Brexit freedoms could put rocket under UK in new space race

Brexit could give Britain key advantages as a new space race fuels excitement that a human being could step foot on Mars for the first time. It is hoped entrepreneurs in the tradition of Elon Musk will pioneer a new era of space exploration and boldly go where Government-directed programmes have not.

Rainer Zitelmann, the author of new research from the Institute of Economic Affairs, says Britain must tear away red tape so it can make the most of a space economy worth an estimated $1.8trillion.

There is little chance of a Brit planting on union jack on Mars but SpaceX founder Mr Musk has said human landings could start as early as 2029, although 2031 is “more likely”.

Describing how visionaries can propel humanity to the red planet, Mr Zitelmann said: “Manned space flight has stagnated for decades since the end of the Apollo program because politicians interfere too much. Projects such as the space shuttle and the international space station saw costs explode, and these were out of all proportion to the benefits...

“With Government space programs, we haven’t made it to Mars in the last 50 years and wouldn’t get there in the next 50 years either. The only hope lies in private space travel.”

He argues the UK’s position outside the European Union gives it important advantages.

“Brexit could open up opportunities in these areas,” he said, arguing the UK can simplify the licensing process for spaceports and satellite operators.

Maxwell Marlow of the Adam Smith Institute is also excited by the potential for the UK space industry.

He said: “What we need to do is reconfigure international treaties, taking inspiration from maritime adventurers. Just as seafarers were granted the right to go to uninhabited rocks to scrape guano, we need to apply that to space so a new age of mining can begin.

“Asteroids are rich in platinum and metals which are rare on earth. We could be accessing all of that wealth, alleviating poverty on earth and making ourselves very rich in the process.”

Insisting Britain has the know-how to thrive, he said: “We’ve got universities which are amazing centres of science; we have the expertise – the only problem is how you exploit it. If we don’t get involved now we are going to be way behind.

“We also need an overhaul of planning so we can build the factories we need with connections to the grid. We also need to make it easier to invest in space travel, exploration and mining.”

The Institute of Economic Affairs states a new space race between the US and China has “already started”. It claims private companies – such as Mr Musk’s SpaceX – account for 82% of space industry revenues.

SaxaVord is developing a spaceport at Lamba Ness in Unst, Shetland.

A “liberalised policy framework”, the IEA argues, is “paramount to competing with China” and “asteroid mining, commercial space stations, and a lunar economy depends on a pro-market approach free from excessive Government interference”.

Gabriel Elefteriu, of space consultancy AstroAnalytica, believes it is too late for Britain to put the first person on Mars but argues the country must not duck out of the race to develop capabilities.

He said: “What is most at stake today is national security and strategic interests, rather than prestige and generic political influence as with the Apollo programme. There is much wealth to be unlocked in the space domain in the coming years and decades through commercial space development.

“But our much more immediate concern is the way in which space capabilities are becoming increasingly fundamental to terrestrial military power. Future warfare and, eventually, geopolitical influence writ large, will be determined by the global space balance.

“This – defence – is the first and most important reason why the UK cannot afford to fall much more behind in the ranks of spacefaring nations than it already has.

“UK critical national infrastructure also depends on secure space services. Therefore, it is critical for the country’s future as a sovereign, independent actor in world affairs, that it allocates more resources to building up UK space power — and the foundation for that is a strong, diversified space industrial base that can support a greater British ambition in this arena of strategic confrontation.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “The space sector is truly a British success story, with productivity 2.3 times higher the UK average and satellite services underpinning around 16% of our GDP. Our regulatory approach is designed to enable pioneering commercial missions that are often not feasible elsewhere, and has led to British companies pioneering satellite technology and rover landing systems.

“We continue to work to ensure regulation is fit and agile for the future of space activities, as well as back private enterprise, such as SaxaVord’s launch ambitions, to grow the British economy.”