Have you heard the one about the racy new science minister and his mission for outer space? The self-described ‘car nut’ turned science minister, Lord Drayson, thinks he can attract more young people into science by sending British astronauts into space. The prospect is exciting, but where is the money coming from?
With the economy facing tough times and the public debt soaring, this is a strange time to be committing billions to a manned space programme. I think the new minister must make clear where the new money is coming from, or which parts of the stretched science budget he plans to cut.
No doubt it would be exciting for the nation – I remember when Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space, back in 1991. But it’s not clear how our hard-pressed physicists and astronomers would feel given that they’re still recovering from this Government’s £80 million funding shortfall.
And never mind the money – what about the scientists? The Government’s own space centre is already reviewing the UK’s funding for human space flight, so let’s not jump the gun. It was the Government’s incompetent handling of the last science budget that led to the departure of Lord Drayson’s predecessor, which is why British science really needs a steady hand at the wheel.
Before Britain has lift off, we really ought to await expert opinion and get the funding in place. The possibilities for UK involvement in space science are immense, but the new minister should have made a pit stop before hurtling into the final frontier.
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