Author
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Topic: UK candidates for ESA astronauts?
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issman1 Member Posts: 1042 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-15-2007 10:55 AM
The UK has announced its intention to build a lunar probe called MoonLITE for possible launch by NASA in 2012. ESA, meanwhile, intends to select 4 new astronauts in 2008. Is it just possible the UK government may finally nominate a candidate to participate in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration? |
eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 12-15-2007 04:18 PM
They can nominate as many candidates as they wish, but they won't get any selected. The UK needs to contribute to the financing of the manned projects, then they will get the opportunity to propose candidates for the astronaut corps. No buck, no Buck Rogers. And there are no free rides (except for Helen Sharman). |
issman1 Member Posts: 1042 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-15-2007 06:38 PM
I fully concur the UK must contribute towards the manned programme of ESA. Sadly past government attitudes here would only please Luddites!But opinion appears to be changing. And though I do not foresee any major UK participation in the ISS, Orion and the Moon is a realistic prospect (of course, that depends on who is the next US president.) Maybe we shall follow the Malaysian route, and fly astronauts under a national space agenda? But I would prefer the UK cooperated multilaterally through ESA. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 11:27 PM
BBC News: Ministers consider UK astronauts The government is to launch a formal review into whether British astronauts should take part in the international exploration of space.The review has been prompted by growing fears that the UK might lose out in the next wave of space travel. International space agencies have set out ambitious plans in a document called the Global Exploration Strategy. Science Minister Ian Pearson said space was "increasingly important" and worth £7bn to the British economy. |
medaris Member Posts: 181 From: United Kingdom Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 02-14-2008 06:05 PM
The document is available here. The BBC report says the BNSC will report back to the UK Government in 6 - 12 months with its views on whether involvement in human space flight is appropriate. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-09-2008 10:32 PM
BBC News: Minister wants astronaut 'icon' Britain's new science minister has made it clear that he thinks the country ought to have an astronaut.Lord Drayson said the UK needed "icons" for science, to encourage the next generation to take up subjects that would boost the knowledge economy. Human spaceflight was one of those arenas that could inspire young people, he told BBC News. The minister is awaiting the outcome of a formal review into UK policy. It will report in the next few months. ...the European Space Agency (ESA) is currently recruiting its next batch of astronauts and several Britons remain in the selection race. Whether any of them actually get called into the astronaut corps, however, may depend on the UK putting many millions of pounds into an ESA programme it has steadfastly refused to fund for 20 years. |