National strategy: space environments and human spaceflight

The UK Space Agency is consulting on the contents of a new National Strategy for Space Environments and Human Spaceflight. ‘Space environments’ refers to all research conducted in space, utilising one or more condition of the space environment – for example, microgravity, radiation, extreme vacuum – or in ground-based facilities which mimic these conditions, such as drop towers simulating microgravity or Antarctic stations providing isolation. ‘Human spaceflight’ here describes all human presence in space.

The draft strategy sets a national vision for work in this area; defines goals which will deliver this vision; sets out different routes to achieving these goals; and highlights key areas of UK research which will support and benefit from this strategy.

The top-level goals are:

• to deliver excellent science and technology in line with UK priorities
• to exploit the public fascination and enthusiasm for human spaceflight to deliver education
• to use the interdisciplinary nature of these platforms to foster new collaborations
• to win contracts for UK industry and attract new investment in the UK
• to help prepare the UK for possible future commercial human spaceflight endeavours