Written evidence submitted by Dr Chris Lavers (SAT0001)
1. What satellite-based capabilities should the Government particularly support — telecommunications, navigation, earth observation, space science, or others — and how?
All of these should be supported, in both civilian and military areas.
In addition the use of satellite imagery for humanitarian crises, especially man-made ones. I have ‘championed’ this in man-made crises for the last few years.
Two Parliamentary Questions were asked on my behalf via my local MP regarding the increased use of satellite imaging to help aid the international effort to support humanitarian disaster relief.
House of Commons Questions for Oral or Written Answer beginning on Thursday 7 May 2009 p.65 Q1 and Q2.
Q1 To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will assess the merits of increased use of satellite imagery to monitor the humanitarian conditions of those affected by natural disasters (273837)
And Q2. To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will raise at the United Nations the potential for increased use of satellite imagery better to monitor the humanitarian situation of those affected by natural disasters. (273838)
This work has been endorsed by Baroness Cox, my colleague of recent years, and the Prince of Wales via his secretary at Clarence House.
2. What steps should the Government be taking to build markets for both new satellites and the ‘space services’ that they provide (such as space-based internet services or high resolution imaging)?
Conduct a full market survey of current satellite capabilities, providers and users, across all spectral bands, as I am currently doing for one important specific spectral band system, for one prominent UK based company.
3. What is the impact of the current UK regulatory environment on growth in the satellites and space sector? Is it conducive to new players, such as SMEs and start-ups, entering the market? Has the regulatory environment kept pace with innovations in satellite/space technologies?
Better placed than in the USA where regulatory changes have lagged behind current capabilities transferable to the civilian market place, especially in certain spectral bands. E.g. for the UK the global space economy was worth £150bn in 2013 and is projected to grow to £400bn by 2030. The target set in 2010 was to grow the UK share of the world space economy to 10% by 2030, a sector worth £40bn per annum and the creation of 100,000 jobs.
Take the SAR market; concerns were expressed in May 1998 when former Senator Tom Daschle wrote to the Pentagon noting that “If currently proposed restrictions on US commercial remote sensing satellite are not revised, the capabilities of foreign SAR systems will quickly exceed those of the United States.” However it wasn’t until June 2007 with the launch of TerraSAR-X that there was finally a “Market-driven system using innovative technology.” It was 2 years before the Department of Commerce announced a licence had been granted to Northrop Grumman to operate a radar imaging satellite capable of generating one-metre resolution imagery for commercial sale. In 2010 TerraSAR-X was shown to be providing high accuracy data consistent with its original advertised performance. This could have been realised much sooner if regulation had kept up with developments.
4. What mechanisms are needed to encourage investment in UK space and satellite technology, and improve access to finance?
Investment in software, hardware, space-based infrastructure and suitably qualified ‘home-grown’ staff, requires a long-term investment strategy from secondary education up to university relevant courses. Personally I would love to have a part in developing a whole new space-based curriculum for earth observation and crises management in schools and universities.
5. Is the Government striking the right balance between national and European/international endeavour?
The UK has long held-back from direct involvement in the manned European Space Agency programme. I believe this has been counter-productive and has effectively said to a generation of both would be astronauts and the next generation of space innovators/entrepreneurs that the UK is not interested in this area.
6. What are the key challenges facing the Government and industry in developing and implementing new space capabilities and services? What are the technical barriers to further growth in the sector, including the lack of a UK launch capacity?
To be able to keep pace with the rapid developments and significant expansion in terrestrial surveillance and Earth Observation will require a bottom up approach. Significant financial support for start-up companies will be required, with the Government taking a strong ‘stake-holder’ role in their growth and direction.
January 2016