The only way is up: Space race making a huge difference for Britain, say industry leaders


Matthew Davies
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On the same day as the British Chancellor Jeremy Hunt mentioned the modern space race in his 2024 budget, executives, innovators, engineers and astronauts met at Farnborough Airport to discuss the future of the industry.

The chief executive of the UK Space Agency told the gathering that while “money is tight”, the importance of Britain's space industry should not be underestimated.

Addressing the Space Comm Expo in Farnborough, south-west of London, Dr Paul Bate added that while the looming general election in the UK causes “uncertainty”, what remains absolutely constant is “the value of space-based technology to prosperity, security, discovery and to driving efficiencies in public services”.

“My personal view is that space is going to be a government priority and it’s here to stay,” he added.

“Since its creation 14 years ago, the UK Space Agency has seen four general elections and when we look at what’s changed in that period, the UK’s space sector has gone from strength to strength.”

In his budget speech, Mr Hunt announced £10 million worth of funding for the UK's SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland islands, which was granted its licence in December.

“This will make a massive difference to what we are trying to do,” its chief operating officer Debbie Strang said at Space Comm Expo.

SaxaVord, which is a former site of the Royal Air Force (RAF) should see its first mission later this year. The first launch pad at the spaceport is finished and work on the second is under way.

The UK space industry is worth an estimated £17.5 billon to the country's economy with space exports valued at £5.9 billion in 2022.

Within the industry, 1,590 organisations employ 48,800 people, and the UK government aims to grow the country’s share of the global space economy from 6.5 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030.

One exhibitor, Moog, is a poster boy for how far the space industry has developed in recent years.

At its factory in Reading, west of London, it's developed a space vehicle that can deliver small satellites called cube sats to low orbits.

Today the smaller spacecraft are being made by folks who could never have made spacecraft in the past
Chester Crone,
business development director, Moog

Its main customer is the aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin and the space tug, as it is known, with its six cube sat payload, is set to be launched from the SaxaVord spaceport later this year.

“Today the smaller spacecraft are being made by folks who could never have made spacecraft in the past – the cost is so much lower,” Chester Crone, business development director of Moog, told The National.

“Small start-up companies are now very relevant in the industry, providing a lot of valuable hardware to folks that need it.”

“It’s been a transition. In the last 10 years the space industry has really changed.”

Ready to launch

Dr Bate also underlined the progress Britain has made in launch capabilities, through the development of spaceports across the country.

“We will be a launch nation on track to be the first to launch to orbit from the continent of Europe,” he said.

“It creates highly skilled jobs from Cornwall to the top of Scotland, as well as inspiring the next generation of space professionals.”

UK Space Agency chief executive Dr Paul Bate, speaking at Space Comm Expo in Farnborough, underlined the progress Britain has made in launch capabilities. Getty Images
UK Space Agency chief executive Dr Paul Bate, speaking at Space Comm Expo in Farnborough, underlined the progress Britain has made in launch capabilities. Getty Images

Having spaceports from Cornwall, in the far south-west of England, to the Shetlands, off the north coast of Scotland, and with more to come, certainly excited many of the delegates at Space Comm.

“There’s a lot of interest in the UK at the moment because we’ve got some new spaceports and we’ve got quite a large number of launchers coming to the UK already discussing the licensing process,” Colin Macleod, head of space regulation at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), told The National.

While Britain has been a significant player in creating technologies and products in the global space industry, for many the missing piece of the value chain was the ability to launch from its own territory in a commercial capacity.

Mr Crone at the space technology company Moog, said “bringing launch capability to the UK feels like the right thing to do at the right time”.

“It’s great, it’s about time. I think it’s wonderful that the UK is now focused on having its own launch capabilities and controlling its own destiny.”

Moog’s space tug cube sat delivery system at Space Comm. Matthew Davies / The National
Moog’s space tug cube sat delivery system at Space Comm. Matthew Davies / The National

International co-operation

However, as technology advances and costs decrease the only way is up for the number of space launches. This in turn means greater regulation, both in the UK and in other countries with space ambitions.

Nearly three years ago, the CAA took over space regulation for the UK. It oversees the commercial airspace that space launches need to cross to get to orbit.

The CAA meets regularly with its counterparts in other countries, given the multinational nature of many space missions.

“I was in the Middle East in January speaking to regulators from that part of the world,” Mr Macleod from the CAA said.

“I’m really willing to share the lessons we’ve learnt setting up a new regulatory capability in the UK with other countries, so that they don’t make some of the mistakes that we might have made, so they can start from a perspective of having evidence of what works and what doesn’t really work in what’s a really complicated regulatory environment.”

A computer-generated image of the Skynet 5D satellite in orbit. The Skynet project sustains approximately 800 jobs in the UK. Photo: Ministry of Defence
A computer-generated image of the Skynet 5D satellite in orbit. The Skynet project sustains approximately 800 jobs in the UK. Photo: Ministry of Defence

International co-operation doesn't stop with regulators either. UK companies not only export products and skills to other countries with space industry ambitions, but also seek to nurture relationships overseas.

Britain's largest aerospace and defence manufacturer, BAE Systems, promotes good practices in space and has solid ties with governments and companies in several countries.

“We are producing a lot of skills in the UK that we are looking to export globally, both to help create jobs here, but also in other places, and build those relationships,” Elizabeth Seward, head of space strategy and market development at BAE Systems, said.

“We actually have two interns from the UAE with us at the moment, learning about space and space engineering as we help grow those international connections.”

The case for space

Dr Bate told the Space Comm Expo that industry must “make the case for space” to policymakers and investors as it reaches out to new audiences.

“Space is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It’s a ‘need to have',” he added.

Mr Crone agreed, simply because of the growing demand for data and the infrastructure and products that the industry creates to meet that demand.

Space Comm Expo in Farnborough. Victoria Pertusa / The National
Space Comm Expo in Farnborough. Victoria Pertusa / The National

“If you take space away from people completely, shut down all spacecraft in orbit, life would shut down,” he said.

“Your cars can’t drive, your red [traffic] lights won’t work, your stores won’t operate. There’s probably not a single business on the planet that doesn’t need the internet, that doesn’t need access to data.

“Governments would shut down, industries would shut down – the world would be paralysed if all satellites ceased to exist.

“The world needs to be educated on the importance of space.”

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

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MATCH INFO

CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures

Tuesday:

Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)

Second legs:

October 23

RESULTS
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Country-size land deals

US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:

Louisiana Purchase

If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.

Florida Purchase Treaty

The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty. 

Alaska purchase

America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of  Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".

The Philippines

At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million. 

US Virgin Islands

It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.

Gwadar

The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees. 

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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Company%20profile
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All about the Sevens

Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales

HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

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'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

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WITHIN%20SAND
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Updated: March 07, 2024, 11:27 AM`