Reach for stars and fly the flag

THE UK science minister, Ian Pearson, claims that research and industrial applications connected to outer space are worth around £7 billion per annum to the British economy and that the sector is booming. As a result, the UK is even considering financing manned space flight – something Britain turned its back on for economic reasons in the 1960s when the Blue Streak rocket was cancelled.

Since Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961, only one British citizen, Helen Sharman, has made it into space (in 1991). Three other astronauts were English-born, but they had become American citizens by the time they made orbit working for Nasa. To date, no Scot has ever ventured beyond the atmosphere, yet citizens of over 20 other nations have, including Mongolia, Syria, Romania and Afghanistan.

Nasa wants to resume flying manned missions to the Moon by the early 2020s and wants Britain to join in. The cost will be £58 billion (or one Northern Rock bailout). A permanent lunar base is planned for the Shackleton Crater at the Moon's South Pole. This crater is named after the Antarctic explorer Henry Shackleton, who was secretary of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and who stood (unsuccessfully) for parliament in Dundee. What price a Union Flag ever flies over Shackleton Crater?