which will involve ESA partnership with NASA. The UK is the leading European user of the Hubble Space Telescope.