Why is space so important in 2020?

We are busy right now: so many urgent problems. The coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis it has brought. The imminent severing of decades-old trading arrangements with our nearest neighbours. And in the background the slow drumbeat of escalating ecological calamity.

Why on earth should we care about space?

Spaceflight, from its earliest days, was tied up in military interests and cold war politics. From the V2 missiles the Nazis rained down on London, to Sputnik and the Apollo programme, the pioneering moments in the history of space exploration were tied to flag waving – and to more or less veiled threats to kill. (Sputnik was launched, let’s not forget, on a modified nuclear missile.)

And that spirit is still here today – rockets as a national pride rendered in titanium and carbon fibre.

A distraction, or worse, in a moment of crisis, you could argue. Certainly not something to be focusing on now.

I think this view is wrong.

For while it’s true that space has always been about militaristic flag waving, it’s also always been about civilian uses.

As I wrote a few years ago, the first privately-built spacecraft dates back to 1961; satellite TV to 1965 – civilian uses of space date back to the very earliest days of the space programme.

And today, the overwhelming majority of the global space economy is private, not public. These are services that people are willing to pay for – to track the weather, to map cities, to transmit data.

The satellites far above our heads, tiny specks you see moving across the sky against the firmament on a dark night, are part of our critical infrastructure. Just as roads support almost every aspect of our government and economy, space-based services now enable sectors as diverse as entertainment, agriculture and construction.

Britain has done nicely out of this – we’ve carved out profitable niches in the space industry, including in services (like Inmarsat communications or Sky Television) and in satellite construction.

But the sector is facing change. A shift to more, smaller satellites (like Elon Musk’s Starlink communications system), and a more diverse range of companies launching them into space too.

Opportunities for the UK

As part of this shift, Challenge Works advised on a European Commission challenge prize to develop microlaunchers. These are small rockets capable of launching small satellites at low cost, without having to piggyback on major launches, which aren’t always available at the time that’s needed, or aiming at the right orbit. The prize is expected to be awarded in late 2021.

There’s a threat and an opportunity in this disruption. If the UK sits on its laurels, the successful industry we have could be at risk. But if we make smart decisions and investments, we could build on this success and seize the opportunities this market disruption brings.

With miniaturisation, microlaunchers and advances in robotic and computer technology, there are suddenly new opportunities to develop spacecraft design. These in turn could enable more, better or cheaper services – with wide benefits across all sectors.