Topic: 50 years of the UK in Space

[Simon]

From swirling star formations deep in the cosmos, to sat-nav in cars and the daily weather forecast, the UK has played an significant role in space exploration and technology over the past 50 years. And it is big business - with the UK space industry worth more than £9bn a year.

Take a colourful look at how it all started - and where it is now heading - with the acting chief executive of the UK Space Agency, David Parker.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20691288

[sam]

Hmm, seems like the new space agency trying to grab headlines by the success of other organisations

[Clive]

Yes, we are merely members of organisations such as ESA and ESO - hardly a major player in our own right.

[sam]

and before then it was very much the case of Universities working with other organisations, such as NASA. SpaceLab 2 being a good example. Worth going down to the Science Museum to see the XRT.

[Clive]

Thanks Sam.