UK gets new Space Agency and International Space Centre

It was announced on Tuesday that the United Kingdom would get a new space agency and an International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC).

The new UK Space Agency comes into being on April 1 and is planned to take over responsibility for government policy and the key budgets for space as well as represent the UK on space matters in all negotiations with international partners.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Science Minister Lord Drayson announced the creation of the ISIC, supported by £12m from BIS’ Strategic Investment Fund, at today’s launch of the UK Space Agency.

The centre, to be sited with the European Space Agency facility at Harwell opened last July, will provide a central hub for British space activity and ensure the UK maintains its world-leading space capability.

Funded through public and industry investment, the ISIC will establish centres of excellence in the UK to:

* exploit the data generated by Earth Observation satellites;
* use space data to understand and counter climate change; and
* advise on the security and resilience of space systems and services.

British National Space Centre (BNSC) Press Release
http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/News-and-Events/News/17628.aspx

Tim Peake to help UK Space Agency to promote careers in space
http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/News-and-Events/News/17626.aspx

BBC News - 'Muscular' UK Space Agency launched
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8579270.stm

BBC News - When Britain had a small astronaut corps
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jonathanamos/
2010/03/when-britain-had-a-small-astro.shtml