VEGA welcomes establishment of UK Space Agency
24 March 2010 – VEGA, a
Finmeccanica company, has welcomed plans to launch the new UK Space
Agency on 1 April 2010, and the Government’s response to the
recently published Space Innovation and Growth Strategy (IGS).
The Space Innovation and Growth
Team (Space IGT) is a joint collaboration between industry,
Government and academia. In its Strategy, the IGT set out a 20-year
plan for the UK’s Space activities, and a clear vision for the UK
to grow its share of the expanding global Space market from 6% to
10%, creating a domestic industry worth £40bn per annum and
providing 100,000 new jobs, by 2025.
Yesterday, Lord Mandelson, who
presented himself as “Secretary of State for Outer Space”, was
wholly supportive of the new agency, as was Lord Drayson, the
Science and Innovation Minister, Jean Jacques Dordain, Director
General of the European Space Agency, and other Government and
industry officials.
VEGA has been at the heart of
the IGT, working with other industries and Government, lobbying to
gain the recognition and support for the UK Space sector.
John Auburn, VEGA’s Business
Director for Space, said: “Yesterday was a momentous occasion for
the UK’s Space industry. After many years of lobbying, the
Government has formally acknowledged its support of the UK’s Space
sector, and the creation of the UK Space Agency is the first step.
Until now, Space activities have been split between various
Governmental departments, each with their own budget and agenda.
Now there will be one co-ordinated and focussed body that will help
build the UK’s Space industry and meet the challenging targets set
in the IGT report.
“I believe the development and
investment in the new International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC)
at Harwell is also a very positive step forward. The ISIC plans to
exploit data generated from Earth Observation satellites, use Space
data to understand climate change, and advise on security and
resilience of Space systems and services.”
Further information
For further information, please contact Karen Rogers on karen.rogers@vega.co.uk.